Seren's Awakening: Chronicles of Solvera

Thalor began the introductions : "I was once an Archmage, Level 9, of the kingdom. After the defeat, I lost my eyes and was forced to break my magic tower within my spirit. But after fifty years, my elemental affinity resurfaced, and I am now a Level 5 mage."

He continued, sharing the history of the empire. "The Empire of Astralith, with a thousand-year history, was founded by a relative of the draconic clan, a human with pure celestial dragon bloodline and rare genius. Excluded by his clan, he built this kingdom on this island, which he discovered as an adventurer. The kingdom flourished, but over the years, the bloodline diluted, reaching the last emperor who failed to activate the celestial dragon bloodline."

As Thalor spoke, Seren's heart pounded in his chest. The weight of his heritage and the legacy of the Astralis family pressed heavily upon him. He listened with rapt attention, his mind racing with the implications of the story.

"The Drakoria family, seeing an opportunity, imposed a marriage between your mother and their son to settle the kingdom's debts. During the wedding celebrations, the protective barrier was breached, allowing the 11 empires to infiltrate with their elite forces. They launched a surprise attack, catching us off guard. Despite the chaos, we mounted a fierce resistance, managing to kill four archmages, five legendary knights, and nearly all their advanced monsters."

Seren's fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white with tension. The betrayal and loss of his family's legacy filled him with a mix of anger and sorrow.

"Amidst the turmoil, the Drakoria emperor took drastic measures. He held your mother and your grandfather, the Astralis emperor, hostage, demanding our surrender and the dismantling of our cultivation. In a final act of betrayal, he was killed, leaving us defenseless."

Seren's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. The gravity of the situation was overwhelming, and he struggled to process the enormity of the events that had unfolded.

"Your father, desperate to preserve the celestial bloodline, pleaded with his grandfather to spare your mother. They subjected her to experiments, altering her memories in hopes of producing a child with awakened powers. But when you were born, you showed no signs of physical or magical talent, nor any trace of the celestial or Drakoria bloodlines. Deemed a failure, they cast you aside, condemning you to live on this exiled island as an eternal prisoner."

Seren's heart ached with the knowledge of his past, the weight of his family's history resting heavily upon his shoulders. Yet, amidst the pain, a flicker of determination ignited within him—a resolve to reclaim his legacy and forge a new path forward.

Thalor paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle. Then, with a gentle nod, he invited the others to introduce themselves to Seren.

The second was a dwarf, loud and boisterous, with one hand and one eye. He smelled of alcohol and sweat. "I'm Borin, the craft expert," he declared with a hearty laugh. "Lost my arm to traitors from the same empire. But don't let that fool you—I can still craft wonders with one hand!"

Next was an elf woman, her age over 400 years, with voluminous beauty and extremely cold eyes. "I am Elenara," she said, her voice smooth and melodic. "I was on a mission when the attack on the empire happened. I returned and followed the trail of exiles here, with my colleague, the dark elf."

The dark elf, strikingly beautiful, remained silent, her presence commanding. Elenara gestured to her. "This is Selene. She prefers to speak through actions rather than words."

The fifth was a general, missing both feet. "I defended the family to the last man and breath," he declared with pride. "Saved by the elves, I returned to serve. My name is General Kael, and I will teach you the art of strategy and defense."

The sixth was a healer, a woman with a man's build, who laughed heartily. "I was imprisoned in the Eastern Empire for thirty years, simulating death. The elves brought me back," she said with a grin. "I'm Mira, and I'll ensure you stay in one piece."

The seventh was a hunched-back architect, a former necromancer turned lich. "I was friends with the old elf and emperor," he said, his voice a raspy whisper. "I love this town and am here to watch over it. Call me Arin."

Finally, a draconic woman with clipped wings spoke. "I was a childhood friend of the last emperor, from a secret clan. Betrayed by my brother, I fought to save the empire," she said, her voice filled with a quiet strength. "I am Draya, and I will help you understand the power within you."

The council asked Seren to share his story and the details of his mother's death. Seren recounted the events, his voice steady despite the pain. He showed them a magical recording of her death, the room filled with tension as the council watched.

Anger and sorrow filled the chamber. The draconic woman and elves wept, while others clenched their fists in silent rage. They offered Seren their support, acknowledging his loss.

"We need time to trust you," Thalor said gently. "Your body is weak. Stay in the town for two years and train with each of us to grow stronger. When you reach twelve, you may join us at this table."

Thalor's expression grew serious as he addressed the state of the island. "The Drakoria family claims to protect the continent from barbarians, but the truth is far darker. The real barbarians are the kingdom itself. They maintain the protective barrier around the island, ensuring it remains an eternal prison. For the past ten years, they have been sending criminals from the continent here, turning our home into a dumping ground for their unwanted."

He paused; his voice heavy with the weight of the truth. "Every winter, we face a war of attrition against these prisoners, struggling to defend our land and our people. But last year, I managed to regain a fraction of my power. I created a new detection and teleportation magic node at the island's entrance. It transports the criminals to the dark desert beyond the mountains, sparing us from their threat."

Thalor took a deep breath, his gaze steady. "For now, we have a semblance of peace, but we cannot be complacent. We do not know how long this peace will last, and we must remain vigilant."

Seren felt a mix of excitement and fear at the prospect of what lay ahead. As the meeting concluded, he found his voice. "I have a question," he said, his eyes searching the faces around him. "Can anyone please give me a reply?"