Throughout history, there have been many events that have shaped the world. Wars, disease, famine, and strife have all played critical roles in the shift of power. Rulers rose and fell, and alliances were made and broken during those turbulent times. Lands prospered under benevolent monarchs and withered under tyrannical ones. Humanity endured the ebb and flow of change and continued to move forward. Sometimes, however, something truly extraordinary happens; an event so momentous that it causes the world to be irrevocably altered.
There came a time during which the land was consumed by darkness. Humanity's greed and thirst for power and riches had brought forth the existence of demons into the world. Originally forming in scattered outcrops, their power and influence had grown with each bloody massacre enacted in their name, and each soul offered up to feed their hunger. Their numbers grew exponentially with each kingdom that was felled, and soon they had become a menacing horde. The demons flourished and evolved, having drawn knowledge and power from the souls they had consumed. They formed hierarchies and eventually their own kingdom, complete with their own Demon King. The demons soon realized that they had become more powerful than the humans. They no longer sat back on their heels, waiting for human souls to be consumed by darkness. They actively began attacking human settlements and annexing them to their growing black empire.
The threat from the demon swarm had grown so large that even the gods themselves could no longer turn a blind eye. They had finally realized that, without intervention, the human race was doomed to be annihilated by the spreading evil. And so, after having held a gathering to determine the fate of humanity, the greater gods decided to bestow the gift of magic upon select and trustworthy members of the human race. The chosen ones were judged by the gods and given mastery over the element that best suited their personalities. Soon there were several thousand humans across the land that could manipulate metal (Metallum Magi), wood (Lignum Magi) and earth (Terrae Magi), and bid it to do their will. The remaining two elements were fire and water. The prospect of entrusting the two most powerful elements to the humans gave the gods great pause. For in the wrong hands, it would prove to be most disastrous.
To minimize the risk, two exceptional dynasties were chosen to be sole bearers of this responsibility. Draconikus, King of Gods, chose the Nikiforov Family in the kingdom of Occidentis to wield his water magic. The Nikiforov bloodline was known for its passion and fervor. Water would overwhelm and wash away a weak character, so their ardor would provide the Yin to the water's Yang, thus creating balance. The King channeled the essence of his magic into a glowing blue sphere which then morphed into a splendid and fierce dragon. As an extra failsafe, the King turned the water dragon into ice. This made it so that the power could not be used to drown, flood or kill. The ice magic would be fatal to demons, but harmless to humans. King Draconikus then fused the ice dragon's soul with a magnificent sword with a sapphire-encrusted hilt. A scabbard enchanted with earth magic was created to contain its power.
Elianna, Queen of Gods, chose the Katsuki Family in the kingdom of Orientalis to wield her fire magic. The Katsuki Clan was the picture of calm courage. Fire stokes unsettling emotions and would consume an unstable user from the inside. The Katsuki's inner harmony would be the grounding Yang to her fire's overwhelming Yin. The Queen blew fire from her mouth into the shape of a burning orb. The orb flickered brightly for a few seconds before transforming into a dazzling and brazen phoenix. Its eyes; a stunning molten gold, were said to be able to bore through one's very soul. Queen Elianna also safeguarded her power by turning the phoenix's fire into flames of purification. Her fire would not be able to raze towns nor harm other humans. Her flames would only serve to kill demons. The Queen then fused the phoenix's soul with a lustrous katana adorned with glistening rubies. A scabbard enchanted with water magic was constructed to encompass its intensity.
The King and Queen had then both visited the leaders of their respective chosen families. Each was presented with their blade and told of the great power and responsibility that came with it. A blood pact was made between each leader, their sword, and their God. This served three great purposes. First, it ensured that subsequent generations would also be able to use the blade and its powers. Second, it would provide divine protection to its wielder. Lastly, the blood pact also gave the Gods the right to revoke their gift, should the user and/or his associates ever apply its abilities for evil. And so, Alexei Nikiforov and Hideo Katsuki became the founding fathers of Ice Dragon Magic and Phoenix Purification Magic.
Centuries passed and the war with the demons continued. Heir after heir wielded their divine sword bravely and honorably against the demon army. There were times in which victory for the human empire seemed all but assured. But then human corruption and avarice would bolster the demons and lift their numbers once again.
Five hundred years after humanity had received the gift of magic, a legendary alliance unlike any other would form. The leaders of the two most polarizing elements would find their way to each other and eventually create a unified front of unsurpassed might, cunning, and skill.
And so begins the tale of how King Viktor Nikiforov and Emperor Yuri Katsuki found their way to one another. An account of the ancient battle waged for the very survival of the human race. A chronicle of their struggles, sacrifices, and love.