In the vast and ancient world of Aetherra, five sprawling continents shape the cradle of civilization. Each one is home to distinct cultures, lands, and powerful realms. These continents are known as Arcanthys, Velmoria, Nurashai, Zuyanka, and Xianszhou — each brimming with its own wonders, conflicts, and histories. But above all, what binds and defines the world of Aetherra is not merely land or lineage, but magic.
Magic flows through the very fabric of existence in Aetherra. It is the air that is breathed, the force that fuels cities, and the fire that sparks wars and legends. Almost every sentient race born of this world possesses their own form of arcane power. From the quiet valleys to the highest towers of the great empires, magic governs all — not as a tool or craft, but as an immutable law of nature. No endeavor, be it war, trade, healing, or creation, can escape its reach.
Aetherra is home to countless races and creatures, each with its own strengths and traditions. Yet among them, several have risen as the dominant powers in this world — not only in numbers, but in their influence over magic, knowledge, and force. These include the Vampires, the Demons, the Elves, the Dragons, the mysterious and ethereal Aetherborn and of course, the ever-adaptable and ambitious Humans, who — by will, numbers, and cunning — have come to dominate vast stretches of Aetherra's surface.
Though countless nations exist, only seven human kingdoms and empires have managed to stand at the peak of global power. These great forces are Kyrovolga, Nahralia, Hyokoku, Baelviano, Lumiere, Yxamar, and Eldoria. Collectively, they are known as The Seven Thrones — the pillars of human supremacy in the world. Though there are many other powerful human realms, none possess the same enduring influence as these seven. Their economies, militaries, magical academies, and bloodlines shape the political and magical balance of the entire continent.
Within the Seven Thrones, three noble families have carved legacies that endure through centuries. These houses — Alexandrovich, Salvatore, and Victoria — hold immense political sway, vast magical heritage, and command both fear and admiration across the continent. Still, it must be remembered that the Seven Thrones represent but one facet of Aetherra. Beyond the reach of humankind lie the domains of dragons, demon lords, elven high courts, and vampiric blood kingdoms — each harboring secrets, armies, and ambitions of their own.
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March 23rd, Year 1453 A.A. — Kyrovolga Empire
It was just past midnight in the heart of Kyrovolga, the empire of eternal winter. Snow fell from the heavens like drifting ash — slow, dense, and unrelenting. But this snowfall was different. Even for a nation cloaked in frost and shadow year-round, this storm was unnatural. The wind howled with a voice like ancient whispers. The cold bit deeper than usual, and the skies swirled with a haunting stillness.
Inside the ancient citadel of House Alexandrovich, fires burned bright in every hall. Servants rushed through corridors. Guard posts were doubled. Court healers and mages chanted protective incantations, their voices echoing softly against the stone walls. Tonight, the imperial family was awaiting the birth of its third child.
In a chamber tucked deep within the inner sanctum of the palace — silent save for muffled voices and ritual hymns — Queen Elenaria Alexandrovich lay in labor. She was surrounded by the most skilled healers and midwives of the empire, all working in tense precision. Ancient spells of protection and healing floated in the air, shimmering faintly like dancing starlight.
Time passed in heavy silence. And then, as the moon climbed toward its highest point, a sound shattered the stillness: the cry of a newborn.
The child was quickly lifted by the royal physician, who examined him carefully under the light of enchanted crystals. He was wrapped in a cloth of imperial silk, laced with enchantments to protect newborns from magical interference. The healer turned solemnly to the emperor and queen, his voice steady yet touched by awe.
Royal Physician:
"Your Majesties… The third child of the Empire has arrived."
At the end of the room stood Emperor Vaelric Alexandrovich XIII, cloaked in black and silver, his bearing as unshakable as the mountains. He stepped forward slowly, his pale blue eyes gleaming like frozen rivers as he looked upon the child for the first time.
Vaelric:
"Look, Elenaria... our child has been born."
Queen Elenaria, exhausted yet filled with grace, opened her eyes. With trembling fingers, she peeled back the silk to look upon the child they had brought into the world.
It was a boy.
His hair was deep black, threaded with mysterious streaks of midnight blue, as though the night sky itself had marked him. His eyes — still adjusting to the light — held a rich, profound blue, like starlight reflected in the deep sea. He radiated a presence unlike their other children.
Elenaria (softly):
"He's different from his brother and sister… What should we name him?"
Vaelric did not respond immediately. He stared at the child, contemplative. Time seemed to slow as the emperor weighed the significance of the moment. At last, he spoke.
Vaelric:
"He shall be called… Noah. Noah Alexandrovich."
Elenaria:
"Noah Alexandrovich… It's a beautiful name."
Moments later, the chamber doors opened. Two young figures entered — the firstborn daughter, Seraphyne Alexandrovich, graceful and already wise beyond her years, followed by her younger brother, Kaelrich Alexandrovich, proud and ever-curious.
They approached the cradle cautiously, eyes wide with wonder as they looked upon their newborn sibling. The emperor knelt, presenting the child to them.
Vaelric:
"This is your younger brother — the third star in our family's sky."
Seraphyne leaned in gently, brushing a finger across Noah's tiny hand. Kaelrich looked at him curiously, then gave a nod — the silent kind only a brother would understand.
Their bond, unspoken and new, had already begun to form.
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Days later, a royal proclamation was issued across the empire and beyond: a third child, a prince, had been born to Emperor Vaelric and Queen Elenaria Alexandrovich of Kyrovolga. Bells rang out across the frostbitten cities. In distant courts, diplomats whispered. And in the shadows, far beyond the veil of celebration, unseen eyes turned toward Kyrovolga — and the child whose birth had been marked by stars
A child named Noah.
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End of Chapter 1