After Leo got to Takima village, where his clan's land was located.
He got a notification in his mind.
[Ding! User-Ash mage, you only have five minutes of access remaining, would you like to exit?]
"Yes" Leo said, as he knew there was little he could do in such short time, however he had seen a icon along with the game that he ignored which he chose to check out in this limited time.
The icon was a burning candle with a pale flame (often used to signify knowledge in this culture).
He willed to see it, and was met a link page (like in various websites), with the only link about being the history of sparks empire.
Although Leo knew the overall history of the empire's founding, he didn't knew about the many details involved, so he chose to see it, and was met with this-
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⚔️ The Sparks Empire – Refined History & World Context
> "From the flames of betrayal, the Sparks Empire rose. But what sparks once promised fire, now only smolders in silence."
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🏰 ORIGINS: FROM DUKEDOM TO EMPIRE
🧭 Pre-Empire – The Dukedom of Topis
The Topis family was a prominent noble house within the Araclo Empire, known for its military valor, especially during the Siege of Pale Night, where Duke Verrien Topis and 7,000 men held against a 140,000-strong beastman horde for two months. The city never fell.
Their loyalty and sacrifice earned them the title of Dukes of Pale Night, along with vast lands near the unstable western front — a fact that would later fuel their resentment.
Over the decades, the Topis family felt increasingly sidelined as Araclo centralized power under a bureaucratic regime, and began empowering newer noble families over the old war-born houses.
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🔥 THE BETRAYAL & REVOLUTION (Year 0 of Sparks Calendar)
📜 The Hidden Pact with Lexatric
During the Araclo–Lexatric War, the Topis family secretly negotiated with Lexatric Kingdom, promising to become a puppet regime in return for arms, coin, and logistical support.
However, instead of honoring the deal, Topis used Lexatric as a stepping stone. Once they had enough internal chaos and military buildup, they cut ties and declared the Sparks Empire.
Lexatric's intelligence network had been deliberately misled, feeding them dreams of a long-term vassal.
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🏛️ False Revolution
The revolution was sold as a "new dawn" — freedom from Araclo's tyranny, a meritocratic future where humans could rise by talent, not blood.
In reality, the Topis family used the revolution as a smokescreen:
They eliminated rival nobles under the guise of "reform."
Manipulated radical populist factions, only to discard them post-victory.
Established strict military law, citing the need for post-revolution "stability."
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⚖️ THE NEW ORDER: HUMAN SUPREMACY & CONTROL
The Sparks Empire codified human supremacy into law, banning non-human ownership of land, and purging demi-humans from key cities.
Magical institutions were absorbed into the state and regulated — only "human soul-aligned" magic was legal.
The Church of the First Flame was established as a state religion, deifying the concept of "Human Potential" and condemning "mixed bloods" as defilers.
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🧩 STRUCTURAL FLAWS & PRESENT-DAY CRISIS (Year 15 S.C.)
💣 Political Dissonance
The Topis family's silence has bred uncertainty. The current ruler, Emperor Carvon Topis, is rumored to be gravely ill or under magical possession.
The Council of Flame, a puppet noble council, rules in his stead but is riddled with infighting between military, religious, and old-guard noble factions.
🪓 Military Confusion
Veterans of the revolution are disillusioned, unsure if they fought for power, peace, or another tyrant.
The Sparkblade Corps, elite mage-warriors, have split into ideological camps — one loyal to the revolution's ideals, another loyal to the Topis throne.
🥀 Civilians in Despair
The peasantry faces heavy taxation, rationing, and surveillance. Revolutionary promises of empowerment have led only to militarized rule and cultural oppression.
Border regions are filled with exiled non-humans, now forming rogue militias and cults dedicated to revenge or resistance.
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🔺 External Pressure
⚔️ The Araclo Empire
Humiliated by the loss of Topis lands, Araclo is slowly preparing a reconquest, but is currently weakened from its war with Lexatric and internal succession issues.
Secretly funds loyalist cells inside Sparks territory.
🤝 Lexatric Kingdom
Demands fulfillment of the original puppet pact — but is now divided on whether to invade or destabilize the empire from within.
Operates shadow agents in the capital, trying to undermine the Topis family's rule from the inside.
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🎖️ Potential Factions Within the Sparks Empire
Faction Description
The Ash Guard Fanatical loyalists to the Topis bloodline.
The Red Flame Circle Revolutionary mages who believe the revolution was stolen and are preparing for a second one.
The Iron Ember Bloc Military faction pushing for expansion into Araclo again — believes only war can unify the empire.
The Pale Night Loyalists Followers of the old Topis ideals (honor, sacrifice). They are torn between legacy and reality.
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The history was very detailed, evn beyond his imagination.
However, it was still far away from him.
Currently, he needed to make use of his opportunity that he has found and become stronger.
One thing to note is that leo was talented in everything except magic, it was partly because of thim that the steel heart chamber of commerce managed to become empire wide.
So he had a plan.
Leo would first go to his family to ask for magic stones, while showcasing his sudden increase in strength disguised as a late talent awakening.
Then he will use them to become stronger, guide the rumors a bit, and become famous among the low talent mages as a 'example of effort over talent'.
He will use the rumors to create his own 'mutual aid association ' , have his core subordinates visit the internet cafe, and after going through the tutorial (the war, he asked the boss) , they would have their clans submit and become his vassals, this earning the early benefits in that world, when no one has found out about the internet cafe .
(As you can see, i used the help of ai to refine the backstory a bit, hope you guys don't mind)
(Also comment what you will like the name of Leo's association to be)
(And ofc about the custom game that you want)