Excerpt from "The World History" – Page 1
*"Once, there existed a world divided by mighty rivers into three great nations.
The first was the Kingdom of Asteria, the realm of Humans. Fragile in flesh, weak in body, and easily wounded—yet among all races, they alone possessed unmatched intelligence. It was the humans who invented language, carved symbols into stone, created books to preserve knowledge, and forged weapons to defend themselves. Though frail, their will to survive made them thrive.
Throughout their history, remarkable humans were born—individuals of great strength, wisdom, creativity, and mastery in combat. They shaped the course of Asteria and elevated humankind beyond its limitations. The chronicles of Asteria and its endless revolutions continue for the next ten pages…"*
? Excerpt – Page 11
*"Beyond the rivers lies the nation of Zeranthia, homeland of the Beastmen.
Though similar in form to humans, beastmen bore traits of animals from birth—cat-like ears, canine fangs, bovine horns, leonine manes, and tails that marked their heritage. Unlike humans, they were gifted with natural strength, heightened senses, and fierce resilience.
The hierarchy of beastmen was steep: the Dragonkin stood as kings, revered like royalty. Below them, the Avian clans, whose radiant wings were admired across nations, held noble status. The predator clans—lions, tigers, and wolves—were warriors of great renown, while sturdy races like bulls and bison became the pillars of strength. At the base of society were the more common races: cats, dogs, deer. Special clans also existed, rare and mysterious—amphibians, reptiles, and aquatic beastmen who rarely left their hidden domains…"*
? Excerpt – Page 20
*"The third nation was Sylvaria, the Kingdom of Elves.
Born with an innate bond to nature, the elves wielded elemental power as easily as drawing breath. Their beauty was said to be unmatched, their lifespans long, and their wisdom deep. Three great clans defined their society: the High Elves, masters of magic and stewards of knowledge; the Common Elves, who lived as craftsmen, farmers, and citizens of the forest; and the Dark Elves, warriors feared for their combat prowess and shadow-born tactics.
Together, the elves shaped a kingdom where nature itself seemed alive, whispering through the leaves and rivers."*
Page 30 – The Era of Uneasy Peace
"Though the three nations—Asteria of Humans, Zeranthia of Beastmen, and Sylvaria of Elves—stood as neighbors bound by rivers, they were never without tension. Borders were watched carefully, and disputes over land and resources often sparked flame-like tempers. Yet, for centuries, war was avoided, replaced instead by fragile treaties and fleeting alliances."
Page 37 – The Human Folly
*"It was within this age of fragile peace that mankind sought more. Their hunger for knowledge drove them to attempt the forbidden—the opening of the Realm Gate, an ancient door sealed by gods themselves.
Their intention was discovery, perhaps power. But what emerged was neither. From the blackened gate came creatures of despair—the Demons, whose existence knew only hatred and hunger.
Thus began the end of peace."*
Page 42 – Unity in Desperation
*"The humans, overwhelmed by the invasion, called for aid. The Beastmen of Zeranthia, despite their rivalry with humans, granted them fertile lands at the edge of their territory to relocate refugees and regroup. The Elves of Sylvaria, though slow to trust, shared forbidden knowledge of magic and ancient wards.
Together, the three nations forged an alliance—born not from trust, but from necessity. An alliance not of friendship, but of survival."*
Page 47 – The Great Annihilation War
*"What followed was known as the Annihilation War—a conflict where blood dyed rivers red and skies burned black. The demons were countless, their armies endless. Cities crumbled, forests withered, mountains cracked.
Elven sorcerers rained fire and lightning, Beastman warriors shattered ranks with tooth and claw, and Human strategists forged weapons that tore through demon hordes. Yet, for every thousand demons slain, ten thousand more poured from the gate.
It was not a war of victory. It was a war of endurance."*
Page 54 – The Aftermath
*"And so, after years uncounted, the war ended not with triumph, but with silence.
The Realm Gate was finally sealed—at a cost so great that the world itself seemed to mourn. Entire human cities vanished, their names forgotten. The Beastmen lost clans that would never return. The Elves, once proud and eternal, saw their forests burned beyond healing.
The three nations survived… but were scarred forever.
Peace returned, but suspicion festered deeper than before. Each nation whispered blame against the others—humans for their folly, beastmen for their cold pragmatism, elves for their guarded secrets.
The Annihilation War ended the demons… yet it planted the seeds of a darker future."*
Page 54 – The Aftermath (Final Passage)
*"Though the Great Annihilation War ended, the world bore wounds that would never heal. Yet, with time, even scars fade.
Humans, Beastmen, and Elves—once rivals, then allies—slowly began to weave a new world together. Borders softened, trade routes flourished, and towns rose where once stood battlefields. Cities grew diverse, where Human merchants, Beastman guards, and Elven scholars lived side by side.
It is said that true peace had finally descended upon the world… though in whispers, some scholars warn that the Demons, though sealed, were never truly destroyed. The silence beyond the Realm Gate may only be a pause, not an end.
And thus, the world as we know it today was born—one of harmony, recovery, and fragile peace."*
Asiel slowly closed the book, his fingers brushing against the worn leather cover. He had not noticed until now, but the world outside the window had grown dark—the day lost to the pages of history. The candle by his desk flickered, throwing shadows across the room.
He returned the tome to its place on the shelf. His eyes drifted for a moment, as if carrying the weight of centuries he had just read about. Then, with deliberate care, he pulled out another book. Its title, engraved in faded gold, read:
"The History of Lagunica"
"If the first book told the story of nations," Asiel thought, "then perhaps this one will tell me the story of the town I now stand in."
He opened it, ready to uncover the past of the very land beneath his feet.
The book of World History began with the tale of three nations, separated by rivers yet bound by fate.
The Humans, fragile in body but unmatched in mind, carved their place with the strength of invention—books, language, weapons, and ideas. Among them rose great men and women, whose brilliance lit the path for the future. Their nation flourished, though always aware of the shadows cast by their neighbors.
Across the waters lived the Beastmen, proud and wild, who bore the strength of the creatures from which their bloodlines came. Catfolk and wolf-kin roamed with agility; bulls and lions carried power in their veins; and soaring above them all, the birdfolk nobles and dragonkin royals ruled with unmatched might. Though their claws and fangs made them fearsome, it was their loyalty to kin that made them strong.
Then came the Elves, children of nature, whose lives were intertwined with the flow of the world. The High Elves commanded the elements with wisdom, the Dark Elves honed their bodies for battle, and the common folk sustained their kingdoms with harmony. Their forests sang with magic, and their cities were temples of knowledge.
For a time, the three nations lived in uneasy peace. Trade crossed the rivers, alliances were forged, but so too were grudges, as borderlands saw skirmishes and whispers of war. Still, they endured—until the folly of mankind shattered the balance.
It was said that in pursuit of greater power, the Humans opened the Realm Gate. From that dark rift poured the Demons, creatures born of malice, feeding on blood and despair. What began as scattered raids soon grew into the Great Annihilation War—a war that consumed the world itself.
Humans, Beastmen, and Elves stood together at last, their differences buried beneath the desperation to survive. The Beastmen surrendered land to hold back the tide. The Elves shared their knowledge, even secrets they had kept hidden for centuries. And Humanity, though the cause of the disaster, fought with a ferocity born of guilt and hope alike.
The war raged for decades. Entire cities burned, forests fell to ash, and rivers turned red. The cost was unthinkable, but in the end, the Realm Gate was sealed. The Demons were driven back into the void, and silence returned to the land.
But victory did not come without sacrifice. Nations lay in ruin, bloodlines were broken, and history itself seemed scarred. The world's survivors, though weary, chose to rebuild together. Slowly, the great wounds healed. New towns rose on old battlefields, cities became homes to many races, and peace—though fragile—took root once more.
It is this world, reborn from ashes, that now exists today.
Asiel closed the book with care, the weight of history still heavy in his thoughts. Outside his window, the stars had already claimed the sky; he had spent the entire day lost in stories of centuries past. A thin smile tugged at his lips—how strange, that one could journey across ages without ever leaving a chair.
He rose, stretching the stiffness from his body, and placed the tome back onto its shelf. His hand lingered on the spine for a moment, before reaching toward another volume, smaller but no less important. The faded gold letters on its cover gleamed faintly in the candlelight:
"The History of Lagunica."
"So," Asiel thought, his eyes narrowing in curiosity, "if the first book tells me of the world, then perhaps this one will tell me of the ground beneath my feet. Not the fate of nations… but the story of the town I now find myself in."
With that, he opened the book, turning the first page, ready to uncover the secrets of Lagunica.
The History of Lagunica
Nestled by the great Serel River, Lagunica stands as one of the largest towns beyond the reach of the capital. Built across a radius of nearly fifteen kilometers, its sprawl hugs the riverbank, allowing boats, barges, and ferries to flow endlessly through its veins. The river became the town's lifeblood, linking it to the farthest corners of the continent—north to the elven forests, west to the beastmen plains, and south to the human capital.
It is said Lagunica was first founded as a mere ferry-crossing, a place where travelers rested before venturing deeper inland. But trade grew, markets followed, and soon merchants of every kind found themselves here. Stalls turned to shops, shops turned to great houses, and Lagunica became a thriving hub, alive with coin, goods, and dreams.
The town is a place of both bustle and order. Stone-paved roads cut through districts of warehouses, taverns, forges, and great guild halls. Noble mansions line the higher ground, watching the river from above, while commoners' homes crowd the lower streets where the sound of wheels and hooves never ceases.
Two great institutions define Lagunica's pride:
The Swordmen Academy, where young men and women from noble families train to become knights or mercenaries, learning the way of steel and honor.
The Mage Academy, a proud tower of stone and crystal, where the gifted are taught the arcane arts. Though its halls whisper of rivalry with the swordsmen, the truth is that both schools together guard the heart of the town.
Smaller schools exist as well, teaching children letters and numbers, but in Lagunica, ambition often pushes the youth toward sword or spell.
The administration of the town rests in the hands of the High Noble Family of Estrel, an ancient line of human lords. From their mansion on the eastern hill, the Estrels govern trade, taxes, and law. While the town is largely human, beastmen are a common sight in its markets, drawn by commerce. Elves, however, are rare—though when they appear, their presence is always noted.
Order is maintained by the Knight's Order of Lagunica, clad in steel and sworn to protect the people. Yet not all matters fall to the sword; for when crimes twist into mystery, or corruption of magic stains the streets, the Mage's Association steps in, wielding spells of sight, truth, and sealing.
Still, not all of Lagunica's affairs are official. There exists another group, not bound by noble law or knightly oath: the Adventurers, often called Travelers.
They belong to no single banner but to the Traveler's Commission, an organization that spans the entire known world. Free souls by nature, they take on commissions that range from the mundane—clearing streets, guarding caravans, retrieving lost goods—to the perilous—slaying corrupted beasts, purging nests of monsters, even assassination when coin is enough. Their work is cheap compared to the knight's order, and their reach is vast, which is why the common folk trust them more than their own rulers.
But what are these "monsters" they so often hunt? The book explained:
Monsters are not beasts by nature. They are creatures twisted and disfigured by the residue of demonic energy, remnants of the old war that seeped into the soil and rivers. Wolves sprout scales, birds grow fangs, fish crawl upon land—mutations that know no logic but hunger.
Even humans are not spared. Those corrupted lose their sanity first, then their form, until they become something no longer human. Against such fates, the knights and mages fight bravely, but none hold as much power against corruption as the Church. With holy water and divine rites, priests can heal wounds, purify taint, and return even the half-lost back to themselves. Their blessing is often the last hope for those who wander too close to darkness.
Thus, Lagunica became more than just a town. It became a stage—a place where merchants seek fortune, knights uphold honor, mages seek knowledge, priests guard purity, and adventurers carve freedom.
Asiel closed the book gently, his mind heavy with the vastness of Lagunica's story. Yet he knew not all knowledge came from ink and parchment. That evening, as he wandered through the bustling taverns near the riverfront, he let the voices of strangers fill his ears.
From the drunken laughter of merchants, he learned of the Estrel family's stern rule.
From the hushed words of travelers, he heard of monsters seen upriver.
And from the whisper of adventurers, he caught tales of commissions too dangerous to be spoken aloud.
The official history ended with the pride of Lagunica. But the truth of the town—its pulse, its dangers, its secrets—lived in the voices of the people.
And Asiel listened.
The ink on the page blurred as Asiel's eyelids drooped lower and lower. His stomach growled softly, an unrelenting reminder that he had not eaten since waking in this strange new world. At first, he tried to ignore it—pushing himself to finish just one more paragraph, one more page, one more chapter of the endless history tomes stacked before him.
But knowledge could not fill hunger.
The candlelight flickered lazily, casting shadows that danced across the shelves lined with countless books. The library of Lagunica was immense, towering rows of knowledge stretching into the darkness, each filled with the legacy of this world. For Asiel, it was both a treasure trove and a trap. His body was weary, yet his mind screamed to absorb more.
His hand, once firmly holding the book History of Lagunica, slipped. The heavy cover slammed shut with a dull thud that echoed faintly in the silent hall. Startled, Asiel lifted his head—but his vision swam, and his chin fell to rest upon his arms folded on the table.
The scent of old parchment, candle wax, and faint wood polish lulled him into a half-dreaming state.
From a distance, the faint creak of footsteps echoed, the night-guard librarians making their rounds. Yet when they passed the section where Asiel slumped, they hardly gave him a glance. His simple yet clean attire, the way he leaned over the books with quills scattered about, painted the image of a scholar too absorbed in his research to rest.
And scholars, after all, were common in Lagunica's grand library.
The night was peaceful, only the occasional scratch of quills or the turning of pages breaking the silence. To the few other night readers present, Asiel was just another student of history—lost in his obsession, wrestling with the burden of knowledge.
But inside, the truth was far harsher.
Asiel's stomach tightened again, a sharp pang pulling him from the edge of sleep. His body longed for food, but his mind—so heavy with information of nations, wars, monsters, and adventurers—finally surrendered to fatigue.
And so, without even realizing it, Asiel drifted off into slumber right there at the wooden desk, surrounded by books that smelled of time and memory.
For now, he was safe.
For now, no one questioned him.
And for now, Lagunica's library became his first true shelter in this unfamiliar world.
The warmth of sunlight slipped through the tall glass windows, landing gently across Asiel's face. He stirred awake, blinking as the library shelves slowly sharpened into view. His neck ached, his arms were stiff, and his stomach roared in protest.
"Huh… did I pass out while studying?" he muttered groggily, rubbing his eyes. With a faint chuckle, he yawned wide, "Haah… well, it seems history is just as boring a subject here as it was in my—" another yawn interrupted his words, "—wooorllld…"
Shaking his head, Asiel carefully stacked the books he had been drowning in, returning them to their place on the nearby shelf.
At the counter, the librarian dozed off against a small pile of scrolls. Asiel tilted his head up and spotted the clock above the desk.
"…Four in the morning, huh? No wonder she's asleep."
Quietly, he pulled the register closer, filled in his exit time beneath his name, and left his signature before stepping out into the town.