Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Several hands shot up, but the woman gestured toward a young boy who seemed like he wasn't paying attention.

"You there, tell me".

"Me?" The boy who didn't expect to be called out pointed at himself before scratching his hair.

"Ummm… Solarion the first?" he looked towards his teacher unsure.

"Correct, but you should pay more attention in the class" Syaing that she turned towards the other students and questioned "Now who can elaborate more?"…

A young girl raised her hand "Me, Teacher Verdia. Solarion the first, he united the land during the chaotic times by defeating the warlords and bringing peace. His strength as a warrior and his wisdom as a ruler are still admired today"…

"Very good" the woman named Verdia nodded with approval "Indeed, Solarion I, the Lion King, was the heart and soul of this empire. But what set him apart from the countless warlords of his time wasn't just his might—no. It was his ability to inspire and unite"

"In a land divided by chaos and strife, he didn't just conquer; he created a lasting peace that allowed our empire to flourish. And that, my dear students, is the true foundation of Solaria."

Seeing that her words had ensnared every mind, she continued "His descendants have carried on his legacy. Our empire has grown in both size and wisdom, fostering peace among nations and becoming a centre for trade, culture, and learning"

"But the empire's greatness doesn't rest on its military prowess or wealth alone. It rests on the values that Solarion instilled—courage, justice, and unity".

Verdia turned back to the blackboard, writing in large, bold letters: Strength, Wisdom, Peace.

"There," she said, pointing to the words, "These are virtues and pillars of our empire. And as the future leaders, thinkers, and defenders of this land, it is your responsibility to uphold these values"

"Let me tell you a story," Verdia began…

Long long ago when the Mainland was yet to stabilise itself, there was chaos everywhere. Warlords fought over scraps of land, kingdoms rose and fell in the blink of an eye, and no one knew peace.

It was then from the ashes of these endless wars emerged a single man. Solarion I, who was alos popularly known as the Lion King. A warrior unmatched in strength and valor, he not only united the lands, but also brought peace to a land torn asunder.

The students listened, enraptured by a story they never learned from books. Like a wave cashing on the shore, the expression of the children constantly rose and fell as Verdia told Solarion's legendary journey.

"It is said that, on his quest to unite the land, Solarion came face to face with a great Evil. This creature, a terror of the darkest corners and overflowing malevolence had terrorized the Mainland for centuries.

Entire armies had fallen before it. Yet, Solarion, armed with nothing but a golden sword and the courage burning within him, challenged the great evil to a battle.

"Not much is recorded of the fateful battle but what I can tell you is that the battle was fierce, shaking the heavens and the earth. It went on for days, weeks even… Solarion fought with all his strength, but even he found himself at his wit's end facing the never ending evil army and magic of the creature.

Just when it seemed the evil creature's magic would engulf him and the entire land, a band of noble warriors came to aid him. With their aid, he cleaved the Great Evil in two, banishing its malevolent powers forever"….

"Miss Verdia, what kind of people were these noble warriors?" a student raised his hand to ask.

In response, Verdia smiled. Her eyes inadvertently looked up as if gazing at the sky "Have you ever heard about the Seraphims?"…

"Seraphims?"

A murmur rippled through the class as they wondered who Miss Verdia was talking about. A couple of children who were rather knowledgeable or perhaps came from renowned noble houses or clans, raised their hands to answer.

"Is Miss Verdia talking about the mighty warriors of god? The most powerful beings in the world who can do anything?"…

"I heard from my father that they have white wings behind their back and every single one of them are the agent of the gods"…

"Right" Verdia did not deny the kids "It is said that only the most noble of humans who have achieved great prestige and possess a pure heart, have the chance to become one. That said, even though they are the agent of the gods, the mightiest noble warriors, they are not omnipotent"

"Anyways, getting back to the topic. Seraphims are the beings who stand above even those agents of the gods. These mighty warriors aided Solarion I to get rid of the evil creature".

The class fell into silence as they imagined the epic battle, their minds painting vivid pictures of Solarion's victory.

"And so, with the great evil slain, Solarion returned to the people not as a conqueror, but as a protector. He united the warring lands under one banner, creating the great Solarion Empire—a bastion of peace in a world of chaos. His name became legend, and his empire… well, you all know what that became."

Verdia smiled warmly at her students.

"Heroes are born in the Solarion Empire every year, just like Solarion I. It is why we pride ourselves as the protectors of mankind. Our empire doesn't just fight wars; we defend the light of peace, of hope. And you, dear students, should aim to become heroes like that one day."

"Now for the values that I wrote on the board—strength, wisdom, and peace—those were the founding virtues of the empire, chosen by Solarion himself".

Strength to protect, wisdom to guide, peace to unify… thus strength, wisdom and peace. The students nodded, some writing the words in their notebooks.

Verdia's eyes gleamed as she looked at her students burying themselves in books. She moved towards the board before wiring another set of words.

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