The World of Emns 2: Arena

Chapter 1: Lingering dreams

Long ago, in the forest town of Aldiar, there lived a man. This man was stronger than any other. He was a true champion of humans! The strongest mage of Emns!

This mage, together with his friends and companions, cleared the eastern side of Malnazia of bandits and monsters, and helped form the Fynlone kingdom.

With a job well done, the strongest mage returned home, swooned his childhood love, and started a family. Though as the years passed, he felt empty. It felt as if there was a mission that was still left for him. Yet the more the strongest mage thought about it, the less he could figure it out.

Then, one fateful night, as the man was taking a walk from the calm forests of Dorean, a beautiful lady came down upon him. With a single glance, the man knew it was a goddess that had come to talk to him. The goddess looked over her chosen warrior and said;

"Fair mage. You are the strongest of your kind. The saviour of your people. I perceive ruin and sadness in the future of the human race, but you can save it! Claim the throne of Fynlone, and together with your family, you can rule the continent of Malnazia!"

The man took the words of the goddess to heart. He knew she was speaking the truth. He was the strongest mage. A natural born leader. Someone compassionate, understanding, and empathetic. The perfect fit for a leader. Someone who would bring prosperity and peace to the human kingdoms.

Olivia slammed the book shut. She couldn't take any more of the bullshit it was trying to feed her. She already heard the actual story from many other people, the most prominent one being Steven.

Steven's father, Manstear Clipium, was the strongest mage that Emns had ever seen. A century and a half ago, Clipium's body and mind got overwhelmed by his own magic power, and turned him insane. The only things he would ramble about were that he was the goddess' chosen hero, and that he should rule the world. Eventually, after much bloodshed, Clipium was defeated, at the expense of his ex wife, and many, many resistance heroes. Even his eldest son, who fought by his side, had fallen in battle during his storming of the royal Fynlone castle. The only reason his youngest son, Steven, managed to survive is because an elven resistance member sent him into the future with the use of a magic weapon. A future where mages would no longer be hunted down, and a future where this boy could live without the constant fear of being his father's child. Not that mages were accepted everywhere, but at least it was a start. In the silent town of Chronest, nobody bothered them.

Olivia looked up from the table to the mirror in front of her. Her long, orange hair had fallen over her shoulders in waves, and looked messy. She didn't mind, though. Her eyes were a pretty light brown colour, and there were freckles plastered over her face, going from the bridge of her nose to the bottom of her eyes.

If Olivia hadn't been wearing such a thick sweater she would also have been able to see the large scar left on her right arm by the mysterious shadow creature she and Steven encountered in the Leafa forest.

Olivia looked a lot like her mother. Even if she was only twenty years old now, the resemblance was uncanny. Par the freckles, Olivia shared most of her appearance with her mom.

Speaking of Adria Denter, she hadn't been home for a bit, and wouldn't be home until the day after tomorrow. She, along with Michael and Mr. Dorbeck had set out on a six day journey to and from Central to speak with their mayor and generally get a feel for how the bigger town operates.

It was a bit lonely without her, but at least she didn't have to go outside during the cold winter days, as Steven would do that for her. Even right now she had sent him out for some fresh bread, to which Steven always obliges surprisingly easily. He doesn't mind the cold as much, Olivia speculated. At the very least, his body was always warm.