Chapter 16.5 / Interlude: The Seal of Abnegation

In the secret archives of Lunaris, hidden in the depths of the most ancient libraries and guarded by the most trustworthy scholars, there are accounts of an artifact whose power surpasses human understanding: the Seal of Abnegation. Its origin dates back to a time when the Six Nations, although established, faced challenges that threatened their very existence.

The story begins millennia ago, at a time when the balance between light and darkness was as fragile as a silk thread in a storm. The Six Nations - Myralis, Lunaris, Terra Nova, Aquila, Solara, and Noctis - already existed, each with its own traditions and magic. But their differences and rivalries often prevented them from standing united against the threats that weighed on their world.

It was then that an unprecedented calamity befell the lands of the Six Nations. Ancient texts speak of a wave of dark energy, bearer of chaos and destruction, which emerged from the depths of the earth itself. This evil force made no distinction between nations, threatening to engulf everything in its path.

Faced with this existential threat, the ancient Myralians, ancestors of all the peoples of the Six Nations, understood that they had to unite or perish. Guided by a wisdom whose origin remains a mystery, they put aside their differences and quarrels to face together the advancing darkness.

On the day when the black wave reached the central plains of what would later become Myralis, thousands of people gathered. Men, women, children, elders - all who could stand formed an immense human chain, their joined hands shining with a golden light that seemed to emanate from their very souls.

The chronicles tell that when the wave of darkness struck this human barrier, the shock was so powerful that the earth itself trembled. For hours that seemed to last an eternity, the Myralians held firm, drawing on their life forces to push back the darkness.

The price to pay was terrible. As the battle raged, thousands of people collapsed, their lives consumed by the superhuman effort they were making. But each time a link in the chain fell, another took its place, reinforcing the barrier of light.

Finally, in a last surge of energy, the chain of light definitively pushed back the darkness, scattering it to the four winds and saving the world at the cost of thousands of lives.

This founding sacrifice, as it is called today in the rare circles that know of its existence, marked a turning point in the history of Myralis. For from this union of wills and souls was born an artifact of unprecedented power: the Seal of Abnegation.

Descriptions of the Seal vary according to sources, but most agree on certain details. It would take the form of a medallion, as large as the palm of a hand, composed of a crescent moon intertwined with a sun. Its surface would shimmer with both silver and golden light, as if light itself hesitated on the nature of this object.

Some texts claim that the Seal was forged from the very essence of the souls sacrificed that day, condensing their will and abnegation into a tangible object. Others suggest that it already existed before, hidden somewhere in the folds of the world, and that it was revealed by the act of sacrifice of the Myralians.

Whatever its exact origin, the Seal of Abnegation quickly became much more than a simple artifact. It embodied the ideal towards which the leaders of the newly unified lands should aspire: the will to give everything for the common good, to place the needs of the community above individual desires.

Over the centuries, as the Six Nations took shape and their identities were forged, the Seal played a crucial role in maintaining balance and peace. It is said to have the power to bind destinies, to create inviolable alliances between those who swear upon it.

The most famous of these alliances, although its existence is now considered a myth by many, would be the one that binds Myralis and Lunaris. According to legends, the Seal would symbolize the perfect balance between these two nations, between self-sacrifice and preservation, between shadow and light.

But like all great sources of power, the Seal of Abnegation also attracted covetousness and conflict. Over time, factions formed, each seeking to appropriate the Seal for its own ends. Some saw it as a tool to unify the Six Nations under a single banner. Others feared it would be used to enslave peoples, forcing blind obedience in the name of the "common good".

Faced with these growing tensions, the guardians of the Seal made a radical decision. In the utmost secrecy, they hid the artifact, putting it out of reach of those who would seek to use it for selfish purposes. The exact location of the Seal became Myralis' best-kept secret, known only to a handful of carefully selected individuals in each generation.

With time, the Seal of Abnegation passed from the status of historical object to that of myth. For most inhabitants of the Six Nations, it is now just a legend, a beautiful story told to children to teach them the virtues of sacrifice and unity.

But for some, the Seal remains a tangible reality, an object of power whose rediscovery could change the course of history. Among them, the Order of the Veil, a secret organization whose very existence is subject to debate, seems particularly interested in its location.

The exact motivations of the Order remain obscure. Some claim they seek to protect the Seal, to ensure it never falls into the wrong hands. Others accuse them of wanting to seize it for their own designs, perhaps to reshape the world according to their vision.

What is certain is that the renewed interest in the Seal of Abnegation coincides with a period of growing tension between the Six Nations. Rumors of imminent conflicts circulate, and the precarious balance maintained for centuries seems about to tip.

In this troubled context, where ancient prophecies seem to come to life and where the forces of darkness stir, the fate of the Seal could well be the key to the future of all Myralis. Who will find it first? And more importantly, what price will the world have to pay for its use?

As the prestigious tournament of Selenopolis is in full swing, attracting everyone's attention, plots are brewing in the shadows. Agents of different factions clash in a secret race, seeking clues to the location of the Seal, deciphering ancient texts and exploring forgotten ruins.

And at the heart of this whirlwind of intrigues and mysteries, a question persists: is the Seal of Abnegation really what legends claim it to be? Or does it hide an even greater secret, perhaps linked to the very essence of magic and the balance of the world?

Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: those who venture in search of the Seal walk a dangerous path, where each step could bring them closer to the truth... or to their doom.