I turned the page calmly; after all, patience is something I have in abundance.

“Let’s begin with Lauréxia… Our home. If you’re not from here, don’t worry; our goal is for you to understand through clear and contextual language. To the West, we have Irlem, a nation often considered the sister of Híctia, which lies to the east. This is due to a series of events over the centuries that have shaped the continent, placing Lauréxia at the center of the map.

Irlem, in the north, is protected by an imposing mountain range, which not only forms natural barriers but also houses ancient caves. Meanwhile, Híctia boasts a more varied geography, with fertile plains in the center, dotted by large lakes ideal for agriculture. To the west, rolling hills slowly rise toward the mountains that form the border with Irlem.”

(But enough with the geography lesson! I don’t want to bore you, dear reader. If you’d like, the full map is available on my profile. Feel free to check it out with your own eyes :)

Áurea, a world shaped by centuries of challenges and evolution. Finally, I arrive at the part that interests me the most: the post-cataclysmic history and the era of technological starvation. It was during this chaotic period that I found myself thrown back into this endeavor called life.

“As for the current configuration of the world, we can thank—or lament—events such as the Cirane Revolutions, the Harlei Drift, the Gaélia Renaissance, and the successive wars of Áurea: the First, Second, and Third. And the most recent event, which has already lasted for centuries—the Incursions.”

"First of all, it's important to talk about Cirus, a nation situated in the heart of Gaélia, the second oldest on the continent. Founded in 1147, during the Age of Starvation, its capital, Circler, was built by the Cinos—a race of humanoid avians who dared to cross the untamable Cacharrel Desert. This desert was infamous for its scorching temperatures, its giant arthropods like the Kaempferi, and the fearsome giant worms Eunice aphroditois, hunters that could reach over 30 meters in length. Moreover, the nights were freezing, with sandstorms and fatal mirages, caused by the Pravos, obscuring vision, while toxic clouds roamed the air. Despite these obstacles, the Cinos persevered, entering the desert protected by the Precursor black towers, which seemed to resist the march of time.

Beyond the Crumunhon Canyon, in the giant Rafo Oasis, the Cinos settled and founded Circler. Over the years, they expanded their domain and mingled with other races as they dominated more desert territories. In 1162, the Kakun dynasty was established, ruling the desert and unifying the tribes until 1338. During this period, the Cinos' acceptance of other races after the Age of Starvation caused great dissatisfaction, especially among western tribes that did not accept the Elfins.

In 1338, this tension culminated in the Cirane Revolution, a xenophobic uprising that quickly gained strength among the avians. The civil war was marked by intense battles, with battalions of mage-soldiers clashing with rebel armies. The revolt resulted in the deposition and execution of Kakokka IV. Kekolen, then 28 years old, took over as supreme dictator, establishing an autocratic regime. His rise to power was ruthless, marked by the brutal suppression of opponents and the total centralization of power.

In 1381, Kekolen launched a crusade to subjugate and enslave other nations, seeking to become the most powerful being in Gaélia. His military campaigns were extensive and brutal, leading to the conquest of vast areas. First, Cirus expanded north, where it faced the U.N.G and Ruzi tribes, which fiercely resisted but succumbed to Cirus's magical and military superiority.

As they advanced west, Cirus faced even more organized resistance from the southern nations. The battles in this region were incredibly bloody, with both sides employing magical weapons and innovative tactics. Though prolonged for decades, Cirus eventually prevailed, establishing firm control over these lands.

In the northeast, the Gaélia mountains and the fertile eastern territories presented a completely different challenge. The mountain tribes, accustomed to the harsh terrain, offered tenacious resistance. However, the Cinos' air superiority, with coordinated aerial assaults, ensured victory after a war that dragged on for over fifty years.

For a century, Cirus became the largest empire in Áurea, exalting superiority and nationalism heavily. They currently claim the great return of the Kekun, or a deity sent as their god’s apostle to build a unified empire, a unified planet.

However, in 1822, the enslaved nations of Gaélia, exhausted under Cirus's oppressive rule, united to end its reign. With the help of Domim and Turus, strongly xenophile nations, the Gaélia Renaissance began. Using guerrilla tactics and coordinated strikes, Domim’s forces attacked from the north, while Turus pushed from the west. Simultaneously, dissident factions within Cirus incited internal revolts and sabotage, further weakening the regime.

‘After a hundred years of bloody invasions and provincial liberations across the continent, with the fervent support of the Lauréxia nations (even though Irlem and Híctia were still fragmented states), the great fight for freedom began. The invasion of Cirus started with a bold landing at Forolu and Florence, now known as Florem. The allied forces, united by a common goal, broke through Cirus’s defense lines with overwhelming force, sweeping over the occupied territories like a storm.

The Battle of the Strait was the turning point. Cirus, once seemingly invincible, saw its army surrounded and brutally crushed. Their forces were annihilated, leading to Cirus's complete expulsion into the desolate Cacharrel Desert. The victory not only marked the end of Cirus's tyrannical rule but also sowed the seeds of the nations that would shape Gaélia’s future: Ruzi, Florem, Loura, U.N.L.G, and many others rose from the ashes of this triumph.

Over time, the once-mighty empire of Cirus began to wither. Its former glory was devoured by the hunger of time, and by 2042, during the First War of Áurea, Cirus, then a shadow of its former self, found itself on the sidelines of the great conflict. While Florem and the southern nations engaged in violent battles, the Cirane kingdom dealt with its own internal crises, technologically obsolete and economically impoverished.

When the Second War of Áurea broke out in 2070, known as the Reconquest War, Cirus, still reeling from its decline, saw a chance to regain some of its lost power. However, this was an era of giants, and Cirus, now insignificant in the face of emerging and technologically advanced nations, stumbled on its own ambition. Attempts to reoccupy former territories were met with relentless force. The battles were fierce, with the fire of modern weapons and armored vehicles echoing like thunder on the battlefields. Yet, Cirus was pushed back into its agony in the desert.

For centuries, Gaélia saw only minor conflicts until, in 2771, a natural catastrophe opened a seismic rift that set a piece of Lauréxia adrift, triggering a new cycle of destruction. In 2945, the Third Great War—the War of the Suns—erupted when Florem claimed the drifting island. This time, Cirus, now desperate for any shred of relevance, dared to get involved. But the consequences were catastrophic.

Surrounded by forces from Florem and Loura, Cirus, in an act of absolute desperation, broke one of civilization’s greatest taboos. They used a nuclear warhead. The impact was devastating. The horizon blazed with flames as the world plunged into chaos. The ensuing atomic war nearly wiped Gaélia's races from existence, reducing vast regions to smoldering ruins. Cities, forests, and fields turned to ash in the blink of an eye, and radiation spread like an invisible poison, choking life for decades.

But in 2950, something inexplicable happened. The ancient Precursor towers and structures, which had stood silent and mysterious for centuries, acted incomprehensibly. As if obeying a higher will, they reduced the radiation, and in just 70 years, they restored the devastated environment. The nuclear winter ended as swiftly as it had begun, though the second period of starvation inflicted agonizing damage, with mass famine returning. The structures, bringing relief and renewing hope, transformed the world. This inexplicable miracle saved the world from extinction and gave humanity and other races a chance to survive.

However, the price Cirus paid was steep. The empire, once sprawling over vast lands, crumbled under the weight of its own decay. Fragmented into factions with conflicting ideologies, Cirus spiraled into chaos and civil war. Without a strong central government, with its infrastructure decimated and morale shattered, what remained of the nation was lost in internal disputes, becoming a devastated land where the echoes of its former glory mingled with the sound of destruction.

And so, what was once one of Gaélia’s most feared and revered powers became a forgotten shadow, doomed to fight among ruins and memories of the past. (Blah, blah, blah… 30 pages explaining every event in more detail from Cirus’s perspective).”

After Cirus’s fall, Loura emerged not only as a liberated nation but as a power that inherited the spirit of resistance and discipline. Governed by a hereditary parliamentary system, the elites in control were determined to prevent chaos from consuming their territory once again. Loura rose in a landscape where order was the cornerstone of its society, with austere architecture reflecting the severity and durability of its institutions.

At first, the nation focused on reconstruction, turning battlefields into productive lands and its armies into peacekeepers. Its emphasis on education and technology made it a leader in scientific and military advancements. However, during the War of the Suns, Loura faced its greatest challenge: a nuclear war that nearly led Gaélia to extinction. Surrounded by enemies and politically isolated, Loura resisted, though not without deep scars. When the Precursor towers restored the environment, the Lourans firmly believed these structures were, in fact, symbols of divine judgment, reaffirming the nation’s faith in its mission of continental leadership.

Florem is the vibrant soul of Gaélia, known for its rich culture and harmonious cohesion between various races. The nation prides itself on its diversity and sees itself as a symbol of inclusion and progress. During the First War of Áurea, Florem led efforts to unify the southern nations against external threats, cementing its role as Gaélia’s defender.

When the War of the Suns broke out, Florem was forced to fight on multiple fronts. The island of Harlei became the focus of the dispute, and Cirus’s betrayal—joining Híctia, which attacked Florem from behind—created indescribable chaos. However, it was Florem that bore the brunt of the nuclear war, with several of its cities being decimated. The impact of the nuclear warhead launched by Cirus deeply marked the country’s culture, transforming its beautiful cities and squares into irradiated ruins. During the nuclear winter, Florem also witnessed an unusual phenomenon: the Precursor structures near ancient cities began to glow with ethereal lights, as if they were protecting what remained.

This led to a new philosophical current in Florem, viewing these structures as divine artifacts, and after the event, they became sacred pilgrimage sites. Some Floran theorists even believe that the Precursor towers contain ancient energy that can shape the planet’s destiny.

Híctia has always been a nation driven by the sea and trade, its cities a testament to its grand naval history. Over the centuries following its formation, Híctia consolidated its power in Lauréxia, using its mighty fleet to control trade routes and expand its influence.

However, the wars in Áurea put Híctia in a delicate position. The Second War of Áurea saw Híctia attempting an ambitious expansion, but it was thwarted by the fierce resistance of Loura and Florem. The War of the Suns, however, was an even more devastating blow, with Híctia becoming entangled in a series of territorial conflicts that culminated in nuclear destruction. Though Híctia wasn’t the direct target of the bomb, the proximity of its borders to the devastated areas brought death and suffering to its population.

In the following years, Híctia focused on technological innovation, particularly in automation and artificial intelligence, which allowed it to recover quickly after the disaster. Its interest, our interest, in the Precursor structures is particularly notable, with studies conducted by engineers and scientists seeking to understand the purpose of these constructions. The towers, situated in strategic locations, are surrounded by legends claiming they are portals to an ancient civilization or even to dimensions beyond human comprehension.

The Incursions are an inexplicable phenomenon that has occurred in Gaélia and Lauréxia for centuries, always centered around the mysterious Precursor structures. The towers, monoliths, and temples scattered across the continents are remnants of an ancient and unknown civilization, whose intentions remain shrouded in mystery. Some believe these structures were left by gods or extradimensional entities, while others claim they are dormant machines programmed to protect the world from an imminent catastrophe.”

And what about the Incursions? Book! I want to know about the Precursor Structures! I can’t believe you only gave them an honorable mention in the last chapter of the book! I flipped the page, reading the symbols they call ‘letters’ with utmost excitement.