Many years ago, in a distant dimension, there lay a prosperous world brimming with natural wonders. It turns out that Asteria also came from another world. She called it Luminara, meaning the land of brightness, light, and enlightenment. As its name suggested, this world was a vast realm of unmatched prosperity and technological advancement. Steampunk machines roamed the land, towering skyscrapers pierced the highest clouds, lush forests and deep oceans provided abundant resources. The world was also home to hundreds of distinct races, each with its unique culture, yet they all coexisted in harmony and joy.
It was all thanks to Acegiadonite, a special glittering, sapphire-like mineral that had the capability to hold magical power. When extracted from the earth, every shard of Acegiadonite pulsated with a deep magical energy, versatile and powerful enough to be integrated into nearly everything. From the formidable war-hammers wielded by elite warriors to the most basic everyday tools, they all bore the infusion of this remarkable stone. Machines soared in the skies or tunneled underground, all with the same telltale blue glow. It was even molded into coins, solidifying the intrinsic link between wealth and this rare resource. And at the center of it all was the Acegia Empire. With the biggest Acegiadonite mine, the Empire was a giant power that could control everything. They dictated terms, setting the course for economies, politics, and even the course of magic itself.
Now back to the catgirl.
Asteria was born from Ascal, a small kingdom to the North of Acegia. She was extremely smart and had great aptitude with magic. At a tender age, she was accepted into Acegia's most esteemed magical academy. She graduated early and soon became one of the strongest mages of the kingdom. Everyone called her a genius, a genius that loved astrology and magic. She would often be found with her gaze fixed on the heavens, deeply engrossed in the movements of the stars. Her pioneering research bridged the realms of technology and magic, pushing the boundaries of both and elevating them to new heights.
However, it all changed one day.
Asteria's teacher, the chief of the magic academy, discovered a new mineral like no other: the Dark Crystals. Radiating an intensity of magic surpassing even Acegiadonite, these black gems instantly became the talk of every corner of the realm.
Almost overnight, Ascal, previously just a quaint kingdom in the shadow of Acegia, stood on the brink of unprecedented prominence. But this didn't sit well with Acegia. Accustomed to their unrivaled supremacy, the Acegians saw this surge in Ascal's might as a direct threat to their long standing dominance. Tensions escalated rapidly, and thus, the war on Dark Crystals began.
One side had Acegiadonite, and one side was powered by Dark Crystal. As battles raged, the very fabric of the world suffered. Verdant forests withered away, once-bubbling rivers turned barren, and an air of desolation gripped the lands. Asteria had no choice but to join the war as well. The once innocent mage scientist all of the sudden turned into a warrior. With the Dark Crystals in her grasp, she wielded an unparalleled force of destruction. Every spell she cast shook both heaven and earth. Weapons she enchanted had the power to move mountains with a single swing.
And just like that, Ascal won. It was a complete triumph, a thorough domination over the Acegia Empire. Asteria's teacher ascended to the throne as the new king, while Asteria herself wielded power that was unrivaled.
Yet, what seemed like an end was merely the beginning.
Suddenly, a mysterious illness began to sweep across the land. People, once healthy and vibrant, were overtaken by a debilitating sickness. Stricken individuals began to hallucinate, witnessing terrifying visions that were invisible to others. They lost control, their actions becoming erratic and unpredictable. Tragically, many, unable to bear the torment, took their own lives, while others spiraled into irreversible madness.
Alarmed by the rapid spread and the devastating effects of the disease, Asteria delved into an investigation. She poured over ancient tomes and consulted with fellow mages and healers. As she pieced the puzzle together, a horrifying revelation dawned upon her.
Each of the afflicted bore a common marker: traces of the Dark Crystals were found in their bloodstream. The crystal's influence was insidious. It acted like a slow-acting poison, building up in their system over time. Once it reached a critical level, it began to hijack their minds, twisting their perceptions and leading them down a path of self-destruction.
Asteria approached the king, urgently trying to convey her concerns, but her warnings fell on deaf ears.
The allure of the Dark Crystal's profit was overwhelmingly seductive.
Everyone, including the king, was now blinded by power. Their thirst was insatiable, even when they already conquered the world. They wanted more power, more Dark Crystals! The report on Dark Crystal being the culprit of such illness was quickly hidden from the public. People who went into madness were simply deemed “possessed by demons”.
Couldn’t take it anymore, Asteria left her position, became a wandering mage.
However, it was another mistake of hers.
With Asteria gone, the Ascal Empire's actions grew even more unbridled. In their relentless pursuit of more Dark Crystals, they dispatched even women and children to labor in the mines. Massive machines were constructed, designed solely to tear the very earth asunder. They mined deeper and deeper, and with every layer they penetrated, the energy within the Dark Crystals they unearthed grew more potent. And hell was getting closer and closer, day by day.
Until one day…
“Caelius…”
Asteria stood before the man who had once been her mentor, her guide through the intricate tapestry of magic and knowledge. Now, she barely recognized the figure before her. His once radiant skin had taken on an ashen hue, horns curled menacingly from his head, and his eyes—once full of wisdom and kindness—now blazed in crimson.
“What... have you done?” the catgirl asked, bewildered by Caelius' transformation.
But Caelius didn't even pay any attention to how he looked. "I did it! I've killed a god!" he just laughed. His laughter, tinged with madness, sent a shiver racing down Asteria's spine.
"You have... killed a what!?"
Disbelief clouded Asteria's voice, but before she could further press, Caelius took out something from an ornate golden box.
As the object came into full view, sheer terror painted Asteria's face.
It was a heart, pulsating with a golden luminescence. The very heart of a god!
"Behold the dawn of our uprising against the Heavens!" Caelius roared, clutching the heart and, with a violent squeeze, crushed it. The world responded instantaneously: an explosion that seemed to tear at the very fabric of reality resonated through the skies. The earth groaned, quaking beneath them.
Lifting her gaze, Asteria's horror deepened. A star, once a beacon in the night, was obliterated!
"This is madness! Stop! Stop this now!" she pleaded, her voice echoing with desperation.
But Caelius, consumed by his delusions, crowed, "Join us, Asteria! Together, let's dethrone the gods! Even Heaven will bow before us!"
No sooner had his words resonated than the sky darkened in response. The gods were furious! Thunder rolled with rage, and ominous clouds amassed, casting the world into deep shadow.
