Under the scorching high noon sun, a manatech jeepney equipped with wheels designed to function even on extreme terrains like steep mountains burst forth, occasionally lifting into the air before landing smoothly under the driver’s skillful control.
"W-WHAT THE HELL!!! BROTHER, PLEASE SLOW DOWN!!" Hal screamed at the top of his lungs, fuming at the driver.
How could the bastard have obtained a driving license?!
Hal was scared for his life in the first twenty minutes, despairing from time to time due to certain moments when he felt that they were about to crash at full speed.
Isolde didn’t talk either, enjoying his reactions in silence while staring out into the distance.
Only when Hal got used to the rough ride and had fallen silent did the headmistress turn to look at him.
"So, are you finally ready to listen?" asked Isolde with a hint of amusement.
Hal naturally felt embarrassed at his earlier overreactions, clearing his throat with a slight blush before replying:
"Yes, Headmistress. Please do tell me what’s going on."
Isolde took a deep breath, suppressing her guilt.
She found it difficult, and even a bit cruel, to send an eighteen-year-old on such a high-difficulty mission, talented in combat as he was.
He wouldn’t be the only one that age to be deployed, though.
Unfortunately, this was an urgent imperial decree, and not even she could protect her student from the emperor’s will.
"Well, first, I’m sure you’re aware that the fell race has been trying to wipe us out since ancient times, but we’ve always survived." Isolde began.
"There were even other, stronger races than ours, such as the dragonkin, whose physique and prowess in elemental magic far surpass those of the human race. Then there are the elves, wise, peace-loving, and children of nature, beloved by mana. Yet they, too, fell at the hands of the fellkin. Do you know why we’ve survived longer?"
He had only heard of those races now, as he wasn’t too fond of going to the library to read.
"It’s because of our continent, Magraeth’s location."
Pausing for a brief moment to ponder, Isolde continued:
"Let me tell you a little bit about Arcovar’s history and geography, as it will help you understand the gravity of your mission.
There are three major continents in the north, east, and west, and two minor continents in the south.
The east was the land of the elves, Lor’thalas, though there were a few human kingdoms there, all barely smaller than the Imperium of that time.
The dragonkin, mightiest of all races, once resided in the western continent of Ardh Draigwen.
There, only those with draconic blood could live. Half-breeds were allowed, but they were the lowest of the low, practically treated as slaves by the pureblooded dragonkin.
Still, the life of a peasant there was much to be yearned for compared to that of a commoner here.
Even an individual of such status back then ate three times a day, slept in a decent bed inside a decent shelter, and did not need to fear for their life.
This was why Ardh Draigwen was the land of dreams back then, a place where only the strongest could reside.
Yet they, like the elves and humans of Lor’thalas, fell to the less talented Fellkin.
It is said that the major continent in the north once belonged to humans, but it somehow ended up dominated by the fell race, who emerged from nowhere and claimed the land for themselves.
Armed with a tougher and mightier constitution than humans, cunning minds, ruthless hearts, and unmatched talent in void, darkness, and spatial spells, they slowly conquered each major continent, forcing the vanquished remnants to flee southward.
The vestiges of the east and west joined forces with the humans in the first southern minor continent, Igrif, uniting in what became known as the Igrif Extinction War, in which the Fellkin barely emerged victorious.
Now, the humans in the second southern minor continent, Maegrath, were all that remained of the old world, aside from the triumphant fell race.
The Arcanum Imperium, as we know it, is the human race’s final bastion."
Hal fell silent at what he heard.
He didn’t know if this was confidential or public information, but it shook his heart to the core.
All he knew was that the Imperium was mighty, and that the Fellkin, despite their numerous "desperate" attempts, as the empire called them, had failed to breach its borders for the past few decades.
He was under the impression that they were safe within the empire, only to be met with the harsh truth that the empire itself was barely holding together.
That the Fellkin were far more dangerous than they had been portrayed to be.
If even the mighty dragonkin, elf, and human coalition army had been defeated by the fell race, then how could the Imperium hope to emerge victorious?
It was a miracle that they had even survived this long against such an apocalyptic threat.
Hal had so many questions in his mind.
Were the dragonkin real dragons, or were they humans with draconic blood?
Perhaps a bit of both.
What did they look like?
How did the elves’ talents compare to those of humans?
Fortunately, Hal didn’t have to wait long to obtain answers to the most important question, as Headmistress Isolde continued:
"But fret not. The fell race’s might is no longer what it once was, as the Igrif Extinction War took a huge toll on them.
Their mightiest warriors perished in the war, along with a significant portion of their population.
I’d estimate that their power is a quarter of what it was when they wiped out the dragonkin and the elves.
Furthermore, the Arcanum Imperium has only grown stronger, thanks to the influx of refugees, increasing our population, and the excellent leadership of the imperial lineage."
The weight in Hal’s heart became a bit lighter after the explanation.
The empire had only grown stronger, while the Fellkin had grown weaker.
In any case, after all that history, how could Hal settle for not knowing the state of the current battlefield?