Prologue: The Myth of the Unknown Lands

This is a story where there is no quest.

This is a story where there is no protagonist, antagonist, deuteragonist, or whatever characters commonly found in literature.

This is a story where the lines between good and evil are blurred.

This is simply a recollection of events.

Events that occurred in a region shrouded with mystery, where children with unexplained powers were born randomely.

To the east, the region was separated by a huge vast sea, where it was said that you could eventually sail to nirvana.

To the west, a desert spread forever. All those who had valiantly attempted to find the end were never heard from again.

To the north, a lifeless tundra so barren that anyone who saw it would shudder at its presence.

To the south, a river with no name, with waves that reached the height of fifty horses, that could swallow a galleon. Winds were so fast that if you got close to the river, you would be swept away.

Half a millennia ago, the region was the most advanced the world had ever seen, united under the great emperor Kuniji Mizuki. It ushered in the golden age, with technology that could be comparable to the modern world of today.

However, Kuniji wanted to ensure the longevity of his dynasty, so he began to search far and wide for a solution. Kuniji heard ideas from all over the kingdom, but was dissatisfied with all. One day, two mysterious sages appeared, each holding a pill. They self-proclaimed themselves as prophets sent from divine intervention above.

“I am Shigeru, the prophet of magical powers. By taking this pill, all your descendants will have powers that will transgress all knowledge of science!” one said.

“I am Kichiji, the prophet of weapons and war. By taking this pill, all your descendents will receive a befitting weapon when time says so. The weapon will strike fear in your enemies so much that no one will ever oppose you!” the other said.

“But, pick one, only one!” Shigeru warned.

“Otherwise, great misfortunes will fall onto your descendents and your land!” Kichiji exclaimed.

Although many of Kunji’s top ministers argued that they were simply heretics that ought to be executed. Kuniji was mesmerized.

Perhaps it was the tricky tongue, or maybe Kuniji had lost his senses, but Kuniji waved the ministers off.

“Great sages, let me see the pills, and I shall take my pick. I will reward both of you handsomely” Kuniji proclaimed.

Yet when the sages came closer, Kuniji had really lost his mind. Before the sages could react fast enough, Kuniji took both pills, and with one swallow, took both pills.

The sages were furious, “Curses, emperor. You do realize the great misfortune that will have befallen your family!” Shigeru roared angrily.

Kuniji didn’t say a single word. He simply waved the two off and laughed!

“Very well, go on your way! Oh yes, I shall give you both some of the finest property, with gold and silver piled so high that you wouldn’t even know what to do with them! Ah! Think of it!”

“You’ll regret this,” Kichiji muttered as the two hurriedly left the palace.

Emperor Kuniji didn’t think much of this incident, until a year later, when his wife gave birth to fourteen boys.

Now this alarmed Kuniji, as his common sense told him that if fourteen kids were born simultaneously there was either something wrong with him or his wife.

Nonetheless, a great festival was held in the entire region honoring this wonderful phenomenon.

Years passed, and as these fourteen kids grew, Kuniji began to see a problem.

Although they looked like normal children, each possessed unique powers.

Kuniji noted especially how his eldest could, with the flick of his wrist, send a barrage of arrows down to the Earth, killing all those who were standing in the radius. Kuniji also counted his fourteenth child, who happened to charm any males that came his way.

When each child reached fifteen, a weapon was dropped to them in their sleep, which depended on their skills.

Needless to say, the eldest was entrusted with a highly ornamented crossbow, while the youngest also had a bow, yet each arrow had a spade tip marking, so that whenever the spade tip shot someone, they would instantly make you fall for him.

Although Kuniji was certainly worried about what he had done, his health was failing. He searched far and wide for an elixir of longevity, yet when he took his doctor’s medicine it had an uncanny metallic taste and often left him vomiting afterwards.

At Year 20, Kuniji was near his death, when he privately drafted his will. He named his wife the regent, and gave each son a divided piece of land of his empire.

Eventually, Kuniji died, and his wife came to be the leader. Yet, each son, vying for the spot, began fighting each other to control the region. Thus, the golden age came down crashing overnight, and the dark age came. This fighting continued even after Kuniji’s sons’ deaths, and came with their heir.

As more and more humans were born with blood relation to Kuniji, many lived in obscurity. After all, only one was to be the heir, and usually the heir would consolidate their power by murdering all those who get in their way, including siblings.

Many of these offspring would hide their abilities and weapons, yet would still pass on to their children what they also had.

One could call this the curse of the two sages, but the curse would likely soon be broken, with the arrival of one action that no one in the region had seen before.