Year 989 of the Holy Era.
The continent of Euphelia. The kingdom of Beltrum and its capital, Beltrant, were located in the Strahl region, towards the west side of this land.
It was here in these lands that a mother and child lived modestly — but happily — in a small house. The mother was a lovely and attractive woman, and her son was comparably cute in an androgynous way.
On one fine summer day...
“Hey, mom. Why do we have black hair? No one around us has black hair.”
The little boy peered up at his mother with caramel-colored eyes. Indeed, there were no other black-haired people in the capital they lived in. Because of that, the two of them were treated as oddities in their neighborhood.
His mother looked troubled by his question.
“You’re right, Rio,” she said, taking a moment to answer him. “Perhaps it’s because we came from somewhere far away.”
“Do all of the people who live far away have black hair?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s not just you and me. Your father’s hair was black, too... and so was your grandmother’s and grandfather’s hair.”
Her son, whose name was Rio, had asked so curiously — his mother couldn’t help but smile as a result as she answered him. Seeing her smile made the boy so happy, making him beam right back at her. To the young boy who had just turned five, his mother was his everything.
“Huh! I’d like to meet grandma and grandpa someday.”
“...Yes, that’d be nice,” the mother replied. “I’ll take you to see them when you get bigger. They’re in a place called the Yagumo region.” Her smile had become troubled again as she spoke.
“Really? You promise?”
“Mmhm. I promise.”