**20 years ago just a year before the Holly war of the Goddesses**

“In the beginning, the God of all Creation Eiocha created the world. He chose the most brilliant, dazzling star and called it ‘Isrant'. A beautiful name for a beautiful creation. On the first day of creation, The God started to gather the light and the dark and name them morning and night...”

A girl with pink pigtails yawned at the corner of the class while listening to the old mentor. He has been retelling the same story over and over these past few days. Her mind trailed off as the sound of Maemith summer bugs softly entered her ears. It’s the start of summer and the warm weather made her pretty sleepy.

“…On the fourth day of creation, Eiocha decided to create humans, one of his creations among all other races he had created. He also made the Builderat race who have a gigantic frame and power, the tallest and most muscular compared to other races. They are brash but loyal and kind. They reign the land of Haeban at the north-east of the Isrant world continent. The Nisse race has a beautiful elvish look, with their pointy ears and soft tan skin. They were born with quiet and polite personalities but also very intelligent. They reigned the secluded island of Niji at the east of Isrant continent. Then there is Beastia race, born half-human half-animals, their appearances are more colorful and so are their personalities, who tend to be similar to their animal affinity. They live on the land of Birdland…,” Professor Conroy’s soothing voice went like waves to her ears as her eyes started to go heavier.

“Calling upon the power of his Celestial World Key, he then brought forth his two younger twin sisters, Aine the goddess of Light and Life, and Calliea the goddess of Darkness and Death. He then split his key into two and entrusted each of the twins with one. Within the keys, resides the power to keep the world’s balance itself, ” the old man continued.

“Sir, the war is coming, isn't it?” Suddenly from the other corner of the room, a voice cut off the old mentor. It woke the girl with pink ponytails out of her mentor's lullabies. Conroy cleared his throat, taking his time on answering the very question that had been hanging in everyone’s mind lately. They could feel the tension that had been rising these past months.

“Conroy-sensei, if the war really coming, what should we do?” another worried student voice came breaking the quiet hum of woes.

“Everyone, please calm down, no need to worry, “ Conroy smiled wisely, “our Goddesses are doing their best in keeping the world balance. We need to put our trust in them.”

“Don't you think the atmosphere between them has been strangely tense lately?” A flat-toned voice came from a boy in the center of the class. The pink-pigtail girl shot her gaze toward the source of the voice. It came from a small boy, latte skin, brown short haired with glasses hiding half of his seemed stoic face. He sat a little bit uncomfortable under the gaze of everyone in the class.

“We all know how the Goddesses have been lately. So, my question is, what will happen if they’re finally at each other's throats?” he continued. “We all need to be ready for the worst, don’t you think so, sir?”

Conroy took a deep breath in, he knew the truth in the boy’s words. It was known to many how bad the relationship between the two Goddesses was these past couples of years.

“Well..., “ He started, but the ring of a bell showed that the class was over stopped him, “let’s continue this discussion at our next meeting, shall we?”

The class dispersed quickly leaving the brown haired boy with the pink pig-tailed girl, both sitting on their own chair; staring blankly at the far future that they were unsure would be as cheerful as the sun shining outside their class.

--

Sweat dripped to her eyes, it stung like tiny vipers mixed with all the gore of sprayed blood on her face; the blood that wasn’t hers. Panting, shaking, she swiped the area with her cautious eyes; making sure no one would jump on her. 

Just a year ago she was sitting in a class, studying the history of the creation. Not long ago she had held a book and practiced her brawler skill unto a wooden doll. But now, she stood on a battlefield wielding her Katar against real men that either could kill her or she must kill for her survival. 

She rubbed roughly the blood that dripped from her open wound on her left temple. Her pink pigtails messed up, some tangled with blood —the blood of those she had killed- that started to dry out.

Amidst the lingering stench of blood, the cries of men, the flash of iron and the whistling of arrows, a familiar rumbling war cry hinted of her side winning the battle. She blinked quickly to ease the piercing sting on her eyes.

“Is it over?” she mumbled unsure to break her defensive stance.

“For now maybe,” a silvery voice barged her ears from behind; jolted her. She quickly turned and tried to land a spinning heel kick at the person behind her. She didn’t care who was it. Anyone came from her behind, she considered as an enemy.

“Woahh! Calm down!” The person behind her quickly dodged. She took a quick glance at the man's appearance. He looked young, maybe around nineteen to twenty years old. His weapons were sheathed. That could mean only two things, either he considered her as an easy opponent or he had carried a hidden weapon. It was not that rare for an assassin class joined the battle, they loved to jump on their prey when they least expected.

“So you can kill me when I am not ready?!” She flung forward while delivering fast multiple jabs at the man’s vitals point, but again, he deflected every attack she made easily and without even breaking a sweat he hit her with his palm. Failed to dodge the attack, she went toppling down to the ground. Her body stunned for a few seconds.

“STAY DOWN!” the man warning her, “I don’t want to kill you!”

Shaking and still petrified by the attack, she scanned the man longer than the first time. She couldn’t stop herself to be mesmerized by his look. Despite the messy golden hair and the bloodstained war outfit he wore, he was a really good looking man. His build showed that he wasn’t just a commoner. Not like those that were sent to the war because the kingdom needed some number of pawns to fill the empty spots; like her.

“Why don’t you?!” she barked.

“Nice! I like that spirit! What’s your name little one?”

“Why in the world you need to know my name?! Is that some kind of your sick hobby? Collecting the name of the people you had killed?!”

“I told you already I am not going to kill you. Why should I? Don’t you recognize my crest?” He came closer and showed her his coat of arms. The girl felt a rush of blood go straight to her face.

The man chuckled, “now your face is as pink as your hair, how cute. Don’t you recognize your king?”

The girl gasped, she had heard that their new king was young, but never in her mind she would have guessed that he wasn’t that much older than her. Jace Ursa succeeding the seat as the fifth king of the Ursa kingdom, after a fierce competition against his older brothers. He was a famous war strategist that managed to win many battles. Besides his amazing war skills, he also had been known to be the youngest king that ever existed. He gained a lot of respect from the other kingdoms. His wide connections and skill to win peoples’ hearts followed by his undoubtedly suave look making him the most perfect man that wanted and adored by people of all ages and genders. Staggering, she quickly positions herself in a curtsy manner.

“Forgive me, my liege, I am just a humble commoner. Please forgive my ignorance; to actually dare to lay my hand over the king. It’s a crime that deserves the death penalty.”

Jace laughed and patted her shoulder gently, “Don’t worry, you are doing what a soldier would do. It was my fault to surprise you.”

“Thank you, my liege,” she bowed deeply in gratitude.

“Now…, let’s return to my question,” his blue eyes glinted with interest, “what is your name?”

“It’s Eireen, Eireen Silver,” she stated.

Jace smiled brightly and offered his hand in which she accepted it with a confused face.

“Eireen Silver, from today onward you are selected to be one of my special troops. We shall fight side by side with our Goddess, The Goddess of Light, Aine. Let’s march and win our holy war!”

*Isrant World Map*