“A world born out of Kaodhan’s dream. Xandrias.
The name has echoed across Orbisalia, evoking reactions as diverse as those that desperately seek its secret location: the cybernetic organization MERCURY, threatened by this subversive institute that undermines their network of power. And the broken youth of the otherworld, dreaming that Xandrias is more than a handful of lies and crushed hopes.
For them, Xandrias is their last resort, a school of magic claiming to embrace people of all races, cultures or sexual orientation. No discrimination, no intolerance, no judgement. In a world where magicalbloods are hunted by underground black markets and enslaved by corrupted guilds – for the gains of MERCURY –, all children can hope for is a safe haven, where they’re not dehumanized into products, but treated as human beings.
The founder of Xandrias, an ex-Mercurian himself, knows exactly what that feels like. 10 years as an assassin would have been enough for anyone to curse the world as well as themselves for all the atrocities taking place on behalf of MERCURY. But Kaodhan has decided instead to turn against the supercomputer and use his knowledge of their system to create a better world.
Having been exiled from his homeland Deodara (Tir na nOg – land of the Tuatha de Dannan) from an early age, Kaodhan has no memories of either his family or his homeland. He knows what it’s like to not belong anywhere, for home to be wherever he lays his head. And so, Xandrias was born out of this desire – to make sure that no other child would have to follow his footsteps. And dear friendships formed along the way aided in building the village and Academy that would be named Xandrias.
Located deep in the heart of the highest mountains, amid wild rainforests hidden in mist, Xandrias is a land of unforgettable beauty. Its wild creatures and eternal summer are a sight to behold, guarded even by the Fairy Queen herself. Since the founding of the Academy, hundreds of students have crossed its great wooden gates carved with Ogham inscriptions, ready to brave the world.
And many more will continue yet, as the story of Xandrias lives on…”
This fragment is an introduction to my Celtic fantasy series, Arcanum of Thorns. All art contained in article is original art by me. For more info on this series, please check out the official website arcanumofthorns.com.