Shem

Chosen Prodigy

Overview

In the Abyss, where the strong are revered, she is hailed as one of the greatest devils in history. Her fame is not due to her battle prowess. Rather, it is because this white-haired vixen nearly single-handedly changed the course of Mirren's history.

Chapter One

(11176–17338, Era of Rebirth) Born into the Holyscape noble family of Lexir. Her parentage and the Soulkeepers remain undocumented.
Her birth caused a stir in the Holyscape. The Noctis Crystal's light turned Everdark Cavern into daylight, revealing the ancient Dominus Noctis heritage of the Lexir crest.
A Divivine stirring such sensation at birth should have attracted attention long before. Yet, Flashette Lexir wasn't recorded by the Source of Darkness until three days after the Dominus Noctis was revealed.
The Lexirs kept mum on Flashette's Soulkeepers, taking her back to Ylang Castle for a new birth ceremony. As chieftain Randhir's daughter, she became active in Holyscape, reigniting passion as the new Dominus Noctis.
After the Mother Goddess became the Source of Darkness, unity among Holyscape's races faltered. Division and chaos ruled, leading to the Lexirs' defeat in political battles. They relocated to Everdark Cavern.
Since the fall of the once-dominant Abyss family long ago, the Dominus Noctis in the Source of Darkness core remained unlit for millennia. No Divivine could harness the Noctis Vigor within Holyscape during that era.
Without the Noctis Vigor, breaking the Archangel's seal and returning to the surface homeland was impossible. The birth of the white-haired girl brought renewed hope.
Through clever publicity, the Lexirs promoted Flashette as the Holy Infant. She succeeded in defeating Demonic Sovereign Wolsheim at the decade-spanning Dome Conference, securing a seat for the Lexirs on the Holyscape Council.
A 37-year-old Akashic demon defeated Holyscape's strongest warrior, aided by the Noctis Crystal. This remarkable feat made the title Holy Infant known throughout Holyscape.
Flashette, a Lexir like the Mother Goddess, awakened Dominus Noctis when young. This deepened the belief that she'd guide the Holyscape races back to their surface homeland.
In matters as crucial as a race's future, individual will matters little. Even the strongest figures in history, such as Shillae and Elena, are bound by their race's survival and progress.
Holyscape was haunted by the Aster Wraith's malevolence. Despite the Mother Goddess's blessing, core survival problems persisted, leaving many lands uninhabitable.
For millennia, the Divivines pushed forward. Yet even their heroic figures returned with shattered hopes. In the Abyss, races still yearned for the sun's warmth.
Yet, the seal encasing the Crystal Sea thwarted any progress. Crafted by the Archon of Angels, it posed an unbeatable obstacle for the Divivines. The artifact "Glory" wielded devastating power, neutralizable solely by the Noctis Crystal.
Only the dormant Dominus Noctis in the Source of Darkness could harness the Noctis Vigor at a grand scale. The Mother Goddess once united the entire Abyss to fend off the Terror Tumult of the Rulers.
The Divivines trusted their ancestor's superiority over the Archangel. By wielding the Noctis Vigor against "Glory," they planned to unseal the earth.
They were right. "Glory" was no match for the Abyss's power. Yet, no one foresaw the weight now on a child's shoulders.
Even if noticed, it paled against the race's will. And it fulfilled Flashette's long-held desire—leading her people to embrace the sun after the Divivines' long wait.

Chapter Two

She wasn't ready; her strength was far from peak. The Abyssal Council and the major races knew it, as did Flashette, but no one would wait any longer!
In 11215, the Era of Rebirth, young Flashette, filled with anticipation, attacked the Crystal Sea's seal. Unlike past attempts that merely shook the surface, the Noctis Vigor merged with the seal, clearing the thorns that blocked her path home.
In that moment, she felt deep fulfillment, seen as a gift from destiny. With perseverance, the days of sunlight would soon be hers.
Yet, the legendary sun was not as warm as imagined. Centuries of adaptation had bound them to Holyscape, and the Divivines above could no longer replenish Noctis Vigor, facing fierce resistance from humanity.
The brutality of the war exceeded expectations; in the Battle of Charlemagne, as many as eighty percent of humans chose to fight to the death.
Holyscape didn't intend this outcome and sought to avoid escalating the conflict. Their plan was to quickly defeat the combat units in Solvongmu, capture non-combatants, and display their overwhelming power for better negotiation leverage.
They could compensate humans with wealth and trade for permanent control of Solvongmu. They saw angels as the main threat, believing no Divines truly wanted enmity with humanity.
The war escalated quickly, with neither side accepting the status quo. What started as a minor dispute spiraled out of control, leading to unpredictable developments.
To end the battle swiftly, Holyscape ramped up its efforts, pressuring Flashette to hasten the Noctis Crystal extraction—a heavy burden for the young Divivine.
The war became a struggle for justice, with both sides seeking to reclaim what they had lost. The Divines yearned to return home, while the mortal world fought to protect itself, each believing their cause justified.
Neither side wanted the conflict to begin, but mediation failed as entrenched animosity, political opportunism, and a sense of self-righteous justice made reconciliation impossible.
Thus began the Ancient War, plunging Mirren into chaos once more.
The elven Inezae and human Seramo Kingdoms fell in quick succession to the devastation of war, as the abyssal flames swept across Ciaran.
As ambitions swell with victory, the remote area could no longer fulfill the demons' desires.
Relentless environmental changes and the presence of powerful demons allowed lower-tier abyssal warriors to operate freely, expanding their mobility and making the entire mortal world seem within reach.
Realizing they must unite to win, humans and Elves cast aside their prejudices, consolidating their armies to stabilize the conflict.
Since the seal was broken, a relentless flow of soul power has flooded the Abyss, making reconciliation impossible and ensuring the war will end with one side's total defeat.
The ordained results surprised the white-haired girl, who had been told her sacrifices led to her people flourishing. More children were being born, free from tremors, and the Holyscape enjoyed warm sunlight due to her endeavors.
If she could endure a bit longer, the seal would stabilize, letting her explore the world. Would she learn the languages of her Elven ancestors? And the Heartwood?
The naive child didn't grasp how a frail Akashic demon could bear the constant drain of Abyssal power.
Long trapped in this realm, her soul risked shattering if the Noctis Vigor faded. This child, wishing for warmth, was destined to remain in darkness.

Chapter Three

The Abyss developed a distinct political structure during a war that lasted a millennium. Demons who surfaced formed a new faction, asserting autonomy despite their claims to the Abyssal Council.
To ensure victory, the Abyss reinforced its ground forces, creating a new race— the Orccodro—through dark magic.
These beings proved more adept at surviving on the surface than their demonic creators and helped maintain the Abyss's control over Elgron, although further westward expansion remained unattainable.
As the war progressed, humans and Elves made significant magical advancements, developing mega defensive spells that halted demon incursions, resulting in a deadlock.
Crisis breeds heroes, and in the Abyss, Flashette emerged as a figure of inspiration, while Orelga became the savior for humanity.
Favored by Jancis, Orelga was an angel brought to the Heavenly Realm by the Creator God, who chose to abandon her eternal life and return to mortal lands.
The Council sought to uncover the secrets of Orelga, the only angel born of humanity, believing these secrets could prolong Flashette's life.
For millennia, Flashette resisted the seal of the Archon of Angels, but as it became unstable, the Council imprisoned her soul within the Source of Darkness to ensure her survival.
Once a lively girl, she now struggled with simple thoughts, her only solace being a nostalgic wish to sit among her people in the grass at dawn.
She was unaware that her existence had prolonged the wars for millennia, resulting in millions of deaths.
Flashette was a demon of the Era of Rebirth, untouched by the Taboo and Betrayal or the Terror Tumult.
She viewed angels as mere myths, and her curiosity about them set the stage for monumental shifts in the history of Mirren.
In the Everdark Cavern, the Holy Infant observed the captive angel, who had secretly come to cut off the seal's energy source from within the enemy's lair.
However, upon her arrival, Orelga discovered the futility of her plans; Noctis Vigor was supplied by the Everdark Cavern itself, a force no single being could challenge.
What followed was a surprising turn of events, chronicled by numerous historians. In 17338, during the Era of Rebirth, Orelga and Flashette destroyed the portal in Hol together, causing a massive energy surge that fractured the continent and forever severed Ciaran from Elgron.
Their self-destruction ended a war that had lasted over 6,000 years across realms. The Abyssal inhabitants, now severely weakened, never again stepped onto the surface, transforming demons into mere legends.
The morality of the Ancient War remains a topic of debate. However, the undeniable outcomes included significant advancements in magic and politics, empowering humans and Elves to rival immortal races.
Millennia of warfare led to drastic population reductions, saturating Mirren with the energy of souls. Both sides paid a grievous price, and perhaps the only true victor was the exalted deity above.
Interestingly, despite playing similar roles, Orelga was celebrated as the savior of humanity, while Flashette became a taboo topic in the Abyss for centuries.
The reasons behind Flashette's choice to destroy the portal remain a mystery even to this day.

Historical Notes

The Lexirs:
The Lexirs, one of the five great families of the Abyssal Council, was a political force established by Elena during the Era of Rebirth. Originally composed of Akashic demons, it gradually evolved into a family structure, bearing the crest of a multicolored sunflower. Although Elena had no descendants, they revere her as their progenitor.

Noctis Crystal:
The power of the Noctis Crystal stems from the Aster Wraith. It is the only power of the same dimension as "Glory," making it the primary force capable of counteracting seals. Otherwise, when looking only at sheer strength, the Dominus Noctis would not be the most powerful legacy in the Abyss.

Dominus Noctis:
Ranked fifth in the system of the Source of Darkness, the Dominus Noctis is the signature legacy of the Mother Goddess Elena. The bearer of this title can harness the power of surrounding Noctis Crystals, becoming incredibly formidable within the domain of the Lexirs. This legacy has high potential, but overuse imposes a great burden on the body, causing the bearer to be gradually assimilated by the Abyss.

Demon Reproduction:
Typically, only lower demons choose to reproduce to ensure the continuation of their species. Their reproductive methods differ significantly from those of surface races. Generally, a reproductive unit consists of three demons: one male, one female, and one Soulkeeper. The union of the male and female is not physical but a melding of souls and energies. This union forms a life crystal outside their bodies, which the Soulkeeper then incubates, resulting in the birth of new life within the crystal. A family unit can produce a maximum of three offspring in their shared lifetime. The Abyss demons strictly regulate these numbers. Once a unit has produced its quota of offspring, they return to the Source of Darkness, which means relinquishing their lives. This stringent control is one reason higher demons typically do not reproduce.

Abyssal Council:
A unique governing body formed under historical circumstances. It is centered around the higher demon families, with participation from local noble families across various regions. This system allows the local nobility, which is dependent on the higher demons, to partake in the highest decision-making processes, subtly diminishing the actual power of the higher demons. The majority of council seats are held by hereditary nobles (hereditary councilors), while a minority of seats are occupied by representatives elected from the outer layers (elected councilors). Together, they vote to determine whether a proposal is enacted. Both permanent and hereditary councilors have the right to propose new legislation, whereas it takes a coalition of at least three elected councilors to submit a proposal. For a proposal to pass, it must receive a two-thirds majority vote within the council. In theory, after passing through the council, the proposal is submitted for review to the Overlord, who then decides on its implementation. However, during the Overlord's slumber, the seven permanent councilors from the five great families jointly make decisions, with a proposal needing at least four votes to be enacted. At the inception of this system, all families swore an eternal oath before the Holyscape Core, pledging to uphold their vows with the Overlord. Once a vote is concluded, no demon may express dissent, as doing so would result in their exile from the Abyss. Deprived of the Overlord's protection, no demon can withstand the malevolence of the Aster Wraith.

Mother Goddess:
Elena, known as the "Dusk Twilight" (Era of Firstlight 10835–Era of Rebirth 5210), was the true primordial being of the Elves. However, she did not initially receive recognition from the elven race. Only after the Golden Age did her historical significance become acknowledged. This was largely due to the advocacy of Scholar Sibyl. However, within the Abyssal system, the reverence for Elena is unparalleled. She is ranked just below the Overlord in the Abyssal hierarchy and is honored by subsequent Abyssal races as the "Mother Goddess." Notably, Elena is the only individual in Mirren's history to be acknowledged and celebrated as one of the greatest figures by two different races (second among demons, third among Elves).

Source of Darkness:
The predecessor to the Sea of Order. In 5216, the Era of Rebirth, the most violent and prolonged resonance recorded occurred in the Abyss. This inflicted devastating damage on the entire ecosystem and resulted in the deaths of numerous lower demons. This catastrophic event, known as the "Terror Tumult," prompted Elena, with the aid of Shillae, to merge the power of the Dominus Noctis with the pitch-black dome. As the closest layer to the Holyscape Core, this pitch-black dome served as a buffer, significantly mitigating the environmental impact of the resonance on the Abyss. The Source of Darkness cyclically absorbed the shocks from the resonance, enabling it to function as a repository of Abyssal legacies. During the Era of Eternal Flame, Lord Deity and Lord Inquisitor transformed the Source of Darkness, merging it with the Heavenly Realm to create the present-day Sea of Order, which is the dwelling place of the Asters.

Wolsheim:
"Demonic Sovereign" Wolsheim (Era of Firstlight 2456–Era of Rebirth 27450) was one of the oldest demons of the Abyss and the inheritor of the Dark Sanctuary (ranked sixth in the Source of Darkness hierarchy). Despite her defeat by the Holy Infant at the Dome Conference, Wolsheim's record is unparalleled. She is the only demon to have bested more than three abyssal lords. The likes of "Great Lord" Grani and "Blood River" Connie have all fallen to her power.

Aster Wraith:
The Aster Wraith, Kapo, was imprisoned in Mirren by Jancis. During the Era of Firstlight, Mirren was not a sphere but a plane, with the Heavenly Realm above the mortal world. At that time, the Heavenly Realm was upheld in turns by the Luminous Wraith, called Ordwin, and the Aster Wraith, known as Kapo. In this way, day and night were created for Mirren. Fallen angels planted Seeds of Corruption within both Wraiths, weakening them greatly as the Twin Tree, Gloryhylan, grew within them. Ultimately, the Aster Wraith merged with the earth, giving rise to the earliest Void Demon, while the Luminous Wraith became Sinkou, which Jancis hung in the Heavenly Realm. Consequently, the malevolence of the Aster Wraith has perpetually loomed over the abyssal races. However, its impact has been largely neutralized by the suppression of the fallen angel legions.

Resonance:
To maintain the soul energy balance in the Abyss and protect their race from extinction, the fallen angels generated a powerful suction during their struggle against the Spirit Cairn. This effort resulted in periodic destruction across the Abyss.

Battle of Charlemagne:
In 11215, the Era of Rebirth, the Abyss and humans engaged in their second small-scale war. The humans' determination to defend their homeland was fervent, and the Council misjudged the situation, choosing to force humanity into subjugation. This decision intensified the conflicts, leading to irreparable losses.

Solvongmu:
An early human stronghold located in central Elgron, it was characterized by a tropical climate. It became a desert following the descent of Sinkou to the mortal realm. The infamous Solvongmu Massacre during the Ancient War marked the beginning of full-scale war between the Abyss and humanity. Due to fierce human resistance, "Great Lord" Grani personally led the destruction of all defensive structures in Solvongmu, allowing her forces to massacre the local human population. Grani seized this opportunity to make the war escalate, gaining the allegiance of surface troops and the full support of the Abyssal Council. During the middle of the Era of Rebirth, the Sandvines Clan occupied Solvongmu and remain there to this day. The Sandvines have now produced a total of 52 Novas, which is a considerable number in the Elgron region.

Crystal Sea:
At the twilight of the Era of Firstlight, Kapo merged with the earth, channeling dark energy deep into its core. This energy emanated outward, solidifying into a barrier over 7,000 meters thick composed of low-purity crystals that isolated the inside from the surface world. The high-purity crystals, named Noctis Crystals, now serve as the source of power for all Abyss species. The stability of the Sea of Order is mainly sustained by these potent crystals.

Grani:
"Great Lord" Grani (11104–11265, Era of Rebirth) was a formidable military strategist and politician during the early days of the Ancient War. As the commander-in-chief of Abyssal ground forces, her tenure saw the swift capture of Elgron, where she established a robust military government.

Orelga:
Dawnbreaker Cecily (11000–17338, Era of Rebirth), a noble of the Seramo Kingdom, was the first human to transform into an angel after she died. Uniquely, she was the sole human escorted to the Heavenly Realm by Jancis. Pained by the tragedies humans were suffering, she renounced her immortality to defend humankind.