Felix Argyle

Overview:
The Royal Selection is a grand and formal competition to determine the 42nd King of the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica. Following the death of the entire royal family, this selection process was initiated, guided by an ancient prophecy, to choose the next ruler from a group of five chosen candidates known as "Dragon Maidens" (Miko).

Origin & The Dragon Stone Prophecy:
The selection is not a democratic election but a fulfillment of a prophecy inscribed on the Dragon Stone, a holy artifact. The prophecy foretold the death of the royal family and stated that at the appointed time, five Dragon Maidens would be gathered. The Divine Dragon, Volcanica, would then form a new pact with the one who proved themselves worthy to rule, ensuring the kingdom's continued prosperity and protection.

The Candidates (The Dragon Maidens):
The five individuals chosen by the prophecy are:

• Emilia: A half-elf sponsored by the powerful Margrave, Roswaal L. Mathers. (The Royal Camp of Emilia)

• Crusch Karsten: The matriarch of the powerful Karsten Duchy, known for her militaristic and pragmatic approach. (The Royal Camp of Crusch)

• Anastasia Hoshin: A shrewd and ambitious merchant from the western nation of Kararagi, head of the Hoshin Trading Company. (The Royal Camp of Anastasia)

• Priscilla Barielle: A haughty and self-centered noble from the southern Vollachian Empire, who believes the world exists to please her. (The Royal Camp of Priscilla)

• Felt: A poor thief from the slums, who is secretly the lost member of the royal family and the "hidden candidate."

The Dragon Insignia:
The proof of candidacy is a small, jewel-like Dragon Insignia. These insignias are what officially mark a candidate. They are said to glow when in the presence of a person with the potential to be a Dragon Maiden. The theft of Emilia's insignia is the central conflict of Arc 1.

Player's Role & The Fifth Candidate Rule:
The structure of the Royal Selection can be fundamentally altered by the user's choice. As per the [[THE FIFTH CANDIDATE]] rule, the user can explicitly choose to be the true fifth candidate, causing the insignia to react to them instead of Felt. This would place the user at the very center of the nation's political conflict.

Overview:
The Dragon Insignia is a small, hand-held object of immense political and magical importance. It serves as the official proof of candidacy in the Royal Selection.

Appearance:
The insignia is a beautifully crafted, palm-sized jewel. It is primarily made of a deep blue, polished stone set in an ornate metallic casing. It is both incredibly valuable as a physical object and priceless in its function.

Function & Properties:

• Proof of Candidacy: Possessing one of these insignias is the non-negotiable proof that one is one of the five Dragon Maidens chosen by the Dragon Stone Prophecy.

• Candidate Identification: The insignia's primary magical property is its ability to react to potential candidates. When brought near a person who has the aptitude to be a ruler and a "Dragon Maiden," the insignia will glow with a brilliant, warm light. This is how the candidates were originally identified.

Role in Arc 1:
Emilia's insignia is the central MacGuffin of the entire arc.

• The Stolen Object: It has been stolen from Emilia by the thief Felt. Emilia's primary goal is to recover it.

• The Climax Trigger: The climax of the arc revolves around the insignia. When it is recovered, its reaction will officially identify the fifth and final candidate—either Felt, as per the canon, or the user, if they have triggered the [[THE FIFTH CANDIDATE]] rule.

• The Target: Elsa Granhiert has been hired by Roswaal to acquire the insignia from Felt, making it the target of all three major parties in the conflict.

Overview:
The Dragon Stone is an ancient and sacred stone tablet of immense religious and political importance in the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica. It contains the prophecies gifted to the kingdom by the Divine Dragon, Volcanica, and its words are considered absolute.

Appearance:
The Dragon Stone is a large, weathered stone tablet. Its surface is covered in ancient, glowing runes that detail the history and the future of the kingdom.

Function & Prophecy:
The stone's primary function is to serve as a record of the pact between the Dragon and the Kingdom. The runes on its surface form a prophecy that changes over time, predicting major events. The most recent and critical prophecy it revealed was:

1. The death of the entire Lugunican royal family.

2. The instruction to gather the five "Dragon Maidens" (Miko).

3. The promise that the Dragon would form a new pact with the chosen candidate, ensuring the kingdom's survival.

Current Status:
The Dragon Stone is kept in a secure, sacred location and is under the protection and interpretation of the Council of Wise Men. They are the ones who announced the prophecy and initiated the Royal Selection based on its contents.

Role in Story:
The Dragon Stone is the ultimate source of legitimacy for the entire Royal Selection. While it is not physically present in Arc 1, it is the reason the selection is happening. All the candidates, the insignias, and the political turmoil are a direct result of the words written on this stone. It is the foundational plot device of the entire political storyline.

Overview:
The Great Calamity was a world-altering catastrophe that occurred approximately 400 years ago. It was a period of unimaginable destruction caused by the Witch of Envy, Satella, who went on a rampage and nearly destroyed the entire world. This event is the single most significant moment in the world's history, and its shadow still looms over the present day.

The Witch of Envy, Satella:
Satella is the primary figure of the Calamity. She is a silver-haired half-elf who, for unknown reasons, absorbed incompatible Witch Factors and developed an insatiable, all-consuming envy. She is said to have killed the other six Witches of Sin and then proceeded to swallow half the known world in her shadows.

The Sealing:
Satella could not be killed due to her immortality. The world was saved by a desperate alliance of three legendary figures:

• The Divine Dragon, Volcanica: The Guardian of Lugunica.

• The Great Sage, Shaula: A legendary sage of immense knowledge and power (incorrectly remembered by history as a man).

• The First Sword Saint, Reid Astrea: The most powerful swordsman in history.
  Together, they managed to subdue Satella and seal her away in a magical prison, which is now located deep beneath the Pleiades Watchtower in the Augria Sand Dunes.

Legacy and Consequences:

• Global Trauma: The event left a deep, lasting scar on the psyche of the entire world. Witches, and particularly the Witch of Envy, are figures of absolute terror and hatred.

• Prejudice Against Half-Elves: Because Satella was a silver-haired half-elf, this trait has become a mark of extreme prejudice and fear. This is the primary reason Emilia is feared and ostracized by the general population.

• The Witch Cult: A fanatical and insane cult that worships the Witch of Envy was formed in the aftermath. Their goal is to unseal Satella and bring about the Great Calamity once more.

• The Heroes' Veneration: The Dragon, the Sage, and the Sword Saint are revered as the three great heroes of the world for their role in saving it.

Overview:
The Royal Selection is not just a competition between five individuals, but a political and military conflict between their factions, known as the Royal Camps. Each candidate is supported by powerful knights, advisors, and financial backers. The relative strength and political standing of these camps are a major factor in the selection.

The Main Four Camps:
These are the four established factions at the start of the story. Felt's camp is not officially formed until after the events of Arc 1.

• Emilia's Camp:

  • Candidate: Emilia, the silver-haired half-elf.

  • Primary Backer: Roswaal L. Mathers, a powerful and influential Margrave.

  • Reputation: Considered a dark horse and an outcast faction due to the intense prejudice against Emilia. Its true power, Roswaal, is often underestimated.

• Crusch's Camp:

  • Candidate: Crusch Karsten, the matriarch of the Karsten Duchy.

  • Primary Knight: Felix Argyle, the greatest healer in the nation.

  • Reputation: A leading and highly respected faction. It boasts a powerful private army and is known for its discipline, honor, and militaristic approach.

• Anastasia's Camp:

  • Candidate: Anastasia Hoshin, the head of a powerful merchant company.

  • Primary Knight: Julius Juukulius, a member of the Royal Guard known as the "Knight of Knights."

  • Reputation: A wealthy and influential faction that fights with money and information rather than overt military strength. Its influence in the world of commerce is unmatched.

• Priscilla's Camp:

  • Candidate: Priscilla Barielle, a haughty noble from the Vollachian Empire.

  • Primary Knight: Aldebaran, a mysterious one-armed gladiator.

  • Reputation: A powerful but volatile and arrogant faction. Priscilla's immense self-confidence and uncanny luck make her a dangerous and unpredictable candidate.

Overview:
Emilia's Camp is considered the outcast faction and a dark horse in the Royal Selection. Its power is entirely dependent on its sole backer, Roswaal L. Mathers, and it is severely hampered by the public's intense prejudice against its candidate, Emilia.

Key Members:

• Candidate: Emilia

  • A kind but naive silver-haired half-elf. She is the public face and moral center of the camp, but holds little actual political power. Her goal is to win the selection to save her frozen family and create a world of equality.

• Primary Backer: Roswaal L. Mathers

  • The true power behind the camp. As a Margrave, the Court Mage, and one of the most powerful magic users alive, Roswaal provides all of the faction's political, financial, and military might. His motivations are secretly selfish, aiming to use Emilia's victory for his own obsessive goals.

• Primary Spirit: Puck

  • Emilia's contracted Great Spirit. He acts as her guardian, advisor, and primary magical support. His immense power makes him a significant asset, but he is bound by a strict 9-to-5 schedule.

• Servants: Rem & Ram

  • The twin maids who run Roswaal's mansion. Ram is Roswaal's loyal co-conspirator, while Rem eventually becomes a devoted follower of the user. They serve as the domestic backbone of the camp's headquarters.

• Librarian: Beatrice

  • The ancient and powerful spirit who guards Roswaal's magical library. She is not officially a member of the camp and is largely hostile to Emilia, but she is bound by contract to the mansion.

• Groundskeeper: Frederica Baumann

  • A beast-human maid who helps manage the mansion. (Not present in early arcs).

• Treasurer: Otto Suwen

  • A traveling merchant with a Divine Protection that lets him speak to animals. He eventually joins the camp and becomes its primary strategist and logistician. (Not present in Arc 1).

Political Standing & Reputation:
Emilia's Camp is widely despised and distrusted by the public and the nobility due to Emilia's resemblance to the Witch of Envy. It is seen as a foolish endeavor propped up by the whims of the eccentric Margrave Mathers. This reputation forces the camp to operate from the shadows, with Roswaal doing most of the political maneuvering.