FIFTEEN: Aiyana

"As the soon-to-be queen of The Nedor Kingdom and High Queen of Eldoria, it's rather odd that you're not familiar with the other realms," Thalindor remarked, watching as my eyes scanned the map, which bore a striking resemblance to one I'd stumbled upon before, possibly another copy.

"I hardly knew they existed," I admitted, my fingers lightly tracing what looked like a river on the map. "I only came across it by chance, a map similar to this; initially, I thought it was just a fabrication."

Thalindor was taken aback, "A fabrication?" he exclaimed. "There's nothing fabricated about this; it's been around for ages, which is why you should handle it with care," he cautioned, prompting me to retract my hand from its surface.

Thalindor adjusted his stance, a confident gleam in his eyes. "Forgive me, Your Highness, for assuming such ignorance on your part," he said with a hint of condescension. "However, it is understandable that such matters might have escaped your notice. But fret not, for with my wisdom and expertise, I shall enlighten you on all matters of significance in due time, but let us start from the very beginning…

Once, in a time unfathomably ancient, when stars graced the earth with their proximity and the wind whispered tales, the world emerged—blanketed in boundless emptiness, teeming with magic drawn from the cosmos. And amidst the cosmos, Life herself arose, traversing the expanse, bestowing vitality in accordance with the elemental forces: Air, Water, Light, and Earth.

Yet, as Life roamed, she stumbled upon a grievous revelation—her creations were perishing. It was then she beheld the existence of another akin to her, lurking in shadows, feasting upon her progeny: Death.

Life and Death were polar opposites: while Life brought forth creation, Death claimed it. They struck a pact, whereby Death would only claim a portion of Life's creations until the Earth was filled. Yet, Death's insatiable hunger led him to betray the agreement, corrupting Life's children and inciting conflict among them.

Humans were Life's initial offspring, crafted pure and vulnerable, devoid of magic. However, their propensity for discord led to the first war, leaving only a fraction of their population intact. Death feasted on their demise, while Life, unable to experience negative emotions, mourned the loss of her children.

In response, Life bestowed her subsequent creations with magic to shield them from Death's influence. The Fae were born to safeguard the land, followed by the Merfolks, who protected the water.

These new creations, imbued with Life's magic, proved more resilient against Death's machinations. The Fae, guardians of the land, utilised their magical abilities to nurture and defend the Earth. Meanwhile, the Merfolks, tasked with safeguarding the waters, ensured the balance and purity of the oceans and rivers and the creatures in it.

As the world evolved, Life continued to create diverse beings, each endowed with unique gifts and purposes. From the majestic creatures of the skies to the elusive inhabitants of the forests, Life's children flourished in harmony with the natural world, their magic serving as a shield against Death's relentless grasp.

In spite of Life's efforts to safeguard her creations, Death's influence persisted, impacting humans more than Life's other offspring. They endured illnesses, a short lifespan, and susceptibility.

Death became envious of Life's ability to reproduce, so he disguised himself and slept with a human woman, who bore his children, giving rise to the demons. Although Life noticed they weren't of her own making, she accepted them nonetheless, and their numbers grew alongside other creatures, with whom they also interbred, producing hybrids.

Some humans, feeling resentful for lacking powers like other beings, confronted Life, who reassured them that they were perfect as they were. Yet, determined to acquire powers, they turned to Death, who offered them abilities in exchange for their souls. They agreed without hesitation and were bestowed with the power of darkness and an insatiable thirst for blood, thus creating the Vampyres.

The Vampyres began preying on humans, their bite proving fatal or transforming them into one of their kind. However, their acquisition of power had a significant drawback: they couldn't endure sunlight due to their lack of a soul.

Unable to accept the consequences, the Vampyres attempted to drag humanity down with them. In response, Life expelled them from human territories, enclosing their habitat with a barrier guarded by the Fae to prevent their escape. Though unable to bring herself to punish them, Life sought Death's aid in creating dark clouds over their domain, enabling them to move freely during the day. She also provided sustenance, as their bloodlust diminished away from human influence.

The realm where they currently reside is commonly referred to as "The Shadowrealm."

As for the demons, their inherently destructive nature made coexistence with humans impossible, posing a threat to both nature and life. Therefore, Life fashioned a habitat tailored to their needs. Unlike with the Vampires, she didn't erect a barrier, as the demons had no desire to harm humans. However, given their lineage from Death, chaos was ingrained in their nature.

Despite their separation from human society, the demons' inclination towards chaos persisted. They roamed their realm , their presence leaving trails of disorder in their wake. Life, recognizing their inherent tendencies, kept a watchful eye over them, ensuring that their influence remained contained within their realm. While they were not a direct threat to humans, their existence served as a reminder of the balance between creation and destruction in the world. The demons named their realm "Drakoria."

There existed a select few humans untouched by the corrupting influence of Death. Life, recognizing their purity of spirit and untainted connection to the natural world, bestowed upon them a unique gift—the ability to harness the primal energies of the wilderness.

Under the benevolent gaze of Life, these chosen individuals were granted the power to undergo a transformation unlike any other. When the moon rose high in the night sky, they would feel the stirrings of ancient magic coursing through their veins, calling forth a metamorphosis that bridged the gap between humanity and the wild.

In this state, they became the guardians of wilderness, the protectors of its untamed beauty and delicate balance. They were werewolves, not born of darkness or twisted by malevolent intent, but rather imbued with the pure essence of Life itself.

Witnessing the perpetual vulnerability of humans to the whims of other creatures, Life took decisive action to ensure their safety. She provided them with a sanctuary, a habitat shielded from the encroaching dangers of the world beyond.

To safeguard this haven, Life called upon the Elves, who had distanced themselves from their former Fae kin due to their evolving nature. Tasked with the solemn duty of protection, the Elves stood as guardians of the barrier, their ancient wisdom and formidable skills ensuring its impregnability to all but themselves.

With the Elves as the stalwart defenders, the barrier became an impenetrable shield, shielding humans from the myriad threats that lurked beyond its confines. Humanity, hence acquired a refuge where they could thrive without fear of harm from the outside world.

As the sands of time flowed inexorably onward, humanity flourished, weaving the tapestry of civilization with their ingenuity and resilience. With each passing generation, memories of the existence of other creatures and realms faded into the mists of myth and legend.

Though tales of Life's other children were passed down through the ages, they became increasingly relegated to the realm of folklore and superstition. Lacking tangible evidence of their existence, these stories were often dismissed as mere flights of fancy, woven by the imaginations of storytellers seeking to capture the imagination of listeners.

Creation unfolded further as the other creatures, each with their unique essence and purpose, forged their own realms beyond the borders of humanity's domain.

The werewolves, drawn by the mystique of the moon and the call of the wild, established the Moonfang realm. The Elves, bound by their sacred duty as guardians, created Sylvanvale.

The Dwarves, born of the union between humans and Elves, crafted a realm of industry and craftsmanship known as Ironforge.

The Faes, descendants of the Elves yet distinct in their own right, settled in the heart of the forest, creating Everwood.

Thus, alongside the shadowrealm and Drakoria, the seven realms came into existence, humanity barely aware of their presence while the inhabitants of the realms remained acutely conscious of one another's existence.