It's already two in the afternoon and the fog started to envelop the tree where a man perched.

He's breathe made wisps of clouds as he exhaled.

Garbed in a leather armor, he scanned the area looking for his prey.

Wolly boars, at least thirty of them wallowing on kneedeep water. Their snouts can be heard as they chomp in the water looking for their food.

The man readied his bow and arrow. Aim, release!

Zing! Zing! Zing! Three arrows!

Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

Eeik!

 The largest boar screamed in pain. Three arrows punctured its body. Two on the right side of it's belly and one between its eyes. It did not have a chance to run away. It lay lifeless on the water it stood before.

The rest of the herd ran scampered to safety.

The man descended on his perch.

"Get this on the barracks" He said.

Two men emerged from the base of a large tree.

A beast man, red fur, and ears that resembled a fox. At least six feet in height. He's wearing a loincloth and a big sword on his back. He's also wearing a silver colored neck ring.

The other man looks like a normal human. Long black hair, tied in a bun. He's also wearing a loincloth, a leather breastplate and a short sword on his waist. He too wear a ring on his neck.

Both men have muscular bodies, depicting strength.

"I win on the wager Simon, I told you the warden need only three arrows for that boar" the beast man said followed with a laugh.

"But you still owe me at least a hundred dark pearls Grande, I lost only fifty" Simon replied.

"Tsk, you're gambling again?" The one called warden scolded them. "Hurry up, It's getting more foggy, we need it safe before the sun sets".

The other two immediately obeyed the warden.

They tied and strung the boar between poles. It's a big boar, like a baby elepant. Aside from looking like a normal boar, it has a thick soft white wool and a pair of tusks, at least longer than a foot.

After a while, the three people started angling their way toward an island.

Atop the island is a hill where you can see three buildings. The big one in the center is a stone fortress. The other two, beside were made of wood. It's a log cabin, but larger and shaped like a warehouse.

The two men carrying the wolly boar entered the left side building.

The "warden" get into the fortress.

"How's the hunt?" A smiling dwarf greeted the warden as he entered the hall. He's wearing an apron and cooking something on the fireplace. This one too, wore a ring in his neck.

"We scored a big one this time, we shouldn't have to worry about meat for now." The warden replied.

"Warden, how about bread, we only have a week worth of flour this time. When will the next supply come?"

"I don't know Pete, it's been two months since I sent the messenger. Until now, still no answer. I've even sent our last two pigeons, but still nothing" He sighed.

"Anyway, we just have to do what is available for now give me a coffee after I finished my bath"

"Sir, even the coffee…"

"How about tea?"

"Tea is still available Sir"

Sipping his tea as he's overlooking the area, Ryven Ash the warden looked at the sun setting on the west. Its reflection can be seen on the water below, that resemble a flame dancing atop. The fog had cleared earlier. You can see now the surrounding area.

This is the Black Swamp. It's a large swamp. It stretches from the east where the river Klar dumps its excess water to the swamp to the west on the shores of Myriad Sea.

To the north is the Balak Mountain Range. And the south is the hill of the Red trolls. Beyond that is the mysterious uncharted Southern Ocean.

Black Swamp is situated in the southernmost continent of Elvenar that is mainly occupied and governed by Elves. As of this time, The City of Three Town administers and governs the area.

Of the place you most not venture into is the Black Swamp. It is the most dangerous place all over Elvenar. It has the most vicious monsters you can imagine, that even adventurers fear. Unpredictable weather, hard terrain are just of the few unfavorable conditions if you ever entered the area.

Technically, it is a prison.

In all of Ravenal ( the name of this world) this is the most secured prison. Why? Because, if you were imprisoned here, there is no escape. In all of its existence, no one has ever escaped from here. Except one..Ryven Ash the current warden.

According to history, after the Great War or Great Swarm of the West ended, the four majority races Humans, Elves, Beast men and Dwarves unanimously agreed to make the Black Swamp a prison for those who rebelled against the four major Kingdoms of Ravenal.

"Sir, time for Dinner" an elf woman named Alda approached the warden. She too, wore a ring on his neck.

He rose up and followed the woman.

The table is now set a smoking pot was at the center.

Three people sat, the beast man Grande sat beside Simon, they're having a conversation.

Pete is setting the plates.

Alda is holding chair meant for Ryven. Waiting for him to sit down.

Beside the door are two soldiers on a stand by.

"What do we have for tonight Pete?"

"As usual Sir, we have hard bread. Wolly Boar stew with potatoes, and some left over of the broiled giant eel Simon caught the other day"

"Okay, everyone, before we dig in I need a report." The warden motioned everybody on the room to sit including the two soldiers guarding the door.

After a series of talks and reports they started to eat silently.

Ryven sighed when he chewed on the hard bread.

Ryven Ash the High Elf Warden.

My name is Ryven Ash, and I am the warden of the Black Swamp or The Black Swamp Prison Facility.

It has been a hundred and eighty-five years since I became the warden. Technically, I am a prisoner of this place too.

After the creation of this facility, I was appointed as a jail guard by then my older brother and first warden Marcus Ash. Due to the harshness of the place teeming with monsters, I decided to abandon my post.

I ran away I escaped.

Abandoning your post in High Elven law warrants death by the higher Elder Elves.

After I was caught, the Elders decided that I was to be appointed warden after my brother Marcus appealed to them in exchange for stripping off his title as Warden and Elder and banishment from the continent of Elvenar.

With deep remorse and guilt, I accepted the decision. I will become the warden for 200 years, and Marcus my brother will be banished for a hundred years. I won't be allowed to leave even set foot on the nearest city.

It was hard at first, especially when the most hard core prisoners arrived. But in the end, I adapted and strategized on how to run the facility. I befriended all the prisoners, especially the high profile ones.

I rarely punish anyone, instead I rewarded them when they do their assigned tasks efficiently.

I improved myself, especially in magic, combat, hunting and strategizing. The monster in this swamp are my practice dummies.I even developed a skill in handling the bow. I can fire 5 arrows in quick succession and hit the target precisely. I displayed that skill today when we hunted the wolly boar( I used only three arrows). I am proud of it, the fruit of my practice and labor for the last hundred years. In terms of level against known adventurers in all the Elvenar Continent I can confidently say I am at the top five.

Due to my actions and help of the other prisoners, we managed keep in check of some dangerous monsters.

I am now on my 185th year of service, and this time I only have four prisoners. I can say, this is the hardest year for us. It's been months since we have fresh supplies especially food. If this goes on, we may starve on the coming winter.

Winter is the most brutal season on the swamp. You can't hunt or forage, all living things will go into deep slumber for 3 months. Without necessary supplies we will starve to death for sure. Well, technically, I will starve to death, me and my 4 guards, the prisoners will die and starve but will be resurrected again.

Why?

Because of the rings in their neck, it was their sentence. That for 200 years, they will not die, when they are inside the Black Swamp. Yes, they will feel agony, pain, sickness and die. But they will always be resurrected. It's like a loop. And yes, who wants to die over and over again?

For now, we had to stock up on food, ramp up in hunting and foraging.

Alda said we will go to the seashore tomorrow to catch fish and seashells. We'll dry and freeze them and stock them for winter.

Grande the Red fox.

My name is Grande, a beast man. I belong to the red fox clan. I am one of the longest staying prisoner on the Black Swamp. Along with the other three, we are now on the 185th year of serving our sentences.

Why I was imprisoned?

Well, I rebelled against the Moldo Empire.

Our own island was seized by a greedy noble and tried to exterminate my clan because we resisted.

I staged a revolt, we the beast man, the dwarven nation, and oriental pirates headed by Simon rallied together to fight the greedy noble.

I killed the noble.

But against the Coalition of Four Nations we did not stand a chance.

In the end, we lost, me and my men were dispersed.

We got caught and sent to this prison.

Thankfully, the Emperor and the Coalition pardoned the beast man nation in exchange for my imprisonment and banishment for 200 years. So here I am now, after fifteen more years and I will be free!

What will I do after my release?

I will take off this stupid ring on my neck of course! Ha ha ha ha!

Simon Phillo the Pirate.

I am Simon Phillo, formerly a pirate captain, a human. And I belong to the Oriental clans. I consider myself a freeman and not an imperial citizen During the Great Swarm, I aided Grande the Red Fox in his rebellion against the empire. I raided imperial barracks and stole from them.

Well, I am a pirate.

But due to the Coalition the revolt was soon quelled.

My men and I were caught, my ships seized and destroyed. I ought to be hanged but the Elder High Elf Marcus Ash a friend of my father, proposed that I will be imprisoned together with Grande, Pete and Alda for 200 years.

Thankfully, my men were spared.

I can't wait to go home and leave this place.

I hope my relatives will still remember after a long time. I missed my wife and children, but I guess they are all dead now.

Fifteen more years and we will be free at last!

*Raven the merciful be praised!

Pete the madman.

Hi there, name's Pete. I am a dwarf. My fellow prisoners called me the madman at one time ha ha ha ha!

Well, it is a fitting name for me at one time.

Because, out of madness, I blow up the mine and killed the greedy noble's sons!

They seized our mine, and made as slaves to work for them.

We revolted along with my clan and joined Grande with his cause!

A crime is a crime, so here we are paying.

I don't mind as long as my clan was spared.

We now only have 15 years. Yes! Only 15 more years!

Alda Regal, the Dark Elf Assassin.

Call me Alda, a former assassin and a member of the Veils of Mercy, a guild for assassins and hired killers.

Before I joined the Veils, I was a healer stationed in the Dwarves Lands. Pete, and I are best friends.

When their lands and mines were seized by an oppressive noble, I joined the guild and helped him.

I quit my job and become an assassin for the revolutionaries headed by Grande, Pete and Simon.

I killed the greedy noble underlings and relatives. I was so good at killing then that even the Coalition feared me.

They called me Alda the Silent Veil.

I was the first one to be caught. It was Marcus Ash who caught me, and he sent me to this prison.

I was banished and disowned by my family.

After our release, I do not know where to go.

Maybe, I will set up a clinic in the neaby city.

185 years ago, 1061 of the Elven Calendar

"My fellow Elders of the Council, Representatives of the Coalition of Four Nations, I Arlan Regal Head Council of the Federation of Elves in Ravenal, present to you! The Black Swamp Prison Facility!"

Clap Clap Clap!

A curtain parted in the wall and a view was seen. Like a big picture screen and projected like a video. It was seen from above.

" For our better understanding regarding the facility, let us welcome our newly appointed Warden and fellow Elder Council, the Great Magus Marcus Ash!"

Clap Clap Clap!

"Good day gentlemen, as what you have heard, I am here to present to you the Black Swamp Prison Facility"

Marcus explained how the prison works in general.

In the whole area of the black swamp, a strong powerful magical barrier has been set up to keep people and monsters inside the swamp.

For hundreds of years, the swamp has been the breeding ground of various monsters. And these monsters, terrorized settlements, villages and towns on the southern continent of Elvenar.

One kind of such monster is the Red Troll. These monsters attack towns and steal women and children.

One red troll can kill a dozen men. Even a party of an A rank adventurers composed of elves will have a hard time taking it down. Aside from having a thick skin that is resistant to bladed weapons, they are resistant to magic too.

The proposal of Marcus Ash in erecting the barrier was approved by the Council along with the guild of mages in all of Ravenal. And after the Great Swarm, they decided to add a jail inside the swamp.

Marcus designed the barrier itself, but the erection of such massive barrier was undertaken by his fellow mages.

The jail facility on the other hand was designed and funded by the Coalition.

Kind of like, killing two birds with one stone.

Soon questions were asked how the facility will work. Prisoners and all.

Somebody asked how can a human be imprisoned and not die within 200 years?

"Well, we have already worked with that" Marcus replied with enthusiasm.

"We will use this," He showed a silver ring that can be worn on the neck.

" The prisoners will wear this, even humans will finish their sentences in a span of hundreds of years, they may feel pain, akin to dying, when they are afflicted with diseases, or injured but they will not die.

This neck ring will prevent that, and will ensure that they will finish their sentences beyond their span of life".

After the presentation, Marcus was officially appointed as the Chief Warden and Administrator of the Black Swamp.

A month later He caught Alda Regal the Silent Veil, one of the leaders of Great

Swarm of the West that revolted against Moldo Empire.

She is the youngest daughter of Arlan Regal the Head of the Council.

She's the first who wore the neck ring.

Three months later the other three rebels, Grande, Simon and Pete were tried and sentenced to be imprisoned. The verdict, 200 years of imprisonment.

Four of them were sent to the Black Swamp.

Before the prisoners reached Black Swamp, the Head Jail guard, Ryven Ash younger brother of Marcus Ash abandoned his post and broke through the barrier.

After a month of pursuit, Ryven was caught and was sentenced to be hanged.

At the Council of the Elder, Marcus pleaded for his brother's life. In exchange, His own title and rank will be taken, and be banished from Elvenar for 100 years.Ryven will replace his brother as a warden and will never leave the inside of the barrier for 200 years.

After that, Marcus Ash went to the Islands west of the Ravenal Continent.

These islands are called Oriental Islands.

Most people here are humans, but knows how to wield magic just like the Elves. Some of them are offsprings between Elves and Humans.

In his travels through the Islands, he saw schools that teach magic. On one of these schools, he became a teacher. And for a hundred years, he taught magic there.

When the 100-year banishment was finished, the Council ordered him to return to Elvenar and be one of its members again, but he refused.

" I don't want to become a member of the Council again". He said to Himself.

"What I want is to become a great Magus again"

One morning, while teaching a messenger came complete with an entourage, trumpets and royal banners.

"By the decree of the Royal Emperor the Great Moldo VI, I hereby appoint the former Member of the Council of Elves Marcus Ash to become the head Professor of the Moldo Academy of Magic in Luster City in the Empire if Moldo".

Marcus readily accepted the appointment, well, he can't refuse anyway as it was a royal decree from the Emperor himself.

Refusal constitutes death, or imprisonment.

After a week of travel by the sea. They arrived at Luster City.

Luster City is the main port of the whole Andalus Continent.

Andalus is the third-largest continent, in Ravenal, Grantze the dwarves land second in size and Elvenar the largest.

Here in Andalus is the seat of the Moldo Empire. Moldo City is its capital. It was situated in the center of the continent.

In terms of governance among the four coalition of nations, Moldo Empire is ruled by only one man. The Emperor himself, at this time it was Moldo VI.

After a few days of rest in Luster City, and touring the new Academy where He will teach, a summon for him to have an audience with the Emperor came.

After a week again of travel in a royal carriage complete with imperial escorts.

They arrived at the castle.

That night, Marcus had an audience with the Emperor.

"Welcome, welcome to the audience of the great Highness Emperor Moldo VI" the hall announcer stated their names.

Names, yes it was not only Marcus who had an audience. Three other individuals are bowing their heads before the Emperor.

On the left of Marcus is a young human woman, the one next to her wearing glasses look like a raccoon beast man, and the one farthest has pointy ears just like him with pale skin. A pair of fangs showed when he muttered his name.

Vampire perhaps? I thought they were already extinct?

" Raise your heads people, no need to be so formal. After all I was the one imposing to you." The Emperor rose up from his throne and walked towards them.

"For now, lets get acquainted shall we, fellow mages". He hold out his hand and motions a hand shake.