Braznychia - Forging a Nation through War (HISTORICAL ACCOUNT)

Zaltava-Braznychia

AUTUMN, 917AR

The sun rose over the city of Baraguzhin, hundreds of kilometers from the city of Zaltava, the capital of the ruling Zaltava Dynasty of Braznychia. It was a day like any other, welcomed by the cockling of the roosters, the sun low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the orange landscape that marks the peak of autumn. The central market was already bustling with activity at this early hour, for a shipment of fresh goods had just arrived to the city. People were rushing to buy their share of the goods, for the long and brutal winter is rapidly approaching, and along with it, the scarcity of food shipments.

Among the crowd was a young man, with straight black hair, grey eyes, and a small mustache beginning to grow on his upper lip. He wore a thick brown coat to help insulate his body in the cold Zaltavan Weather. He was Sergey Timoshenko, a young man in his early twenties, and one of the members of the city’s civilian government. Timoshenko was known by his peers as an extremely pro-monarchist and pro-Zaltavan person, especially odd given Baraguzhin’s distance to the nation’s capital, as well as the common anti-monarchist and pro-autonomy sentiment shared by many of the city’s residents. But this did not stop Sergey from expressing his support for the monarchist system, and for the regime that had long ruled the nation.

However, the system of monarchist rule had radically changed years ago, with the early death of Emperor Katukov from cardiac arrest, with none of his children old enough to rule the nation. With the Zaltavan Throne empty, a new man stepped into the scene to fill the power vacuum left behind. His name? Martin Zhigunov. Zhigunov was no stranger to politics, serving as the head of the civilian government of Braznychia. And with no one on the throne, Zhigunov ascended to become the nation’s ruler, marking the first time in centuries that a person not from the Zaltava bloodline ruled the nation.

Sergey was not a fan of the new Zhigunov administration. He viewed it as foreign, alien, and a mockery of Braznych culture. His friend, who serves within the Imperial Court, Marcus Savrasov shared the same sentiment as Sergey. The two had been friends since childhood, with Savrasov leaving their tiny village when he was 16 for the capital, and managed to rise the ranks of the Imperial Court.

As Zhigunov’s administration went on, he went on to become more despised by the conservatives of the nation, like Sergey. He was seen as corrupt, who focused on keeping his inner circle happy, but many believed it was also because Zhigunov pushed for radical reforms to the Braznych system, including the separation of religion and state, the granting of rights to other sapient species, embracing technology and turning backs to the old tradition of magic, and legally permitting same-sex activity within the country. These reforms — seen by many people like Sergey, destroyed the nation. For them, Zhigunov destroyed the authenticity of Braznych culture. Zhigunov sold the nation to foreign ideals. Zhigunov destroyed the Zaltava Dynasty, and by extension, the idea of Braznychia as a nation.

And so, many people would make attempts on Zhigunov’s life. One of them was Savrasov himself, taking part in a massive plot to assassinate Zhigunov while he was visiting the city of Kreszov. Unfortunately, a government spy had infiltrated their ranks, foiling their plan and he along with all of his comrades involved in the plot was soon executed.

The death of Savrasov deeply affected Timoshenko. He viewed Marcus as his only true friend, who had been there for him all these years, and who he accompanied in return. Even as children, they always played together, and spent hours with each other.

He was inconsolable.
He slowly began to isolate himself from society, wandering off into the wilderness for days at a time.

On this particular night, Sergey found himself sitting alone on the same hill where both of them used to play. In front of him lay a single candle and a single rose, a silent tribute to the man he valued the most. As he sat there silently, he recalls the time when both of them were still young, playing in the vast steppe.

The wind blows across the Braznych Steppe. Nomadic herders roam the steppe, with their huge flocks of sheep. Marcus and Sergey sit on a hill, overlooking the area.

Marcus: Hey Serge!, I bet you cant beat me down this hill!
Sergey: We'll see about that. Race you there.

The two gather at the top of the path that leads down the hill. "3..2..1, GO!!"
Marcus and Sergey run down the hill as fast as they could go, jumping over numerous obstacles on the way. In the end, Sergey ended up winning the race, and both of them laughed as they reached the bottom. A herdsman approached them, looking annoyed. "Shhh...quiet. You're scaring the sheep!"

Marcus and Sergey look at the man with terror, and quickly run from the area, chuckling as they dash away.

Fifteen years later. The Zaltava-Ogura war breaks out, and Marcus told Sergey that he was being drafted to the military. Sergey was devastated, as this meant this may be the last time he would see him again. Nevertheless, he said his goodbyes, and hugged him one last time.

"I will always remember our time together. And the cool winds of the steppe we call home."

Marcus boards a train and leaves, leaving Sergey alone. He had no one to turn to, as his parents had abandoned him when he was 2 years old. He was taken in by a herder family in Xanakva, before they and their entire flock died in a snowstorm. He was truly isolated, and was lonely without Marcus.

Five years had passed, and Sergey never heard from Marcus. Not a single letter. He began to think that he was dead. Until one morning, Marcus arrived back home, much to Sergey's delight.

"You're finally home!", Sergey exclaims!

The two hug each other for the first time in five years. "I missed you, old friend", said Marcus.

From that day on, Sergey would embark on a mission to avenge his dear friend, and finally mold the Braznychia of his dreams. His ideal nation. He was going to do what many before him could not. An endeavor that cost people’s lives. He was going to assassinate Zhigunov.

The following day, Sergey stocked up on weapons, and set off for the capital, Zaltava. He had received news that Zhigunov would be giving a speech in the city’s main square in celebration of a major national holiday, and he was going to be there, waiting.

The day came. Zhigunov had ascended the elevated rostrum that overlooked the large crowd standing before him. He straightens his suit and adjusts his posture, before beginning his speech.

“People of-”

He wasnt even able to get the first sentence out of his mouth when a loud gunshot was heard echoing throughout the area. Zhigunov collapsed to the ground, the bullet penetrating his skull, and was soon pronounced dead.

The assassination of Zhigunov sent shockwaves throughout the nation. For many of his supporters, it was devastating news, the assassination of one of Braznychia’s best leaders. While for his opponents, it was a somber yet necessary event to steer the nation into a new direction. One that would hopefully be better than the nation of yesterday.

Oh how they were so wrong.

Due to Sergey's assassination of Premier Zhigunov, the nation fell into anarchy and chaos. The rule of the Zaltava Dynasty had ended in a flash, and along with it, the nation’s many different ethnic minorities, who had long been treated as second-class citizens under Zaltavan rule found themselves free. And not just free, in a position to secure power for themselves in a new Braznychia — one radically different from the one that had preceded it. Multiple factions from all across the nation rose up and took arms, scrambling to gain power during the sudden power vacuum and establish a regime of their own, leading to the Braznychian State's collapse in 918AR, being divided between a series of rebel states and independent warlords.

It was a day which would live on in infamy within the annals of Braznych history. All over Braznychia, people awoke on the morning of the 10th of March, to find that they were now living under a completely different state, or under the rule of a single warlord. Sergey had unintentionally plunged the nation into chaos, and in the process, destroyed the nation he had so desperately tried to save.

There’s no undoing time now.
The Zaltava Dynasty has fallen.
A new Braznychia is being born.

For now, the nation erupts into the biggest civil war seen in it's history. The Braznychian People fight amongst themselves, for the whims and dreams of their overlords.

Zaltava-Braznychia

As the civil war intensified, the nation was divided into several large factions, which began fighting each other for consolidation of the Empire. Among the most powerful were:

The Crimson Clans
LEADER: Sofia Sokolova
Capital: Uzt-Xanakva (Pop:230,000)

Sofia Sokolova pops the cork off her bottle of vodka, chugging it in one go. She wipes her mouth, before looking at her massive army, composed of men from the many different tribes that populated Northern Braznychia. They were called "The Crimson Clans", for their brutal efficiency in battle and feared nature. They were mostly on horseback, as their ancestors have fought for thousands of years, but they were also known for their skilled use of the ancient art of magic - far better than most people could. Long oppressed by foreign powers, they now desire the ability to forge their own future.

For Sokolova, it was a surreal moment to be commanding the army her father had once sat at the helm of before he died. These men, were her pride and honor. These men would be the ones to secure her throne.

As they prepared for battle, she gave her men a pre-battle speech.

"People of the Crimson Tribes!", she begins.

"Today marks an important day in our history. For too long we have been oppressed by the foreign powers. They pillaged our lands, slaughtered our people, all in the name of their personal gain. They have oppressed us for far too long. Every day, our ancestors looked up to the stars and wondered. How much more and how much longer will we have to suffer?

Today, we find ourselves independent, for the first time in our long history. We now have the power to shape our own destiny. We have the power to decide our own fate. To all our comrades, who lie on the crimson Earth, we have done it! We have done what you could have only dreamed of achieving.

Freedom.

But freedom is never guaranteed long term. We must fight for it, safeguard it, and preserve it for future generations. And as the new dawn for the people of Braznychia shines apon us, tis is exactly what we will do.

Once again, LONG LIVE THE CRIMSON CLANS. "

The many tribes erupted in applause as Sokolova gave her rousing speech.

Shai Hin
Leader: Warlord Shai Hin
Capital: Huoshang (Pop: 7,890)

Warlord Shai Hin looks upon his lands, a small peninsula overlooking the sea across from the lands of Xara. He had full dominion over this territory after the fall of Zhigunov. In the fields, thousands of slaves work tirelessly, farming crops and on the borders of his realm, erecting defenses for a possible invasion from the surrounding factions.

His army is rather small by Braznych standards, and so decided to strike a deal with the neighboring Crimson Clans led by Sofia Sokolov. Relations between the two grew warm, and soon, Shai Hin's army functioned essentially as a member of the Crimson Clans, although was not officially admitted into the Union. Shai Hin is by far the least populated state formed after the collapse, home to only 10,500 people.

Republic of Zakamensk
Leader: Petrov Vladimirovich
Capital: Zakamensk (Pop:560,002)
Petrov, the city mayor of Zakamensk buttoned up his suit, and put on his military uniform from his time in the Zaltavan Army. He was no stranger to war, far from it. He had fought many battles before, and this one was no different. Just another battle, just another war. But he knew he was aging. At 53 years old, he was not the man he used to be back during his army days. But he was confident he still had what it takes to defend the new Republic he now found himself at the helm of.

The bustling Port City of Zakamensk had largely escaped the chaos of the Zaltavan collapse, due to it's distance from much of the conflict hotspots. Still, it's position as a bustling trade city made it a desirable target to acquire in the eyes of many of it's neighbours. And with their vastly superior armies, they didnt stand a chance if one were to mount an overwhelming offensive.

But with great riches comes great influence. This led him to essentially use it's massive gold reserves to bribe it's neigbours into not attacking the city, keeping the people of Zakamensk safe for now. However, deep down, he knew that this was only a temporary solution at best, especially against the more powerful and developed factions towards the industrialized south, and so, embarked on a campaign to fortify his city from attacks. He created a massive navy from the city's shipyards, eventually rivalling the navies of actual established nations. He also ordered a wall to be erected surrounding the city, in order to further safeguard it from attacks. A wall so tall, it blocked the sunlight during the early and later hours of the day.

And from then on, Zakamensk would isolate itself from the rest of the nation.

Principality of Voznesensk
Leader: Vasily Novikov
Capital: Voznesensk (Pop:450,000)
The principality of Voznesensk was another newly formed city state to the north, bordering the aforementioned Republic of Zakamensk. Unlike it's northern neighbor, the city of Voznesensk did not have a similarly large economy. Even though this lessened it's ability to pay off it's neighbours in case they were planning an attack, this also functioned as a blessing in disguise, as it made the city a rather undesirable target due to the lack of benefit from conquering it.

Vasily Novikov took command of the small state immediately after the Zaltavan Collapse, and turned it into a neutral party, that wouldn't participate in any of the conflicts that were happening all across the lands of Braznychia. In his eyes, Neutrality was the only good solution.

Kara Khanate
Leader: Kara Yaroslavky
Capital: Manzar-Uul (Pop:190,120)
The Kara Khanate was formed by the then leader of the Yaroslav Oblast, and a member of the Yaroslav Dynasty, Kara Yaroslavky. She was once one of the warlords from the Crimson Clans, but she expanded enough to break away from them. The Kara Khanate spanned across much of the east of Braznychia.

Tyukansk and Makhibka
Leader: Ivan Lebedev
Both Tyukansk and Makhivka are democratic republics, in which it's citizens have the right to choose their own government. It is renowned for the freedoms of it's citizens, a rare occurrence in the largely authoritarian nation.

South Braznych Liberation Front and the Braznych Purification Army
Leader: Semyon Shaposhnikov
The SBLF and the BPA are factions formed after the Zaltava Collapse. Their mission is to liberate Braznychia from the so called "forces of oppression". Both factions are renowned anti-fascists and heavily oppose feudalism.

Zaltava-Braznychia

And all that was left was Sergey. He had no interest in joining any of the major factions. He was going to create his own. A new faction, rooted in the principles of restoring the Zaltava Dynasty to it's former glory. To bring the nation back to it's olden days, where monarchism prevailed, and religion playing a big role in the state. He would call it - the Divine Order of Braznychia, or the Holy Braznych Empire. Right from it's founding, the Holy Braznych Empire controlled many of the country's largest cities, including the former capital of Zaltava. The Holy Braznych Empire would become one of the most powerful breakaway states from Zaltava, with around 340,000 men in it's army.

As the thunderous noise of the cannons echo throughout the vast Braznychian Plain, Sergey sits down on a bench, contemplating his next move. He had just torn the nation apart, and now, he had to make sure that the Holy Braznych Empire won the civil war. But the road ahead would not be easy. Aside from the mentioned factions - there were other smaller factions throughout Braznychia, namely Yazhansk, Khoronenets, and the Ethereal Realms.

These were the first targets. They had but small armies compared to his, and their governments were notoriously fragile and susceptible to military muscle. During the first few years of the civil war, Sergey would lead a campaign of conquest against these smaller factions, expanding HBE control over much of the southern third of Braznychia.

With the fall of many of the smaller factions, Sergey turned his attention to the bigger players. He led the Holy Braznych Empire to many victories, especially over the South Braznych Liberation Front, Tyukansk and Makhvika, utterly decimating their forces. Soon, Sergey's forces reached the outskirts of Zakamensk, which posed a formidable obstacle to their plans to expand northwards. This was it - the final major hurdle before guaranteed victory. The city must fall.

The Battle for Zakamensk
The graveness of the situation dawned on Petrov as nearly a million men gathered outside the city walls. It was an army the size he had never seen before, their legions stretching as far as the eye could see. They outnumbered the residents of Zakamensk nearly two to one, and possessed near unlimited firepower. But before Sergey's army stormed the city walls, he was given one last opportunity to surrender the city. One last opportunity to escape certain annihilation.

Petrov hesitated for a moment. What was his best choice? Should he give in to his demands? Or should he fight to the bitter end? His own army, though small, was extremely skilled in magic, far more skilled than Sergey's legions. Maybe, with this advantage, they stood a chance.

But what if they didnt? Would this be the end?

Eventually, after much back and forth, the response was given.

"To hell with you!"

And with that, the Battle for Zakamensk had begun. The city's defenders manned the titanic walls surrounding the city, casting spells and curses at the waves of men rushing and storming the city gates. For a moment, it looked as if they had the upper hand. Sergey's legions could barely get close to the city walls before they were struck down by powerful spells that resulted in fates worse than death.

But soon, the sound of a deafening explosion echoed throughout the battlefield. The wall was broken. Hundreds of thousands of men stormed the walls and into the city itself, like water rushing out of a broken dike. The legions filled with the streets, plundering, looting and killing all they could see. The once prosperous city of Zakamensk now lay in ruin, two-thirds of it's people lay dead on the battlefield, and columns of smoke bellowed from the earth the city once stood on.

Petrov, unwilling to let himself be captured by the enemy, committed suicide in his basement, ending his life before Sergey's army had the chance to kill him themselves. With the fall of Zakamensk, victory was all but assured for the Holy Braznych Empire. By the year 922, the Holy Braznych Empire had consolidated most of Braznychia, with the exception of the territories held by Warlord Shai Hin and the Crimson Clans. The Holy Braznych Empire was at last, victorious.

But the war came at a cost. Tens of millions of people across Braznychia lay dead, with many of the survivors blaming Sergey for most of the deaths. It was partially true, as Sergey was the one who accidentally kickstarted the civil war with his assassination of Zhigunov, and the fact that his army was notorious for committing numerous atrocities during their campaigns. But Sergey believed it was also due to the actions of the other warring nations that caused so much death and mourning across the nation of Braznychia, a sentiment many of his loyalists also share.

But now was not a time to point fingers as who was to blame. Now was a time of mourning, and to remember the valiant sacrifices of those who had given their lives during the war. The golden flag of the new Empire now waved proudly over the skylines of Zaltava, with Sergey looking over the city from the elevated balcony of the Imperial Palace. For him, it was both his greatest accomplishment, and a silent tribute to his fallen friend, Savrasov.

And thus...the Holy Braznych Empire was officially born, as a nation birthed from grief and pain. The Braznych nation would enter a new era.

Zaltava-Braznychia

An Unholy Empire - the rise of the Divine Order

Sergey's Dream Fulfilled

The snow thaws to signal the coming of spring
The Dove of the Vernal Equinox, peace it will bring
For the guns had fallen silent last night
As the land of Two Equals is once more bathed in light

From the broken glass, a phoenix is born
The Holy Banner, the land it adorns
A mosaic of banners now united with one
But yet there is much more that needs to be done.

The city of Zaltava was definitely at its most peaceful in years, ever since the Zaltava Dynasty collapsed all those years ago. Work could finally be done on rebuilding much of the ruined city, and life had once again returned to normal. Cars once more filled the busy streets, and the town square bustled with life. The year was now 625AR, three years after the end of the brutal civil war that had plunged the country into chaos. All that uncertainty - it's all over. There was no doubt as to who was in charge now.

Sergey looks over the nation he just rose to power in, relishing in the power and riches of the position he found himself in. All of it, every building, every river, every town, every street, and every person as far as the eye could see - all of it he ruled. It was a surreal feeling for the now 48-year-old Sergey, to rule the nation he had lived in all these years. He crowned himself "Blessed Regent" of the Holy Braznych Empire and ruled like a monarch. He placed absolute power in himself, and only kept a trusted group of advisors in his inner circle, reminiscent of the days before the rule of Zhigunov.

His true motives were debated, but the Holy Braznych Empire was in Sergey's mind, a breath of fresh air from the system that caused so much pain and suffering. A return to the old glory days of the Zaltava Dynasty. A period of reprieve to a war-battered nation. However, for the people of Braznychia, this was far from the case. In fact, in the future, some will go as far as to say that it got much worse under the HBE than during the entire civil war. But for now, the nation of Braznychia slowly started returning to normal following the disastrous last few decades. Cities were rebuilt, the economy started growing again, and the population rebounded. Even in the areas not controlled by Sergey, like the Crimson Clans, largely cooperated with his government, wanting to end the bloody civil war that had gripped them for so long. Life improved during the infancy of the empire, in a period known as the "Three Hundred Year Peace".
During this period, the Empire flourished. Sergey had enacted widespread reforms to the Braznychian system unseen during the previous Zaltava period, such as allowing peasants to own the land they tilled, dramatically increasing agricultural output in the notoriously agriculture-poor and climate-cursed nation. He developed the country's roads and transportation network, reducing the travel time between the country's two largest cities, Zaltava and Zakamensk, to only six hours, down from the twelve it had used to be.

Zaltava-Braznychia

Chapter 2 - The Elixir of Youth

The biggest enemy to Sergey now wasn't some human adversary, but by the unstoppable force of time itself. The hairs on his head slowly began to turn a shade of grey, displaying the harsh truth - Sergey was aging. He was now in his late forties, around the average lifespan for a person in the country without the use of magic, at 53 years old. To make matters worse, he suffered from numerous health problems such as chronic hypertension, diabetes and had developed emphysema from his terrible smoking habits. He knew that all his work in creating his new empire would go to waste if he passed mere years after. The inevitable prospect of death, it seemed, was now his greatest enemy.
A sudden cardiac arrest struck Sergey one morning in July, which almost killed him. For him, it was a sign that the end was near. Death had come knocking on his door, and he was only stop by the fact that he refused to open it. It seemed hopeless.

But then, he remembered something. Tales of a long lost relic from Braznychia's past, that promised salvation from his woes. Shortly after his near death experience, Sergey had ordered his men to search for the Elixir of Youth, also known as the Elixir of Life - a mysterious and powerful elixir created by the Ancient Braznych Sage Sylvia. It was a mysterious and powerful elixir that extended a person's life by centuries, keeping them in their youthful state indefinitely, and most importantly, it had a powerful magic that made them hard to kill. It was the ultimate key to staying in power for an autocratic ruler like Sergey.

The next week, Sergey had put together a team of his best hunters to go search for the Elixir of Life, led by a trusted and skilled survivalist Antonov Izhevka. The only problem was, no one knew where it was kept. All that people knew was that it was located in an ancient temple, somewhere within Braznychia. Sylvia was both a sage of Life, but she was also a sage of death and trickery, and Antonov's team knew it would be difficult, or even borderline impossible to locate such a powerful relic. It would also be a deadly endeavor, one that entailed suffering unlike anyone had seen before. Nevertheless, they began their search. They went from oblast to oblast, examining promising sites and asking locals for clues on it's whereabouts. As expected, no one had an idea where Sage Sylvia had kept her Elixir of Life. Days passed, which turned into months, which turned into years, and still, there was not even a single clue discovered that could lead to this secret Temple.

Their hope waned. Maybe those tales were just in fact a piece of fiction. Maybe we were just chasing nothing?
However, everything change when the team checked the final oblast on their list, the Atyrau Republic in the far northeast of Braznychia. There, they met an old man, certainly passed the one century mark, and told him about the tales of the Elixir, about the powerful Sage Sylvia, and the reason why they were looking for it.
The old man's eyes narrowed, not one of anger, but like recalling a distant memory. A memory that suddenly came back to him.

The Temporal Sage

"Sylvia...I havent heard of that name in years..."

"You know her?", the team asked.

"Yes. I am Yuri Yezhalnev, and believe it or not, Sylvia was born in this town. When I was a young man, I used to serve as an apprentice in the Kalia School of Magic. It's one of the most prestigious magic schools in the world, located right here in Braznychia. Over my years working there I slowly picked up various magical powers and spells from being around the classes as they were taught.", Yezhalnev pauses to recall further details, before continuing.
"I vividly remember mentoring Sylvia in magic when she was young. Just the basics, I taught her how to perform basic telekenisis and sorcery. All the stuff your average magic user should know. And she excelled at it. She was a fast learner, and quickly mastered the various spells I had taught her. But one day, things changed. I remember it clearly even after all these years - a cold snowy morning, when she was being chased by a wild boar, when she suddenly casted a spell I hadnt taught her before, nor have I ever seen before. It caused the boar to age by decades in an instant, until it was reduced to dust, annihilated with the power of the passage of time. That was the first time I had ever seen magic that powerful. It looked like a temporal spell, just like the spell the Great Sage used during the Great Reset. I instantly recognized the sheer power she held, one that was almost dangerous. And so I knew that I could teach her no longer. My meager knowledge in magic was an insult to her capability, and I knew that she was ready to take on the ultimate challenge for a youngling with as much potential as her - to take on the infamous Kalia Academy itself.

Kalia was certainly not your ordinary magic school. It was easily one of the most challenging, if not the most challenging magical educational institution in existence. Before I was offered the privilege to work there, I heard students were subjected through intense trials to test and hone their magical strength, with death being a real possibility for many learners. Those rumors turned out to be true. In my twenty-three years there, I had witnessed nearly sixty deaths in total.

Yezhalnev’s voice quivered as he went on, though whether from age or memory, it was hard to tell. The room around them had grown quiet, an atmosphere of tension washing over them. The silence was deafening, save for the crackling of a nearby stove and the rustling snowy wind outside.

"Sylvia...had not only survived and passed the trials. She thrived in them, mastering every discipline that they taught her. But her real passion laid in temporal magic, the very magic she had learned and honed herself back during the time when she was with me. She believed time was like a river, it always seemed to only move in one direction, a current taking us from the present to the future. But it is a river that can be altered, it's flow changed. She believed time could be controlled and manipulated by anyone strong enough to do so. And she did. She mastered the art of manipulating time, so that a person percieves time in different ways. And in doing so, she had the power to cast unimaginable horrors and spells almost on the level as the Great Mage herself."

Antonov's team was stunned into silence. The flickering light of the fireplace cast long shadows on the stone walls of Yezhalnev's home, as if even the house itself was holding its breath at the revelation.

"And where is she now?", Antonov asked, his face clearly nervous at the thought who they were up against.
Yezhalnev sighed. "I dont know exactly. Ever since she graduated and left Kalia Academy all those years ago, no one has heard a thing from her. Some say she went into the mountains to further hone her skills, while others say she was killed by the very thing she chose to master. But before she disappeared, she visited me one dark night in the midst of winter. She was a lot different compared to the young girl I raised all those years ago. She was grown up, and looked extremely youthful for her age. You could tell she had discovered something, something new, something powerful - powerful enough to profoundly alter her very being.

She didnt say much about what she discovered or did during her time at Kalia, but she told me she came back to my house to thank me for me for being her first teacher, for introducing her to the world of magic she now thrives in. She said something I’ll never forget — ‘Without you, I would have never seen the power of magic, and my potential to wield and bend the threads of time itself. You gave me the first spark, and I turned it into a wildfire. One that even all the water in all the oceans and seas cannot extinguish.’

She stayed here for around one or two days, before disappearing as suddenly as she showed up. I only woke to realize she was no longer there, but outside my window I saw a young child wrapped in a small blanket with a small note next to it, reading.

To the person who guided me.
I owe you nothing but my deepest gratitude. Without your help, my eyes would have never been opened to this new world that I now call my own. So thank you.
Along with this letter I have sent to you a small child. This child is my own, a young girl, and she holds my legacy. I ask of you to not teach them the power of magic just yet. Let this child live a normal life, to learn love before she learn power. But if she chooses to explore and discovers it on her own, do not stop her. When she does, I place upon you the duty to teach them not to fear time, but to learn to flow with it. For time is not our master, it is our instrument. And like an intstrument, some will learn to master it.
When she comes of age, tell her all about me, her mother. Or you could choose not to tell her about my secrets immediately. But eventually she will know. And if she chooses to follow in my footsteps, advise her to go to Kalia like I did. There she will discover and master the secrets as I had also done.
And once she is as powerful as I am, then she will find my temple on her own, and meet me there. Until then, this will be the last time I will ever see you. But I will never forget everything youve done for me.
May time ever be kind to you Yuri.

Sylvia.

The room fell silent again as Yuri finished reading the letter, his words lingering in the air. Outside, the sun had already set, leaving nothing but the crackling fireplace as the only source of light.

"And where is this child now?", asks Antonov, clearly wondering how deep this rabbit hole went. Yuri pauses for a moment, as if reminiscing his memories before continuing, an audible quiver in his voice.

"Her name is Raenara. I raised her like my own child, and I tried my best to keep the power of magic, and the secrets of her mother from her. But she soon discovered magic, and soon, she quickly learned the spell her own mother had learned when she was but a child. The one that allowed her to bend time, even if it was just slightly. It was then when I knew for certain that this was Sylvia's daughter. And just like her, she soon left this place when she was just twelve years old for Kalia around two years ago. She's probably still there to this day. If you truly desire to find her temple, to locate the Elixir of Life....she's your best bet."

The weight of Yezhalnev's words settled in the room, with Antonov's team exchanging uneasy glances with each other. "Do you think that seeking her out in Kalia is our best option?", one of them asks Yuri.
"I am most certain that it is the case. It is nigh impossible that people like you can locate her temple. Even I do not know where it is, despite knowing her for many years. You really have no choice."

Antonov's team nodded, although it was undeniable that many of them were terrified at the prospect of what they were about to face. No one knew how powerful her daughter Raenara already was, but given that she had already been at Kalia for three years, and learned the same temporal magic her mother had learned at a very young age, it was almost certain she possessed dangerous power - one that could easily end their lives, or worse.

One of Antonov's men, Dmitry remarked, "If she is Sylvia's daughter, then she could be very powerful."

Yuri gave a faint sigh, before leaning back in his chair. "You don't understand the nature of time magic, do you? It's not just about the ability to stop time for people, or make things older or younger. Temporal magic bends the fabric of reality. It warps everything it touches. With a single touch, Raenara could make you forget who you are, erase the moments you've lived, or make everyone in your life forget the fact that you ever existed. You see?, it's a force beyond our comprehension. If you dont approach this carefully...you could be annihiliated from the fabric of existence. Time is like a river, as Sylvia said - and as it's master, she can easily have it drown you in an instant."

The fire crackled, the only sound in the room as the gravity of their task settled on Antonov and his men, even the birds fell silent. Antonov met Yuri’s gaze once more. "Where is Kalia?" he asked. "I guess we are going there."

Yuri responded. "No one knows. It's always the first challenge for aspiring students to actually find the location of the academy. Many see it as the first trial."

"But didnt you say you used to serve there? Surely you must know where it is."

Yuri visibly hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting around the room.

"I guess if you arent aspiring to actually study there, I can give you a clue. It's a clue I learned from an employee of Kalia when I went out to seek it myself. Draw a line from the center of Haissaret northwards. Then another line roughly a degree north of the southern peninsula of Icktenland. Where the lines intersect, is the place you seek."

Antonov immediately pulled out a map of Sparkalia from his pocket, and using a marker, began to plot out the lines on the map. He started plotting it's longitude, drawing a line from the center of Haisaaret, northwards towards the easternmost part of Kethes, and onwards to the Arctic. Then he began to plot the latitude. The line passed from the southern peninsula of Icktenland, where Yuri had pointed out. It was south of almost everything, even southern nations like Nova Vinelandia and Redhorn.

Antonov continued to plot the line, until they intersected.

"Wait...that's."

Zaltava-Braznychia

CHAPTER 3 - Kalia

Journey to Yugul

"That's Yugul Island.", Antonov said, shocked. He didnt expect Kalia to be on Yugul Island, however he
soon realized that it all made sense.

Yugul Island was a prominent island in Braznych mythology. Believed to be where the twin gods Konsyn
and Xeranyn led the early people of Braznychia to safety during a genocide by the Tugtur Clan, the
island has been the subject of numerous myths and legends over milennia. Since then, an isolated group
of people continued to reside on the island, living the same way as their ancestors did thousands of
years ago. It is said that those who try to land on Yugul Island get swept away by powerful storms, or get
lost and find themselves stranded amidst the vast southern sea, as the island is protected by the same
spell that the Twin Gods had casted upon it all those years ago. Furthermore, a dense cloud of fog
always covers the island, however on very rare days, a lucky observer may see the island when the fog
clears. It is said that those who are fortunate enough to view the island on these days are granted a day
of good fortune in return.

And so, Antonov and his men thank Yezhalnev for his help, before beginning the long journey to the
island. But first, they needed a vessel that can withstand the potential fury of nature they may face when
travelling to such a mysterious island. The first stop on their destination was the port of Zakamensk,
where they bought a ship that would take them to Yugul Island. Departing from the port, they sailed for
weeks, rounding the southern tip of Braznychia before approaching Yugul Island.

A terrible storm

But the calm seas suddenly turned violent, dark clouds beginning to form above them, and winds forming
swirling tornadoes. The ship began to spin uncontrollably, it's crew unable to turn it away from the storm.
Waves crashed upon them with the force of mountains, and for a moment, it looked as if this was the
end. But Antonov held firm, and with a loud commanding force, screamed to his men through the
torrential rain. "Brace yoursevles! Bunker down!"

Like clockwork, the ship's crew took shelter in the inner deck, and waited for the storm to pass. But the
waves continued their deadly rampage, and a deck boy soon alerted the captain to dreadful news. A hole
was torn in the rear hull of the ship, and water was quickly flooding in at an alarming rate. Panic set in
through the crew as they frantically tried to seal the breach with whatever objects they could find -
barrels, crates, pieces of wood, but the hole proved to large to be filled, and there was already enough
water inside the ship to significantly weigh it down in the waves.

Antonov's right hand man Boris soon shouted. "Captain! We need to abandon ship! This thing wont hold
for long!"

Acknowledging that the ship could hold on no longer, Antonov reluctantly agreed, hoping to avoid any
deaths. With his command, the crew began to board the many lifeboats on the ship, and soon, they were
scrambling onto the small vessels, their hearts racing as the ship continued to sink lower and lower into
the sea. They had barely filled up half of the lifeboats when the main mast snapped and fell onto the
deck. Boris's face turned pale, turning to Antonov and saying; "We need to move faster!"
The crew were squeezing themselves into every available inch of space aboard the lifeboat, but soon,
they managed to evacuate everyone just as the ship slid into the depths of the sea.

As the ship's final groan echoed through the air, Antonov turned to his men, saying "Is everyone
accounted for?". To his relief, everyone made it - but they were not out of the woods yet - they were still
in the storm's grip. Their lifeboats continued to bob up and down amidst the wavy seas, the rain so
intense they could barely see a few hundred meters ahead of them. Worst yet, they had no paddle - no
way to even control the thing that was keeping them from drowning in the relentless Braznych sea. The
only thing they could do was pray, pray to whatever God they believed in to lead them to safety.
Hours passed, though for the men it felt like several years. Many were suffering from hypothermia, their
lips turning purple in the frigid air. It was clear many couldnt hold on any longer. Worse, they were floating
in the opposite direction of Yugul Island, into the dark unknown. For some, it felt as if Death was already
knocking on their door, and they just refused to open it.

But miraculously, one of the taller men of the crew, Kuybyshev suddenly screamed. "Land ahead!"
Antonov jolted awake, and through the thick fog and rain, a small landmass could be seen ahead, with a
flat beach perfect for landing. No one said a word.

"Row!", Antonov screamed. Though they had no oars, they paddled the ships with their hands, feet, or
whatever piece of junk they could find on their small lifeboats, and they slowly made their way to the
island. It was certainly not Yugul Island - but any piece of land would suffice especially given the ordeal
they just went through.

They slowly ascended the hill to the front door of the mansion, where a placard is mounted near the
doorframe reading "The Fortress of the Mistress". Antonov approaches, gently knocking on the door. The
entire group was silent, silent enough to hear the birds chirp from across the island, The door opens, and
a servant dressed in crisp black maid uniform appeared to greet them with an expression that was both
polite but emotionless.

"Hello ma'am." Antonov replied. We're here because our boat sank. The servant gave a small nod before
stepping aside, allowing Antonov and his crew to enter. The servant leads them down the hallway,
decorated with priceless artworks and sculptures that tower above them. "We can offer shelter here for
one night", the servant said to them as she led Antonov and his crew down the hall. But only one night.
Tomorrow well get you a way to set sail again.

Antonov's crew were dead silent as they traversed the long hallway, the tension in the air enough to
cause goosebumps to some of them. Finally, they reach the end of the hall - ahead of them lay a set of
large wooden doors. The servant opens the door for them, and in front of them sitting on a large plush
chair was a young, blonde woman - certainly one not of Braznych but Atyrai descent, where they had met
Yezhalnev.

The woman introduced hereself. "Good morning folks. I am the mistress of this palace, but you can call
me Svetlana. Svetlana Krasnova. I hear that you suffered a terrible accident navigating these rough
seas?. Antono stepped forward, his boots gently tapping on the cold marble floors. Svetlana's prescence
seemed to fill the room - her blue eyes and her perfect posture exuding a sense of elegance.
"Yes ma'am. My name is Antonov Izhevka. But my patronym is Izhevkov." Other members of their crew
also introduced themselves.

"Boris Zelyenov. Second in Command."
"Dmitry Pavnikov. Head of the ship."
"Konstantin Nemetskov. Lookout."
"Valery Cherenkov. Navigation".

Svetlana nodded with a soft smile as they introduced themselves, as if memorizing their faces and
names. "I see, so you are a maritime crew. And presumably a well organized and professional one given
your titles."

"Yes ma'am", Antonov replied. "We are a crew sent by none other than Sergey Timoshenko, Blessed
Regent of Braznychia. He had tasked us with securing the Elixir of Life for him to fullfill his ambitions of
ruling for centuries. It's been almost a year since we left Zaltava, but an old man from Atyrau led us to
sail here to find Kalia on Yugul Island. Seeming as you live pretty close by, have you ever been there? Or
at least know a way to get there?

Svetlana chuckled softly at Antonov's question. "Oh I've had numerous people wash ashore of my
personal paradise over the years, and they're all just like you Antonov - far too curious for their own good.
You know as they say - curiosity kills the cat. Or in this case, the sailor." Svetlana said sarcastically,
poiting outside her window to what looked like the remains of a previous expedition to Yugul Island.
Antonov's brow furrowed at her remark. "But they were just small crews. We have almost a hundred
men, and talented navigators helping us."

Svetlana replied. "Crews of nearly a thousand men found themselves victim to the relentless waves of
the sea here. And they had more resources and better ships than you. Trust me, you wouldnt stand a
chance. Give up, and turn back now before you become the sea's next victim."

The tension between Svetlana and Antonov was palpable in the air as the rest of his crew, as well as
Svetlana's servants watched. Sooner or later, a fight was bound to break out. But cooler heads prevailed,
and they managed to last until the servants rang the bell, signaling that dinner was ready.

As they all ate, Antonov noticed a small seal etched onto Svetlana's lavish dress. After much inspection,
he recognized it as the symbol of the Kalia Academy. Curious, Antonov questioned her about the seal, to
which Svetlana answered. "I see you are very attentive to details, Antonov. Let me satiate your curiosity.

Svetlana's Expedition

" I was but a young girl back then when I first heard of Yugul Island. My family was indeed Atyrai, but I
grew up in Zaltava. My father and mother were wealthy merchants, and they believed that Yugul Island
held vast wealth waiting to be tapped. And so at the age of ten, I went with them on my first expedition to
Yugul Island, joined by hundreds of other merchants and sailors wanting to see what lay behind the fog.
But our first expedition was unsuccessful, we were driven away by the waves, and we forced to turn back
to Zaltava.

They went on another expedition years later, but it all resulted the same anyway. After that, many
including my parents lost interest in venturing out to Yugul. But I was a naturally curious girl, and my
curiosity would only be satiated once I step on that island myself. And so I tried several times. I set out for
the island almost every month in fact. I told my parents I was going out to trade with nearby Nova
Vinelandia, but in reality I was busy taking my chances at visiting Yugul Island. Hundreds of attempts all
resulting in failure. When my parents moved on from this world years ago, I inherited their vast wealth,
and with it, I had this place built on the island closest to Yugul Island that I managed to reach. Mind you, I
dont reside here all the time, this is just like my "private island" per se.

But then one day, I was on one of my expeditions when I got caught in a massive storm. A storm so
massive my boat capsized, and I was left drifting alone in the sea for nearly ten days. I was on the verge
of dying from dehydration. But then, I saw it. Land. I instantly began paddling to it using all my remaining
strength, and eventually, I had made it ashore. I fainted on the spot however.

I woke up in this strange room surrounded by people who looked like they were professional mages and
sages. When I asked them where I was, they replied - "You're in Kalia." I've never heard of such a place
in my life, this "Kalia" place was certainly remote and unknown enough that a wealthy merchant girl like
me wouldnt know about it's existence. And so I asked them where Kalia was.

They responded with a single world. Yugul.

It took me a while to come to terms with the moment. I had actually made it to Yugul. The kind mages
there told me that I was one of only three people who had ever ventured to Kalia by normal means. They
said the fury of the sea and power of the Gods drove the rest away.

And it was from then on when I slowly warmed up to the people at Kalia. So much so that I got a job with
them as...watcher. Or trial master, to be precise. My duty is to see who is worthy of even attempting to
set sail to Yugul."

Svetlana's Test

Antonov was stunned silent. This was it, if she was a member of Kalia, then surely they were getting
close. And so, he asked Svetlana - "Can you...take us to Kalia, if you wouldnt mind?"

Svetlana pouted. "I can. But why should I? I never said you were worthy of going there. Heck, you
couldnt even survive the waves. The waves you faced? They were like the weakest theyve ever been. If
the sea had shown it's full fury, you would all be dead by now."

She continued.

"And I believe you search for the Elixir of Life? If so then you must be planning on meeting Raenara?
Mind you, she's just like her mother - powerful as shit. So why should I essentially bring you to a place
where you would die? Your death's would be my responsibility you know?"

"Who cares?", Antonov replied, ever the overconfident. "We will find a way to survive there."

Svetlana moved closer, placing her index finger against Antonov's forehead. "It's your life idiot! Don't you
have even an ounce of self preservation?"

But Antonov held firm, and Svetlana eventually conceded.

"Fine. I guess the world would be better if we just let the idiots remove themselves from the gene pool.
But I aint just letting you go there. You need to prove yourselves worthy of setting foot there."
"And how do we do that?"

She pointed to her servant who was standing in the corner. That one, her name is Bellatrix. She's a
talented magician, but one of the weaker ones in Kalia. Fight her until one of you is knocked out or
concedes defeat. Only if you defeat her will I deem you worthy.

Antonov was initially skeptical that Bellatrix would stand a chance against them, especially as it was a
100v1, and he accepted Svetlana's challenge. Antonov ordered his crew to attack, but Bellatrix deflected
them with a powerful defensive spell, knocking out 65 of them instantly, including Dmitry. Antonov couldnt
believe it - this woman was one of the weaker ones of the Academy, yet she was able to knock out
almost two thirds of his men with a single spell.

"Ooh..", Svetlana remarked as she watched. "If you cant even defeat her, good luck standing against
Kemerov. (Entrance Master of Kalia)"

Antonov knew he had to change plans. He cant just charge straight at the enemy. He must adapt to their
strengths, and turn it into their weakness. And so he pivots to a new strategy. He has Pavlov and Boris
distract Bellatrix with feint attacks, before suddenly striking her in her vulnerable rear hard enough to
send her flying forward, falling to the ground and knocking her out.

Svetlana nodded softly as she acknowledges Antonov and his crew. "Well well well, it seems like you do
got some iron in you after all. In that case very well. Tomorrow I shall allow you to depart to Yugul."
Antonov and his crew celebrated. They were now one step closer to Kalia, and one step closer to
fullfilling their mission.

The summer solstice dawns upon Braznychia.
Year One of their quest is over.

Zaltava-Braznychia

Setting Foot - the Kalian Trials

The Giant's Trial

"Too much light can as much blind a person to the truth as darkness, Antonov. Do not face every challenge you encounter head on.” - Svetlana

Antonov and his crew awoke the next day to the first rays of the morning sun, and with it, a day that will surely bring new challenges. Today was a significant one - as it is the day they were to set foot on Yugul Island for the first time. It had been almost three months since they left Yuri’s home, and now, Kalia was within their sights. A strange aura could already be felt emanating from the direction of the island, one that made Antonov and his crew feel a sense of dread, as if the island itself was doing its best to repel them. From the moment they arose, the tension in the air was palpable, a sense of doubt and uncertainty looming over them like a powerful hex. They all had a light breakfast, before Svetlana led them to the basement of the mansion, stopping in front of a circular rune on the floor.

"Now most students heading to Kalia never traverse the seas. They use magic to get there. This rune is a magical portal that will take you directly to the front door of the Kalia Academy. Be warned - this is a one way trip. You have to find your own way to return. Are you ready?

Antonov nodded, and with his signature confident demeanor replied, "As ready as I'll always be."

Antonov took a deep breath and went first, disappearing into thin air. His crew followed, all vanishing from the mansion as they were magically teleported to Yugul Island. On the other side, Antonov and his crew found themselves standing in front of the front gate of the Kalia Academy, it's symbol adorning the large metal framework of the gate. It towered above them, and it looked like it was made of solid iron. Antonov brazenly stepped forward, approaching the gate before knocking on the cold, solid metal.

The area was temporarily filled with silent, and for a moment, the crew thought that there was no one there.
Bu then a loud, deep voice answered, unlike anything they've ever heard before. "I am Oktov, the giant of Kalia. This gate weighs nearly ten tons. To enter, it is very simple. Open the gate, you must push it open yourself. Consider it as your test to enter the premises. "

Antonov had his team line up against the gate, before he and his crew pushed against it with all their might. But the gate barely budged. They tried for hours, but they were never able to push the gate even an inch forward. It seemed like the only way to get the door to open was to use magic, after all, this was a magic academy after all. But they had zero knowledge of any spells that could help them, let alone the knowledge of how to cast one. They were beginning to lose hope at the prospect of ever getting inside.

But then Antonov realized something. The giant only said that they needed to push 10 tons to open the door, but it never said that they couldn't just climb on top of it. And so Antonov and his men scaled the metal gate, before eventually landing on the other side where the giant was waiting for them, clearly impressed at their skills and intelligence. They had passed the First Trial.

They finally stepped foot inside of Kalia, where they were greeted by staff. "Hello travelers, and welcome to Kalia Academy. We presume you are very talented magicians given the fact that you managed to make your way all the way here."

"Actually," Antonov replied. "We don't know any magic, even the most basic spells. We got here purely using technology."

The welcoming staff were clearly both shocked and impressed that they managed to come here without the use of magic. After all, the amount of trials and challenges one had to face proved to be too much for many people. But it was clear these were not ordinary people.

"So..what brings you here?", one of them asks.
Antonov replied. “We have been sent by Regent Sergey to hunt down the Elixir of Life. We travelled all across the land, and an old man from Atyrai named Yuri led us here.”

“Oh, you mean Yezhalnev? I still remember him from when he used to work here. He was certainly the type of guy to tell outsiders all about this place. But anyway, if you are looking for the Elixir of Life, I presume you have come here to seek out Raenara?”

Antonov nodded slightly. “Indeed. Yuri had advised us to venture to this place and seek out Raenara. He said she can probably take us to wherever her mother’s “secret temple” lies. Can you lead us to who we were looking for, perhaps?”
The staff member’s demeanor quickly shifts, as if instantly recognizing the sheer difficulty of the challenges they face ahead. “I can. But be prepared. She’s one of the most powerful magicians we have at this school. Expect to face your worst fears in the coming days.”

Antonov remained calm, his composure kept. “We’re ready.”

“Then follow me.”, she says calmly, as she leads Antonov and his crew through the winding halls of the entrance building, navigating through the crowds of people that had completed all the trials one must face before gaining the right to even step foot here. As they traverse past the numerous crowds and the hustle-bustle of Kalia, an ominous sense of dread and doom seems to creep over Antonov, as if Nakal’ni (God of Time) himself was warning them of an unforeseen and unfathomable danger that was waiting for them.

Kemerov's Trial

_"I achieve victory by having the most effective strategy, but above all, I prevail by having total trust in myself." - Antonov Izhevka _

They exit through the back door of the main entrance building, finding themselves in a large circular arena, similar to those where gladiators fought. A large burly man appeared in front of them, his well toned muscles exuding an aura of someone with brute strength. His footsteps shook the ground where Antonov and his men stood, even the birds stayed clear of him. Behind him — a large set of two doors, with intricate carving etched onto the stone, depicting scenes of magical warriors and historic alumni of Kalia, including Sylvia herself. After a tense face off, the man introduced himself as Kemerov - the Entrance Master of Kalia. Antonov recognized the name — a name Svetlana had mentioned during their brief stay at her abode waiting out the storm. He had heard all about his supposed strength, and now, he was curious.

“So, you’re Kemerov?”Antonov spoke. “I’ve heard a lot about you, they say you're the big man here? I’m curious, what do you really do? Do you really just stand there to make newcomers crap their pants?”

Kemerov’s expression remained stern and unyielding, but there was a hint of a smile in his lips as they spoke. “This place, Kalia, a lot of aspiring magicians want to go here, you know? But we’re focused on training the cream of the crop, the best of the best. And as any teacher would say, too many students means a lot more pressure and less time allocated per student. And besides, we can't just teach everyone. My job is to filter out these newcomers, weed out the unqualified and reap the good harvest. Allow the fruitful flowers to bloom free of those that just serve to suck up resources.

So I feel like you already have an idea of what comes next. You’ll have to face me in a one on one battle. Consider it as if you are an aspiring student. So, whaddya say? You ready?

Antonov paused for a moment, as if contemplating his next move. Eventually, he turned to face Kemerov, their eyes making contact.

“Bring it on. I’ve faced worse beasts before.”

Kemerov laughed malevolently, before moving to the opposite end of the arena, signaling the beginning of the fight. The winds picked up slightly, the arena dead silent, even the birds made little sound. For what felt like hours, both Kemerov and Antonov stared each other down, like two powerful beasts both eyeing prey. Boris clenched his fists, preparing to aid Antonov in this fight, but Antonov blocked him with his sword. “This is my fight”, he says. “I’ll do this one on one.”

Kemerov watched the conversation with interest, impressed by Antonov’s gallantry to face him alone. He’d given him chances to tip the scales more in his favor, especially as someone without any experience in using magic. For him, fighting a magic user with nothing but physical strength is like an ant fighting an elephant, one-sided. But for Antonov — it wasn't like that. It was like a human fighting a boar. Hard, but with the right skill and tools, certainly possible.

Antonov and Kemerov continued to stare each other down with a stressful impasse. The question now was, who would make the first move? After much delay, Antonov decided the best move against such a formidable foe would be to strike first, unsheathing his iron sword and charging at Kemerov. Kemerov suddenly summoned a ferocious fire from his fists, lunging straight at Antonov, who quickly changed direction so as to not be hit.
.
Kemerov pressed his assault, this time Antonov playing defense, doing his best to dodge his relentless attacks against his position. It was only a matter of time before his legs eventually gave out on him and with it, the prospect of defeat. Antonov was both impressed and worried. Such raw power, and he knew that his magic tricks could only be defeated with tricks of his own. He knew he couldnt lose now — No.., they had come so far — a year’s worth of work and hardship now depended on this moment. Defeat was unacceptable.

Once again, Antonov launched his attack, charging straight at Kemerov. But this time, he pivoted, leaping upwards to strike Kemerov from above. Kemerov, focused on protecting his front, was caught off guard by Antonov’s sudden change of strategy, and Antonov managed to land a blow on the powerful magician, sending him flying against the wall.

Kemerov stood up, brushing off the dust from his impact. “I'm impressed.”, he says. “You actually managed to land a hit on me. All without using a single magic trick.”

Antonov replied, a small smile forming on his face. “Well I did use tricks technically, but they were all from the art of physical warfare.”

“I’ve seen all that I need to see, Antonov. You may proceed to find what you’re looking for. I’m confident that you will set your eyes upon it.”

With it, Kemerov turned to face the massive stone door behind him, and casting a spell, the nearly thousand pound stone door began to move, revealing its secrets to Antonov and his crew. After over a year had passed since they left Zaltava, this was it.

They had made it to Kalia.

Zaltava-Braznychia

Inescapable Fate

"Fate is not something that chases after you, rather it is a chain to an already predetermined future. Fate is like a shadow, impossible to outrun, and it is always there." - Anastasia, The Braznych Bible

Antonov’s heart raced as the giant stone doors slowly swung open to reveal a lengthy, dimly lit hallway behind it, it’s walls and floors made of neatly varnished wood. After they stepped inside, the doors suddenly shut, plunging the area into temporary darkness before the lights automatically turned on, flickering periodically every few seconds. As Antonov and his crew enter the hallway, they are greeted by row upon row of paintings that hang from the walls, each one depicting something of significance from Kalia’s past. The first painting seems to depict an old man, possibly Kalia's founder, almost a thousand years ago; the paint has clearly aged by the force of time. The crew walked slowly, respectfully, taking in the stories painted in every color and shadow. They walked past painting after painting, their placement creating an eerie ambience that unsettled some of them. It seemed as if the paintings were...alive in a way, and they couldn't shake the feeling that the eyes of those depicted in the paintings were following them. Just as they saw the exit at the end of the hall, they suddenly came across one painting that unsettled them greatly.

Antonov froze, his breath catching in his throat.

There, lying on the wall, was a painting unlike anything they had seen before. Its frame was made of dark, aged wood, covered in red stains that looked an awful lot like human blood. But it wasn't the frame that unsettled them.

No…it was what it was depicting.

There, neatly painted on the canvas, was a painting depicting Antonov, Boris, Dmitry, and the rest of the crew. They were all wearing the same clothes as the one they were depicted wearing in the painting. Even the unique way Boris stood, his right foot placed further in front than his left was captured in the painting. The acrylic used to paint the artwork looked fresh, as if someone had just finished painting it a while ago. But what unsettled them the most was the location. It was an unknown land, shrouded in darkness, with large towering structures behind it. But their faces weren't hinting at victory. In fact, they looked terrified, unnerved, frightened — traumatized at what they had seen. Or maybe...what they had gone through.

Cementing their fears, behind them also stood an unknown woman, dressed in a white veil and had visible, blond hair. She sported an unnerving, terrifying look on her face, as if she was staring directly into their souls. Even Dmitry instinctively looked behind him to check if they were still alone. He laid his eyes on no one, though the hallway was dark enough to make the theory that someone was watching them from the moment they left Zaltava a year ago all the more plausible. After much observation, Pyotr, who previously was a religious scholar, recognized her as Anastasia — the Braznych Goddess of Fate. On the frame, a chilling message is carved.

“Fate cannot be outrun. It will prevail.”

Antonov and his crew stood in front of the painting, a feeling of both confusion and terror washing over them. Nikolai, one of Antonov's crewmen, also recognized the woman's striking similarity to Svetlana. Her eyes, face, complexion - there were far too many similarities to ignore. They soon came to the daunting conclusion - could Svetlana just be Anastasia herself, or someone related to her? If so, then their arrival to Kalia was something already predetermined, set-up. And as the Goddess of Fate, it wouldnt be surprising for them if their entire lives up to this point was all determined before they even came into this world.

Many of them were however left pondering what their faces, or the place was supposed to mean or symbolize. They didnt recognize the place at all, at least, not yet, and with the depiction of Anastasia in the painting, Pyotr was left to wonder.

“Can the person who created this portrait see into the future?”

If so, then what could be waiting for them is something none of them are prepared to face. A challenge so insurmountable that all the trials and training they had gone through could not prepare them for. Another Great Trial.
But they couldn't let a painting intimidate them into stopping their pursuit. And so they continued, but this time, the confidence they sported when entering Kalia was now replaced by a feeling of paranoia that something big was coming.
The emergence of light at the end of tunnel brought much needed hope to the crew, and they finally emerged on the other side of the hallway, finding themselves in the hustle-bustle of the main hall of Kalia Academy. Juxtaposing the desolation of the corridor they had passed through, the main hall was crowded with students, all from different parts and walks of life. A student greeted them as they exited the corridor, informing Antonov and his crew that what they had gone through was the "Altering Hall" - a magical corridor where it's appearance differs from traveller to traveller. It explained as to why none of the other students seemed to be disturbed as they also exited from the tunnel, and the fact that they had seen no one else other than themselves.

Meeting Raenara
Now laid in front of them are several sets of stairs that looped in a spiral structure, taking them all the way to the top floor on the tenth floor. They figured from Yuri's testimony that Raenara was probably at the top, residing within Kalia's towering spire, and so they began their ascent. They passed through several hallways, classrooms, libraries, and student dormitories, and navigated through the crowds of students on the stairwell. But as they ascended, the number of people began to decrease, the background noise of large crowds fading away to monotonous tinnitus. As they reached the final floor, they were once again on their own.

But so they thought.

A small light could be seen emanating from one of the rooms to their left. Curious, they slowly approached the entrance to investigate. The hall was dimly lit, just like the Altering Hall, creating a creepy ambience that sent shivers down their spines. Their footsteps were slow, calculated, methodical - as if sneaking up behind a wild animal during a hunt.
As they reached the entrance, they saw a silhouette of a young girl standing across the dimly lit room, facing the opposite wall. As if noticing their presence, the girl slowly turned her head, until the gaze from her dark, blue eyes, which pierced through the darkness, fell onto Antonov.

Antonov froze for a second, his heart pounding against his chest. This could be it, this could be who they were looking for. His voice trembled as he collected his words, before speaking in a low, respectful voice:

"Kto ty?" (Who are you?)

Suddenly, the girl snapped her fingers, and light appeared in the room, illuminating the entire area, and allowing Antonov and his crew to get a full glimpse of the young girl. She was around as tall as some of them, and she wore a dark, black robe that went from her shoulders up to her toes.

The girl responded. "I am Raenara, daughter of Sage Sylvia."

Antonov once again froze. It's her. He tried to introduce himself and his crew to her, but Raenara abruptly cut him off.
"I dont need to hear you introduce yourselves. I already know who all of you are, your backstories, your hobbies, your families, everything. Am I right - Antonov, Boris, Dmitry, Pyotr, Ivan, Konstantin, Yuri, Vasilyev, Hazi, Nikolai, Korkov and Yunets?"

All of them were shocked. They had only just met her, they hadn't even introduced themselves, yet she already knew their names. Their minds begin to flash back to the painting they had seen in the Altering Hall - of them and Anastasia, the Goddess of Fate. Maybe it is true that Raenara had already been watching them from the moment they left Zaltava, or even from the moment they were born into this world.

Raenara again interrupted their thoughts. "Might I ask why you have come to see me?. Don't go thinking I don't know, it's just a formality. I have a pretty decent idea as to what you're here for."

Antonov replied, initially stuttering. "W-weve been sent to look for you by Master Sergey. He's the current ruler of Braznychia. You see, he's been going through a lot of health problems recently, and it's seemingly looking like he won't make it very long, which is a shame since he had spent all his life uniting Braznychia ever since the days of the Dynasty. So we have come here in seek of your mother's potent creation - the Elixir of Life. The one said to grant a person eternal youth?"

Raenara smirked. "My guess is always right. Just as I predicted. I've already met so many people that have come all this way to see me just for the Elixir. And I cant blame them, time is the most valuable currency we have in this world, once it's spent - its gone."

"Do you know where the Elixir is?", Antonov said.

"And why should I answer that? I owe you nothing. In fact, it is you who owes me your life for the fact that I have kept you alive.", she says as she manifests a flower, and as soon as her hand hovers over it, it aged and wilted in seconds.
Antonov pleaded again. "We'll...do whatever it takes. We wont leave until we get an answer. If death awaits us, then so be it."

Raenara pouted, annoyed, but eventually gave in. "Fine, I'll tell you if it will calm your minds. The Elixir is at my mother's temple. The Chronotemple. It's a temple that exists outside the boundaries of time and reality itself. It is what bridges this world with the afterlife. No amount of magic here at Kalia will ever teach you how to take yourself there. Only the Temporal Blood has that power."

She continued. "If you are really adamant on going there, I must see if you are really worthy. Or are you just like the other people that have come and tried before you, forcing their way into the Chronotemple where they were reduced to dust as they slipped out of the boundaries of time and space itself, forever existing in a dark, desolate void where they can neither age nor die.

Be warned. Your survival is not guaranteed."

Antonov and his crew debated for a moment, but in the end, their answer was certain. They had come so far. There was no turning back now.

"We're ready."