Lord of The Tower

Long ago, on the magical continent of Kaladria, numerous human kingdoms existed in an everlasting state of conflict, each vying to unify the land under the rule of a single king. After decades of conflict, the kingdoms were compelled to unite with their neighbors. The continent became home to only six kingdoms, each distinct in its location and influence.

The kingdom of Helio, the largest kingdom, is located in the north-west, renowned for its vast and fertile vineyards and sprawling olive gardens. In the southwestern part lies the kingdom of Agabah, known for its extremely hot deserts and the difficulty of passing through them.

To the east stretches the kingdom of Hikari, which spans the entire eastern side of the continent and is steeped in ancient traditions of swordsmanship, named after Yoshino Hikari, the warrior-king, who ruled and led the people of this nation to glory.

In the southeastern corner is the kingdom of Chiseido, a land filled with beautiful flowers and trees. The kingdom of Norn, perched in the far north of the continent, is a land of harsh winter climates and hardy folk of nomadic nature, on their constant search for resources and stability.

Finally, in the western part of the continent lies the kingdom of Lindsey, a nation teetering on the brink of collapse due to a long line of corrupt monarchs. Within the borders of the Kingdom of Lindsey lay the mountain range of Eterna. One day, within these mountains, a mysterious interdimensional gate appeared. From it, demons poured forth, triggering a worldwide conflict. For the first time, the human kingdoms set aside their differences and allied against a common enemy.

Demons, unlike humans, dwelt in a mirrored realm of Kaladria. Though similar in shape to humans, they bore distinct features such as universal red eyes, uniquely shaped horns, and tails. Demons could live for over three hundred years, with one exception: their king.

Magnus, the Demon King, had ruled for over six centuries in the Demon realm and had lived for seven hundred and fifty years. Humans, on the other hand, could extend their lifespan over two hundred years, but only through rigorous training of both mind and body.

Unified under Magnus’s rule, the demons were led by a brutal and cunning sovereign, protected by his three royal knights, each exceptionally skilled in their own right. Not that Magnus needed their protection. He was an ancient and powerful being, surpassing all who came before him and reigning unchallenged for centuries.

After five years of brutal bloodshed and massive losses on both sides, a peace treaty was struck, led by three heroes, two humans and a demon who allied together to bring an end to the conflict. Negotiations began, and deals were struck, and finally, the Peace Treaty of Hope arrived on the continent.

According to the terms of the peace treaty, the mountain range of Eterna is to become demon territory on the human side of the gate. A tower is to be established within the mountain range of Eterna, with a guardian assigned to protect the portal that appeared within it.

The guardian of this tower was determined to be the demon hero who helped end this war. Bound by duty, he was to protect the tower and the gate within it, allowing no one to pass without permission. He was also required to remain completely neutral, not interfering with human politics, lest he suffer the consequences of his actions. Any interference could shatter the already fragile political state of the human kingdoms.

And yet the lord of the tower has interfered in human politics thrice so far.

Very few people have ever seen or met the lord; his nature was not written in history. But all who met the lord so far describe him in one of two ways: either as a kind, handsome, charismatic young man, or as a devilishly cunning monster of a man, earning himself the title of Devil of the Tower.

The first transgression came two years after the establishment of the tower. The Kingdom of Lindsey, from which the mountain range of Eterna fell within its borders before the war, was ruled by King Victor the Third, a simple-minded, greedy king easily manipulated by those around him.

The kingdom’s nobles coerced the king into a war, hoping to reclaim the country’s resources that now fell under the rule of the demons. The peace treaty only served to humiliate him further.

He declared the treaty false and swore to reclaim the lands he lost in the war. After a few months of preparations, King Victor led an army of thirty thousand strong to seize and claim the tower and the mountain range surrounding it.

As the army pressed through the harsh mountain passes, a lone messenger appeared before them—an old man, dressed like a butler, bearing a grave warning. If the king and his men advanced any further, he said, they would violate the treaty, and the lord of the tower would act with all his might to defend it.

King Victor the Third scoffed at the warning, dismissing it as the desperate bluff of a frightened demon. With arrogance unshaken, he led his men onward toward the tower.

Shortly after the meeting, the lord of the tower made his appearance. He stood alone, silhouetted against the power of the nation’s army. Despite the overwhelming odds, he emerged victorious. King Victor the Third lost his life in battle.

The neighboring Kingdoms of Agabah and Helio, seeing the weakened state of the Kingdom of Lindsey, seized the opportunity. Agabah and Helio formed a coalition and declared war on the Kingdom of Lindsey for breaking the Treaty of Hope and threatening the fragile peace between humans and demons.

The combined forces of the coalition overwhelmed Lindsey’s defenses. With Lindsey stretched thin from fighting a war on two fronts, one with Agabah and the other with Helio, the kingdom was unable to withstand the assault from both sides. The kingdom’s lands were swiftly divided between its two aggressors. In the end, the Kingdom of Lindsey ceased to exist.

This collapse marked the first major transgression. Seeing the results of the battle, the human kingdoms realized the utter strength of the lord of the tower and thought it wise not to engage him and continue with the treaty. They directed all the blame toward the Kingdom of Lindsey. The lord of the tower suffered no consequences for this transgression.

The Second transgression occurred during the civil war of the Kingdom of Hikari, which took place twenty years after the establishment of the tower. During which, the aging King Yoshino Hikari succumbed to his illness and died in his bed, leaving behind two children, both vying for the crown. His oldest, and the rightful heir to the throne, Satomi Hikari, and her younger brother, Arata Hikari, the usurper.

Behind the scenes, before his father’s death, the usurper was gaining more and more influence and power within his nation, aided by a group of treacherous nobles who believed it was unfit for a woman to lead the kingdom. Shortly after his father’s passing, he declared himself king and protector of the Kingdom of Hikari. And thus, the Civil War began.

Satomi Hikari suffered great losses in the first battle of the Civil War, causing her army to be routed and forcing her to flee with her royal knight. Her escape, followed by assassins eager to claim her head to offer to their new king, led her and her royal knight to the gates of a tower atop a mountain range. The tower, which she had seen from the windows of her old room, now stood before her, covered in what appeared to be two giant magical bubbles, a barrier and a strong one at that. Never had she seen magic this powerful so close.

As her eyes turned toward the gates, she spotted an old man. A butler is standing at the entrance. Who welcomed her and her royal knight inside. Satomi Hikari would then spend six months at the tower, attempting to rebuild her army. No one knew why the lord of the tower welcomed her in. No one knew what happened within the tower in those six months. No one knew why the lord of the tower broke the treaty and rushed to her defense in the upcoming battle. Could it be that his actions were driven by love? Or perhaps a different ulterior motive? Historians were unsure, as none of the involved parties spoke of this topic.

After six months within the tower, Satomi Hikari finally managed to rebuild her routed army. With a heartfelt thank you to the lord of the tower, she once again led her army toward the kingdom of Hikari, hoping to reclaim her rightful title as queen. As her army clashed against her brother’s forces in the field. She once again came close to defeat. After a brutal hour of combat, the lord of the tower emerged within her ranks. The battle, now known as the Battle of a Thousand Shadows, saw the lord’s intervention turn the tide.

Arata Hikari lost his life in this battle, and Satomi reclaimed her title as queen. Within a week, Satomi Hikari executed all the treacherous nobles who allied with her brother and fought against her, starting the long process of rebuilding the kingdom that had been shattered by the civil war.

This marked a more direct interference from the lord of the tower, and the consequences for it would be severe. None knew what price the lord paid for this transgression, for the punishment was meted out by the demon king, Magnus.

The humans, fearing favoritism from the demon king toward his kin, felt it was up to them to decide the fate of the lord. However, none dared question Magnus, and none dared reignite the war with the demons. When the humans sought answers from the lord of the tower, none were allowed to pass. None were permitted to meet the lord. Those who tried to force their way into the tower were swiftly dealt with. For an entire month, the gates of the tower remained closed.

The third transgression of the lord occurred nineteen years after the Battle of a Thousand Shadows, unfolding in a way no one, not even the lord, could have foreseen. Little did he know that this event would set off a chain of events that would ripple across both realms. And it is within this transgression that our story begins.