Sevenbright

Prologue

In the beginning there was Light and Darkness.

Locked in a never-ending battle, the helm of leader of each side passed generation to generation, each new heir to the Light or Dark empire receiving the title of Siedress, a holder of Magic and defender of Essentia. For millenia, the people of Essentia fought and died in this two-sided war, never believing there was another way.

As they fought, another threat arose in the East of their lands. But the Essentians, too absorbed in vanquishing the other side, ignored this threat until it was much too late. At this time, the Siedress of Dark died, leaving behind no heirs but a single living relative, in another realm altogether, ignorant of the epic battle waged by her blood relatives.

This girl was Mary Jane Oltan, and when she was brought to Essentia by the demigod cat Seven, she was mystified by the ancient blood feud that divided the land. She quickly became aware of the dangerous force to the East, which could destroy not only Essentia but Mary Jane's home realm as well. Observing this all from an outsider's viewpoint, she decided to do something about it.

Mary Jane travelled to the home of the Siedress of Light, Callinda Bladesong. She beseeched the warrior princess to end generations of bloodshed and join with Mary Jane's own forces to fight the coming danger. Callinda saw the wisdom in this, and a truce was declared between Light and Dark.

Mary Jane, Callinda, and Seven, along with Callinda's two best Feyknights, brothers Veyan and Tadim Correadrus, led the Unified Army in battle against the Easterners. Many were killed, many betrayed, but in the end the unified forces of Essentia vanquished the Eastern hordes, saving their own world and many others as well.

As Essentia tried to settle back into life after the war was ended, they found they had no choice but to rebuild entirely their lives and beliefs. Light side by side with Dark, they looked to their leaders for guidance. Callinda and Mary Jane divided them into twelve kingdoms, but the people were still wary of their neighbors, still divided by the prejudices that had determined their loyalties for thousands of years. As they struggled to accept each other and move forward, the two Siedresses found their own leadership crumbling.

Mary Jane was still young and inexperienced, and Callinda was haunted by the death of her lover, Veyan, at the hands of his own brother. The Siedresses met one afternoon to discuss the problems their people faced. Together, they came to a solution.

They realized that the boundaries drawn between Light and Dark had to go. The Siedresses mission to lead their respective sides to victory was outdated. Essentia needed new guardians.

With this in mind, Callinda and Mary Jane chose twelve women, one from each kingdom, who were strong of spirit and soul. They abolished the eons-old line between Light and Dark, channelling their magic to their twelve apprentices. The women became immortals, tasked with the protection of Essentia. The Siedresses named these new guardians Zodiacs. They crowned Leo, fiercest and noblest among the Zodiacs, to be the leader, giving her a magical crown that allowed her to defeat all her foes in battle. The Zodiacs took their vows to protect and serve Essentia at all costs.

As their last act, the Siedresses crafted twelve blades, all imbued with great magic and named as separate entities. They gifted each Zodiac a blade, with careful instructions: the Zodiacs were not to use the blades themselves. They could be bestowed upon a mortal champion, who would carry out the will of the Zodiac whose blade they held. Seven, the demigod cat, bound her own spirit to Leo's blade, Sevenbright, making it most powerful among the Zodiac blades.

And so, with their beloved Essentia in capable hands, Callinda and Mary Jane parted ways. Mary Jane left the realm to travel and eventually return home to her own world, while Callinda ascended to walk among the Old Gods and finally be reunited with her beloved Veyan.

The Zodiacs spread themselves among the kingdoms, helping and guiding the people of Essentia in their new lives. Eventually, the people learned to accept each other, and banded together to move forward into their brave new world.

And so it was for centuries...