Just northwest of the empire’s capital, the Royal Kirel Academy rises proudly within its own grand grounds — carefully crafted by its very first Headmaster. Known as one of the safest places on the continent, the academy offers a rare sanctuary from the dangers beyond its walls. But admission is fiercely competitive, and the courses themselves are grueling, so few choose to attend unless they’re driven by noble pride or the promise of a guaranteed future of success.Each year, nobles from the empire’s greatest families arrive — some eager to prove their worth, others determined to surpass their own family heads. Within the academy’s walls, grand tournaments draw crowds and spark fierce rivalries, while friendships are forged through shared trials and ambition.More than just a school, the academy is where the essential skills for surviving the harsh Vetian continent are taught. Under the guidance of expert professors, students learn combat, strategy, magic, and diplomacy — preparing them to face the challenges of a world as unforgiving as it is vast. It’s here that the future leaders of the empire are shaped, tempered by hardship and sharpened by determination.

In the sun-scorched southeast of the Vetian continent, where the once-lush tropical forests of the Kingsland Plains have withered into fields of ash and volcanic soil, lies the formidable Duchy of Emberis. The land bears the scars of ancient fire — cracked earth, petrified trees, and the ever-present scent of smoke on the wind. Towering above it all is a looming volcanic peak, long thought dormant, until the Emberis family uncovered its true nature: an ancient, slumbering volcano, pulsing with raw, elemental power. It was a discovery that changed their destiny — and one they claimed as their own.Emberis is a duchy defined by ambition, its nobles known for their relentless pursuit of power and prestige. The family is fiercely competitive, bound by the belief that greatness must be earned through trial, pain, and sacrifice. Training within Emberis lands is brutal; its flame-forged knights and heirs are shaped in the crucible of hardship, emerging as warriors cloaked in both heat and fury.As one of the four legendary bloodlines blessed during the Dragon Fall, the Emberis family wields fire with unparalleled mastery. They are firewalkers, blaze-bringers — their veins run with flame, and their tempers burn just as hot. Though their control is potent, it is not without peril; for the same fire that grants them power can consume them if left unchecked.The duchy’s influence within the Kirel Empire is undeniable, yet their motives remain ever-shifting. Whispers speak of schemes buried beneath layers of ash and ambition, as Emberis seeks not just to survive — but to surpass all others, and rise above the empire itself in a blaze of glory.

Tucked away in the remote, snowbound reaches of the northwestern Vetian continent lies the Duchy of Halcrest — a land as unyielding as the ice it calls home. Shrouded in blizzards and surrounded by treacherous mountain passes, the duchy is difficult to reach and even harder to gain entry into. Foreigners are seldom welcome, and few are granted audience with the ruling family. Those who trespass or disrupt the sacred training grounds of their knights — especially that of the duchy's chosen heir — are met with swift and merciless execution.Despite being one of the three major ducal houses sworn to the Kirel Empire, Halcrest’s loyalty is fiercely insular. While they nominally answer to the imperial crown, true allegiance lies with their own — the reigning duke or duchess, whose word is law within their frozen domain. The duchy's authority is upheld by an elite order of knights, revered not only for their martial discipline but for the chilling power that runs through their veins.Halcrest is one of the four ancient bloodlines said to have been blessed by divine forces during the Dragon Fall over a millennium ago — a time when the world teetered on the edge of annihilation. As a result, their lineage commands the element of ice with fearsome mastery.Snow bends to their will, frost lingers in their presence, and no blade of winter can harm them. To outsiders, their power is cold and unforgiving — much like the land they protect. But to the people of Halcrest, it is both heritage and honor — the legacy of heroes forged in a time when dragons ruled the skies and only the bold dared defy them.

Far to the southeast, beyond the southern edge of the Vetian continent, lies the Calmere Archipelago — a scattered chain of six storm-lashed islands rising from the dark sea. Each island tells a different story: some are home to isolated tribal communities bound by ancient traditions, with little interest in the affairs of the outside world. Others remain openly hostile to foreign presence, while a few cautiously maintain trade with the Kingdom of Beledor — but none extend the same courtesy to the Kirel Empire.However, the true danger surrounding these fated isles does not lie in tribal defiance or political tension, but in the ever-looming threat of piracy. The waters of Calmere are infested with ruthless pirate crews — fierce, disorganized, and driven by greed. A number of these groups have grown bold enough to disrupt international trade routes, striking fear into merchants and coastal cities alike. Their attacks are swift, their motives selfish, and their impact devastating. On more than one occasion, they have attempted to seize the coastal kingdom of Beledor by force, only to be repelled — for now.Yet beneath the chaos of raids and stolen goods lies a more sinister whisper. Rumors speak of an island hidden deep within the Calmere chain, untouched by maps and avoided even by the most daring of captains.It is said that this island harbors an ancient evil — not of human ambition, but something darker, older, and unnatural. A being of ruin, bound to the sea, with power said to rival the long-fallen dragons. Whether truth or tale, one thing is certain: the Calmere Islands are no place for the unprepared, and the ocean does not forgive trespass.

The northern reaches of the Kirel Empire are a land of relentless snow and solemn beauty, where winter lingers long and the air always carries a crisp edge. Among the frost-bitten expanse lies the Grand Duchy of Lichter, nestled in the empire’s northeastern arm — a region marked by towering, snow-capped mountains and a sprawling pine forest so dense and ancient it swallows light and sound alike.This forest stretches toward the edge of the known world, where it vanishes into the untamed wilderness of the Forbidden Winterlands — a desolate realm steeped in legend and forever sealed in ice. Snowfall is frequent, and aside from a brief thaw in spring, the duchy endures a cold, brooding climate year-round.Yet within this harsh and isolated land lies a striking contrast: the Grand Duchy of Lichter itself, a bastion of cultivated elegance and quiet power. Sunlight catches on the pale white stone of noble mansions, and emerald lawns bloom miraculously behind enchanted barriers that ward away the worst of the cold. Life pulses through the duchy — noble processions on cobbled roads, armored knights patrolling in solemn silence, and stewards managing affairs with dignified precision.But beneath its refined façade lies a truth known to only a chosen few: the Grand Duchy of Lichter holds a secret as old as the empire itself — a legacy of blood and fire. Each duke or duchess who rises to power is not merely a noble of high standing, but a descendant of Caldrithar the World-Ender, the ancient and terrible king of dragons believed to have been slain over a thousand years ago.This draconic lineage, kept hidden even from the imperial court, grants the Lichter family not only immense political influence, but a dangerous inheritance that could one day ignite the empire’s most guarded fears. For in a land where dragons are said to be extinct, the blood of the greatest of them all still walks among men.

Lyria, a small yet vibrant coastal nation nestled along the southeastern edge of the Vetian continent, is known for its open shores, flourishing creativity, and deeply spiritual culture. Though modest in size, it holds a strong and enduring presence thanks to its strategic position along major sea routes and its reputation for diplomacy. The people of Lyria are warm and welcoming, known for their artistry, fluid traditions, and the serene rituals performed in honor of their guardian deity — a mysterious water goddess said to dwell within the deep.According to legend, this goddess watches over the turquoise waters that embrace Lyria’s coast, shielding the land from pirates and sea-beasts that stalk the trade routes beyond. Her temples, carved from pale stone and coral, rise along the cliffs and harbors, where offerings are made daily — shells, songs, and glimmering jewels returned to the tide. Though scholars debate the goddess’s origins, few can deny the uncanny calm that clings to Lyria’s waters while neighboring shores suffer raiders and storms.Lyria’s openness extends beyond its faith. The country embraces trade with nearly all nations, regardless of size or creed, and encourages freedom of expression in all forms — from fashion and music to invention and magic.It is a land where poets dine with merchants, and artists are as honored as generals. In many ways, Lyria is seen not as a power of force, but of influence — a haven of beauty, diplomacy, and quiet resilience on a continent often marred by conflict.

The isolated country of Yaravan lies to the arid west, where vast, treacherous desert sands shift like living things, swallowing roads, misguiding travelers, and turning invasion into a death sentence. Shielded by the land’s hostility, Yaravan has remained fiercely independent, its people shaped by the unforgiving sun and scorched stone. Hardened warriors and devout priests walk side by side, each imbued with a natural resistance to magic — a trait that has both baffled scholars and deterred sorcerers for generations.At the heart of Yaravan’s society stands a singular, godlike figure: Ra Shin, the nation’s enigmatic and eternal ruler. Revered as both divine and sovereign, Ra Shin is worshipped through fire rituals and ancient chants, his name never spoken in vain. His rule is not merely political but spiritual — absolute and unquestioned. The faith of Yaravan is not a matter of religion, but a matter of identity.Whispers long forbidden beyond the borders of Yaravan speak of a sacred bloodline — a lineage bound to an ancient dragon whose name has been erased from history. Whether myth or truth, these rumors have stirred unease within the Kirel Empire, whose own legacy is steeped in the destruction of dragonkind. Tensions now simmer between the two nations, not yet broken into open conflict, but shadowed by mistrust. Some fear that what lies dormant beneath the sands of Yaravan may yet rise — and the empire’s old sins may not remain buried forever.

The Kingdom of Beledor, though modest in size, holds a position of quiet power and enduring relevance on the southern coast of the Vetian continent. Cradled by the vast ocean to the south, its capital, Cyron, sits like a glittering jewel along the shore — a city of open harbors, bustling markets, and seaborne wealth. Closely allied with the Kirel Empire, Beledor enjoys the protection of its larger neighbor, maintaining favorable relations through diplomacy and shared interests rather than displays of military might.Beledor’s true strength lies not in swords or shields, but in its steadfast neutrality and control over key maritime trade routes. As the continent’s gateway to the wider world, it thrives as a hub of commerce, culture, and negotiation, wielding economic influence far greater than its military capabilities would suggest. Though its armies are few and its defenses light, few would dare jeopardize their standing with Beledor — for to do so would mean risking their access to the lifeblood of trade and the goodwill of the Kirel Empire.Despite its peaceful reputation, there are whispers that not all in Beledor are content with their kingdom’s reliance on foreign alliances. Beneath the surface of Cyron’s polished grandeur, political undercurrents stir — some seeking greater independence, others hungering for a return to older, forgotten powers hidden beneath the waves.

The Kirel Empire, once a modest kingdom led by an ambitious monarch and bound to an ancient, enigmatic source of magic, has grown into the largest and most formidable nation on the Vetian continent. Its territories stretch from the frozen reaches of the northwest, where the stoic Halcrest Duchy guards the Frostmarch, to the sun-warmed southeast, home to the fertile Kingsland Plains ruled by House Emberis. In the northeast lies the mysterious Lichter Duchy, veiled in secrets and old blood, while at the heart of it all stands the imperial capital — a sprawling seat of power where the royal family reigns unchallenged.Spanning a multitude of climates and landscapes, the empire is as diverse in terrain as it is in its internal politics. Beneath its polished grandeur simmer the ever-shifting tensions and rivalries of the royal bloodline, whose hidden agendas shape much of the empire’s fate. Despite its internal strife, the Kirel Empire maintains a facade of diplomacy, fostering trade and tentative peace with the smaller neighboring realms. Yet, its history is anything but gentle — for it was this empire that played a pivotal role in the cataclysmic fall of the dragons over a millennium ago, a legacy that still commands fear and reverence across the continent.

Zevran Duskryn

Dragon Slayer of Duskwatch

“You are both the curse I was sworn to destroy and the reason I’m beginning to believe that some fates can be rewritten, if only we have the courage to defy them.”As the cursed Princess of Beledor hiding a monstrous secret, you and Zevran, the famed slayer of dragons, must forge an unlikely alliance to defy a fate written in fire.

Sven Halcrest

Duke of Halcrest, Commander of the Halcrest Knights

“Duty does not waver for feelings, yet sometimes I wonder if my curse is punishment for hoping to feel at all.”Sent as a political sacrifice to the frozen north, you alone hold the power to awaken the heart of a war-hardened duke trapped in a ruthless generational curse.

Icarus Kirelith

Original Crown Prince of Kirel

“We both carry scars no one else can see, but when we’re together, those scars don’t feel like weaknesses — they feel like parts of a story only we share.”As you help the forgotten prince return to court, you start to see the fire he keeps carefully hidden but to him, he starts to see more than just a pompous noblewoman — you’re a glimpse of the freedom he’s never had.

Alric von Lichter

Grand Duke of Lichter

"You speak like you know the rules of the game. But I wonder — are you prepared for the consequences when those rules start to change?"You’re thrust into a political marriage with the Grand Duke of Lichter, the Empire’s most feared and elusive man, and what was supposed to be a simple duty quickly becomes a dangerous game of deception and desire.