Demon realm

A demon realm is a region where monsters breed and dwell. A general rule holds in this world: over the years, a power-hoarding 'lord' arises at its centre and almost never leaves its lair. Danger rises in concentric rings: weak creatures keep to the outer edge, ever-stronger ones nearer the depths, and at the very centre dwells the lord.

The prime example near Aiwood is the Sabnock Plains east of the capital — crown land and one of the kingdom's worst monster grounds. Its soil is saturated with mana, which spawns especially strong creatures — yet that same mana makes the land extraordinarily fertile: cleared, the plain would become a granary able to feed the whole kingdom. At its very centre wells a 'dragon's vent' gushing mana; if it is not sealed with a magic circle, a new lord of the realm is born.

Monsters attack anyone who enters their domain; apex creatures are called magic beasts. They are subjugated, while at the plain's edge the population is merely 'thinned' — and there, too, the students' Magic Hunt Festival is held. The worst outcome is a stampede, when monsters pour from the depths by the tens and hundreds. Twenty years ago an entire pioneer expedition was annihilated by Sabnock; only when Rest slew the lord did developing the plain finally become possible.

The plain is home to horned bears, winged serpents, scaled wolves and other creatures; apex beasts are called magic beasts. Twenty years ago a stampede already struck here, and the former king lost an entire pioneer expedition trying to develop the plain.

Subjugation of monsters is official business, while the Magic Hunt Festival is held at the safe edge so students can gain experience; even there, deaths occur every year. It was during one such festival that a stampede broke out, in which Rest served as a rescuer and ultimately slew the lord.

With the lord Sabnock dead, developing the plain became possible: if the other monsters are wiped out before a new lord is born, the kingdom gains a vast, fertile granary. For his victory Rest received a hundred thousand platinum coins, the title of viscount, and a third of the future-developed land as a fief.

The development is led by second prince Andrew; hundreds of settlers flow into the former demon realm, and the plots are divided among the houses Crocus, Cattleya, Rosemary and Lavender. To seal the mana welling from the ground, the legendary barrier master Maitis is summoned — and the disgraced Lucas Eberun is handed to her as an assistant.