The Earth embraces all things.
All things move upon the earth.
While Ignis expanded in the south, Aqua in the north, Silva in the east, and Metallum in the west, each growing its own power, there existed an empire that watched over them all.
The Terra Empire, led by Terramont, arose in their very center.
From Terra's perspective, four different nations stood in every direction.
At the heart of the Terra Empire lay Monterra. Here, there were no towering walls or gleaming spires.
Instead, the earth itself became the city, and the rocks themselves became the walls.
Monterra was unlike fortresses built of fire, water, wood, or steel.
Mountain ranges replaced ramparts, and valleys formed natural defensive lines.
All roads were made of stone and soil, arranged according to the flow of nature.
The buildings, too, sat as naturally as if they had sprouted from the ground.
In the center of Monterra, as in any empire, there stood a fortress—yet it was not a castle soaring high, but a stronghold seated deep within the earth.
Uniquely, this fortress consisted of a vast underground space, and thus within it, one could feel the breath of the earth.
And within the fortress, Terramont's throne was situated.
Even from the underground fortress, Terramont could sense the movements above ground.
He quietly raised his head, listening to the sounds coming from all directions.
Monterra seemed still and quiet, yet in its own way, it was silently and ceaselessly changing.
When the wind blew, dust flew and rocks slowly wore away; when rain fell, the soil eroded to form puddles—such was its nature.
In Monterra, there was no haste, no chaos.
No raucous noise, either.
Only the cycle of the earth existed.
The current territory of the Terra Empire was, in fact, itself the result of an unfathomably long passage of time.
Therefore, there was no need to disturb it further.
The citizens of Terra lived alongside the earth.
When they shaped stones to build, they did not smash or break the rock.
Even when tilling the land for farming, they did not recklessly damage the terrain.
The citizens were gentle as soil, yet resilient as rock.
Without faltering, they silently carried out their work.
They tread the earth themselves to make roads, yet preferred to leave things as they were whenever possible.
From morning, the citizens moved leisurely yet diligently.
Some shaped stones, while others tended the soil.
Rock is strong on its own, but ground and polished, it becomes harder still.
Cleaning up the dust scattered during the night, one felt oneself become a part of nature.
When evening came, the citizens gathered together to spend their time.
They knew the way to commune with the earth.
Vast rocks held the history of ages.
They read the memories of the past from the rocks.
The rocks of the Terra Empire had held their ground for a very long time.
Traces of that history existed upon their surfaces.
"Yahoo! I'm the fastest pebble in the world!"
A small pebble was bouncing around here and there.
Wherever the pebble stepped, soil kicked up.
Unlike the rocks, the pebble was at an age where it was curious about the world, like a newborn child.
"Try and catch me... ugh!"
Not looking where it was going, the pebble caromed wildly and crashed—thud—into a rock.
"Now, now, little one. Keep running about like that, and you'll crack."
From the rock came a voice carrying a leisurely, deep resonance.
The pebble stopped and looked up at the rock.
"W-who are you?"
"I am a rock who has guarded this spot for a long time."
"Ooh... really?"
"Yes. I was here even before the citizens of this place were born."
"Wow..."
The pebble rolled this way and that in front of the rock.
"How long have you been here?"
"Well, it's been so long that it's hazy. But I still roughly remember. At least since before the Terra Empire came to be, I have always been here."
"W-wow, r-really?"
The pebble stood still and looked up at the rock.
Silence flowed for a moment, and the rock slowly spoke.
"A very long time ago, there was originally nothing here. Only this land existed. Nothing else was present."
The pebble seemed to grow curious, shifting left and right.
"Really? Nothing at all?"
"Yes. But the land did not remain still. It was slowly changing."
The rock continued in its deep voice.
"At first, it was a quiet wasteland. But as time passed, a fierce fire arose somewhere and hardened the soil; rain fell, and rivers began to flow. And elsewhere, sprouts pushed through the ground above, while hard substances formed beneath it. Different beings spreading from their own positions, changing, growing, tempering—it is all the providence of this world. And at some point, we came to recognize one another."
The pebble shook its body sideways again.
"We came to recognize one another?"
"Yes. Because we can be of help to one another, or of harm. If different beings could fill what each lacks and move toward the future together, how wonderful that would be. But perhaps that is a very difficult thing. Even without intent, one may harm another; indeed, there are times when one deliberately hurts another because of oneself. Rocks like myself have watched all such changes."
The rock looked at the pebble and spoke slowly.
"You, too, will come to understand someday. You have not seen the world for long, but from now on, you will witness what is to come. Soil and stone do not hurry. But neither do they disappear."
The pebble quietly approached the rock's side.
"Can I become a rock, too?"
"Yes. It will take a long time, but that path is by no means a boring one. I assure you. You, too, will come to realize this turning world with your own being."
The pebble remained stopped beside the rock for a while.
"Sometimes... I think staying still is nice, too, Grandfather."
"Now you are learning to become a part of the earth."
The pebble rolled slightly.
It was the first moment the pebble had ever chosen 'stillness.'
Sitting quietly in the underground fortress, Terramont felt the deep breath of the earth.
It was a sign that some change was occurring in the world. Indeed, that signal was approaching from the east, west, south, and north—from all directions.
"Is it time for me to step forward?"
He rose from his throne.
He walked, circling around the fortress once.
"We must guard this place. But unless those external forces cease, we, too, will be shaken. Our empire must prepare."
Terramont had never desired war.
He pursued balance and harmony.
Therefore, the earth had to guard its position all the more strongly.
Terramont summoned Latos, the Grand Stonemason.
Latos bowed his head before Terramont.
"Your Majesty, you called?"
"Latos, the Terra Empire needs an army. Build barracks."
"Ah, barracks, Your Majesty?"
"Indeed. Soon chaos will descend upon this place. We must stand against it."
"Understood. I shall act at once."
Latos used Earth Cores to generate rock and soil.
Together with his stonemason subordinates, he erected the barracks.
The barracks, too, were made of earth and stone.
Latos walked once more before Terramont's throne.
"Your Majesty, the barracks are ready."
"Well done. Now it is time to train soldiers. Train soldiers who will never falter."
Gaia, the Strategic Advisor, began training the soldiers in the barracks.
"Do not move. When the world shakes, what remains is the earth. What cannot endure collapses."
What Terra's soldiers valued most was, as Terramont declared, 'not faltering.'
The soldiers stood motionless in one spot, training to endure external forces.
Even when winds blew and dust rose, the soldiers did not stir.
"The earth can withstand all impact. It must endure. Soil does not shatter or break apart. It merely remains in its place!"
And the soldiers who completed their training safely came to be called 'Stone Infantry.'
The Stone Infantry were solid, not easily toppled even by wind.
The bedrock composing their bodies was harder than ordinary stones or rocks.
Around Terramont, his retainers took their respective places.
They were Gaia the Strategic Advisor, Gorvan the Earth Watcher, and Latos the Grand Stonemason.
Gaia slowly began to speak.
"Your Majesty, the forests of Silva to the east are gradually expanding. They are slowly covering the earth."
And Gorvan spoke in a worried tone.
"The larger Silva grows, the more their roots will stretch toward the earth. They are the greatest threat to us. Preparations for defense are urgently needed."
Terramont, who had been listening quietly, spoke.
"However strong Silva's roots may be, if our defensive walls are solid, they cannot easily breach them. We shall focus on defense. Where is Silva being checked right now?"
Gaia answered.
"There is an empire called Metallum to the west. We understand they are threatening Silva because the weapons they forged can cut Silva's trees. I believe we need to support Metallum. What do you think?"
Gorvan immediately asked Gaia.
"But Metallum and Silva are in opposite directions. Our empire lies between them. Won't it take considerable time for them to reach Silva?"
"As long as they reach our empire, there will be no problem. Fortunately, Metallum is unlikely to be a threat to us. If we support them from behind, Metallum will gain strength and be able to stop Silva."
Terramont thought for a moment, then asked his retainers.
"What is the situation with the other empires?"
Gaia answered first.
"Ignis expands in the south, and Aqua in the north. Fortunately, Ignis is a presence that can benefit us. Even if our strength is lacking, we can receive aid from them. However, what they fear is Aqua to the north, and our Terra Empire is strong against Aqua. We can check them in Ignis's stead."
Gorvan continued.
"That seems like a good idea. If we stop Aqua's expansion in exchange for aid from Ignis, we can continue to receive support from them."
And Latos also spoke.
"Both offense and defense are important, but what I can do is construct defensive lines. And if necessary, I shall build and improve more barracks."
"Understood."
Terramont looked up at the ceiling. He was gazing at a fine crack in the fortress.
"We have a duty to protect the earth from chaos. That is why we move. We may need to intervene in their conflict someday, but if they do not fight, neither must we act. The same is true of checking Aqua. If we must check Aqua, it is for the sake of balance, not to protect Ignis."
After a brief silence, he continued.
"Be faithful to your duties. I have ample Earth Cores. I shall grant you as many as you need."
"Yes, understood. We shall train more Stone Infantry."
"We shall keep watch on the outside and devote ourselves further to defense."
"We shall build more barracks and defensive walls."
Terra watched over everything from its single place.
And it sensed that the balance of the world would soon be shaken.
Now, the flames of Ignis began to burn fiercely once more in the south.