Chapter 1

The study seemed barren and lonely in the harsh candlelight, the parchment increasingly difficult to decipher as the sun faded; crawling back behind the edge of the world and plummeting all those who dwelled within it into another dreadful night, one that many would not survive. The world that Astria had been born into was a dangerous place, one that was forever plagued with war, something that the girl had yet to witness as she had spent her nineteen years in the safety of a Fera village. Never once allowed to venture into the outside world. After all, not all beings were as accepting as the Fera were towards half-breeds as they were also seen as lesser beings by many races.

 The half human, half animal creatures lived in exile, traded and sold as slaves whenever they entered the world of man. Something that Tuviel did not wish for her daughter, and yet; Astria was not a Fera, she was simply a child born to two very different races. The elves where her father had stolen the heart of the sworn enemy and the Deus to where her mother was born a goddess. Though, Astria herself did not know where her mother was from, nor did she know much of her father, her mother never wishing to speak of it.

Tuviel had never explained to her daughter why they must remain in the Fera camp and she waved the subject away whenever it surfaced. Not because it was particularly hard to speak of, though rather because as a mother she wished to protect her daughter from the cruelness of the world, even as it crumbled around them.

Astria collapsed back in the sharp wooden chair, her back aching from the hours she had spent studying the same words, letters and phrases she believed to now know by heart. Knowing that she could recite them upon request. She turned away from the parchment and stared into the flickering lights of the candle, amazed that such a small item could illuminate an entire room with such ease.

“Begin again.” Tuviel commands her daughter, her eyes matching the shade of a river at dusk.

“Mother please, surely this becomes tedious.” Astria sighed, shifting her attention away from the dying light as she toyed with the points of her ears.

The half-breed tired of the same lessons, despising each day that she must spend confined to the study, locked away from everything the world had to offer. Her mother had a long, slightly pointed nose, her cheeks coated in freckles and her lips soft and subtle. She stood almost a foot taller than her daughter, with a tightly set jaw that left no room for debate; her hair the reddened shade of the setting sun. She wore a glossy white gown with a black rope tied around her waist, the dress plainly modest as it showed little of her curves.

“It is not tedious to know the world that one lives.” Her mother suggested harshly; her voice thick with the accent of old as it slid from her lips like silk.

“But mother, I have already recited them twice today, can we not rest for a while?” Astria complained, not wishing to spend another moment in the study.

Tuviel smiled, placing her own parchment back onto the table. “Then show me that you can, do this once more and we will be done for the night. Although you must do this without glancing down at the paper before you, you need to prove to me that you know it all. And that you will not forget them anytime soon.”

“Very well.” The half-breed agreed, knowing that she could do what her mother asked with ease, Tuviel’s eyes thick with the shade of amber.

“Let’s begin with the Fera.” Her mother nodded, knowing that her daughter knew the history by heart; but needing proof of this regardless.

Astria shifted in her seat, clearing her throat as she began to inspect all that she knew. “The Fera are a half human, half animal race that are mostly peaceful, they live within the nine swamps of Lacus, far from the realm of men that wishes to force them all into slavery.”

“Correct.” Tuviel gushed proudly, “What race is next?”

The girl thought for a moment, “The Sirens.”

“Good, and what do we know about them?” Her mother asked smoothly, impatiently taping her finger against the edge of the table.

“The sirens are a people with great power and magic that can manipulate all races, it is said that they eat their prey raw. They are known to live in great cities called Enat under the ocean although no one can get close enough to record their actions and come back alive.” The half-breed quoted, wasting no time as she moved onto the next race. “Men are the harshest of races and they populate most of the realm, their numbers growing each year. They mostly destroy and enslave other races, but they are unable to use any form of magic, and live in stone cities that are under constant attack as the race is forever at war. The humans have many villages and cities, but the ones with the most population are Sential, Anate, Seran, Vanaat and Denafer."

“Impressive.” Tuviel nodded, “The dwarfs and trolls?”

Astria bit her bottom lip as she began to recall what she knew, speaking each word from memory. “The trolls are a powerful race that stand around twelve feet tall, but they are at peace with almost every race and are said to be welcoming. We don’t know much about them other than that they live in the desert in the West. The dwarfs however live and breathe war and are known for their immense skills in battle. They also worship Serian the God of war and each house within the dwarven city possess a small statue of him.”

“And why don’t we know much about the trolls, if they are peaceful why has no one travelled to their home in person to document their lives?” Her mother asked slowly, tilting her head to the side as she awaited her daughter’s answer.

“Because no one has been able to survive the journey to their home deep within the desert and the dangers that live there in order to document their lives.” The half-breed stated matter-of-factly, knowing that she was correct. “I believe that if someone were to make it through then they would be greeted with nothing but kindness.”

Tuviel watched her daughter for a long moment before she began to speak, her tone light and welcoming. “And would you be willing to test your beliefs?”

“Yes mother, I can be sure that they would welcome me as the few trolls that have wondered out of the Shara desert have been pleasant to all those they met on their journey.” Astria said slowly, as though convincing herself that it was possible to venture to Shara.

“Perhaps you are right, but I would advise caution should you ever meet one.”

“Of course mother.” The girl agreed, knowing that caution would be the best way to proceed in such a circumstance. “Should I continue?”

Tuviel nodded. “Yes, are you aware of what race comes next?”

Astria smiled nervously, her eyes darting towards the parchment. “The Deus are a race of magical beings that are said to be descended from the gods, they live in vast stone temples and build shrines in every city or town they come across, ordering the people who live they're into submission and endless worship. Like the mortal men they believe the Fera and other races are lesser beings and often use them as sacrifices to God’s. Though their main home Esina is along the coast towards the south of where the humans live in Sential.”

“Very good. We are almost finished. There are only two races left that we know of.”

The girls smile widened. “Next are the goblins, who fight all that they see no matter the race. And are not known for mercy. They're also said to be obsessed with the taste of mortal blood and often attack the cities of man.”

Tuviel glanced down at the parchment, confirming that what her daughter had said was correct. “And where do they reside?”

Astria took another moment to think. “They are believed to reside in the great mountains of Valle in steel structures and are constantly at war with the dwarfs who live within the same several mountains in vast great halls and home built within them.”

“Finally, are the Elves, known for their vast speed and craftsmanship. They live deep within the Forrest’s of Astrial, Deon, Miake and the dead lands of Qunet. But they are mostly recognised for their pointed ears and dark hair.”

“Astria please.” Her mother sighed anticipating the questions that were about to arise.

“No mother! Do you not think that it is time I learned who my father is? I know that he is an elf and I am a half-breed. But why won’t you tell me anything more? I deserve to know.” The girl argued, despising her mother’s secrecy.