Bounded By Destiny
Prologue

A story like ours should never have to be told. Sorrow, betrayal, heartbreak, pain, regret, death…these are just some of many that we were amidst with. Friendships torn apart, committed vows were broken, regret of wrongful decisions, and above all—the deaths of thousands of innocent people, some including friends, lovers, and family. But not all was bad. Our actions changed the fate of the future, changing it from bad to good. New friendships were made, new loves were formed, new life, and a fresh start for many.

It all began with a legend,

In the beginning, there was "darkness."
Then, the "darkness" shed a "tear."
From that "tear," the brothers Sword and Shield were born.
Shield claimed it could defend against any attack.
Sword claimed it could slice through anything.
The brothers began a legendary battle.
At the end, both Sword and Shield shattered.
Sword became the sky.
Shield became the earth.
And the sparks from the battle became the stars.
As for the jewels, they fell to the ground and became the True Runes
The runes that all other runes were born from.

True Runes are the Gods of this world, Ranzar. Wholly sentient with its own will, each True Rune holds immeasurable power and has been the cause of many wars in the past. True Runes are often sought by those in power due to its power of granting agelessness to its bearer. All bearers of True Runes stop aging and become immune to disease and all other natural causes of death, although they could still die from physical causes, such as accidents or murder.

All True Runes hold a purpose, and this purpose tends to be pursued with no moral consideration due to the fact that True Runes are forces of nature. True Runes may cause its bearer to save lives, but also may force its bearer to kill thousands of people against the bearer's will if it serves the rune's purpose.

True Runes could be quite fickle, and could abandon its bearer in favor of another, and when its bearer dies, it tends to vanish and remain hidden within the earth until it feels like reappearing. One person can not bear more than one True Rune.

No one knows for certain where True Runes came from, but legend tells that the 27 True Runes were created when the brothers, "Sword" and "Shield" fought against each other, shattering itself into 26 pieces: Beast Rune, Rune of the Beginning, Black Sword Rune, Bright Shield Rune, Blue Moon Rune, Rune of Change, Circle Rune, Dragon Rune, Eightfold Rune, Gate Rune, Back Gate Rune, Front Gate Rune, Rune of Life and Death, Night Rune, Rune of Punishment, Sovereign Rune, Sun Rune, Dawn Rune, Twilight Rune, True Earth Rune, True Fire Rune, True Lightning Rune, True Water Rune, True Wind Rune, Star Rune, and Balance Rune.

It is said that when all 26 bearers of a True Rune come together, they form the 27th True Rune—the mightiest and most powerful of all Runes with indestructible power. Only once has this happened—thousands of years ago during the Scholar Year 390. It was also known asThe Great Contract, during the war between the Toran Republic and Scarlett Moon Empire. Afterwards when the Runes had completed their task, they all vanished, leaving their bearers and returned to the earth, waiting peacefully to once again rise to a new bearer. Now, two thousand years later entering the Scholar Year 2391, it marks the time where the True Runes will once again have to shine and change destiny as we know it.

A new alliance, new bearers and a new journey. It all begins here.