In the continent of Verablum, at the very beginning, there was only magic- and beings that controlled and thrived off that magic. Those beings were so ancient none now could remember what they were called, nearly all traces of them erased from the land just as they had erased themselves in the distant past. The land had been so full of magic and life, brimming with colors so unimaginably beautiful. But then…

Across the waters, over the sea, where Humans had lived, famine and death swept over the land.

The Humans went in search of a new place to live, building boats and risking their lives across the dangerous waves of the sea. By pure chance, they came across the ancient race that had been living in peace. Without hesitation, seeing their wings and their horns and the magic they possessed, they lashed out. Driven by fear and greed, the Humans attacked and chased them out of their lands.

The war lasted for quite some time, neither side giving in, until finally the ancient race disappeared entirely, seemingly having been vanquished by the goddesses looking after the land. Those goddesses, too, eventually disappeared, but their visages had been rooted so strongly in the humans’ minds that after they settled into the land they so wrongly stole, they named the continent Verablum and then erected statues of the goddesses in their honor, worshipping them as their saviors.

It didn’t take long before the land itself began to strike back.

As the Humans breathed in the very magic that surrounded them, they received both their just desserts and a gift they did not deserve. It was from that magic that the first “Green” and “Grey” Elves were born, and it was shortly after that the first Dwarves became known. Most peculiarly, those Humans born with hazel eyes were gifted with magic itself… but at the price of having to control their emotions, lest they risk accidentally killing themselves and those around them, being locked up, or removed.

After time passed, the Dwarves and Elves began to notice some things about themselves; a lifespan that was far longer than a Human’s and abilities not even the mages had…

Due to this, hatred began to grow in the Humans’ hearts.

In order to avoid bloodshed, especially amongst those who had once been friends, the leaders of each group met with one another and came to a decision. They would each find their own place on this vast land and create a country solely for their people. This led to the four kingdoms that prosper even to today.

The Grey Elves in the northwest, to the left of the great mountains, neighboring and working alongside the dwarves, who have named their kingdom after a precious mineral: Chalcedonia. They’re known for their adeptness with metal, often trading with their neighbors and crafting blades, armor, and tools and other such finery.

On the right side of the mountain to the northeast was the Dwarves, who forge impressive structures from steel and stone, and remain a friend to all, claiming neutrality in every stance. They are a kingdom named for the runes the ancients left behind in their mountain walls: Rotheim.

The Green Elves decided to settle farther down south, deep in the forest surrounded by vast streams and waterfalls. Abundant wildlife surrounded their homes, and after a while rumors began to spread that they had a connection to those animals, able to understand them on a personal level and even possibly communicate them. Their kingdom was named for the beautiful roses that adorned their lands: Rosalia.

And last but not least, residing in the middle of these three kingdoms, were the Humans. Surrounded by the great forest and at the foot of the mountains, flowers of all sorts bloomed around them. The Humans eventually decided to name their cities and towns after these flowers, and gave their kingdom the name: Florensia.

Together, despite never truly opening their borders, lasting peace was obtained.

And in the midst of Florensia, on the outskirts of any and all villages, lived a young man and his sickly mother. Ever since she had birthed him, she had grown ill and weak despite her stubborn temperament, and ever since they began to live on their own the young man had taken it upon himself to take care of her.

This young man was twenty-one years of age, yet looked no more than fifteen, and was carefully maneuvering his way around the trees of the Tangled Woods, forcing himself through any and all thorny thickets that dared to block his path. He waded his way across river streams, and tumbled down a muddy hill. Several spears belonging to some rather angry knights flew overhead, narrowly missing him, while some arrows buried themselves deep into tree bark and wet ground.

Needless to say, his life was a little chaotic and more than a bit dangerous.

The reason he was being chased right now? He had snuck into a nearby village and stole some medicinal herbs despite having been ready to pay for it by leaving some coins behind. Were those coins also stolen? Technically. Rupert found them on an abandoned wagon several weeks back, the rider and noble folk inside dead from a landside.

Now, despite what these people chasing him might think, Rupert wasn’t a monster- maybe literally, but not… figuratively. He gave those noble folk and their wagondriver a proper burial. He did give the dresses he found inside to his mother, though, tired of seeing her dressed in rags and pieces of fabric she stitched together, and took what other clothing was inside as his own. The outfit he was wearing was already ruined, unfortunately.

Honestly, nobles wore such flimsy fabric these days.

He was willing to pay for the herbs. It was just that the second the merchant caught sight of his eyes beneath his hood- a piercing green with slits for pupils, like some kind of reptile- Rupert had been attacked. The proof of that attack was in his left eye, which was healing slowly from the jagged cut that half-blinded him.

Rupert didn’t visit the same village every time his mother needed more medicine- he couldn’t. Not without putting her at risk. He could be reckless, but he tried not to be stupid at the same time. He needed the most recent village he visited to feel safe, believing he was gone for good- if not for a long while- before sneaking in again.

His mother… she was pregnant. Heavily so. It was almost time for her belly to finish growing, the baby inside ready to come out and say hello any day now. It was risky, and he didn’t like the fact that she was pregnant one bit with her fragile health, but that didn’t mean he was going to stop trying to procure the herbs needed to make her medicine.

Unfortunately, the process of getting those herbs when he had the kind of face every person on this earth wanted to kill… made that a little tricky.

That merchant was all ready with that knife, wasn’t he?

Rupert staggered and stumbled his way out of the mud and through the vibrant green woods. He could feel the wound slowly closing, but he had no doubt it would be a few minutes before he could see out of that eye again. His mother was going to be very upset when she saw the new scar.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, after all, and that held especially true for a mother that loved her child dearly- regardless of how that child may or may not have been conceived.

A small yelp escaped his lips as he ducked down to avoid another arrow, bloodied feet pounding against the dead leaves and stray twigs. In a desperate attempt to shield himself, Rupert ripped his faded green cape off his shoulders and threw it in the air- watching as it took the arrows in his place, momentarily hiding him from his attackers view.

“I-I’ll have to… come back for that.” He wheezed, stumbling through the thickets and leafy bushes. He rested a hand against a tree for balance, long blue hair nearly completely freed of its green ribbon. “Wh-Which way is…”

Rupert blinked and squinted, and after a split second nodded to himself.

“R-Right. This way…” He scolded himself as he hurried along, trying to make his way home safely. Changing the paths up so frequently really messed with his sense of direction in moments like these. “I should’a memorized this by now!” He huffed, heading towards a mossy cliff with vines growing along its surface. “I swear, if this is what gets me killed-“

Nope. Don’t think about it.

Rupert had been fighting for eleven years to keep his mother alive; he’s not about to lose her now due to some foolish mistake on his end. “Let’s just get the medicine to her and call it a day. Okay? Okay. Everything is fine…”