The Southern Continent was home to the hegemon of the region south of the Nox Mountains, the Krui Di Empire.
The Imperial Capital Bulielda, located in the empire's southern heartland, was every bit as prosperous and beautiful as any city along the empire's mountains or coast. Towering classical buildings stood throughout every corner of Bulielda. Around the city-state's central Memorial Square were white monuments and dark-gray statues of heroes in distinctive styles, creating an atmosphere rich in art.
Every March and April, when warm spring arrived and the climate grew mild and bright, the air began to fill with the fragrance of flowers and deep, distant music.
Now and then, a glimmer of dusk shone across the spacious streets, carrying with it the scent of rose bushes or a stretch of gentle music played by a wandering bard, like birds chirping in a greenhouse. Even at sunset, the city-state looked like a pure heavenly kingdom.
As night approached, City Hall was illuminated by lamplight, while music drowned out the dry creak of a side door decorated with gold fittings as it opened.
They passed through corridor after corridor of luxurious interiors, descended the stairs, and continued until they reached the inner side of an office on the underground level. After opening another door, they proceeded farther inside.
The narrow passage was unfriendly to anyone tall or powerfully built. After several turns and roughly three or four hundred steps, the sounds finally vanished completely, revealing an entirely new space.
Hidden deep beneath the Krui Di Empire was a palace forgotten by time. It was the center of power buried beneath the earth, with only magic casting a hazy starlight over the mist-shrouded space.
On both sides of the stone streets stood buildings constructed from rocks weathered by history. At the far