Chapter 2 - The Letter Of Identity

10 years ago, before Nico entered the Keeper Academy…

Amara Lotus (Nico’s Mother)

My Dearest Nico,

If you are reading this letter, then the day I have feared for so long has come to fruition. I am probably about to die soon if they find me, just like your father did a while back. The world is a dishonest place, Nico, more so than you could ever imagine. Trust your gut, it will save you more than you could imagine. 

Our nation, Tarondar, once a beacon of hope on the continent of Glozaria, has become a land shrouded in deception. The very thing that brought Tarondar glory was the very thing that caused its corruption. Glozaria was once a place of beauty, a realm where magic flowed freely and life thrived in harmony. But forces that sought to reshape the world in their image shattered that harmony long before you were born. 

You see, Tarondar’s history paints a picture of blood and betrayal, and the Keepers—those who were once our protectors—are not as they appear. The Keeper Academy is not what it seems like. 

Long ago, when people discovered the first sparks of magic, they found two paths: the path of light and the path of darkness. Together, they form the origin of magic of the universe. The Keepers, chosen for their so-called purity and strength, were to be the guardians of this power. They vowed to protect the world and ensure that magic was used for the greater good.

Power can corrupt people. The Keepers were no exception. Over time, they became something else, something far more sinister. They became the Eradicators. 

The Eradicators are not human, though they wear the faces of normal men and women. They are superhuman beings, hungry for control, and they have woven a web of lies so intricate that even the strongest minds have fallen prey to it. 

These superhuman beings took the children of our world—children like you—and twisted their minds, making them believe that the actual humans were the monsters. They brainwashed the children into thinking that we, the survivors, were the Eradicators, the ones to be hunted and destroyed. And so, our children became our greatest enemy, our greatest fear. 

But you, Nico, are different. You are the child of two worlds, born from the union of a real Eradicator and a human. Your father, though he may have seemed like one of them, was a man of honor and courage. He betrayed the Keepers by putting a stop to their annihilation ritual, which would have destroyed the entire world. He did all of this at the cost of his own life.

He loved you more than words could ever express, and he gave his life to protect you from the very people who now seek to control you. And I, your mother, have given everything to keep you safe, to prepare you for the journey ahead.

You possess a power that the Eradicators fear, a magic that they cannot control. It is why they have banned the use of your magic at the Keeper Academy, why they insist on overseeing every spell you cast. They know that your magic is unique, that it comes from a place they cannot reach—a place of darkness, yes, but also of strength, love, and hope. Only in the darkness can you see the stars. 

Darkness, my son, is not always the enemy. It is in the darkness that we find our true selves, that we discover the strength to protect what we love. Your magic, born from the shadows, is a genuine gift, not a curse. It reflects the pain and loss you have endured and what you will endure in the future, of the love you carry in your heart. It is a power that you can use for good, a power that can heal, protect, and save those who are dear to you. 

Light is not always as pure as it seems. The Eradicators wield light magic with a cruelty that stains its brilliance. They demand perfection, a world molded in their image, where only the strongest, the most obedient, survive. But perfection is a lie, Nico.

It is an illusion that blinds us to the truth, that hides the flaws and the beauty of what it means to be human. The light they offer is cold, empty, and unforgiving. It is a light that destroys, not because it is strong, but because it seeks to erase anything that does not fit its vision.

Remember this, Nico: your magic reflects who you are to the core, and who you are is someone who cares deeply, who feels deeply, who loves deeply even if you don’t recognize it. That is your strength, not your weakness. It is the power that will guide you through the trials ahead, the power that will help you reclaim the truth and lead humanity back to its rightful place before the Eradicators took place.

I am writing this letter because I know the Eradicators will come to us. They will try to silence us, to erase us from your memory, but I want you to know that it’s okay to be afraid. Fear is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of life, of humanity. And it is your humanity, Nico, that makes you strong.

You may be the child of a former Eradicator, but you are also the child of a human—a human who loved you more than life itself. In order to have happiness, you must experience sadness. It is in your pain you will find your true strength. 

Do not let them take that from you. Do not let them make you believe you are alone, that you are powerless. You have within you the power to change the world, to bring an end to the lies and the evil that has plagued our people for so long. But you must believe in yourself, in the strength of your magic, and in the goodness of your heart.

I wish I could be there with you, to guide you, to protect you, but fate has decided otherwise. Know that your father and I loved you more than anything in this world, and that our greatest hope is for you to live the life you deserve. A life of truth, of honor, and of love.

Stay strong, my son. Trust in yourself, and remember that even in the darkest of times, you always carry a light within you that can never be extinguished.

With all my love,

Your Mother