The Fantasy Nexus: Prologue

In the beginning, there was nothing. Nothing... Except Eris. The child god. The supreme ruler of the universe. Most of all, the god... of magic. Eris sought to create a family for himself, and a universe in which he and his new family could live. So, he created the other gods. Among them were the elemental gods. Keona. Thesilia. Terra, Melinda, and many others. With their help, a universe filled with life and flourishing with magic was born. Many different races were created: The Elves, denizens of nature who strived to learn, create, and protect the world around them, using powerful sorcery. The Dwarves: small in stature, but powerful in their own right. Masters of the smithy and mining, their bonds unbreakable even in the worst of times. The Fae: tiny winged individuals whose days were filled with laughter and freedom. And most of all... the Dragons. Massive reptilian beasts, whose wisdom and knowledge spanned centuries upon centuries, their magic far beyond that of any other race.
Among the races the gods created, however, were the humans; people who had no natural talents at all. They were not proficient at magic, nor skilled with a forge. Humans were average, in every sense of the word. Many races looked down upon them for their lack of significance, often questioning why humans were created at all. And yet, members of each race found themselves befriending the humans, sometimes for reasons they themselves did not understand. Perhaps it was humanity's will to keep pushing on, despite their inherent faults. Their ability to make the world work for them, even when it was difficult. Or, perhaps, it was their willing acceptance of those around them who were unique and different. Whatever the reason, humans, to many of the races' dismay, seemed to fit in just fine. And so, mutual respect, even if not always warm, was established between each race; humans included.
When the gods were satisfied with their work, they departed this mortal realm, and were content to watch their beloved creation grow and thrive on its own. At the beginning, many skirmishes and wars over territory resources were a natural progression. But once each race had gotten their bearings, treaties and agreements were signed, with the understanding that they could help each other, rather than harm. And for many millennia, the world was mostly peaceful.
But it was not to last. For while the other races grew better at magic, and learned to bend the world to their will, humans grew wary. A tiny seed of doubt. A faint feeling of danger. Humans could learn magic with great effort, but they could never reach the level of the other races, regardless of practice. Humans, to protect themselves, shifted their focus from magic, to science and technology. They strove to make their parts of the world safer, even they couldn't use magic to do so. Over time, this included weapons. Weapons that put a strain on humanity's relation with the other people of the world. Firearms, explosive devices — nuclear weapons.
Magic was powerful. But to create a fireball equal to the sun was beyond any mortal's power. Yet, humanity had achieved it. This sent a wave of alarm through the magical community, and deepened the rift between them and humans. Magic would have to evolve. Many a sorcerer perished, dedicating their lives to replicating the sheer destructive power humanity had gained, if only in the hopes that, should humanity ever declare war, the other races had some sort of response. But it was in vain. For while the magical community struggled to come to terms with the threat of nuclear annihilation, humanity moved on. They were no longer interested in the bombs; primitive weapons, compared to what was coming next.
Humanity strove to imitate the gods, and create life. A blasphemy to much of the world, but a challenge to the common man. Small, metal constructs, imbued with limited intelligence at first. Then, more complex figures emerged. Autonomous mining. Household servants. Even a grand intelligence that could plan and strategize for war. Not only that, but with the development of an alloy, plastic and metal, that could repel and disperse any and all magic, humans deliberately drove a wedge between themselves and the other inhabitants of the world.
Humans and magical peoples began to fear each other. Humans feared the magic that still mostly eluded them, and defied all their scientific laws and logic. The other races feared humanity's seemingly unstoppable march toward progress and more dangerous arms.
For decades, the rift between the two groups deepened. Every new advancement from humans sent the other races into a panic, and magic was soon rendered almost obsolete in the face of humanity's technological prowess. Human leaders became more radical. Seeds of racism spread, and ordinary humans on the streets could sometimes be seen decrying the very existence of the other races, of their magic which humans simply couldn't understand.
Then, after many years, tensions came to a head. Perhaps the most radical leader of them all, a Mr. James Anderson, emerged. A businessman and politician of middle age, rising to power seemingly overnight. His reign was preceeded by a government seizure of any and all facilities producing any kind of artificial intelligence, bringing the invention entirely under government control. After two years of his time in office, a broadcast to all human cities around the world was released. Its message was brief, but clear; something that the magical community had predicted, but hoped would never come. Humans declared war on all non-humans, and every magician in the world. Claiming they were a danger to humans, and to humanity's way of life, Anderson ordered a purge that rocked the world to its core.
Millions, if not billions, of lives were lost in the early days of the Great War, as it was called. No one was spared; not the elves, the dwarves, nor the fairies. Even the mighty dragons were powerless to stop what was happening. And while many looked to the divine for answers or assistance, the gods remained silent, and passive. Humanity, with the assistance of its AI war planners, searched nearly every corner of the world to find and slaughter all members of any other race, as well as anyone who dared to practice magic under Anderson's regime.
Save for a few sparse pockets, the extinction of magic seemed imminent. The magical community, left with no options, declared the continent of Eistros as a sanctuary for any and all victims of the War. Although humanity tried to snuff out magic once and for all by attacking Eistros, a collection of powerful and wise sorcerers were able to establish a spell that both cloaked Eistros, and instilled an overwhelming urge to turn back in anyone who didn't possess any magic. The human government was unable to overcome this barrier, but the magical community knew it was a temporary fix; surely humans would find a way to break through, given enough time. A council was formed between the races, with one representative from each race, with the intent to strategize on what to do next.
At present, no solution has been found, and each day looks bleaker and more hopeless than the last. Yet, even within human civilization, magic persists. One such young magician is in a constant struggle with himself, desperately searching for a way for both sides to coexist. But to tell that story, we must go back to its beginning...