Many stories are told about Callidiran's early days. It is said that people lived with a 'system' to provide them with knowledge of the world.

Other sources suggest that we do not come from this world, that a mad god decided to put us here on a whim, it would explain the age of certain songs, the oldest known song being ‘You give love a bad name’.

All we know is that we are confined to Terra, all attempts to voyage into other continents have been met with failure, as if some barrier is stopping us from reaching their shores.

Excerpt from 'Thoughts on human history' by Professor Jeremiah Smithson of the University of Lux.

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Before I tell you my story, you need to know that humanity has gone through a lot, we, they were a race that got thrown into a world they knew nothing of, they had nothing, only the minds of the scientists who survived the metamorphosis, mana, qi and their extraordinary new abilities.

When I was born humanity had adapted to its new environment like they always did.

I used to think that I would always try to be a good person, that some part of me would always fight for those who couldn’t fight for themselves.

I have no right to claim to be a saint, I’m not but I also won’t claim to be a devil. I did terrible things, I won’t make excuses for those acts. I just want you to know that while you can listen to my story and then just go on with your life, I will have to live with my actions for the rest of my life. I know that for some of you, my regrets might seem strange but just know that they make me who I am. Just know that they show that I am still human, at least, in spirit.

I am greedy, when you sent me a gift I took more than you were willing to give but I won’t apologise for that, just like you won’t apologise for your actions.

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They say that you should never dream of the impossible, it’s called impossible for a reason. It was told to me countless times when I was a child, which is ironic since we live in a world where magic can make the impossible possible. Where someone can bend the elements to their will and where death isn’t inevitable.

The first time it was told to me was when I was four. I’d said in my kindergarten class that I wanted to cultivate both mana and qi when I grew up. The other kids laughed at me and the teacher said to me: “Listen Ollivander, it’s good to dream, but you should never dream of the impossible, it’s called impossible for a reason. You’ll have to choose when you turn 18.”

I grew up with the notion that I would never be able to do it. I believed, like all others, that Mana and Qi don’t belong in the same body, that humans were a defective species for awakening both and that anyone who tried to cultivate both would and should die for thinking we could defy the gods.

I believed in everything I was taught both by my dad and by the schools. I believed from the depths of my being, until my dad went missing. He was deemed dead by the government, killed in action. I didn’t want to believe that. When I turned eighteen I learned that I didn’t have to either. The people in charge aren’t always right and sometimes, they don't want to be either.

“Good morning Olli, happy birthday.”

“Thanks sis.” I looked at Melissa. She was the dream daughter in every way. She was beautiful, smart and she was a genius at cutivation. Her short auburn hair framed her face with a wavy pattern. The smile on her face was beautiful enough that I would be willing to bet it could have even disarmed the Emperor of Infernum himself. It was only reinforced by her deep purple eyes.

Her body was lean from physical training, something which she got teased about when she was my age, or so I’d hear from my mother.

I went downstairs, passing my other sister Claire. She was … well she was Claire. I never really got her, even after I'd lived for a long time.

She was a genius mage, capable of understanding the most complex theories but she had no interest in magic.

She was a warrior who knew no equal and yet she had decided to become a pacifist.

Her art inspired all who gazed upon it, yet she refused to let anyone see what she created.

She is my eldest sister and she is a riddle I've never been able to solve.

Her hair was always messy, falling to the sides of her head in soft waves. Her robes hugged her body to show her curves to those who gazed upon her. I’d always hear her say, ‘Look, but don’t touch’. She had a cold face at times but when she was in a good mood a mischievous smile would play on her lips, as if she was making plans to cause a touch of chaos in the dull world. The only thing that ruined the picture for most was her black irises, as if her pupils had been swallowed by evil itself.

When I passed her, she wished me a happy birthday, at least I think so, she had a habit of mumbling.

Downstairs, I found my mother waiting with a letter in hand. On the front of its envelope, the coat of arms of the royal army could be seen, a bear roaring ferociously at the moon.

A telegram, probably from my dad. Though you could never be sure with the royal army, it might be a conscription letter.

My dad was a general, respected by his men, hated by his opponents. He was known for being both a great warrior and a great strategist. Most people thought him a myth made man and he liked to keep it that way

The telegram had been sent to my entire family so we waited until my sisters came downstairs.

My mother opened the letter and started reading aloud.

"To the family of General Kami of the 2nd legion.

It is with greatest regret that I must inform you th…"

My mother froze, the letter fell out of her hand. Claire picked it up and continued though she seemed to want to run away, as if reading this letter would mark the end of normality, and it did.

"That the general disappeared during a breakthrough to the eleventh realm of qi cultivation.

Due to the severity of the tribulation and due to the presumed impossibility of this act he has been deemed dead.

Below, you will find a summoning circle for the items left in the family box.

With deep sorrow, George Kinsley, Grand General of the royal army, Brother to Queen Lesley"

Claire punched the table, shattering it in half. She had told dad not to try breaking through. I wouldn't be surprised if she had blamed herself at the time.

Tears streamed down Melissa’s face as she neared the letter and pushed her mana into the circle

She then activated the summoning circle and a steel box appeared. The family box was a box that every soldier in the royal army possesed.

If they got killed or went MIA, this box would be sent to those they deemed family.

Most soldiers filled the box with letters to their closest loved ones and some kind of pendant but some others kept them empty, saying it was bad luck to make preparations for your death. Most people snorted at that notion, as if Er’rah would bother about a few insignificant mortals.

Our dad had filled the box with gifts to each and every one of us.

Claire and Melissa took their gifts and left. After calming my mother down for a bit, I did the same.

My gift was a worn book. When I opened the letter included with it I couldn't help but let out tears.

'Son, I know that you have always dreamed of cultivating both mana and qi, if I don't make it to your eighteenth birthday, I hope you will still make good use of it.

This book contains the secret to cultivating with both qi and mana. I hope you use it well.

Love, dad’

The book was thick and bound in leather. Its pages seemed to be made of parchment which means someone went to great lengths of keeping it intact over the years. Thick clasps kept it shut, a weathered lock prevented unwanted individuals from opening the book.

I had seen the type of lock before, my dad used it on all his most prized possessions, a bloodlock. They were expensive but only those of the owner’s blood could open the lock.

I pressed it and felt a sting, the lock glowed and the clasps opened up. At first the first page was empty but seconds after the book opened, an elegant handwriting started scribbling down words.

‘The Lawful Unity Technique’

As I flipped the pages I saw how words and drawings started appearing, all seemingly made by hand seconds ago.

After the first 20 pages got filled the words stopped appearing and no drawings came. For all I had been taught by my dad, I couldn’t understand why nothing else appeared but I did know that I would probably find out.

Not that it mattered anyways, I needed to get my potential rated before I was legally allowed to cultivate so I had to wait for a few days.

While I was reading the filled in pages in the book, my mother finally opened up what was in there for her. It would be a long while before I learned what it was, I just knew that it was loud.

By the time me and my sisters got downstairs, she was gone. Not a trace that she had ever been there. We searched the entire house and all traces of her and dad were gone. Nothing that belonged to them was left. I didn’t understand, why did she disappear too? Was this some Divine punishment? I lost both my parents in one day, my birthday.

I cried so much that day that if it hadn’t been for Melissa, who also wasn’t in the best shape, I might have shown signs of severe dehydration.