“... it is said there was an ancient race, the greatest race to have ever lived on this world. A race that had overcome its limits, climbing from the bottom of the food chain, to the strongest on the world. It is said that they did not possess the capability to use mana, the energy of the universe. The very thing that is thought to have existed and coursed through every living thing since the beginning of time . Almost nothing is known about the race, nor why they could not use mana, however, we have come to call that era - The Age of Transcendence.”, stopping for a dramatic effect the shamaness took a close look at each of us, her eyes stopping for a tad bit longer when they met mine.

“Because that's exactly what had happened, they had transcended their mortal limits, perhaps reaching even a higher place of existence. The scarce records from that time, that have survived through untold millenia were studied for centuries on end by our greatest scholars and we still have almost no idea what they mean.”

Taking a deep breath and a sip from her tea, Melisa continued with a heavy tone “I have not seen any of them with my own eyes, as they are top secret and only a handful of people have access to them, however, from what I've heard they are written with an intricate characters, creating an impossibly complex language, more so than even the ancient runes and on par with the ancient magical languages.

Apparently the found records illustrate different concepts pertaining to our life, it's meaning, the world and even about The Beyond. Each record containing numerous theories and depictions of such great machinery and technology that it makes the dwarves and their amazing works look like toddlers that play with the simplest of toys. Machine-like metal constructs and huge mechanical armours were depicted to be controlled by the people if this very race. Judging from the drawings in the manual, the beings that control and build the technology look almost exactly as the high elves. The only difference being that they do not have long pointed ears and they all had different hair styles.”

As she ended her sentence her eyes locked with mine. Apparently.. I am a part of this.. highly advanced race that seems to be using.. mecha-suits of some kind? I thought it was a high fantasy world.

“Now you all might be asking yourselves how have you not heard anything of this race of beings that completely dominated this entire world for millennia, staying in top of the food chain with ease.

Well according to some kind of a diary that was recently found and recovered. And yes I do mean found and recovered, but I shall explain that when I am done with the story”, she quickly added as she saw the questioning looks that everyone, including me gave her.

“According to what little information se could extract from the diary, a close to the truth theory was created. Apparently this race of incredible beings had one bad perk, a deadly sin that would spell their doom.

Lust. Lust for knowledge. They had reached the peak of the mortal beings, using their advanced knowledge and technology to step into the boundaries of immortality. That both accelerated their growth, but it also opened the doors of doubt and questioning. Why are we here? What’s our purpose, why and how were we created? Why do we worship beings, Gods, that have left us without that, which every other being has and can use inherently - mana? Why follow their rules, their games?

All these questions and more sprung about in their minds, strengthening their lust for knowledge, for answers.”, the intensity in her voice intensified many-fold and as she stopped for a short tea sip, I took a look around and saw the other 4 people in the room doing the same as me. Looking around with eager expressions, studying the other’s reaction to the story thus far.

I cannot deny that I am incredibly interested. It seems like the humans of this world didn’t have exactly a good fate, judging from the vibes I am getting of the story thus far. This may complicate things, a lot. How am I to explain what I am doing here.. I can feel a headache forming.

Having gulped down her tea, Melisa yet again looked straight into my eyes and continued, “They committed the greatest sin. Ignoring what every other race told them, ignoring even the warning of the Gods themselves, they used their technology and knowledge to reach far beyond. Bending reality and tinkering with what even the Gods themselves do not dare, fate. Splitting fabric and world essence, bypassing both life and death, going beyond even Beyond, down to the core of the world, all in search for the Truth.

Whether they found what they were searching for or not, is not known. However, what is known is that from that very day, the race died. Not physically, but spiritually. A primordial power descending on them, cursing their very existence, bringing death and misery to the world. Their lust causing millions of deaths, plagues, natural disasters and curses all befell the world for countless years. The race became empty shells of their past, of their glory. Their machines and technology destroyed and wiped out of existence, they were quickly driven away from the continents, from The Coalition created by the rage of the other races, in hope of revenge for pain and misery they had to endure due to the foolishness of this one race.

Driven back into a corner with nowhere else to go, they made a deserted island, on the edge of the world, their new home. A thick miasma quickly engulfing the poor island, their cursed nature tainting the very land around it. That very island was from then onwards named The Forgotten Island.

In rage all records of their existence was wiped out. As if such a race never existed, even the coordination and knowledge of the island was erased. Not even a single person spoke about the existence of this race and its fate to their kids. Thus came The Age of Rebirth, in which the world tried to survive and recover from the damages caused by the cursed race, the forgotten race.

And it stayed as such for a very, very long time. Until a few centuries ago a dwarven expedition ship, found itself in the middle of an enormous ocean storm that changed its course, causing it to stumble upon The Forgotten Island, simply by chance.. Or perhaps fate.

From that point numerous expeditions were sent to the island, trying to uncover its mysteries, however, they all ended the same. 90% of the people who went further than one kilometer deep into the island disappeared completely, the other 10%, that actually return are completely broken. They eyes unfocused as they go on to mumble gibberish under their breath for as long as they live. Basically becoming a broken vessel without a functioning soul or brain.

The only thing that was retrieved so far from the island were the few manuals and records that laid on the beach of the island, that I mention in the beginning of my story. It is through them that we came to know of the existence of the Forgotten and Cursed race- thus naming them Corsians, meaning to be cursed.

An unimaginable amount of time must have passed since they made that island their home, we have no idea if they are even still any members of the Corsians alive, however, the logical answer would be no. What causes the strange disappearances and states of the pioneers and expeditioners, we have blamed on the curse itself that has imbued itself in the very core of that island.”

Finishing with a heavy sigh and downcast eyes, Melisa took the cup of tea in her hands, swishing the liquid back and forth, without drinking it. Her story leaving me completely dumbfounded. I am fucked. How am I to explain my existence, when the race that I presumably have come from had died off God knows how many years ago? There probably is some magical fantasy-like way to explain my existence, without revealing the truth, right? There must be!

Then I realized that all the eyes on the room were glued on me, every gaze having a different emotion, bewilderment, excitement, curiosity even confusion. But they all had the same tint, the tint of wariness. That is not good, I have to do something and fast,

“I..-”

“So you can imagine my astonishment when I heard that my niece and her group of hunters have found a being that perfectly matches the description of a Corsian. A member of a race that not only is thought to have gone completely mad and broken, but should have gone extinct countless ages ago”, the shamaness interrupted me the second I tried to get some kind of an excuse out, her eyes sparkling with interest, “However, I did use a divination magic to test the authenticity of your words, and you indeed do not lie. So that brings some complicated questions, are you really a Corsian? How did you come here and why?”

Sighig yet again, her green eyes studied me, like a scientist would study a lab rat after giving it some kind of a new drug. She is making me uneasy, and so are the wary and curious other 4 sets of eyes in the room that are needlessly adding up to the already over the top heavy atmosphere.. Couldn’t they leave me with her alone.. I guess no.

“I do have my theory though. And I do have a way to check if it’s true”, she continued and smiled wide. A rather simplistic and genuine smile, if it wasn’t for the way her eyes looked at me.. I am definitely starting to feel like a test subject right now and she a devilish scientist. Let’s at least hope that whatever she has in mind will not go wrong for me. Living as a member of an extinct race doesn’t seem either easy or nice.