CHAPTER 1: PROLOGUE

The old saying goes that things are always simpler in the eyes of a child. Black is dark, white is light, good and evil, right and wrong it's either one of the other and never both. However, nothing in the universe is ever that simple, as such narrow notions can be widened with age or experience, and the mind's ability to comprehend. Entire civilizations can rise and fall over a simple notion, but it's true leaders and innovations that see the world in a new light for a new era. This is the story of one such person, who despite his unlikely beginnings, shaped the world into a new Era of Enlightenment, in a world where magic, man and beast lived in a constant state of fear long since the beginning of time.

The world was at first a primitive terrain, one where humans were lower than the beasts, and mere fodder for the greater monstrosities known as Demons that roamed the planet. From the winged lion to mighty chimera, Demons were neither beast nor man, but a strange hybrid of both with near infinite combinations of species lurking in the shadows. Humanity was not the strongest of the beasts in the world, but they were intuitive for their ability to adapt and match wits with the great beasts of the world. It was this ingenuity that led to the first discovery that magic, while thought only existing in Demons, could also be harnessed by humans through sheer force of will and development during what would become to be known as the First Era of Magic.

In its infancy, the first circle of magic, known as the inner plane, could only amplify the first four fundamental elements of inner strength; mind, body, soul, and spirit. Mankind learned to think faster, fortify muscles and bones, and draw strength from within and from their surrounding environment in a way that transcended average human potential. Harnessing these four forces was the first step to creation of true magic, when mankind started using the very elements themselves. The first Mages learned to draw on the power of all four strengths and used them to combine together the very natural forces around them. Like kindling a fire in a ring of stones and then breaking that barrier to be released, mages learn to harness their powers like wildfire. That was the beginning of the Second Era, the dawn of the Elemental Mages, the power of the outer circle.

Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, the first elements of the outer circle of magic, soon to be followed by 3 more circles in an Age of Enlightenment that followed a Third, Fourth and Fifth Era. While the demon problem still persisted, many began to develop civilization beyond its primitive roots. Soon cities were formed, then provinces, then kingdoms, and then nations, forming the 5 great Kingdoms of World spreading across the 5 great continents. To the East of the first continent, is the Republic of Mentor, the largest and most diverse lands. To the West of the second continent, is the Empire of Neoptolemus, the second continent, one of two domains ruled but allied by hereditary ties. To the South of the second continent was the Duchy of Aster, known for its royal family and rich institutes of higher magical learning. Bridging the two main continents in the North, is the Free States of Hestia that act as neutral grounds for communication and free trade, but also a place of much scrutiny and superstitions. Then between all four nations, a floating island above the roaring seas, is the Theocracy of Evadne, known as neutral ground for all nations for its policy of inclusion and indifferent allegiances.

When demons were of low priority these 5 nations were in constant conflict with one another, for pride, resources, or other human things. However, when demons threatened all of them, a new alliance was formed with the creation of new institutes for Magic Craft. The Mage Academies were considered the beginning of the Sixth Era, where mankind settled their differences in the field of academics instead of the field of battle. Wars were fought on designated battlefields, and problems were solved in a civilized manner, while humanity fended off the threat of the demons in the first continent. Although these alliances were often fleeting, the inner demons of man were a lot harder to conquer than the ones in the wild.

One boy was fortunate enough to be born in this relative time of peace. His name was Anthony Erebus, born into the house of Erebus, a family of Neoptolemus in the capital city of Farad. It was a military city, connecting the heart of the navy, aerial and army cities on all corners of the nation. The Erebus was one of the most prestigious families in military affairs, dating back to the nation's founding. Leon Erebus was boasted as the strongest elemental mage in the nation, a general of strategic command, and a fifth circle fire mage of the highest caliber. With his loving wife Orsa by his side, who is also a fire mage, he sired 4 children, protégés in the art of fire magic. High ranking mage families were often known for their superior breeding and family bloodlines, going entire generations producing at least one progeny of superior quality in every generation. Leon was fortunate enough to bore 3 daughters of exceptional skills; Tundra, Vera, and Helena.

Anthony was the youngest member of the house Erebus. He wasn't the most talented or the most promising of individuals, but through a long hard road and trial, error and personal reflection, he became one of the greatest Mages in the Sixth Age. Whether it was magic, politics, family, or life, his life would circle in a way that would redefine magic in the world. Growing beyond the sum of his beginnings and expectations he would be a great scholar, a great healer, a great fighter and an example for the next age of mage craft. This is the story of how an Elemental Healer changed the world and the way we look at it.