Chapter 7: The Divided World of Avalon

Avalon was a world of gods and demons — and of everything caught in between.

It was said that in the beginning, when the world was still young and the seas had yet to settle, the Primordial Ones shaped the land. Two forces — light and shadow, creation and destruction — wove Avalon into existence. From their clash rose the first gods, and from their despair rose the first demons. The balance of power was never perfect. It was a world built on conflict.

But the gods withdrew. Whether through slumber or indifference, they abandoned Avalon to those who remained — and so the demons claimed their place.

Among them was one known only in whispers: Malzeth, the Crimson Veil. A demon of ancient power and patient cunning. It was Malzeth who had made the pact with Alexis' mother, and it was his gift — the system embedded in Alexis' mind — that would shape the boy's destiny. But Malzeth was only one among many, and even his influence was not absolute.

For Avalon belonged not just to the demons, but to its mortal rulers. And its lands were divided among powers both fierce and proud.

The Five Great Empires of Avalon:

1. The Holy Empire of Solmaria (Human Church)

Capital: Eclisium

Ruler: The High Pontiff

Dominion: The Western Continent of Calvess

Faith: The Radiant God of Purity

The Holy Empire of Solmaria was the most powerful human nation — and the most zealous. Guided by the Church, they claimed divine authority over Avalon and saw themselves as the chosen children of the gods. Their Inquisitors, clad in silver and bearing the blue cross, were feared across the world for their relentless pursuit of heresy — and of abominations.

Solmaria viewed hybrids as an affront to the divine order, their mixed blood seen as corruption. In their eyes, the existence of beings like Alexis invited ruin, and so the Church dedicated itself to their extermination.

2. The Nightfang Dominion (Lycanthropes)

Capital: Blackridge Hold

Ruler: The Bloodfang Council

Dominion: The Northern Wastes of Kaerthas

A harsh and savage land ruled by strength, the Nightfang Dominion belonged to the lycanthropes. Divided into powerful clans, the lycans were warriors first and foremost — their society built on honor, survival, and the law of the wild. Their rulers, the Bloodfang Council, were the strongest among them, leading through respect earned in battle.

The lycanthropes valued purity of bloodline. A hybrid was seen as a weakness — a dilution of their strength — and such offspring were often cast out or hunted.

3. The Crimson Court (Vampires)

Capital: Nocturne Spire

Ruler: Queen Seraphine Nightshade

Dominion: The Shadowlands of Varethis

Elegant and cruel, the vampires of the Crimson Court ruled from the eternal night of the Shadowlands. Their aristocracy thrived on power, manipulation, and decadence. Queen Seraphine Nightshade's word was law, and her dominion extended through blood oaths and fear.

For vampires, hybrids were an insult to their refined heritage — mongrels unworthy of the gifts of eternal life. They were seen as unstable, dangerous… and a threat to the purity of their noble blood.

4. The Sylvan Enclave (Elves)

Capital: Aelinthariel

Ruler: The Council of Eldergrove

Dominion: The Verdant Expanse of Elarindor

The elves were Avalon's oldest mortal race, keepers of knowledge and magic. The Sylvan Enclave was a bastion of tradition and wisdom, its people living in harmony with the ancient forests. Ruled by the Council of Eldergrove, the elves prized purity of essence — the connection between bloodline and magic.

Hybrids were viewed as anomalies — their mixed heritage seen as a disruption to the natural flow of magic. Some elves pitied them. Others feared them. But few ever accepted them.

5. The Ironhold Confederacy (Dwarfs)

Capital: Kar Thuldor

Ruler: High King Baelgrim Stoneheart

Dominion: The Mountains of Grimtharrak

The dwarfs of Ironhold were masters of craft and industry, their fortresses carved deep into the stone. Practical and proud, their society valued skill and loyalty above all else. High King Baelgrim ruled with a firm hand, his word supported by the strength of the great clans.

To the dwarfs, hybrids were unnatural — not for reasons of faith or magic, but because they threatened the order of bloodlines and heritage. They distrusted what they could not categorize, and a hybrid's existence was a question better left unanswered.

Power and Scaling:

Avalon's power was defined by both strength and lineage. Each species had unique abilities:

Humans: Versatile, adaptable. Their strength lay in numbers and faith, with powerful divine magic granted to their priests and Inquisitors.

Lycanthropes: Physical power unmatched. Enhanced speed, strength, and regeneration — but driven by their primal instincts.

Vampires: Masters of blood magic and illusion. Their strength grew with age, making the oldest vampires near-immortal forces.

Elves: Deeply attuned to elemental and arcane magic. Their long lifespans allowed them to master disciplines humans could only dream of.

Dwarfs: Hardy and resilient. Masters of enchantment and craftsmanship, their weapons and armor were second to none.

Power was also divided by class and skill:

Novice: The first step, where most commoners remained.

Adept: Trained fighters and spellcasters with formal knowledge.

Master: Warriors and mages of great renown.

Grandmaster: A rare tier, where strength bordered on the mythic.

Ascendant: Legends, beings of godlike power. Few ever reached this level.

The Curse of the Hybrid:

But hybrids… they belonged to none of these.

Born from the union of different species, hybrids were seen as unstable. Their mixed bloodlines often clashed — magic against instinct, strength against spirit — resulting in unpredictable abilities and uncontrollable transformations. Most hybrids died young, their bodies unable to contain the warring essences within them.

Those who survived were feared. Some believed hybrids were cursed — the result of demonic influence. Others saw them as weapons waiting to lose control. In every empire, they were hunted, shunned, or used.

For Alexis Greaves, there was no safe haven. His bloodline was still a mystery, but the system had already revealed the truth: his power was sealed because it was too dangerous. Too overwhelming.

But as Avalon's powers moved toward war, that power would not stay hidden forever. And when it awakened… the world would tremble.