1 Prologue: The Night of Falling Stars

Somewhere, far, far, away from where our story begins, the world's most powerful mage, Rydel Alabaster, sits alone in his study. He hunches over a book, quill in hand, furiously writing in the last few pages of an old, worn out journal.

He sighs to himself, crossing out thoughts and adding new ones, until the pages are finally full. Old Alabaster is unsure if he is completely satisfied with this work, but he has little choice. He is running out of time.

He slowly stands up from his desk, stumbling across the room to his balcony. Old Alabaster's mage tower has always been an immense symbol of status, one that rose high above even the tallest points in the capital city of Sladaton.

Clutching the book, Old Rydel Alabaster muttered some enchantments, using the last of his fleeting strength to do what he had to.

"I must be sure. Nobody unqualified can learn my secrets. It must be a great, powerful, talented mage to be my successor! Only he will have the power to locate all of these pages and learn my secrets!"

With that last promise, Rydel Alabaster threw his life's work high into the sky, higher than any mortal could dream of throwing. The world watched as it ignited into an astonishingly bright ball of flames, then exploded. Each page was sent in a different direction, lighting up the sky in a brilliant display.

This event would later be known as the Night of Falling Stars.

The night that the world's most powerful mage, Rydel Alabaster, died!

However, Old Rydel Alabaster was smarter than this. He didn't just spread his knowledge in this journal across the continent, no. He spread every material possession he had ever found in his thousand year life-span across the continent! Magic items, spell scrolls, weapons, unimaginable riches, and anything else one can imagine, Rydel had. And, while Rydel's body truly died that day, his spirit did not. He imbued his soul within a photographic jade in order to watch over his possessions, to see what kind of hands they would land in. He knew the Night of Falling Stars would change the continent forever, and he knew he just had to watch the fun!

I know what you're thinking, dear reader. Just how powerful was Old Rydel Alabaster? In order to give you an inkling of an idea how powerful this man was, allow me to explain how power is ranked in the Continent of Phimux.

At the bottom of the power hierarchy, we have regular mortals. Mostly peasants and the working class, these people don't cultivate, either out of choice, or a lack of natural talent. They can only work to please the immortals above them or die rebelling.

However, if one decides to cultivate, they may step into the world of immortals! While they aren't literally immortal, these people are a step beyond mortality. Immortals have many, many ranks, each more powerful than the last. Allow me to explain.

The weakest of the immortals are of the First Rank! There are a total of Nine Ranks before one steps into the realm beyond Ranks.

When one steps past the Ninth Rank, they become a Lesser Duke. Step beyond that to become a Full Duke, then a High Duke.

Old Rydel Alabaster was a High Duke, the peak of power on the Continent of Phimux!

Even with this information, questions still remain: why was Rydel dying, and what kind of research was he doing that was so important to preserve? I have only one answer, and that is to read on and find out, as Old Rydel Alabaster's secrets are slowly revealed, all by A Devil Named Devotion!