Far to the northwest of the Northern Continent.
The northern lands of the Aetherland Kingdom.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, dancing with golden motes drifting through the air and casting a gentle glow over the forest morning. As the morning mist slowly dispersed, the city-state gradually awoke.
The royal capital of Gedalia was deeply intertwined with the fairy-tale-like forests and lakes surrounding it. From its architectural style and city planning to the way its residents lived, everything maintained a harmonious relationship with nature. It retained its natural character while also reflecting the ingenuity of modern craftsmanship.
People in the streets began to bustle about. Several messengers riding enormous bird mounts hurried past, their light armor glittering beneath the sunlight.
Water babbled through wooden channels, winding through every corner of the city and nourishing the land.
This enormous kingdom was filled with inclusiveness. Along the way, one could see residents with wildly different appearances and racial features, yet none of them found one another unusual.
The Aetherland Kingdom was a federal kingdom composed of many autonomous races. This alone had determined that its culture would be at daggers drawn with the Protos Empire.
Although it was not as advanced as Protos in Magical Engineering, its pure magic and martial arts were formidable thanks to its profound heritage and diverse magical traditions. It was one of the few great powers in the Northern Continent capable of directly resisting the Protos Empire.
Deep within the city, beside a clear lake surrounded by woods, stood a towering temple.
A faint tremor suddenly came from the sky above the tranquil temple. It was followed by a low hum. As the sound grew louder, a medium-sized passenger wyvern slowly descended from the sky, its wings stirring up fallen leaves and dust from the ground.
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