CHAPTER 2

The Empire of Evergladea was a united kingdom consisting of several unique states, each home to a different magical race. Marigoldia, the land of the fairies, was a serene utopia, abundant with vibrant flowers and lush greenery, where peace and tranquility thrived. Cresthaven, the vampire state, was a gloomy realm under perpetual cloudy skies, its aura dark and cold. Often referred to as "The Devil's Graveyard," it was infamous for its freezing temperatures that chilled any visitor to the bone. Whispering Pines, home to the witches, lived up to its name, filled with towering pine trees, overshadowed by ominous clouds that occasionally let the sun through. Frostwood, where the Serens resided, was named not for its lack of trees, but for the vast, icy ocean where seaweed as tall as trees thrived beneath the frigid waters. No trespasser could survive without the permission of the Serens. Sunhaven, the realm of dragons, was a land of elemental extremes and majestic landscapes. Its skies were wild with chaos, giving the land an otherworldly beauty. Lastly, Starfall, the home of werewolves, was a rugged landscape of cliffs, rocky roads, and soft grassy plains. Its beauty was envied by the Havens, making them natural enemies, but due to the alliance of Evergladea, old grievances were set aside. Emberlyn, the human kingdom, bore a resemblance to Starfall but shared some of Marigoldia's beauty. Legend told that Emberlyn was blessed by a Goddess, who gifted special abilities to certain humans, passed down through generations. At the heart of the united kingdom stood Skyridge, the epicenter of power, where the imperial council of all races convened, ensuring the alliance was preserved.

Before the alliance, the realm was torn by constant wars. Vampires captured humans for food, werewolves terrorized smaller races for land, dragons scorched the earth, and witches kidnapped fairies to use in potions. Fairies were plucked of their wings, their tears drained, their hair shaved, and their blood harvested to create the coveted "Millennial Elixir," which fetched high prices in the black market. Only the Serens remained neutral, offering medical aid but allowing suffering to continue. Amidst this chaos, the fairies and humans, the most oppressed, forged a secret alliance. The fairy goddesses bestowed powerful gifts upon six chosen human families, but at a cost—the goddesses would lose their physical forms and ascend to the heavens, leaving their children to fight for themselves.

The six gifted families received powers: The Gift of the Blazing Sun, Raging Water, Roaring Storm, Nurtured Earth, Scorching Flames, and Falling Chaos. These families vowed to protect the humans and fairies from their oppressors. The united forces reclaimed humans from vampire farms, reduced the witch population, and drove the werewolves from stolen lands. As for the dragons, too proud and powerful to engage in full combat, they agreed to a peace treaty after realizing their numbers had dwindled due to vampire and witch attacks. Thus, the three races—humans, fairies, and dragons—formed a fragile alliance. However, the continent remained unaware that an even greater war loomed.

Years later, the border towns began disappearing, leaving barren lands in their wake. At first, suspicion fell on the dragons, but they swore their innocence. A joint investigation revealed a horrifying truth: demons were rising, turning individuals from all races into mindless beasts. This revelation forced the council to gather once more, setting aside their differences to fight the new threat. But as they argued, demon attacks claimed countless lives, forcing the races to unite in battle.

The demon war raged on for decades, with no end in sight, until a young demon named Bran appeared before the council. Shockingly, Bran pleaded for help, weeping as he begged the council to kill the royal demon family. He explained that the new king, Dan, was a bloodthirsty tyrant who had started the war out of sheer boredom. Worse, the royal family supported his reign of terror. Bran revealed the horrors of a chemical called Venomaxylene, used to turn kidnapped victims into mindless, obedient soldiers for the demons. Despite their hatred, the council chose to trust Bran, and after years of brutal warfare, the demon royal family was overthrown. Bran was crowned as the new demon king, under the condition that the demons would remain confined to the wastelands unless special permissions were granted.

In the years that followed, Evergladea prospered. The empire grew more inclusive, even allowing demons some leniency. The imperial families, blessed by the gods and goddesses, became the Alphas and kings of their respective races, ruling with strength and wisdom. However, peace remained fragile.

The humans blessed by the fairy goddesses were revered across the realm, even by their former enemies. As their powers were passed down through generations, jealousy and mistrust festered among the five other gifted families, particularly toward the sixth family. The five families accused the sixth of collaborating with demons in a plot to seize the throne. Fearing the power of the sixth family, the empire decreed their annihilation. Yet, this was no more than a grand scheme orchestrated by the family of the Blazing Sun, whose daughter had fallen in love with the werewolf king, Lycan Prince Darwin Wolf.

When the young woman realized the prince had fallen for the daughter of the sixth family, her father devised a plot to destroy the sixth family and the red dragons they had allied with. Using lies and manipulation, they turned Prince Darwin against his beloved, ensuring her death. The family of the Blazing Sun and the dragons swore to keep their dark secret hidden from the empire, unaware that their actions would one day unravel, threatening the very foundation of Evergladea.