Long, long time ago, the continent known today as Asha was once called the Demon's Land. This land was home to every demons and monsters imaginable. And the one ruling over them was called the Demon King, an entity of pure and unparalleled evil.

In fear of the Demon King's growing power, the entire world formed an alliance and sent a vast army to fight against him and his army. It was led by 11 legendary heroes whose names had been lost in time.

The alliance defeated the Demon King, conquered the Demon's Land, and renamed it Asha. It was then inhabited by various races and then formed their own kingdoms, in which they all lived harmonious and in peace.

But the Demon King didn't remained dead. He cannot die even when he was killed. He always manages to come back and try to reclaim his domain. This cycle of killing and reviving the Demon King went on for who knows how long, and it seems like it would never end.

"I am Roan Tigre, leader of the Lyrian sect of the Rakhan Kingdom. I shall recount the events that led to the Frosthorn elves' and dryads' demise.

"About 9 months ago, the Demon King was revived. He spawned at the center of the elven city of Koruk, east of Rakhan. That was the only information our spies were able to send us. We didn't hear anything from them since.

"After the fall of Koruk, the Demon King raised his undead army, summoned his demonic force from the underworld, and called upon his loyal servants who remained hidden in the land of Asha, awaiting his return. They planned to march up north, back to his lair, back to his throne.

"In the span of a month, he managed to amass an army so great, he managed to reclaim his throne after 40 days of fierce battle against the elder dragons, ancient golems, and treefolk sages tasked to guard the Demonic throne.

"King Elran Crow and the Rakhan soldiers at the time were dealing with stray demons that started spawning left and right near our borders. Fortunately, all of Rakhan's allies started to send their troops our way. The Frosthorn elves and dryads from the west. And from the south, the armies of the dwarven kingdom of Blazenforge and the Guillan Empire, to prepare for our counter attack against the Demon King's army.

"But when we heard the news that the Demon King already reclaimed his throne, which was far too soon than we expected, King Elran suggested that we fall back to Frosthorn forest to further strengthen our forces. It didn't sit well with the elves and the Guillan generals, they suggested that the best course of action was to strike the Demon King down before he regained his full power.

"The Demon King's lair on the far north started to expand its territory and scorched everything in its path. The Demon King's army then marched towards Rakhan. His army was far too massive to deal with, our combined army was completely outnumbered.

"But it did not faze the proud elven warriors, eager to avenge their fallen brothers from Koruk. They stood side-by-side with the Rakhan soldiers and our own Lyrian knights, known for their defensive might. The Guillan archers were sharpening their senses, ready to let their arrows fly. The cannons and devices from Blazenforge were intimidating, true machines of war. The dryads and we, the Lyrian mages, stands at the back to provide support, and the Guillan high wizards, to provide magic artillery.

"We were ready. We were ready to face the Demon King's army.

"But King Elran was still uncertain..."

"It's because he was afraid! You, humans! Your cowardice was the reason the Alliance lost! You retreated in the middle of battle! A battle that affects the fate of every single one of us!" interrupting Roan's story was Lobo.

"You doomed them when you withdrew from the fight! They needed your support!"

"IT WAS A LOSING BATTLE!" Roan also lost his composure.

"Enough! Stop arguing! I need to know all the details about the ongoing war. No more interruptions!" This aggression between the two races was starting to irritate me. Don't they know how they should act in front of me? I'm the great Frosthorn for crying out loud!

Maybe if I eat a handful of them, they'll start to show some respect.

"Please Lord Frosthorn, forgive my son's lack of respect." An old Beastman grabbed Lobo's head and smashed it to the ground. It was Kotumpu, the Beastmen's chief.

A week have passed after the incident beneath Storm Mount. I gathered the humans and Beastmen on the western part of the forest to discuss and clarify some things.

The Beastmen present in this gathering was Lobo and his warriors, the tribe's elders, and their chief, Kotumpu. The humans present in this gathering was Roan and the remaining members of the Lyrian sect, a few of their soldiers, and King Elran himself.

His demeanor seems to be fitting of a King. He looks wary, but not uninviting. A bit cold but not detached. Though, he still yet to say a single word, I can feel he was keeping his emotions in check, like he was bottling it up for whatever reason. But I couldn't grasp his intentions and motives. He's not letting me read him.

Clever. Very clever.

Just as I thought that.

"Great Guardian of Storm Mount, hear my request."

The King spoke...

To be continued...