The Goddess's Gift and the Bond Ritual
Eight hundred years ago, the gates of the Underworld shattered.
Bloodthirsty devils poured into the world of the living—bringing chaos, death, and despair.
No land was spared. No life was safe. They devoured everything in their path, leaving behind nothing but silence and ash.
Desperate and on the edge of extinction, humans, elves, and beastkin united for the first time in history. Together, they raised one final prayer to the heavens.
And the Goddess of Light answered.
She descended in divine radiance, her presence brighter than the sun itself. Alone, she stood against the endless horde of devils. A battle that shook the skies began.
For days and nights, the war raged on.
In the end, the Goddess sealed the devils back into the Underworld.
But victory came with a cost.
To protect the world, she sacrificed her life.
In her final moments, the Goddess left behind one last gift—magic. A blessing made from her own essence, so mortals could protect themselves when evil rose again.
And then… she vanished, becoming only a legend.
A World Changed by Time
Decades passed.
The Goddess's blessing remained, but mankind's heart did not.
Magic, a sacred gift once meant for protection, became a tool of greed and war.
Kingdoms rose, fought, and fell, drowning the world in human ambition.
Disappointed, the elves and beastkin—true followers of the Goddess—separated from mankind.
The beastkin moved deep into the forests.
The elves sailed beyond the great ocean and built a secret kingdom.
Only a small group of faithful humans still worshipped the Goddess. They traveled to the borders of the elves and built a peaceful settlement.
Over centuries, this humble village grew into Lumenhart Kingdom, a nation born from faith, not greed.
A Peaceful Morning
A warm sun shone over the Lumenhart marketplace.
Merchants filled the streets. Fresh fruits, weapons, and shining fish caught from the rivers were displayed for eager buyers. Children laughed as they chased one another between stalls. It was a peaceful day.
Inside the royal castle, a soldier kneeled before the king.
"Your Majesty, the guests have arrived!"
King Lucarion Lumenhart nodded, though his face looked tense.
"Bring them in," he ordered.
The soldier left, and Lucarion sighed. "I told those two yesterday that today is an important day. They should have been here already."
A calm voice came from beside him.
"Big brother, relax. Let's greet our guests properly first."
Lucarion turned to see Therion Lumiere, his half-brother and the kingdom's general, smiling.
"You're right," Lucarion agreed. "Bring the princes here."
Before a servant could leave, a voice echoed through the hall.
"No need, Father."
A young woman entered—a fierce beauty with crimson red hair and eyes sharp as steel. She wore light armor, the sign of a warrior.
Her name was Lady Celestia Lumenhart, princess of the kingdom.
"You should rest, Celestia. Didn't you just return from an A-rank dungeon?" Lucarion said.
Celestia smirked.
"An A-rank dungeon is just a warm-up for me. Besides, I want to see how those two are doing."
Lucarion chuckled softly. "Fine. Suit yourself."
Seashore Shenanigans
On a sandy beach, an orange-haired boy held a bucket of jumping fish.
"That's enough, Seb! We don't need more fish!" he shouted.
A white-haired boy rose from the waves, water dripping from his bright blue eyes.
Girls on the beach squealed, "Prince Sebastian! Prince Sebastian!"
But Sebastian Lumiere ignored them. He grabbed his orange-haired companion and ran toward the jungle.
There, under a shady tree, another boy sat using fire magic to make a campfire.
"You're late," he said flatly.
Sebastian groaned. "Shut up, Lucien. Next time, you catch the fish."
Lucien smirked. "You'd just drown if I did."
They laughed, enjoying roasted fish under the trees.
"Training makes food taste better," Sebastian said.
The orange-haired boy—Kai, their friend—suddenly asked, "Shouldn't you two be at the palace already?"
Sebastian waved him off. "That can wait."
Lucien frowned. "Hey, Seb… when are you going to admit you can use two elements?"
Sebastian stayed silent.
"Oi! Don't ignore me!" Lucien snapped.
Suddenly, Kai bolted away, fear in his eyes.
"Where are you going?!" Sebastian shouted.
A woman's voice came from behind them.
"Maybe he saw a beast."
Sebastian froze. "…That voice—"
Lucien muttered, "It sounds familiar…"
They turned slowly. Behind them stood Celestia, fire magic dancing around her hands.
"Hi… big sis…" they both said nervously.
Celestia smiled sweetly—too sweetly.
"You're late. Again."
Moments later, the princes were dragged back to the castle.
Guests Arrive & The Dining Conversation
At the castle gate, King Lucarion and General Therion welcomed their guest—an elder elf with silver hair tied in a braid.
His name was Elder Elran Valehart, advisor to the Elf King.
"Elran Valehart, it's an honor to have you," Lucarion said.
Elran bowed slightly. "The honor is mine, King Lucarion, General Therion. The friendship between our kingdoms is precious."
They moved to the dining room, where maids served a grand feast.
Lucarion smiled. "Please, eat. It is rare for us to have such honored guests."
Elran returned the smile. "Your hospitality humbles us. King Sylvarion Valehart sends his regards and gratitude for supporting the new academy project."
Therion leaned forward slightly. "I was curious—why build it here in Lumenhart and not in your own lands?"
Elran set down his cup and spoke calmly. "Humans are ahead of us in formal education and research. But our young ones are forgetting their roots, their bond to the Goddess. If elf children live among humans, learning history and culture together, they may grow understanding instead of distance. We want them to see humans as allies, not strangers."
Lucarion nodded thoughtfully. "A noble goal. If our children grow together, they will also fight together when danger comes, just as we did in the past."
Elran smiled warmly. "That is our hope, Your Majesty."
The Ritual Begins
After the meal, everyone gathered in the throne room. Noble families filled the hall. Celestia stood proudly beside her father, while Sebastian and Lucien lined up before Elder Elran.
"Today," Elran said, "we perform the bond summoning ritual. May the chosen spirits guide our princes in their future battles."
He drew a magic circle using his blood and sacred water.
"Prince Lucien Lumenhart, step forward."
Lucien obeyed. A small cut was made on his finger, and his blood dripped into the circle.
The air trembled as mana surged. Light exploded from the circle, and with a roar, a red dragon hatchling appeared. Gasps filled the room.
"A red dragon…?" King Lucarion whispered. Even Therion looked stunned.
Elran smiled faintly. This is extraordinary.
Lucien stepped forward and touched the dragon. "Your name will be Ichi."
The dragon purred and marked his hand with a glowing symbol.
Next was Sebastian's turn.
But when the ritual finished, nothing appeared. Nobles whispered among themselves.
"Did he fail?"
"Not even a basic spirit?"
Sebastian clenched his fists. At least whisper quieter…
Then Celestia shouted, "Wait! Look at the circle!"
The magic circle exploded with light, stronger than before. The walls trembled. Elran stared wide-eyed.
"This mana… it's greater than even the red dragon's!"
And then—
A white slime popped out of the circle.
Sebastian blinked. "…A slime?"
To Be Continued…