War is a terrifying urrence.


    Sorrow and misery seep through the body and soul of those that experience it.


    Countless innocents be victims and needless sacrifices are made.


    No one desires war, but it can not simply be avoided.


    As a result of two shing interests, for the noble cause of both sides, War bes inevitable.


    Such was the nature of the conflict that drowned the entire world and destabilized all our affairs.


    Countless victims on both ends weighed on our hearts as the terrible stench of blood and corpses lingered in the air.


    It was a hellishndscape filled with nothing but broken hopes and despondency.


    However, even in such a hopeless and despairing world, something beautiful formed.


    —Love.


    And with that emotion came hope.


    It took some time for me to embrace my new reality, but I did.


    Karlia was most likely dead—sacrificed in order to save me.


    That was the only conclusion I could arrive at after waiting for so long, yet seeing no signs of her return.


    “You don’t know them as I do. They will kill you!” Those words of hers rang deeply in my heart.


    Since I couldn’t wallow in pain and regret forever, I decided to bury the past and move with the future.


    Still, I did not despair. Why?


    It was because I had ‘her’ by my side.


    Every step of the way, she helped me, and while I often felt pangs of guilt for what I did with Karlia, those emotions faded away with time.


    A year passed after I returned to myrades, and the war intensified beyond normal.


    The Demons were growing more desperate due to the absence of resources for sustenance.


    They pushed our Forces to their limits, and even the Demon Lords began directly engaging in battles.


    Fortunately, thanks to my research on their kind, we were able to counter their assaults with ours.


    Defensive Magic specifically geared against Miasma was developed, and several tools were created with Demonic Energy resistance in mind.


    It was especially good to have an Allianceprising various races, so we could all rely on one another.


    Magic developed a great deal during this period, and new technologies were developed tobat ourmon enemy.


    I served as the Military Advisor and Grand Strategist in battle, sessfully cornering and countering every action made by the Demons.


    Soon, it only became a matter of time before their kind was eradicated.


    However, for some reason…


    ‘I can’t do it!’


    … I hesitated.


    It was certain that if we were willing to sacrifice a little bit more, the War would soon meet a decisive end.


    After spending a total of seven years facing the Demons, the long and weary ear was finally going toe to an end.


    We would take a major hit, but I was sure victory could be achieved.


    Despite that, I couldn’t push through with my ns.


    ‘What happened to… our ns?’


    Thoughts of the times I spent with Karlia would often surface.


    ‘Was it all for nothing?’


    Not all Demons were bad. No, it was probably fair to say that none were inherently evil.


    Just as humans, Elves, Fairies, and the other Races had their ws and values, the Demonic Race was no different.


    My time with Karlia had taught me that it was indeed possible for our kind to coexist.


    I had even spent two years of my life devising methods and theories to solve the problem the Demons were facing—thus creating a strong basis for ending the war.


    “Those moments, were they for nothing?!”


    I couldn’t ept it.


    Karlia made the ultimate sacrifice for my sake. Certainly, it wasn’t so I could utterly annihte her people.


    I couldn’t, in good conscience, do that.


    There had to be another way to finish the long-held conflict between the two opposing forces.


    And so, I ventured deep into my journals and old research materials.


    ‘The device I was developing back then… it was close to perfection!’


    Spending my time sourcing through the project I had abandoned, as well as cross-referencing everything with the new information I currently had, a new path opened up.


    “That’s it!”


    My project was dubbed the Miasma Generator.


    It was supposed to pump out and disperse Demonic Energy over a wide area, ensuring everyone under the cloud was constantly receiving a constant infusion of Miasma.


    Just as people naturally breathed air, it would work with Miasma.


    The Demons, in their allocated patch ofnd, would be able to survive as long as they were pervaded by the effects of the device.


    It was the perfect solution.


    Unfortunately, there was a major problem.


    “Fuel…”


    We needed a strong power source to generate, process, and disperse the Miasma.


    However, no such thing existed.


    Or… did it?


    As a result of my desperation, I resorted to thest straw that seemed like nothing but a fairy tale.


    That was the beginning of my journey—no, our search—for the most powerful objects in the world.


    —Arcanas.


    ********************


    “No.”


    “Surely, you don’t believe that story.”


    “We have a chance to end things decisively. Let’s do it and out a close to this terrible war.”


    “Lewis, why are you hesitating now?”


    “Those bastards don’t deserve understanding or mercy. They just need to die.”


    “I have to say, I’m quite interested…”


    As expected, I was faced with resistance.


    None of myrades—or the leaders of the respective Races—wanted to give my suggestion a try.


    They had lost too much to the Demons.


    The sacrifices were too extreme.


    Even if they would have to lose even more, everyone was determined to see things through to the bitter end.


    Ultimately, the Demons would be entirely destroyed.


    ‘… I can’t allow that…’


    Only I was obstinate about this.


    After spending so many years watching both sides ughter each other, I couldn’t take any more.


    Karlia’s sacrifice and our moments together couldn’t have been an illusion. I truly believed that.


    “I will search for another way! That’s the decision I have made.”


    As expected, many turned against me.


    But, one person never doubted the choice I made, even when my friends were hesitant about it.


    “If that’s what you believe… then I’ll trust you.”


    Emilia—my wife at that time—supported me with all she had.


    I was already 35 Years Old.


    During the chaos and amid the cmity, we had been bonded in matrimony.


    Even as I fought well on the front lines, Emilia supported me every step of the way.


    And even as I made my decision to honor the moments I spent with my previous lover, she sided with me as well.


    As a result, I had enough confidence and resolve to tread down that path.


    Eventually, myrades did as well.


    Together, we began our search for the Arcanas.