Forty years ago, during the Ancient War, countless nations used powerful magic to hide their whereabouts from the Three Witches of Calamity with the help of the Voicelords.
These powerful people spoke in an ancient tongue that derived from a cosmic race beyond the scope of Yggdrasil. With their voice, they could manifest powerful thunderous booms of immense power.
They called this ability Bun'dao.
Speaking in this ancient language is seen as a blessing, and or curse in a lot of cultures, which is why those who can speak in this tongue would hide in the shadows to conceal their power.
But one man stood proud and took pride in his intrinsic ability; afraid of no one, be it mortal or god.
He was the proud ruler of Mesnil; the Country of Magic.
His name was Ban of Benoic, and he had a wife named Queen Elaine; together they kept all of Mesnil safe from the bringers of calamity thanks to the help of Ban's powerful voice that allowed him to bend creation to his will.
However, a lot of nations were unlucky and didn't have the might of a Voicelord, thus, they inevitably fell to the hands of the witches. Most of Yggdrasil was enslaved while others were brutally killed, but there was nothing Ban could do to help, but protect his own.
One day, Ban of Benoice and Queen Elaine decided to have a child to soon become an heir to their throne, in order to maintain peace and prosperity across the Country of Mesnil. And just like their father; this child would inherit the Bun'dao and become a Voicelord.
This child would become known as Lancelot.
+
(30 years ago, in the Age of Legends)
He was born in Castle Secace, growing up slightly spoiled and loved by his family. Lancelot was a very kind child; showing a lot of empathy for other people and practicing healing magic above all else. He loved to read old myths and tales, and his favorite food was simple bread and ham.
But despite all of that, he was lonely.
The only people he had ever talked to was his personal maid, and she was an old lady nearing her eighties. Lancelot never had any actual friends around his age - he was stuck with those in his family's castle - removed from having a childhood.
When he did have the chance to go out and sightsee, the kids would ignore him, usually being afraid of his status as Prince of Mesnil. Lancelot tried his hardest to make friends, but the adults pulled their children away and told their sons and daughters to stay as far away from Lancelot as possible.
They were afraid of having their kids do something disrespectful to the Prince of Mesnil, but Lancelot was clueless about this fact.
He eventually accepted being alone and continued living in the Castle of Secace with his Mother and Father until he turned 15. Now Lancelot has finally begun to understand the world through the eyes of a young man, and a brave one at that.
"Father, father! We've received mail from a Delivery Owl! It is from the Southern Empire!" Running down the hall, young Lancelot burst into his parent's chambers, holding a letter. "It is from King Lot!"
"By the Elohim, child! Can't you bloody knock before bursting in like you own the place?" Ban stuck his head from under the covers with Elaine, sighing. "Come... give me the letter, what does it say?"
Lancelot nervously laughed, "Ahaha, sorry about that... uhm... here ya go!" Approaching his Father, he gently handed the mail, standing with his arms behind his back.
"What could it be? King Lot knows that it is risky sending out Delivery Owls with the Great One's out there." Unraveling the mail, he opened up the letter, revealing its contents.
"What does it say, beloved?" Asked Elaine.
There was an eerie silence as Ban continued reading the letter before widening his eyes. Dread quickly spread across his face.
"By Muspelheim..."
"Huh? What is it, dad?"
"All of Southern Empire is under attack by the Great Old Ones. Lot and his people are in need of my assistance, immediately."
"Oh my god... how did they find Lot and his Kingdom? Isn't he a Voicelord, just like you, my dear?"
Ban stood out of bed, putting on his trousers.
"Yes, he is a descendant of the Elgrada, just like me, which is why he can speak in the Divine Voice." Sliding on his tunic, Lancelot moved to his chainmail. "If the Great Old One's can somehow override the power of our voice, who knows what will happen to Mesnil, but then again... I'm taking all of this at face value."
"Dad... where are you going?"
Ban turned to face Lancelot, sorrow in his eyes.
"I'm going to go help Lot and the Southern Empire." He finished suiting up, now approaching his son, crouching at eye level. "I need you to watch your mother when I'm gone. Can you do that for me??"
Lancelot shook his head.
"No, I'm going with you!"
Ban grinned, patting his boy's head.
"I'm afraid you're far too young for battle, my son; you'll have to be the man of the castle while I'm gone."
Lancelot shook his head again, now hugging his dad around the neck.
"I won't let you leave, not without me! If you're going to help all of those people, then I want to join you as well!"
"You have heart, Lancelot, but use it for things that you're capable of." Ban stood up, patting his child's head. "I'll return soon, my son, take care of the castle while I'm gone."
Lancelot stood there - bowing his head down while his father walked out of the room.
He wanted to shout.
He wanted to cry and get angry.
But he could do none of those things but accept.
He was afraid.
Afraid to lose his Father and suffer a heartbreak.
Lancelot didn't know what he would do if the King of Mesnil died.
He wasn't ready to rule an entire nation, nor was he ready to lose his Father.
"Ban will be okay, Lancelot, do not fret my child." Elaine got out of bed, wrapping herself in a robe. "Come here..." ambling towards her son, she hugged him around the neck, pulling him into her chest. "You know how powerful your father is. He's slain dragons with only an iron sword, and defeated many Great Old One's in the past who threatened our Kingdom. He's a living legend."
Lancelot hugged his mother around the waist, nodding his head.
"Yes, I know Mother..."
Elaine patted his head, giggling.
"Good, then don't move around all day. How about I make us some tea?"
Lancelot glanced at Elaine, wide-eyed.
"You'll be making the tea? What about the servants?"
She waved her hand in discontent.
"Oh, nonsense, your mother knows how to cook as well! You've never seen me in the kitchen, have you?"
Lancelot shook his head.
"N-No... I'm afraid not."
Elaine chuckled, grasping his hand.
"Then come, let me show you the basics. If you want to impress a lady in the future, you'll need to at least know how to make some tea."
+
A few hours have passed, and Ban was prepared.
"Listen up, men! Today is the day we will be leaving the Country of Mesnil and out into the cold, dark world, ruled by the Witches of Calamity!" Ban sat atop a horse in front of an army of men with swords, shields, and other weapons of war. "We will slay whatever creature threatens to kill us, and we will make our way across the Northern Empire until we reach the shore. There, I will use my voice to command the creatures of the sea to aid us across the ocean until we reach the Southern Empire."
The countless men and women on their steeds were bold-faced and ready to face death.
"I know most of you may be scared, and I know how horrifying the Great Old Ones are, but together, there is nothing that we cannot do! Together, even the Elohim quiver in their abstract realm! Together, Mortalkind is unbeatable, for our wills are indomitable!"
"Yeaaaahhhhh!!"
"Hoooraaaaaa!"
They all lifted their weapons into the air, shouting in unison.
"There may be 10,000 of us and a million of them, but that's more than enough to carve our path to victory!"
"We are Knights of Arcane! We will not bow to the scum of darkness!" They all chanted in sync.
"Good." Ban smiled, turning to face the other way. "Let us make this journey worthwhile. We will save the people of the Southern Empire and drive out the Great Old Ones as a United race."
The knights nodded their heads before closing their helmets and readying their weapons of war.
"Now then—prepare yourselves."
Lancelot closed his helmet before huffing a deep sigh.
"Geegonta Fulma!"
Speaking in an Ancient tongue, a massive breach in spacetime occurred; opening a gateway outside of the Country of Mesnil that was separated from the world, hiding within another realm.
"Let us be off!"
Ban was the first to charge through the gateway as his fellow knights followed behind him.