In a world draped in beauty — where mountains rise like silent guardians and rivers run clear, carrying fish, fallen leaves, and the glimmer of sunlight — life thrives in countless forms. Across this land dwell people of many origins, shaped by their cultures, ambitions, and destinies.
Among the many callings that define their world, one stands above all others: the Kingdom of Knoxfar, ruled by the venerable Royal House of Neustrof.
Encircling the capital are seven magnificent cities — lesser only in grandeur to the heart of the realm itself. Each city serves a distinct purpose, forming the very backbone that sustains the kingdom's power and prosperity. Together, they are known as the Seven Pillars of Knoxfar.
Each Pillar is governed by an individual who answers only to the king. These figures, veiled in both reverence and secrecy, are known not by name but by title — the Crests — the highest authority in their dominions, second only to the royal family. Around these Pillars dwell the lesser nobles, bound in allegiance and ambition to their respective Crest.
Beyond the shadow of nobility lies Midgard, the outer ring of wealth and enterprise. Here reside the merchants, factory owners, and officials — men and women of means but without noble blood. Many of them are self-made, others cast out from grace, yet all cling to the comfort of power within reach.
Encircling Midgard spreads the vast and restless region known as Pauperis, home to the majority of Knoxfar's citizens. Its sprawling districts are divided by wealth and opportunity — from the struggling poor to the barely stable. The further one travels outward, the thinner the streets grow, and the dimmer the lights of prosperity fade.
In one such forgotten district, an old orphanage stood at the edge of Pauperis — its walls cracked but still standing against time. Within its courtyard, a boy laughed as he darted behind the broken well, his bare feet pattering across the dirt.
"Kaz! Where are you?", the voice of a little girl rang out, sweet but impatient. "Kaz" chuckled quietly, crouched behind a pile of firewood. "For the last time, call me Kaluza!". He leapt out from his hiding place, grinning, as his younger sister Reina squealed in surprise and delight. The laughter that followed was soft, fleeting — a small flame against the vast shadow of the kingdom.
As the sun set, the two siblings hurried back to their dorm, their joyful laughter crackling behind a broken door.