《Crystal Ressonance》


 A Thousand year story

    Right, well, I suppose I should start somewhere, shouldn¡¯t I? Introductions seem like a proper beginning, so here we go. My name is Kain Pendragon, and I am 17 years old. I am the crown prince and sole heir to the human kingdom. My mother, Queen Mari, rules the kingdom, she is a wise ruler or at least she was before¡­ well, before the so-called gods scrambled her mind.


    I doubt you have any idea what I¡¯m talking about. And if this book, NOT a diary mind you, is found in some glorious future where those monsters have vanished from existence, then let me say this: congratulations. You¡¯ve no idea how fortunate you are. I envy you. Truly, I do. It must be lovely to live without the constant weight of knowing they exist.


    But, alas, for my time and my misfortune, their presence is the greatest blight upon us all. The ¡®gods,¡¯ or as they so arrogantly call themselves, the Alphas, claim to have created everything: the universe, the stars, planets, mountains, and even life itself. And of all the worlds they supposedly brought into being, they chose ours to settle upon. Charming, isn¡¯t it? Being graced by the presence of our so-called creators?


    Except it¡¯s not charming. Not one bloody bit.


    The Alphas are cruel, petulant creatures. They start wars for their amusement, unleash plagues that decimate entire populations, and treat us like nothing more than toys¡ªdisposable things to be used and discarded when boredom strikes. They are untouchable, invulnerable. Their bodies are made of light, and no weapon, no spell, nothing we can muster so much as scratches them. They heal from any damage in an instant, as if to mock our attempts.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Ah, yes, magic. Let me explain that before I forget, in case it¡¯s gone by the time someone stumbles across this book. Magic is the very essence of creation, the purest form of energy. We mortals¡ªthose of us clever and disciplined enough¡ªcan channel it within ourselves to achieve small miracles. Lighting a fire with a flick of the wrist or floating above the ground are but minor feats of what magic can do.


    In the past, magic was far grander. Or so the stories say. There was a time, supposedly, when a single mortal could scorch an entire nation with a spell. Nowadays, if you can burn down a castle, people call you a legend. Quite sad, really. Some scholars theorise that magic is fading, that it¡¯ll vanish entirely in a few hundred years. Personally, I find that idea both tragic and infuriating.


    I, of course, am a bit of a prodigy in dark magic¡ªnot that I¡¯m bragging. Spells like Shadow Cloak and Shadow Walk are my bread and butter, so to speak. I could explain how I perform them, but this isn¡¯t about me, is it? Well, mostly not.


    I¡¯m writing this to tell my story¡ªa tale of one remarkable human daring to stand against the tyranny of the so-called gods. Perhaps, in doing so, I can prove that we mortals are more than mere playthings. And who knows? When I ascend to the throne, perhaps I¡¯ll find a way to end their reign.


    Though, if I¡¯m being honest with myself¡­ after what happened to my mother, I suppose that¡¯s nothing more than wishful thinking.

 Chapter 2: Like Mother, Like... Well, Me

    Talking about my mother is rather complicated. To explain why, I suppose I should first tell you how things were before my father died.


    Our kingdom was recovering from a war with the Mystic Clan. We were finally starting to rebuild. The economy was growing again, we¡¯d signed a peace treaty with the Mystics, established a trade route with the Nature Clan, and even managed to reconstruct every house lost during the war. The future seemed bright¡ªdare I say prosperous¡ªuntil an unexpected and utterly dreadful disease swept through the land.


    It was astonishingly lethal. We lost nearly 30% of our population, including my father.


    My mother, Queen Mari, was convinced the disease was the Alphas¡¯ doing. Naturally, she demanded an explanation. And do you know what they said? They admitted it. The arrogance of it all. The Alpha of Pestilence, Loim¨®s, had been experimenting with creating new diseases. Some mortals had been infected purely by accident, and since we were nothing more than ¡°insignificant creatures¡± to them, they couldn¡¯t be bothered to create a cure.


    My mother, rightfully enraged, declared war on the Alphas. I won¡¯t lie to you¡ªit wasn¡¯t the most strategic move. After all, the Alphas are invincible, and they could kill us with little more than a sneeze. But still, we fought. We gave it everything we had, destroying their temples and refusing to yield, even if we couldn¡¯t kill a single one of them.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    And do you know how the Alphas responded? They weren¡¯t threatened. Not truly. They were only mildly annoyed, like someone swatting away a persistent fly. So, instead of wiping us out entirely, they decided on a more¡­ elegant solution.


    They forged a sword.


    They called it Nothung and gave it to my mother, claiming it was the only weapon in the world capable of killing an Alpha. And here¡¯s the thing¡ªthey weren¡¯t lying. The sword could harm them. But that wasn¡¯t why it was made.


    I still don¡¯t fully understand how the sword works, but the moment my mother touched it, she¡­ changed.


    She abandoned the war entirely, declaring it ¡°pointless¡± and ¡°futile.¡± She began speaking of reconciliation and peace with the Alphas, as if they deserved such things. She established trade routes with them, built temples in their honour, and¡ªthis part still makes my skin crawl¡ªshe began worshipping them. My mother, the fierce, determined woman who once defied gods, now knelt at their feet.


    For me, that was the final straw. I couldn¡¯t bear to stay and watch her descend into this¡­ madness. So, I left. I ran away from home and set out on my own journey.


    I will find a way to free her mind or, failing that, a way to kill the Alphas myself. Someone has to. And if no one else is willing or capable of stepping up, then I suppose it must be me.

 Chapter 3: Journeys are hard.

    Leaving Nexus, the capital, was the easy part¡ªor so I¡¯d thought. I set my sights westward, heading toward the Nature Clan. Out of all the clans, they¡¯re the most amicable to humans, largely because we supported them during their revolution against the Mystic Clan centuries ago. It¡¯s a fascinating bit of history, actually. Back then, the Mystics were united under a single set of rules and ideals. But the two leaders of the clan¡ªone a Phoenix, the other a Dragon¡ªhad a disagreement about whom to back during the Second Great War.


    The Phoenix King sided with the Alpha Ninf, who had this absurd vision of ending death altogether (as if mortality wasn¡¯t already enough of a mess), while the Dragons supported the status quo and the other Alphas. When the war ended, the Dragons, ever so clever, broke off and formed the Nature Clan, complete with their shiny new laws, government, and a reputation for neutrality. I figured their neutrality with the Alphas would make them the perfect place to begin my mission.


    My first stop was the city of Victorie¡ªa quaint little human settlement whose economy thrives on trade with the Nature Clan. They call themselves the "City of Love," which is terribly fitting for two reasons. First, because the Second Great War ended there, ushering in this so-called ¡°era of peace¡± (which, let¡¯s be honest, is debatable). And second, because they allow every species to live there. Yes, every species. It sounds lovely in theory, doesn¡¯t it? A beacon of harmony and diplomacy. But in reality, politics muddy the waters, as they always do.


    Some species simply don¡¯t get along. Be it from wars or centuries-old grudges, there¡¯s always something. Take the elves, for example. Most humans can¡¯t stand them¡ªsomething about their exclusivity and reluctance to trade or communicate. Personally, I don¡¯t share those prejudices. As humanity¡¯s most brilliant representative (if I do say so myself), I hold the philosophy that respect and diplomacy require us to treat all beings as equals. Of course, that doesn¡¯t stop me from believing humanity is inherently superior. We are the pinnacle of creation, after all.


    That said, there is one species I absolutely detest¡ªbut I¡¯ll save that rant for another day.


    Now, as I strolled through Victorie, soaking in the sights and mingling with the diverse crowds, I realised I¡¯d made a rather glaring oversight: I wasn¡¯t carrying a single coin. Normally, this wouldn¡¯t be an issue. I could easily declare my noble heritage to any merchant, and they¡¯d be falling over themselves to fund my righteous cause. But alas, this was a stealth mission. No grand declarations. No revealing my identity.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    After all, I hadn¡¯t exactly left Nexus under formal circumstances. It was more of an¡­ escape. My mother, Mari, would have never let me leave if she¡¯d known my true intentions, so I slipped away under the cover of darkness. By now, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the entire army was out looking for me.


    With no money and no desire to stay in Victorie, I decided to press on toward the Nature Clan¡¯s lands. Famished and exhausted, I convinced myself it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. I¡¯d hunt for food and camp in the forest. Simple enough, right?


    Wrong.


    As it turns out, I¡¯m dreadful at hunting. I tried fishing with a makeshift net¡ªno luck. I attempted to catch wild animals using spells to sneak up on them while invisible, but I couldn¡¯t find anything. Well, not anything. I did spot a rabbit, but the blasted creature dodged my attack (even while I was invisible, mind you) and vanished into a hole. I couldn¡¯t even dig it out¡ªnot even with an explosion spell.


    By the time night fell, I was hungrier, more tired, and thoroughly annoyed. I set up a campfire and prepared to collapse from sheer exhaustion when I saw her.


    She was a girl¡ªyoung, not very tall, and, dare I say, rather pretty. She looked about my age, perhaps a bit younger. What struck me most was how she seemed to glow in the dark. At first, I thought it was a trick of my weary mind, but no¡ªit was real. She was literally glowing.


    I could barely speak, but before I could utter a word, she placed a finger on her lips and smiled, as if telling me to stay silent.


    ¡°You look tired,¡± she said, her voice playful and lilting. ¡°So you don¡¯t need to say a thing! It was really funny watching you fail miserably at catching food today.¡±


    She giggled, clearly enjoying herself, which was terribly humiliating for me, considering I could barely move.


    ¡°But don¡¯t worry!¡± she continued, still grinning. ¡°I¡¯ve got you covered. Think of this as a treat for entertaining me today, hehe~.¡±


    She set a basket beside me and gave me one last radiant smile before retreating into the night. Summoning what little strength I had left, I managed to ask, ¡°Who¡­ who are you?¡±


    She glanced back, her glowing form almost angelic against the darkness. ¡°I¡¯m Zoi! And if you keep being this fun to watch, we¡¯ll meet again.¡±


    The next morning, I woke up convinced it had all been a dream¡ªuntil I saw the basket. Inside was an assortment of baked goods, still warm and impossibly delicious. I had no idea who Zoi truly was or why she¡¯d helped me, but I was too hungry to question it.


    After finishing the meal, my strength restored, I resumed my journey toward the Nature Clan.

 Chapter 4:Feline Nation.

    Continuing westward, I found myself at the wretched CT Village¡ªa place I¡¯d much rather avoid, if I¡¯m being honest. As I mentioned in my last entry, I hold no prejudices against most species, but this lot? They''re the exception. The CTs. They''re one of the bestial tribes living under the Nature Clan''s care. Imagine human bodies, but with ridiculous cat tails and those obnoxious feline ears perched atop their heads. Do they even have human ears? Frankly, I¡¯ve never been close enough to confirm, nor would I bother with such trivial details.


    Normally, I¡¯d take the scenic route just to avoid this detestable place, but alas, my current lack of resources meant I had no choice but to pass through.


    The village, as expected, was infuriating. They don¡¯t trade, they don¡¯t produce, and I¡¯d wager they wouldn¡¯t even know how to hunt if their lives depended on it. And yet, they have everything handed to them¡ªhomes, fountains, food, you name it. Why? Because of her. Ventus. The so-called ¡°Goddess of Justice¡± and leader of the Alphas. For someone who prides herself on fairness, she¡¯s shockingly partial to this lot.


    As I meandered through the village, trying not to gag on the suffocating air of entitlement, I noticed a commotion in the square. A large crowd had gathered, and my curiosity got the better of me. Against my better judgment, I moved closer.


    And there she was.


    Ventus herself, standing amidst the CTs, petting them as though they were house cats, her gaze fixed on the heavens like some saintly figure.


    The sight of her churned my stomach. Anger bubbled within me¡ªshe was the one who created the weapon that brainwashed my mother. She was the leader of the Alphas. She was the person I despised most in the world. And yet, as much as I hated her, fear clawed at my insides. Ventus is far beyond my league. She could erase me with a flick of her wrist, or worse¡ªwith a single thought.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    I had no plans, no strategies, no secret techniques to take her down. Meeting her now was far too soon. I decided to slip away before she noticed me.


    But luck, as always, was not on my side.


    ¡°Human,¡± she called, her voice smooth yet commanding. ¡°May you come here for a moment?¡±


    I froze, my brain scrambling to process the fact that she had noticed me. Of course, she had. I was the only human in a village full of feline rejects. What a fool I was to think I could slip by unnoticed.


    ¡°Hmh¡­ n-no?¡± I stammered, trying to play it cool but failing miserably.


    Her head tilted, her expression bemused. ¡°No? Why not? Do not worry, I will not harm you.¡±


    Her patronizing tone set my teeth on edge, but I forced myself to stay calm. My life was on the line, after all. Ventus¡¯s unique ability to see through lies¡ªand emotions¡ªmeant any attempt at deception would be futile.


    ¡°I a-am busy,¡± I managed, still facing away from her. ¡°I¡¯ve something important to do¡­ something I need to finish quickly.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Her voice softened, but I could feel her gaze boring into me. ¡°But do tell me, why is a young¡­ human¡­ traveling alone?¡±


    I bristled at her words. Young? Human? How dare she speak to me like I¡¯m some wide-eyed child? Still, I had to think fast, crafting a response that was both truthful and vague.


    ¡°W-well, you see,¡± I began, swallowing my pride, ¡°I¡¯m on a mission to help my mother. She wouldn¡¯t let me leave otherwise, so¡­ I ran away from home.¡±


    Ventus regarded me with what I could only describe as pity. Pity! Me, pitied by the likes of her? I wanted to scream. Instead, I clenched my fists and waited for her to respond.


    ¡°If that is the case,¡± she said at last, ¡°you must be hungry. A human infant such as yourself needs to eat properly. Please, help yourself to some food before you leave. I truly hope you succeed in your mission.¡±


    I stood there, stunned. This was the person I loathed above all else¡ªoffering me help while I was on a mission to destroy her. Even though her tone was dripping with condescension, her offer seemed genuine.


    After what felt like an eternity, I forced out a response. ¡°Thanks. I¡­ appreciate it.¡±


    I took some food and left the village without looking back. My pride was bruised, my nerves frayed, and my hatred for her burned brighter than ever. But at least I survived the encounter. For now.