Every story has a beginning, and a beginning has always a place to start, and that place is a kingdom of the human race, located in the east edge of Thalvoria.
Welcome to the Kingdom of Sanctora, it's origins back nearly five hundred years to the time of one of the Ten Saints. The Kingdom of Sanctora was governed not by a king, but a council of five esteemed individuals who collectively made the decisions for the realm.
It consist of one Grand Priest named Agapios Lindqvist: whose wisdom and devotion to peace were as legendary as his tendency to suggest prayer circles as solutions to military threats—much to the occasional exasperation of his fellow council members, and four elders; Cedric Valois, the soft-spoken diplomat with an uncanny ability to defuse tensions (unless someone insulted his prized rose garden); Alaric Aguilar, the practical one who often reminded everyone that "praying doesn't fix leaky roofs"; Gawain Hohenheim, the eternal optimist who believed every orc could be reasoned with over tea, she also known as someone who has big concern for the importance of education for the children in the kingdom; and Lucien Pendragon, the most level-headed of the group, though even she sometimes wondered how they managed to survive in a world full of monsters.
Together, they formed a leadership that was deeply humble, close to the people, and unwavering in their commitment to justice—but also painfully naïve when it came to matters requiring force or strategy.
Despite their quirks—or perhaps because of them—the council was beloved by the people of Sanctora. They ruled with fairness, compassion, and almost obsessive dedication to upholding laws, ensuring that no one went hungry or unheard.
It was a crisp morning in Sanctora, and the gentle hum of chatter filled the air as Elder Gawain Hohenheim stepped into the modest schoolhouse nestled near the edge of the village.
The children, ranging from curious toddlers to earnest teenagers, sat cross-legged on woven mats, their eyes wide with anticipation. Today was storytelling day—a rare treat when one of the council members visited to share tales of the kingdom's history.
Gawain, ever the optimist with a twinkle in her eyes, a warm smile and a voice as soothing as lullaby, adjusted her shawl and greeted the eager faces before her.
"good morning, young scholars!" she began, her tone light and inviting.
"today, i'll tell you about the man who gave our kingdom its name—the great Saint Felix Sanctoria."
A flurry of whispers erupted among the students.
One bold boy raised his hand and asked, "Elder Gawain, was he really as amazing as everyone says?" Gawain chuckled softly, leaning back against the wooden podium.
"amazing? Oh, my dear boy, 'amazing' doesn't even begin to cover it. But let me start from the beginning."
Gawain leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling with the excitement of storytelling. "Saint Felix wasn't just a warrior or a mage—he was a dreamer.
He envisioned a world where humans didn't cower in fear of monsters or demons but thrived alongside them, protected by the light he brought forth. It wasn't an easy journey, mind you. There were failures, losses, and moments when even he doubted his mission.
But he persevered, and because of that, we stand here today, carrying his legacy." Gawain cleared her throat dramatically, drawing the children closer to the edge of their mats.
"five hundred years ago, this land wasn't the peaceful haven you know today. Back then, it was chaos—sea monsters prowling the shores, villages living in fear from the cave-orcs, and no hope in sight.
Then came Felix Sanctoria, a humble man with a heart full of compassion and a mind sharper than any sword. And although he was one of the Ten Saints who had powerful light element magic, he didn't ride in on a warhorse or carry a mighty weapon; instead, he walked barefoot along the beach, speaking gently to anyone who would listen.
When he saw how terrified the people were, he decided to build two towers—one to the north, one to the south—to protect them."
A little girl piped up, "did he fight the monsters himself?" Gawain grinned. "not exactly. You see, even for Saint Felix, the sea monsters is too much to handle, their size, their monstrosity, and most terrifying thing about them is their numbers, it will become an endless fight for whoever tried to fight them head on.
Instead, Saint Felix used something far more clever, durable, and powerful: light magic, in the form of a huge net stretched from one tower to another, preventing the sea monsters that's silly enough trying to come to our shore.
With the help of the villagers, he infused those towers with an energy barrier that kept most of the monsters at bay. Imagine trying to explain that to a kraken!".
The room erupted in giggles, but Gawain quickly sobered, her tone growing reflective. "of course, Saint Felix knew that physical protection wasn't enough. People need hope—a place to turn when life felt overwhelming. So, he built the first temple right here on this very hill, overlooking the sea and the entire kingdom. It wasn't grand or gilded—it din't need to be. Its strength came from its purpose: to remind us that even in darkness, there is always light. And do you know what Saint Felix said when someone asked why he made it so simple?" she paused for effect, looking around the room.
A shy boy ventured, "because… fancy things don't make people happy?" Gawain clapped her hands together. "exactly! Saint Felix believed that true beauty lies in humility and service—not gold or glitter."
As the story drew to a close, Gawain stood and gestured toward the window, where the distant silhouette of the twin towers could be seen against the horizon.
"thanks to Saint Felix Sanctoria, we have a kingdom built not on power, but on kindness, faith, and unity. His work lives on in everything we do—from the way we care for each other to the way we maintain the Beacons of Lumina.
Now," she added with a playful smirk, "who wants to volunteer to clean the temple steps next week?" groans and laughter filled the room as the children protested good-naturedly.
Gawain winked, "I thought so. Remember, being noble doesn't mean you have to enjoy chores—it just means doing them anyway." Before leaving, Gawain knelt down to meet the children at eye level, her expression softening.
"never forget, my young friends, that everyone of you carries a spark of Saint Felix's light within you. Whether its helping a neighbour, standing for what's right, or simply smiling at someone having a bad day—you are continuing his legacy. And who knows? Perhaps someday, future generations will tell stories about all of you."
With that, she rose, waved goodbye, and stepped out into sunlight, leaving behind a classroom buzzing with inspiration—and maybe just a touch of mischief.
As the children filed out of the schoolhouse, one of the older girls turned to her friend and whispered, " I bet Elder Lucien would've told the story differently—probably with more jokes about Saint Felix tripping over his own staff!" her friend giggled, imagining the sharp witted Lucien recounting the tale.
Meanwhile, across town, Elders Cedric and Alaric exchanged amused glances as they reviewed plans for the upcoming festival, while Lucien herself was busy sketching caricatures of the council in her notebook—because even the most serious leaders need a little humor now and then.