Divris's castle is located on the southern coast of the continent of Xeros, within the territory of the kingdom of darkness, Necropolis, the largest and most diverse free kingdom on the continent, boasting the largest population and possessing all the economic, political, and educational advantages.

The center of the kingdom is shrouded in magic, keeping the sky perpetually dark. The sun is always obscured by a black veil, like the shadow of the moon, creating an endless eclipse. This magic, considered infinite, originates from the death energy mined by the castle of white bones located in the city center.

Deep beneath Styx Castle lies a massive mine of death energy, a source of magical power for the creatures of the night, from necromancers to magical fuel. The prosperity of the Necropolis largely stems from the profits of this mining in the crafting of magical artifacts and the research of magic.

Legend says that the immense energy source present here is actually the tomb of an ancient god or creature. No one knows for sure; the records are extremely vague, as the first discovery of this energy mine was made long ago. Scholars and historians have spent years searching for evidence or records about it, but have only found a dead end. I secretly admire those who persevere in their search for answers.

In the Abyss, the demon world also has a similar energy mine, but no mortal has ever actually been there to verify it, so there are no further artifacts or visual evidence to confirm it. Fortunately, one of my companions had a thorough understanding, or at least visual observation, of the specimen due to having lived in the Abyss for a relatively long time. He was a valuable source of information for further exploring the nature of this energy, but I didn't urge him to do so; I only offered a suggestion.

In Xeros, the creatures of the night live relatively harmoniously together, helping, supporting, and developing. Vampires, zombies, witches, necromancers, skeletons, and more gather here to live and work, each species occupying its own territory.

They can be divided into two types: one type lives an immortal life like Dirvis, while the other consists of creatures with finite lifespans, no different from other species like humans. In Xeros, there is no discrimination between these two races; Xeros values ​​talent, and society is stratified based on the specific abilities and skills each individual possesses. Species not limited by age are equal to those with limited lifespans. Abilities are not significantly different, and each species has its own unique strengths to contribute. All this unity and solidarity was built with great difficulty during the first 300 years of the continent's formation.

The undead in this world are unique in that they all possess their own independent will, not enslaved by necromancers. This is because their origins are not from necromancer magic but from the power of the gods. Each species is born from a distinct mechanism.

Divris was a brilliant scholar from the past, tirelessly researching and laying the groundwork for important scientific research fields for future generations.In Xeros, Divris lived like a goddess, with her own castle and many followers. In stark contrast to her time on the mainland, where she was considered a villain, a servant of the Dark King of the Necropolis, or a wicked witch (The Hag) specializing in "black magic," the kind who kidnaps children and pushes old women into the sea... Above all, no nation or individual valued her because they viewed her as following a dark path, researching forbidden magic from other dimensions, a calamitous magic related to the world of spirits, the Void, or Psionic Magic. In reality, Divris's research caused no danger or disaster, but human prejudice dragged her down until the generous hand of the Black Tower (an academic magic organization) in the Necropolis extended a helping hand, giving her a place to settle down and dedicate herself with 100% of her abilities.Granted the immortality of a divine blessing, Divris was also considered an immortal being, further enhancing her status and influence within the councils of Xeros. Her voice gradually gained influence, and she eventually became a significant figure in Xeros.

Scholar-mages were said to be few in number, but one like Divris was a once-in-a-thousand-years phenomenon. She lived in Xeros long enough to know she was no longer connected to the continent of Fel. Those on the continent knew nothing of her existence beyond urban legends and tales of a witch seduced by forbidden magic and enslaved by darkness. Divris's family had also disowned her and severed all ties.

But one year, when she learned that her daughter, the only person she still kept in touch with through the magic mailbox, had passed away, she rushed back to the mainland to attend the funeral.

She learned that she had two grandsons and stories of their upbringing, all written through letters exchanged between her and her daughter. When she arrived, the funeral was over, and all she could do was lay flowers at her daughter's grave and say the final words from the letter she had written.

In her daughter's last letter, she asked her to look after her youngest son, who would later become the protagonist of the Eclipse Alliance series, the one who survived until the end.

This event happened a year after I arrived in this world. So, from now until then, I have a lot to prepare and plan for my survival.

The most important thing right now is to gather information about everything around me. Information is an incredibly important asset. In the modern world where I live, the more information a person grasps and understands, the more powerful they become. This is especially true in politics. Actually, I don't want to be involved in politics or anything like that, but to survive in this world where people die like flies, besides the knowledge I gain from reading novels, I need to delve deeper into the underlying workings that aren't explicitly mentioned. Reading doesn't mean I know everything. What I read in novels are only the main events, the surface level. And I'm being reborn into a strange world, one with many rules and regulations that my original world lacks. These are the biggest risks to avoid. I don't want to lose my life due to lack of knowledge, so understanding them should be my top priority. Above all, I must adapt to life here and improve things to suit my preferences to some extent.

I quickly gathered information about all the members under my command. All were immortals or undead; very few were from other races or were human. Above all, they possessed unique talents and skills, ranging from excellent to outstanding. Everyone had their own distinct strengths and knew how to support each other. It was hard to believe that they were all considered monsters, vicious, and cruel by everyone on the other side of the ocean. Everyone here was simply living with the most enthusiastic and optimistic spirit; no one bothered to wage war or provoke anyone.

Divris's constant companion was a spirit named Dahlia. Having existed for too long, unwilling to transcend, she shared Divris's desire for knowledge. Dahlia took the form of a woman in her forties, with dark skin, a slender figure, curly hair that reached past her shoulders, a bright face, and eyes always filled with intelligence, wisdom, and knowledge.

Fluent in most languages ​​and world history, Dahlia served Divris as a butler and later as administrator of the public library. She was also responsible for recruiting other wandering souls to work there. Divris's library was run mostly by souls. Souls unwilling to reincarnate, like Dahlia, had a place to work and alleviate the suffering of their past lives. Some later found peace and moved on, transcending into the cycle of reincarnation in the River Lethe. Therefore, the library underwent minor staff changes from time to time. Gradually, it became a resting place that calmed even the most ferocious souls, like a tranquil lake in late autumn.

I spent my first day exploring Divris's mansion. The owner could be considered a person of simple, unpretentious living, despite possessing considerable power and wealth. The outermost layer consists of housing for farmers, construction workers, and factory workers. Besides the research area and laboratories, there are greenhouses for cultivation, with temperature and humidity control systems that rival those on Earth.

The plants cultivated are all familiar agricultural products. Potatoes, tomatoes, carrots—all are grown for Divris because she still needs to eat them to remember her homeland, her human origins.

Many greenhouses grow flowers and herbs, including magical flowers. Though tiny, if refined, they can yield enough magical potions to produce powerful effects.

As the largest magic tool manufacturing facility in the country, it invests heavily in its laboratory and workshop facilities. There's even a dedicated area for apprentices. Divris must keep track of every individual, from the newest trainees to the most seasoned veterans. I don't think I can do that in a short time, but this is probably the minimum a top leader should be able to do. I can't refuse; I have to read the new candidate's resume as well.

On the second day of the third month since my reincarnation, I was informed that I had a scheduled visit to the training workshop to greet the trainees, say a few words of encouragement, and boost their morale. I had also prepared my speech the night before. The speech might stray a bit from the workshop's values, but I didn't care much. I wanted to make a personal statement, so I took a risk.

From the perspective of the new employees, I was like some distant headmistress or president who only occasionally showed up, and I didn't want to be seen that way. I wanted to be a colleague, or at least an approachable superior.

"Hello everyone, welcome to the finest artifact crafting workshop in the Necropolis, where you can learn and hone your skills to become master craftsmen and create items that can change and improve the world. I don't know if that's everyone's intention and aspiration, but at least let this be your guiding principle for your upcoming training, because I know everyone has a purpose in creating something to satisfy their personal desires. I built everything I have today for the benefit of the community. That's not to say you're forcing anyone to live like monks or priests; I just want you to always consider the benefit of the majority before creating something that will last a lifetime. Many here have created legendary artifacts comparable to sacred objects, but there's always a price. A price not found in alchemists or Dwarf blacksmiths; the price you can pay is your soul."

"That speech seems a bit excessive." Dahlia, feigning surprise, remarked.

"You think so?" I chuckled.

"But it's necessary. I didn't expect the Grand Archmage to say so many important things on the first day."

"First impressions are always the most impactful. And isn't ethics important in any profession?"

Dahlia remained silent. She seemed lost in thought.

"Ah, there's something I need to report to the Grand Archmage."

"Please, go ahead," I said softly.

"A suspicious visitor has recently been to the library."

"Suspicious?"

"A demon. An incubi, not a demon lord or general from the Abyss. To be precise, his identity is unknown."

"That's certainly suspicious. he didn't give a name?"

"He did, but it was a pseudonym, Lynn."

"Interesting. I'm going to meet them now."

"Please be careful, I sense a very strong aura. He's no ordinary demon. It's even more dangerous that he hasn't revealed his identity. Incubus loves violence."

"Dahlia is worrying too much. How can someone seeking knowledge use violence to settle things?"

"We should still be cautious."

"I understand, thank you, Dahlia."