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A world shaped by spirits (usually the size of palm and possess immense power but can unleash their potential only through hosts) and Alchemy, where unseen forces govern the elements through ancient contracts.
The land is steeped in tradition, where spirit bearers walk among nobles, and every flicker of fire or ripple of wind may carry a will of its own.
Empires rise on the backs of elemental pacts, and forgotten shrines sleep beneath moss-covered ruins.
Spirits of fire, water, wind, and earth are known — but whispers speak of others, rarer, older... and some, never meant to be found.
It is a world of quiet grandeur, where power lies not in steel, but in the bonds between souls and spirits, and where the past is never truly buried — only sealed, and waiting.
Long before empires rose, the world was raw and wild — ruled not by kings, but by spirits.
Born from the primal elements, these beings shaped fire, water, wind, and stone. They were neither worshipped, nor feared — only understood by those rare few who could see them.
The first of those were the Spiritbearers, mortals who signed sacred contracts and became bridges between the seen and unseen.
The Spiritbearers are not chosen. They are born — marked at birth by an invisible thread that ties them to the unseen.
Spiritbearers are rare individuals who possess the ability to see, hear, and ultimately form contracts with elemental beings known simply as Spirits
These spirits — Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, and rarer forces like Thunder, Light, Void, and the theorized Abyss — cannot act in the physical world without a bearer to anchor them
A spiritbearer's bond is sacred and dangerous.
Once a contract is signed, the spirit can channel its full power through its host. In return, the bearer gains supernatural abilities aligned with that spirit — but at a cost :-
THE MORE SPIRITS ONE BEARS, THE SHORTER THEIR LIFESPAN BECOMES.
From these unions, alchemy was born, and with it, the power to build cities, cure plagues, and bend the world to will. Kingdoms flourished. Temples were raised. Records etched in gold and bone.
Some spirits were erased. Others forbidden.
And Abyssus, the spirit of the Abyss, was left to legend — too vast to name, too quiet to dismiss.
Now, the empire of Athelgard stands atop centuries of peace.
That is what has been recorded in the history books, at least.
The sunlight filtered gently through the sapphire windows of the Imperial Winter Palace.
Evangeline, the princess, one of the many children of the Emperor of Athelgard, sat among the many noble ladies of high society.
Fake laughters, eyes full of suspicion, words of manipulation, everything could be heard through the empty hallways of the Palace.
And yet, Snow danced silently outside, but within its grand halls, all was still — until a whisper disturbed the silence.
Maids
"Your Highness! ..It's her Grace, Beatrix." *breathless*
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
*turns sharply, her silver-threaded gown barely rustling*
Around her, nobles whispered about velvet gowns and inheritance laws, but those words meant little.
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
Everyone is dismissed now. *starts walking towards the maid*
Everyone looked at Evangeline with curious eyes, but excused themselves politely.
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
*turns towards the maid* What about Bea?
Maids
She collapsed in the corridor near her mother’s chamber. The healers... they say it’s no common fever. *looking down at the ground*
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
*frowns* Why didn't you tell me any sooner? Let's go!
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
(Beatrix hasn't ever fallen so ill to have collapsed just anywhere. Never in the seventeen winters. What exactly happened?)
Evangeline rushed towards the West Wing of SilverBane Palace, followed by the maid.
In the west wing of the SilverBane palace, Beatrix lay pale and trembling on her bed.
By the time Evangeline arrived at the west wing of the palace, the halls were tense. The scent of herbal incense clouded the air as two royal healers exited Beatrix’s chambers with furrowed brows.
Physician
Your Highness *bows down*
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
*nods* What's with Bea?
Physician
But the fever is strange.
Physician
No signs of poisoning. No known illness. The spirits around her…
Physician
…they are silent.
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
*worried*
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
(But her spirits are the most cheerful ones...)
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
I see.. You're excused for now.
Physician
*bows and leaves*
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
*sighs and enters Bea's bed chamber*
She entered the room alone.
Beatrix lay pale against the velvet sheets. Her face was flushed with heat, sweat clinging to her pale golden curls.
Tonitrus, her thunder spirit, usually glowing with crackling energy, hovered silently at her bedside, dim and still.
Ventus, the whispering wind spirit, flickered weakly near her chest like a dying candle.
A/N: Beatrix has signed a contract with 2 spirits.
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
*approaches Beatrix*
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
Bea... *whispers gently*
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
*brushes her hand over Bea's brows*
Beatrix Paraz Athelia
*eyelids flutter*
Beatrix Paraz Athelia
Eva… Is it you? *weak voice*
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
Shhh… Just rest. *strokes Bea's head gently*
Beatrix Paraz Athelia
No, Eva…
Beatrix Paraz Athelia
*stirred* That was so real.
She looked at Evangeline with teary eyes.
Suddenly, the door burst open and two figures came jumping over at Evangeline.
Camilla Von Edgar
*pulls Eva's ear* What exactly did you do to make the brightie cutie Beatrie cry, hmm?
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
*flinch* C-Cami, that hurts...
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
Let go *holds Cami's hand*
Amandine Von Edgar
*sigh* Cami, let her go… Bea is ill.
Camilla Von Edgar
Hmph, okay!
Camilla Von Edgar
*lets go off Eva's ear*
Amandine Von Edgar
Anyway.. Bea, I heard you collapsed.
Amandine Von Edgar
How exactly did you ended up collapsing right in front of your mother's old chamber?
Amandine Von Edgar
Don't tell me you went there willingly, knowing that, no one, not even the emperor is allowed to go to that place.
Amandine Von Edgar
*frowns and crosses arms*
Beatrix mother's old chamber, her mother's death was way too mysterious.
Whatever happened was clearly a murder, but not a single clue was found, not even the ones with blessing of Liora found anything. (The spirit of light.)
Thus, it was labelled as a suicide by the investigators.
Beatrix Paraz Athelia
*pressed her lips* I-
Camilla Von Edgar
You Big Idiot! *smacks Aman's head*
Amandine Von Edgar
Ouch! …why?? *turns to Camilla*
Camilla Von Edgar
Are you blind? Can't you see she's sick? Where's your conscience, huh? *pokes Aman's head*
Amandine Von Edgar
What? I am worried about her, that is why I —
Camilla Von Edgar
You're just stressing her out!
Amandine Von Edgar
I'm not!
Beatrix Paraz Athelia
Don't fight…
While everyone was busy among themselves, thoughts kept on crossing Eva's mind.
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
(I refuse to believe Bea went to the Steel Rose Palace without a reason.)
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
(That place has been abandoned for so long.)
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
(Plus, Bea hates that place as that's where her mother died.)
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
(There's no way she went there on her own accord…)
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
*looks at Bea*
Beatrix Paraz Athelia
*asking Aman and Cami to calm down*
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
(I wonder why…)
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
(…and how did she end up there?)
Evangeline Paraz Athelia
(And what did she mean when she said "it was so real"?)
Over the next three days, Beatrix drifted in and out of fevered dreams, muttering fragments:
“The sky cracked.”
“Ashes in the wind…”
“A voice… I couldn’t see it…”
“Everything was gone…”
Her friends visited in turns — Amandine, Camilla, Aurelia — each bringing rare herbs, ancient healing scrolls, and worry that deepened with every silent hour.
And then, on the fourth morning, the fever broke.
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