Twenty-five years had passed since the Age of Restoration.
The kingdoms no longer feared one another.
Dragons nested beside human cities.
Elves traded freely with dwarves.
The World Root stood taller than ever, its branches stretching across the heavens like rivers of emerald light.
To most people, the Beast Sovereign had become a legend.
Some believed he had ascended into the stars.
Others claimed he still wandered the world disguised as an ordinary traveller.
Only a handful knew the truth.
In a quiet mountain village, a sixteen-year-old girl named Lyra hurried through the forest with an injured silver fox cradled in her arms.
"Please don't die..."
She stumbled over a root but never loosened her grip.
At the edge of the woods stood a small wooden cottage.
Outside sat an elderly man with silver hair, calmly carving a wooden flute.
He looked up and smiled.
"You found another one."
Lyra nodded breathlessly.
"I couldn't leave it behind."
The old man gently examined the fox.
"It will live."
Relief flooded her face.
"You always know what to do."
The old man chuckled.
"I've simply had many teachers."
He carefully bandaged the fox before placing it on a soft blanket.
The little creature licked Lyra's hand before curling up to sleep.
The old man reached into a drawer and removed a weathered wooden whistle.
"I think it's time."
Lyra's eyes widened.
"The whistle from the stories?"
"The very one."
He placed it in her palm.
"It isn't magical."
"It simply reminds people why they chose kindness."
The moment Lyra touched it...
A warm breeze swept through the cottage.
Golden feathers drifted from nowhere.
A worn leather-bound book appeared on the table.
Its cover slowly opened by itself.
Words formed across the first page.
New Record
Candidate Detected
Name: Lyra
Qualification:
Compassion without hesitation.
Status:
Evaluation Beginning.
Lyra looked up in astonishment.
"What... is this?"
The old man smiled knowingly.
"It seems the world has found another journey."
Far beyond the clouds, beneath the shade of the World Root, seven ancient Guardians slowly lifted their heads at the same time.
Pyron smiled.
"So..."
"The next story begins."