Memory of The Phoenix; The Hunters [I]

CHAPTER I - THE SIEGE

12th Era, 14th Orbital Cycle

Dovia-Realm, The Free City of Grace, Three Cycles into The Great War

"The Demon race made first contact with the citizens of Split during the 5th Era. Eventually named The Era of Corruption, for good reason, Taint was forming more across the Known World, and especially in the newly founded and fought over Realm of Krypt, beginning to spread uncontrollably. Before long the entire Realm was covered, with little area where life could prosper, during this time a great obsidian gate opened up, ripping through the countryside and letting hordes of Demons through. Leading to the largest loss of life since the Elven Rebellions, The Realm is still locked down to this day, and all residents were presumed killed or fallen to corruption. Taint appears to, among other things, weaken the natural barriers around Split, letting those Demon beasts to invade from whatever parallel dimension they reside in."

- "Of Demons & Taint", by Pontiralius Gilmore, originally published in First Relm 11.2786 {11th Era, 2786th Orbital Cycle}

The Human Capital of Split; Hydra, was a disaster, ruled by an apparent undying High King, the dictator of the Realm. Under the control of three, evil, High Elf women who were determined to be the ultimate rule of the land and sole magic users. Once three great rivers flowed through the city, but they were all but dried up, the fish having long since vanished. Most of the Realm, and by most I mean a good ninety percent, were living in squalor and misery. The gap between the mega rich royal family and those not directly related to the High King or his extended family was night and day. It was, for lack of a better description; a total shit hole.

Hydra, was also the Realm I had grown up, lucky enough to have not been born into some unnamed, poor as dirt family, but not having the Godly level luck required to be born into a royal family. I was born under Dylan and Ylonda Longwater, an almost happily married couple from an ancient fishing family, having the daunting task of feeding the expansive population of Hydra with fresh fish. Nowadays, they attempted to fish but mostly survived from odd jobs and living off the riches from the previous generation. Unlike many middle class families of Hydra, the two never had many children, only a pair of fraternal twins; Lilith Longwater, and myself, Navarone Longwater. Born two minutes apart the two of us grew up together, learning the ancient art of starting into an almost empty river and pretending to fish. Instead I practiced swordsmanship with another child in the area, quickly gaining a proficiency in swords, daggers, throwing weapons and speed. Speed having always been an important skill on Split. Over the cycles the two of us, more-so myself, saw the cruelty of Hydra and vowed to leave, but having little funds or real reason, we were for a time stuck.

That was until our mother caught Lilith and I doing unsightly things together after becoming closer than any sibling should, and left our home forever. Then there was no reason to stay, through the grapevine I had discovered a warriors guild hiring recruits for some war far away. It was a good enough excuse to leave and I'd always wanted to see the world.

So here I was, seven months later at the ripe age of sixteen, two cycles below the age most people were when they went to war. After leaving Hydra and discovering the outer world, I was now in the Realm of Dovia. It was primarily a Human and Elven Realm, the two races who had historically never gotten along, living in total harmony.

The Dovian capital city of Grace was, quite truthfully, one of the most beautiful cities in the Known World, easily the greatest I had seen. My entire life could have passed living on Hydra without knowing of the existence of Grace. Many of Split would live their entire lives as if Grace didn't exist, though many citizens of Split would live in a much nicer place than Hydra.

Dovia was considered an island Realm, where the barrier that surrounded every Realm on Split was situated out in the water. Besides the mainland, there were a dozen or so smaller isles and lands in the surrounding ocean, giving reason for a major fleet to the Dovian Realm. Fishing was a huge industry for much of the Realm, along with forestry due to the high amount of trees found in the country.