Grimley Rays : The Unwritten Past

Belden was a vast empire, one with an enormous population and countless territories. At its heart stood Gael, the central city, whose population surpassed that of any other city in the empire.

Belden was divided into two major territories: the Blue Territory and the White Territory.

The Blue Territory was inhabited entirely by humans. Its population consisted of royals, nobles, scholars, merchants, aristocrats, commoners, and many others who contributed to the growth of its kingdoms.

The White Territory, on the other hand, was home to demons, half-demons, half-humans, hares, trolls, witches, and elves.

A distinct boundary separated humans from the supernatural beings of Belden. Crossing it was possible, but the division between the two territories ran deeper than mere geography.

The White Territory was further divided into two major clans: the Demon Clan and the Elf Clan.

The Belden Empire consisted of eleven provinces. Five-Beth, Messi, Ember, Grigs, and Seoul-were located in the White Territory.

The remaining six providences-Harl, Moon, Oos, Valthoren, Oceania, and Sceneria-were situated in the Blue Territory. Each was governed by a chief who answered to the emperor.

Among the provinces, three stood out for their remarkable landscapes and resources.

Valthoren was a province of hills, mountains, and rugged rock formations. Its land was rich in mineral resources, making mining one of its most important occupations. Most of its inhabitants were miners, excavators, drillers, and gem makers. Beneath its towering mountains lay treasures that had sustained generations of its people.

Oceania was a province with a relatively small population, known for its vast oceans, seas, and other bodies of water. Its inhabitants included fishermen, canoe builders, mercenaries, pirates, and marines. While the waters provided food and livelihoods, they also served as routes for trade, warfare, and adventure.

Sceneria, as its name suggested, was renowned for its breathtaking scenery. With an even smaller population, it was a land of extraordinary natural beauty, filled with landscapes that seemed almost too magnificent to be real.

Despite the differences between its provinces and inhabitants, Belden had enjoyed years of peace.

But that peace had a history-a dark one, marked by betrayal, bloodshed, and a broken promise.

Long before the present era, the first leader of the Elf Clan and the leader of the Demon Clan had established an agreement between their people.

Neither clan was permitted to form romantic unions with humans. The agreement was more than a law; it was a sacred oath. Anyone who dared to break it would be considered an enemy, and the violation would be met with war.

For a long time, the agreement remained unbroken.

Until a demoness fell into the arms of a human man.

Their affair was forbidden, dangerous, and destined to bring consequences neither of them could have imagined.

From their union came a child-a girl born of two worlds that were never meant to become one.

Half-human.

Half-demon.

And so, war began.

It was a brutal conflict that stained the land with blood and threatened to destroy the fragile balance between the two clans. The Demon Clan fought fiercely, but the Elf Clan proved stronger. With each passing battle, the demons lost more ground, their warriors, and their hope of victory.

Then came the demand that would change everything.

The Elf Clan insisted that the demoness be handed over as a hostage in exchange for peace.

The Demon Clan was left with an impossible choice: continue a war it was steadily losing or surrender one of its own.

The demoness accepted the terms.

Her surrender brought an end to the war, but the price of peace was devastating.

The little girl was declared dead.

That was what the people of Belden were told. That was the truth recorded in their history, the fate accepted by both clans, and the tragedy that marked the end of an era.

With the demoness in the hands of the Elf Clan and the child believed to be dead, the ancient agreement was restored in the eyes of the people.

The war came to an end, the demoness became a prisoner of the Elf Clan, and the little girl was mourned as the price of a broken oath.

Years passed, and Belden slowly returned to peace.

The agreement remained in place, the boundaries stood firm, and the truth about that fateful night became a matter of history.