A long journey (3/4)

Since the dawn of time, the continent of Dravaren had been inhabited by four dominant species: humans in the west, elves in the east, dwarves in the south, and orcs in the north.

The lands of the west, home to humans, were blessed with lush vegetation, verdant fields, and crystal-clear rivers that cut through fertile plains, sustaining prosperous villages and growing cities.

To the east, the elves inhabited the oldest forest on the continent, where ancient trees towered, their trunks covered in moss and luminous vines. The dense canopy filtered the sunlight, painting the ground with golden and emerald patterns, while streams snaked between the roots, feeding lakes and glades.

In the south, dwarves raised their fortresses within the mountains, rich in ores and precious stones, where the sound of hammers echoed through masterfully carved caves. Meanwhile, in the north, orcs dominated what would come to be known as the Black Forest.

For ages, the four species lived separately and without contact, each immersed in its own traditions and territories, unaware of each other's existence. Until, on a fateful day, the balance was broken by the first encounter.

It all began when a young human hunter, venturing beyond the boundaries of the western plains, became lost on the edges of the elven forest. Exhausted and disoriented, he stumbled into a clearing where an elven sentinel spotted him. The silence between them was cut by the sound of a bowstring being drawn, but instead of firing, the elf hesitated, intrigued by the presence of this stranger—his skin less pale, his ears unpointed.

This encounter, initially marked by distrust, sparked curiosity among the peoples. Rumors began to spread: humans spoke of slender, ethereal beings in the forests of the east, while elves whispered about rough and clumsy creatures dwelling beyond their trees. It wasn't long before dwarves and orcs also started to realize that Dravaren did not belong to them alone.

Then came the first official meeting, where the leaders of each species gathered to talk. This first assembly became known as the Council of Vetharion, held beneath a great ancient oak at the heart of the continent.

For days, they negotiated, argued, and, at times, nearly broke off discussions. But in the end, an agreement was reached. Borders were drawn, trade routes began to be established, and, above all, a fragile understanding between the species was achieved.

Over the years, as new meetings took place, the four species began to better understand the vast differences between them, both in culture and nature.

When it came to the passage of time, humans were the most ephemeral, rarely living past a century. Orcs followed, with an average lifespan of up to 160 years. Dwarves, hardy and resilient, could reach 250, while elves were the most long-lived, some reaching an impressive 400 years.

However, this longevity came at a price. Humans, despite their short existence, compensated with a high birth rate, expanding rapidly. Elves, on the other hand, had few births, making each new generation precious and scarce.

Orcs and dwarves fell somewhere between these extremes, with orcs having a relatively high reproduction rate, though still lower than that of humans, while dwarves maintained a balance between population stability and longevity.

When it came to "gifts," the differences became even more evident.

Primarily, there were two distinct types of mystical abilities that manifested among the species: mana and essence.

The so-called mages possessed the gift of manipulating mana, an ethereal and omnipresent energy that permeated every corner of nature. Within each mage existed a Mana Core, an internal source that gathered mana from the environment and stored it. This core varied in size depending on the mage's level and influenced both their magical strength and regeneration, determining the power and magical endurance of each individual.

Excessive use of mana could lead to what was known as Mana Exhaustion, a state in which the core was completely depleted, resulting in extreme weakness, unconsciousness, or even the total collapse of the body's magical structure.

On the other hand, the so-called Essentialists mastered a different force, known as essence—an inner energy that sprang from the very vitality of their bodies. Unlike mana, essence did not come from the external world but was cultivated within each individual. With it, essentialists could strengthen their muscles for feats of superhuman strength, sharpen their senses beyond natural limits, or channel it into devastating strikes.

Among all the species, humans had the hardest time manifesting these energies. Only one in twenty children was born with an affinity for magic, while one in ten developed the ability to manipulate essence.

Among elves and dwarves, however, every individual was born aligned with one of these forces, either as a mage or an essentialist. The orcs, on the other hand, were exclusively essentialists—no orc had ever demonstrated an affinity for mana.

However, there was one absolute truth shared by all species: never, in all of history, had there been anyone capable of possessing both abilities at the same time.

All these differences gradually sowed rivalries and envy, which silently took root in the hearts of the peoples of Dravaren. What began as whispers of distrust and covetous glances eventually grew, over generations, into the First Great War.

The Ashen War began when the orc clans, under the leadership of Kragh the Cruel, broke through the borders of the western plains, launching a brutal offensive against the humans. In a single night of fury and destruction, entire villages were reduced to flames, and the once-fertile fields became a sea of ashes—a grim landmark that would give the conflict its name.

For two years, the war dragged on in a succession of orc victories. The warrior tribes advanced like an unstoppable storm, massacring armies, burning cities, and leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. The humans, despite their resilience, found themselves on the brink of collapse, unable to withstand the sheer brutality of the orc essentialists.

It was then, when all seemed lost for the humans, that the most powerful mage of his era intervened. With a single spell, the human Magnus Valcorin wiped the Orcs' main forces off the map. The battlefield, once filled with the clash of blades and war cries, fell into absolute silence. Kragh, The Cruel, fell, and with his death, the orcs retreated.

Fearing that the conflict would spread beyond human lands, the elves and dwarves called for a new Council of Vetharion. Beneath the shadow of the great ancient oak, a new pact was sealed. Magnus Valcorin, now King of the Humans, and the new orc leader agreed to a ceasefire.

Peace was restored to Dravaren, but it did not last.

Ten years later, a new war erupted.