Good and evil had always been locked in an endless conflict. Dragons, demons, orcs, and countless other creatures threatened the weaker and more peaceful races. Humans, elves, and other races united and founded the capital of what would come to be known as the Coalition—an alliance created to eradicate evil and preserve peace.

  The war lasted for centuries and claimed millions of lives. Just when the Coalition seemed on the verge of collapse, he appeared: Azael, the Illuminated, a young prodigy whose magic surpassed all imagination. Alone, alongside his group, he defeated the Demon King and annihilated his army, marking the beginning of the Era of Light, a time of absolute peace. With his magic, he eradicated every mindless creature that could pose a threat and offered races such as the orcs the chance to join the Coalition.

  And then, when the world finally seemed safe… he disappeared, leaving behind only the hundreds of statues erected in his and his companions’ image.

  Centuries later, peace begins to falter. Creatures believed to be extinct—goblins, slimes, gremlins, and other magical beings—have begun to reappear. The guilds, weakened by generations of tranquility, have lost much of their strength and now limit themselves to protecting villages, exploring territories, or conducting investigations. To uncover the truth behind these new threats, each guild sends its finest members in search of answers before it is too late.

  In one of the forests farthest from the Coalition’s capital stood a young woman no older than twenty. Her brown hair fell over long purple robes adorned with red details, and in her right hand she held a staff carved from polished black wood, etched with golden runes that glowed with their own light. At its tip, a blue crystal floated within a silver metal ring, radiating energy that seemed to absorb the light around it. Every curve of the staff looked as though it had been shaped by magical hands, as if it carried centuries of knowledge within.

  The crystal began to glow softly as she spoke.

  —Research log, entry five. My name is Liria Evans, member of the Mages’ Guild Research Division. I am currently near the reported sightings of hostile magical creatures. So far, there are no signs. I will continue searching for evidence; if nothing is found, I will close the investigation of this area.

  The crystal dimmed, ending the recording.

  —I should sit down for a bit—she murmured.—I’ve been walking for hours and haven’t seen anything. It was probably a false alarm from some farmer… Besides, this forest seems endless.

  As she rested on a rock, an absurdly large tree caught her attention. A thought crossed her mind—climbing it might give her a better view of the forest.

  She gripped her staff tightly as air began to swirl around her, stirring leaves, dust, and her own hair.

  —Aerial.

  The moment she spoke the word, a gust of wind lifted her gently onto one of the highest branches, from where she could observe the forest below.

  —Nothing at all… just trees, animals… nothing out of the or—

  She stopped.

  —Wait… what is that?

  Far in the distance, something large moved slowly between the trees, pushing vegetation aside. She leaned forward, trying to identify it—but her foot slipped. Her staff fell from her grasp, plummeting toward the ground along with her.

  Seconds before impact, a swift shadow appeared out of nowhere and caught her midair.

  —You should be more careful—a calm voice said.—I don’t know if you’re aware, but falling from that height usually ends in death.

  It was a tall man, dressed in a robe worn down by time. His hair, white as milk, flowed long and unkempt down to his waist, and a thick beard concealed most of his face, making his features impossible to discern.

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  —Thank you for saving me, sir—the young woman said, still trembling.

  —Yeah, yeah, no problem—he replied indifferently.—But what exactly is a girl doing alone in the forest, climbing trees?

  —I’m part of the Mages’ Guild Research Division. I’m investigating reports of hostile magical creatures.

  He gently set her down on the ground and looked her up and down.

  —And if you’re a mage… why didn’t you use levitation magic to come down safely?

  —In case you didn’t notice, my staff is on the ground—she replied, pointing at it.—It slipped from my hand.

  —Uh-huh. Just use magic with your hands then.

  —Ha. Very funny—she said with a frown.—That’s impossible. You need a magical medium to channel it.

  —Oh… so they sent such a useless mage.

  He turned away as if the conversation were over.

  —Useless?!—she protested.—For your information, I’m one of the most important members of the Research Division.

  —Ah, then I’ll correct myself—he said without looking at her.—All mages are useless.

  He paused, then added:

  —Look, you should leave. Come with me, I’ll give you some food, and then you can be on your way.

  —I can’t leave—she said firmly.—I saw something in the distance… but I’ll accept the food. I ran out of supplies.

  After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at a cave that served as the man’s home. Everything inside was rustic—wood, stone, and animal pelts assembled without much care.

  —I think I have some bread and fresh fruit. Give me a second… and don’t touch anything—he said before walking away.

  The girl scanned the cave. On the ground were improvised weights, worn tools, and common household items.

  But something caught her attention.

  In one corner, used as nothing more than a coat rack, stood a staff made entirely of metal.

  It was not common iron. Its surface bore a dull golden hue, streaked with darker veins, as if different metals had been fused together centuries ago. Old clothes hung from it carelessly, resting against a body that showed no rust, no dents, no signs of wear.

  The metal was covered in impossibly fine engravings—geometric lines and symbols so precise they seemed impossible to have been carved by hand. They did not glow, yet they caught the light in a clean, solemn way.

  Near the top, several metal rings integrated into the structure encircled the staff. They didn’t seem decorative; each bore a distinct design, as if representing different eras. Between them, small grooves revealed an even lighter metal, almost white, contrasting with the ancient gold.

  The tip ended in a simple, perfect shape—no blade, no excessive ornamentation.

  Even so, the ground beneath it was faintly cracked, as if the staff weighed far more than its size suggested.

  The girl stepped closer and, without thinking, let everything hanging from it fall to the ground, gently brushing the metal.

  —I believe I told you not to touch anything—the man said coldly.

  —That’s a magical staff—she replied.—From before the Era of Light. How do you have a relic like this?

  —That’s none of your business. Take the food and leave.

  —Very well… but I will report this to the guild immediately.

  —Do as you please. Leave me alone.

  She grabbed a bag of food and left the cave, walking quickly through the trees without paying attention to her surroundings—until she collided with something solid.

  A gigantic being, nearly three meters tall, loomed before her. Its body was a grotesque fusion of flesh and stone, emanating uncontrollable mana.

  A stone troll.

  She conjured a magical shield, but the troll’s blow still sent her flying several meters back, crashing her into a tree.

  —Help! Please, help me! I don’t want to die!

  Back at the cave, the man heard her screams.

  He stopped at the entrance and extended his arm. The staff flew toward him on its own. He released it… and it floated inches above the ground.

  Without a word, he stepped onto it, placed his hands behind his back, and shot forward at incredible speed, weaving between trees by mere inches, gliding through the forest as if the world already knew his path.

  The troll was about to crush the girl when, at the last second, a figure appeared at blinding speed and pulled her out of the attack’s reach, placing her safely several meters away.

  The man descended from the staff and drove it forcefully into the ground.

  —A… are you a… mage…?—the girl asked weakly.

  —No—he replied.—I’m not.

  He removed his robe, revealing a young, athletic body forged through years of training. He draped the robe over the staff and pulled a pair of metal gauntlets from his pockets, calmly putting them on as he walked toward the troll.

  The creature struck first.

  He dodged effortlessly and countered with a punch so brutal the forest shook. Cracks spread across the troll’s body as it let out a scream of pain.

  —I thought I’d already taken care of these brainless pieces of trash a long time ago…—he muttered.—Whatever. I can kill one more.

  Desperate, the troll swung wildly and ripped stones from the ground to hurl at him. He dodged or shattered them with his bare fists. One impact fractured his hand, blood spilling instantly… yet the wound regenerated before the girl’s eyes.

  The man charged, leapt into the air, and summoned the staff. It flew into his hand, and with a single precise strike, he tore the troll’s head clean off.

  The mass of flesh and stone collapsed heavily to the ground.

  He exhaled, wiped the sweat from his face, and walked toward the girl.

  —Who… who are you…?—she managed to ask.

  —Why do you care?

  And then, the girl lost consciousness.