The afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the walls of the Lunary Grace Orphanage. A golden hue seeped through the high windows of the classroom, where two children, both aged eleven, sat at their wooden desks.


    At this time of evening, it was lesson time, and Aiden was completely hooked on today’s topic. It covered a legend of history he was fascinated with—how couldn’t he be? Tales of her adventures were everywhere. Across from him, Tina, the only other person he shared the classroom with, sat with her cheek resting on her hand, her eyes shifting between the drifting dust motes illuminated by the sunlight and Aiden sitting at the adjacent table. Bored, she tried to find amusement in getting Aiden''s attention.


    Aiden noticed her but pretended not to. With each passing second, it got harder and harder for him to ignore her—especially when she pulled out a marble ball, flicking it impressively in his direction. Yet, just inches from reaching him, the marble came to a sudden halt, stopped by a telekinetic force—Aiden''s. Tina wasn''t disappointed, though. In fact, she smiled, knowing she had finally gotten his attention. Unfortunately for her, Aiden’s attention was now fully focused on her. But before he could react, the sharp voice of their teacher sliced through the still air.


    "Tina," Caretaker Althea’s tone was firm but not unkind. "Does my lesson bore you?"


    Tina sat up straight, her back rigid as she shook her head with vigorous denial. "No, Ma’am!" she declared, her voice almost too loud.


    Althea eyed her for a moment before offering a slow nod. "Then I’d appreciate it if you continued behaving as you are now. And leave Aiden in peace."


    "Yes, Ma’am," Tina muttered, her cheeks slightly pink. Aiden smirked but quickly wiped it away as Althea resumed her lecture.


    "Now, where was I? Ah, yes. The Era of Kings."


    Hooked right away, Aiden gulped expectantly.


    "The era is said to have begun on the night of the death of the first Last King, at the hands of the three known Kings of the first decades of the Era of Kings—Queen Arianna, King Lance, and King Dorian. That night also marked the first-ever recorded Seraphim descent."


    Aiden leaned forward, his fingers twitching over the edge of his desk, completely absorbed.


    "What followed was a brutal five-year campaign to exterminate any trace of the previous regime. The era began in blood, but after these initial purges, the Era of Kings at its beginning can be seen as an era of peace and prosperity. Under the three kings, the Seven Kingdoms were united into one, with a singular capital and a singular ruling family formed from the merging of two of the three royal families. A Crownlord was chosen as head of the royal family, taking over the political duties that were once the responsibility of the seven kings."Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Tina’s eyes glazed slightly, but she dared not look away again.


    "Freed from their political duties under this system, the kings took advantage of their newfound freedom to pursue what had driven them to the title of King in the first place: the pursuit of power. Records suggest that most prepared for the war that came a few decades later. King Dorian worked alongside the three Churches, then still known as the Three Faiths, to expand the hospitable borders of the Land of Men. King Lance trained in the southern corners of the eastern continent, at the border between the Land of Men and the Underworld."


    Aiden’s brow furrowed slightly. "What happened to Queen Arianna?" he asked, unable to keep the question to himself.


    "After establishing the new regime and founding the institution presently known as the Magic Guild, Queen Arianna retreated to live an uncharacteristically peaceful life in the familial castle, where she would no longer be heard of until news of her passing emerged."


    Caretaker Althea’s lips curled into a wry smile at the look of dejection on Aiden''s face. It made sense—she was the reason for his utmost interest in this particular topic. Queen Arianna was, for the little Verdenkind, like for many Highbreeds, Verdenkinds, and even Peons, his idol as the strongest King, the strongest adventurer to ever walk this earth.


    "Little is known about the circumstances of her passing. Records only mention that her death was made public on the 38th day of the third moon, year 34 EoK, when her daughter made her first official appearance, claiming the titles of King and Archmagister—titles that had belonged to her late mother."


    Tina’s curiosity piqued despite herself. "And what happened then?"


    "On the 88th day of the third moon, year 34 EoK, with the High Magistrate’s unanimous support, the backing of both Kings and the known royal family, and beneath the Seraphims'' approving gaze, Queen Arianna’s heir was crowned and titled Elven Queen Theta, head of House Talulah and the Schwarz Subsidiary Royal Family, and Archmagister of the Citadel of Magecraft."


    Realizing that it was really the end with no more stories about Queen Arianna, Aiden''s focus drifted far away. It was then that he asked the one to whom he owed his interest in Arianna, "Is it true that she disappeared like that without ever reappearing? You never told me about this."


    "It is true," the voice replied.


    To motivate him to acquire new and level up old skills and abilities, or simply to entertain him in times of boredom, the voice would tell Aiden stories about Arianna''s many adventures—how she began as a mere wanderer, then an adventurer, then a Queen, then a fugitive, and then a Queen again.


    "Sorry, baby. I didn''t wish to bring an end to your favorite hero''s story. But now I realize perhaps it doesn''t have to end there. Do you want me to tell the continuation of her story?"


    "Arianna''s?"


    "Yes. There''s so much more than this. Much more that has been left untold to the world. Her story doesn''t end here."