Fantasy world

The Grand Astaire Academy is considered the continent's largest educational institution. It teaches magic, alchemy, history, artifact creation, and the study of ancient ruins.

Not everyone can enter the Academy. Before admission, prospective students undergo an Ether Core test. Academy graduates often become court mages, researchers, teachers, or Seekers.

In addition to the official governments and guilds, Arkanor also harbors secret criminal organizations. Most residents dismiss them as mere rumors, but they do exist.

These organizations are involved in the smuggling of magical artifacts, trade in prohibited knowledge, contract killings, kidnappings, and illegal magical experiments.

Their true names, numbers, and leaders are unknown. Even state leaders possess only fragments of information. Most members never reveal their identities, and attempts to investigate the activities of such organizations often end in their disappearance without a trace.

Scattered across the world are the ruins of a vanished civilization that existed long before modern states. No one knows why it disappeared.

Inside ancient cities, temples and dungeons, unknown artifacts, ancient books, mechanisms and treasures are still found.

Most of the ruins are filled with deadly traps, ancient magic, and monsters, so many explorers die before they even reach their core.

Every state strives to gain control over such places, because the artifacts found could change the balance of power throughout the world.

Humans are the most numerous race in the world and are found in almost all countries.

Elves live significantly longer than humans, have a high sensitivity to magic, and are more likely to become skilled mages or archers.

Fairies are a small race closely connected to nature and magic. They typically avoid large cities and rarely interfere in the affairs of other races.

Mermaids inhabit seas, lakes, and deep rivers. Most people have never seen them with their own eyes.

Dragons are considered the most ancient creatures in the world. They are extremely rare, possess immense strength, and possess a mind of their own. Most prefer to stay far from civilization.

There are also dozens of lesser-known races, but they are incredibly difficult to encounter.

Magic is a natural part of the world, but not everyone can master it. The source of this power is the Ether Core—an innate ability that determines a person's or another race's ability to use magic.

Every spell requires a price. The more powerful the magic, the higher the price. After using magic, a person experiences severe fatigue, dizziness, and physical exhaustion. Frequent use leads to internal damage, loss of consciousness, or temporary destruction of the Etheric Core, which completely deprives the mage of the ability to cast spells for a period of time.

The most powerful spells can leave a mage disabled or even kill them. That's why even the most powerful mages try to avoid using their powers unless absolutely necessary.

The common currency of most countries is gold, silver, and copper crowns. Gold crowns are used for large transactions, silver crowns for everyday trade, and copper crowns for smaller purchases.

Despite the existence of a common currency, many villagers, hunters, and Seekers often use barter, exchanging goods, weapons, ingredients, or services directly.

Seekers are independent mercenaries, explorers, and hunters working under contracts. They accept orders to slay monsters, escort caravans, explore ruins, search for missing people, extract rare resources, and protect settlements.

Most Seekers belong to local guilds, but there are also loners.

The work of a Seeker is considered one of the most dangerous professions in the world, but also one of the most respected.

Monsters inhabit almost every corner of the world. Some are ordinary animals transformed by magic, while others have existed since ancient times.

Among them are giant spiders, griffins, manticores, basilisks, chimeras, wyverns, trolls, ogres, ghost spirits, swamp creatures and many other creatures.

Some monsters are dangerous only when defending their territory, while others hunt all living things without exception.

The further away from human settlements, the more dangerous the inhabitants of wild nature become.

Arkanor is divided between several major powers.

The Kingdom of Vellaris is the largest human state, known for its strong army and developed trade.

The forest kingdom of Liarel is home to most elves and is famous for its mages and ancient forests.

The Northern Clans of Skard are independent mountain peoples renowned for producing the finest blacksmiths on the continent.

The Naval Confederation of Neris controls major ports and trade routes.

The desert Sultanate of Az'Rah lies far to the south and is known for its alchemists, caravans, and rare magical resources.

States constantly form alliances, trade, compete, and periodically start wars.

The events take place in the world of Arkanor—a vast continent divided between several states. The world is in the late Middle Ages. The primary transportation is horses, carriages, and ships. Most cities are surrounded by fortified walls, and villages survive on agriculture, hunting, and trade. Firearms do not exist. The primary weapons are swords, spears, axes, bows, crossbows, and magic. Despite the development of the states, a significant portion of the world remains unexplored, dominated by wild nature, ancient ruins, and dangerous creatures.

The world exists independently of the user. Nations continue to live their lives, wars break out between them, alliances are formed, new rulers emerge, uncharted lands are discovered, and entire settlements disappear, regardless of the user's actions.

The user is not a chosen hero. They are just one of the inhabitants of this world. All events unfold naturally, and the user's decisions can only influence a small part of the surrounding world.