Chapter Text
Eternal Winter and the Fire’s Blessing
Northern territories, a bitterly cold region in the northern reaches of the continent of "Storm" which is comprised with a series of small nations that sprang up whose belligerence proved troublesome for Rosaria over the centuries.
However, their warmonger behavior ended, when a mysterious calamity called the eternal winter sent massive blizzards that freezes the entire nation leaving everything and everyone dying in cold and starvation.
In order to regain their abundant harvest and prosperity back to their lands.
The people of the northern territories decided to quell their hostility and conflict within their neighboring nation by offering a peace treaty to which the Dukedom of Rosaria accepts.
However they have one condition: They must offer virgin maidens (at a marriage age of 25) as a sacrificial offering in order to satisfy the Infernal Eikon. Once that Eikon is satisfied, they receive the flames of blessing upon their land as well for abundance of great soil, rain, serene winters, and warmth for all to farm and harvesting the bountiful fruits of their labor for everyone to eat and never go hungry. However the flames of blessing will only last for 13 years before the coming of another Eternal winter.
The Sage Elders of the Northern territories were tasked to select the sacrificial maidens from both upper and lower class families based on the astrology readings towards stars that appear during the 1st year of the Serene winter, Upon finding their readings in the stars, they will receive a premonition that show and describe the delicate appearance of the chosen maiden; and that chosen maiden will be the next offering for the Infernal Eikon after 13 years.
Afterwards the 1st Sage Elder and the council of leaders will eventually summon the parents of the chosen sacrifice and announce the child’s fate as a future sacrifice for the infernal Eikon yet they will appear again during the twelfth birthday of the chosen maiden only for her to be taken away from home and housed in the holy temple for her remaining years of her upbringing until their 25th Birthday: The Fateful day of the departure to Rosalith.
Many Devout believers of the Northern Territories believed that sacrificial maidens are the divine brides of the Eikon who were given the greatest honor to offer their lives to the Divine beast’s flames so they can give immense bountiful blessings to their lands. while others such as the families, friends and relatives of the chosen sacrifices were frightened and wept in sorrows to see their beloved daughter or sister journey on towards the duchy to die by the hands of the most dangerous yet feared Eikon of fire just for the sake of their nation’s hopes and prayers for all to shield from the desolate blizzard that plague upon their lands as well the return of the Sun’s warmth and the harvest abundance for the future generations.
The Girls from different class and families were in pure horror on the eve of their twelfth birthday fearing they will be taken away and die towards a dangerous infernal monster rather than marry to a good husband and start a family or following their life goal dreams. People says that if a sacrificial offering or their families disobey laws or escaping their fate; The nation and its people will face the raging fiery wrath of the Monstrous Eikon that purges everything with it’s massive hellflame leaving its land like hell on earth.
No matter how the chosen virgin sacrifice or her family attempt to escape that dreadful event. They will either face the grave consequences of being punish or persecuted by their people and the council or seeing their land and their crops being burned into nothingness by the Beast Eikon itself.
No one dares to stop or escape this never-ending ritual cycle of death and life.
Many years have passed and the sacrificial rite of the northern territories has now become a part of their lives. In hopes for the Infernal Eikon of Rosalith to bless them with warmth, and calming the strong blizzards of eternal winter by offering their maiden sacrifice in order to satisfy his hunger or temperament.
Time and time again, many chosen girls within the marriageable age of 25 are sent away to the duchy in order to fulfill the rite of the Flame’s blessing and yet all of them were in a panic fear, crying, and screaming in terror as they led to the carriage towards their deaths and yet no one dares to stop or interrupt the ceremony of departure.
In the History records of the Northern Territories within Valisthea, A total of 29 sacrificial maidens were offered to the Infernal Eikon yet the Eternal winter calamity returns.
But everything is about to change…
When the 30th Sacrificial Maiden was chosen