The king and queen are not here.

While John and Jane were walking back toward the castle, Jane looked at her brother who seem to be deep in thought while looking at the City gates.

Airyguard, renamed after the last stand against the demons' army 10 years after in the collapse, named after the old fort 'Stiilguard' and the elfin word 'Aïrhuî' which mean 'honored'. Following the last battle the fort became a fortified city, plenty of farm able lands on the north and west side.'The world Scar' on the south side was a giant trench that separated the northern continent from the south. Eventually Airyguard became the capital of the now joined humans and elfins peoples, After the merging of both hierarchy they needed a new capital and Airyguard was the perfect symbol of what they could accomplish when working together.

The northern continent was vastly occupied by the humans and elfins, but behind the chains of mountains to the north was the kingdom of the toriins peoples. The toriins were a race of miners, a bit smaller than an average human but sturdier and also paler probably due to generations of living into mountains carved city. Unlike the elfins, the toriins are native to the Earthland realm and there was never any conflict between them and the humans. Toriins were happy to stay in the mountains where they felt the most comfortable and the humans were happy to farm the land, A symbiosis relationship was the best way to describe it, They both did what they were best at and traded what the other needed. Toriins needed foods since there was little room between mountains for farms and very short seasonal window to take advantage from, while humans had foods in abundance and many refined goods to trade in exchange any metals or gems they needed for their expansion.

The addition of the elfins who understood nature and could use magic made the human society a marvel of efficiency, now they could farm almost twice has much without damaging or reducing the land fertility. The elfins came from another realm that was called, once roughly translated from Haryeil, the spiritual realm, was because around 340 years ago a cataclysm destroyed it or at least as far as anyone knew. What was believed to be the cause of the cataclysm was a burst of magical energy that destabilized the balance of magical and natural energy of their entire realm. In a last **** attempt to save their peoples or some of them at least, their best mages performed a forbidden ancient ritual that was said to open a door to heaven and sent through as many peoples they could before they ran out of magic.

The thousands of elfins arrival was met with worries at first, but when it became clear that they were the **** of what they believed to be the last of their peoples, humans and toriins welcome them and offer places to settle. Then the Collapse happen, in the chaos of the attack many fanatical groups who prone 'blood purity' tried to blame the elfins. Ultimately 140 years of cohabitation and mutual respect proved stronger and an alliance of the 3 races against the demonic invader was formed. King Tarsek was chosen to lead the alliance into battle and died of his wounds 3 days after the last stand at Airyguard.

The southern continent was called the Wildlands way before the Collapse happen, at the start of the demonic war humans had only a few cities and strongholds south of the world scar and all of them near the trench. The farther one venture toward the south the more dangerous it was, vicious creatures and often harsh environment made it hard enough to settle than it was just not worth it. Nobody knew what happened there but one thing was sure, it wasn't always like that. Almost all the 'steel Catacombs' were found in the Wildlands, evidently the southern continent was inhabited at some point but how and what happened was a mystery.

To John, it seems that it was almost certain the world scar was somehow linked to what had happened in the past. Airyguard was a fort built on top of ancient ruins and then turned into a city to finally become a capital, but what bother the young prince the most was that in a 100 years his peoples didn't evolve much.

Passing the last rampart before the royal castle entrance, John couldn't help but think his peoples were too comfortable with what they could do because of magic, and didn't push them self enough to innovate and progress in many disciplines. 'Maybe it's just my uneasiness to rely on magic talking' Thought the young prince before he was greeted by one of the guards at the castle entrance.

" My lord, princess." Greeted in turn the guard with small bow of head. John could see a small smirk forming, he did is best not to let one of his make it's way to his own lips.

" Dammit ! I told you to stop calling me that Geralt." Spat a now glaring and angry maiden. She slowly brought her hand to the dagger on her hips and lock eyes with the grizzled guard licking her top lips before adding. "But maybe you're just not very found to still have the ability to have children." Threatened the vicious redhead. Took a lot of balls to do what the veteran guard did next.

"Yes ma'am! Won't happen again ma'am!" Chanted the captain. If it was not for the stupid grin on his face and his gesture John would have sworn those words were coming for a rookie eager to please his new commanding officer.

Jane just stormed off and John couldn't help but laugh and quickly followed her to the dinning room. They arrive to an incomplete table, their father and mother where missing and John saw the look on his sister face wondering if she knew something.......