Shadows' encyclopedia - The Prodigies of Arahsmurd book 1

Rebecca's diary 🎀

Day 15 with the Hunters

Dear Diary,

Life as a Hunter is very hard to bear. The mood in the camp is not a happy one. My team-mates, Sauron and Naar, have gone their separate ways without exchanging a word. I get on well with Golmatan and Rufus, who are fascinated by the Impurs. I learnt to use my weapon during the adaptation exercises, but I'm still not comfortable. I shoot a bit haphazardly, but it'll pay off in the end. Since the confrontation between Naar and me, I don't dare cross paths with him. I'm a bit afraid of the fiery Perfectionist he is...

All in all, I've learnt that there are many training camps in the various kingdoms. The ultimate test, which makes us official Special Squads, only takes place in Arahsmurd. The Kingdoms monitor their teams and note their progress. A Mentor who fails to meet the minimum quota of two members from different Kingdoms cannot assemble his team. The Guide and the books have helped me to understand the Hunter World. The Kingdoms have many cities, the equivalent of towns for humans. The Kingdom where I live at the moment is called Arahsmurd, where the elite hunter school was created, but it was destroyed during the Great War in 1900, Gregorian calendar. It is the most powerful kingdom. Its direct ally, the Kingdom of Izbur, is known for its city of Monta. Izbur is ruled by the Hunters of the Supreme Court. As I understand it, the rulers of Arahsmurd have a remarkable strength that would surpass that of the other governors. I learned that Rose Gerard was born in Forticia, a very rare thing among Illusionists. Rose's family managed the slaves in the fighting arenas, guided by a king nicknamed the Grand Duke. Forticia is home to a concentration of slave markets. This is also where the great fighting arena is located: the gladiatorial domain. There is a village called the Fields of Wheat, which represents the wealth of this Kingdom. Many elves make the journey to get wheat: it's different to what I know from humans. Wheat is said to increase resistance and vitality. Forticia's emblem is a four-clawed dragon. Tazarynthe is ruled by a large family of Hunters called Roniger. The kingdom comprises just two major cities: Tazar, the guards' hideout, and Lyndardt, which is rich in gold and diamonds. There are many mountains and two famous lakes where the elves sometimes settle. To recognise the Hunters of this Kingdom, their emblem is a turtle with horns. This Kingdom is much more flexible when it comes to the rules of life. Wizards live there freely. Zultrand is ruled by Edmond Gerard, a member of the Gerard family. The cities there are gloomy and sometimes dangerous. The City of Spells and Portals leads to the World of Humans. This place is heavily guarded and inaccessible. Terror reigns supreme, and I understand Naar's behaviour better. There is a terrible prison where the tortures are terrifying: Altazar. There's a great bazaar of artefacts, inns and mediocre taverns. The Court of Judges is stricter than the Supreme Court or the Court of Justice. The worst criminals are tried and sometimes never get out. The Isle of Penitence is also part of this Kingdom. It's a bit separate from Zultrand, but it's very much part of it. All the greatest criminals from the five Kingdoms end their days in prison. People would rather be sentenced to death than stay on this island. Zultrand's coat of arms is represented by a chameleon...

Finally, the Kingdoms themselves make their own laws, so it's difficult to know them in detail. Primarily, the Elite Hunters must above all sacrifice themselves for the research and survival of humanity. The other social classes are truly inferior...