[ History: World ]

[oceanmist]

“Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't real.”

The world is Earth, just like ours, with a few twists and turns that occurred between the years of 1970 to the new millenium. With wars finally dying down and access to countries finally opening up, many new nations were established among the formerly annexed. The major powers on the planet forming the Global Research Division sought to find a usable balance of energy and stability for participating countries after the losses sustained over the last century. Naturally, this involved most major areas known as super powers, and many other private divisions all over different regions of the rest.

With reports of different "powered" zones through the world finally coming to light from accounts of former soldiers that had odd yet enhancing effects on their physical stamina as well as their equipment, the Global Research Division began worldwide investigations into them and involved all the old and new areas now on the map to participate in investigating this interesting phenomenon. The research was open, much like the international space programs, and provided amazing results that when collected, proved the existence of an occurrence in nature that had always existed throughout mankind's existence, in many shapes and forms- but was dismissed time and time again: Magic.

A new source of energy, and a game-changer in the earth's power race as we know it, all born of nature's own energy and the continuing terraforming of the planet as it adapts to the changes brought upon its inhabitants. Magic and Science finally came together as a real and usable entity.

This was the beginning of The Stellaflores Refinement Program.

“You know what they say about great power and responsibility?”

The technology boom of the early 90's brought with it many changes, and new rules- the most important of them all being the universal Terra Magicis Act accepted by all major governments, that required every country in the world to adhere to set rules about the involvement of magic. It was not to be used for any sort of warfare of any sort and only to be used as enhancements to developing technology. Studies about magical use became widespread in most scientific communities, but to most common folk, it was still inaccessible. Eventually, the usage of refined Stellaflores- areas of land that had the highest concentration of magic- became the lifeblood of competing business empires, who began to use it in production and sustainable sources of energy. Stellaflores would soon become a companion to forms of energy like electricity and gas to enhance them, though with the inclusion of it also came a simple side-effect that anyone ought to have expected from the very beginning.

“I guess it turned "You are what you breathe" into something else entirely.”

During the final decade of the 20th century, reports of strange occurrences among children began to come to light. There were rare cases of children beginning to display some new "traits"- babies who were suddenly capable of telekinesis, angry children setting fire to their toys with just a scream, "accidents" around the world where high concentrations of Stellaflores were found to be used in the development of technology and placed into the environment. While the incidents were rare, further investigation and removal of "threats" was required to ensure the safety of the families involved in these revelations. Stellaflores had formerly not been successfully manipulated like this before, which caused major governments to evaluate the danger this could pose if more people became capable of doing the same.These children were eventually collected and studied, eventually displaying less and less signs of being able to further use these "powers" as they grew older, until they were neutralized. It was during this time that Stellaflores restraints came into effect, as a precaution for anyone afflicted by the energy to help contain it and finally put into worldwide use with law enforcement.

The first breakthrough in comprehending the effects of Stellaflores energy on the human body came from Japan in 1998, where 16-year old student-scientist Yukimura Hana discovered that Stellaflores could be used in the human body as an energy source as well, thereby creating what would then become known as "Fiores"- children who could absorb and manipulate it through will alone.

The Global Research Division, now known as Caelus and running an independent pair of "research governments" situated on islands both in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans (aptly named Hortus Pacifica and Hortus Atlantica) became the World Governments' go-to for all and any Stellaflores investigation and research. Having become an international private organization, they began holding complete influence over the usage of Stellaflores around the world, even going as far as limiting what could be revealed about its existence and what the concentrations of Stellaflores Magic could provide to major governments. They became known as "protectors" for the correct use of magic in humanity's daily life and were constantly on the look-out for any new developments in regards to the effects of what small amount of magic was available to the masses.

Caelus became interested in Yukimura's research and encouraged an investigation and research into the effects of it on humans. The results, discovered with the help of musician and engineer Kiryuu Ibuki, provided a massive breakthrough for medical advancement and healing techniques for ailments that had never been attempted before. Enhancement of basic physical actions, down to magnifying one's vocal range and hearing and sight, as well as manipulating and tolerance of elements through will alone were discovered to be possible all through careful concentrated exposure to Stellaflores energy. Few people were capable of fully utilizing it, some only managing to heal and repair wounds but receiving no other boosts, but it was a start of many amazing accomplishments for those few that could.

Kiryuu and Yukimura would eventually marry in 2001, and be promoted to the Atlantic research facility. Kiryuu, once a popular teenage music idol and finally living his dream of engineering, endorsed the positive cause of Stellaflores being promoted as an even better addition to life from what it already was. Both researchers, being completely dedicated to their cause, proved the safety of the use of Stellaflores in medicine by utilizing it on themselves as well as their children and discovering another major use of the Stellaflores energy- helping couples that could not have their own children able to do so. They were able to successfully help birth the first natural "Etoile" in 2004, a child formed completely through magic and the cells of her parents who were both male, creating a possibility that this could breathe new life into families, as well as help in the regeneration of cells in infertile couples. They even managed to rescue and perfectly piece together a young boy who had been all but destroyed in an accident with the use of their own young son's cells that had adapted to the Stellaflores powers, and breathe new life into him in 2007. The procedures were nothing short of miraculous, and Caelus was encouraging their research to continue.

However, with questions arising about people circumventing "natural" ways of creation and playing god and the dangers that could result from it, the research was finally abandoned.

Or so everyone was led to believe.

“And knowing what they know can make anyone want to be a God.”

Caelus, satisfied with the results of the research, began their own experiments into something that the world governments' Terra Magicis Act had been against from the start. It would have been easier to say they invested in war and weaponry- but it wasn't how they went about it. Times had changed- people had more access to information and advanced technology in every way. There was information available to the masses without even needing it. But governments were at odds with their people for hiding and keeping what could be available to many for nothing and the limitations on what people could know about magic and those that possessed it. Stellaflores had become monetized in ways it shouldn't have been- giving an advantage to the major governments who were investing in it with Caelus... as well as underground organizations that began using it for more than just for the good of people.

It was during this time that Caelus began "removing" some of their scientists, those who began to realize that their research was not being used for what they were being made to believe it was. The "purge", as it was called, was to officially claim the research on Stellaflores conducted through their facilities as their own, and to utilize it in ways that was more monetarily convenient than what it had been before. What was being created wasn't artillery or weapons. What Caelus began to focus on was on the production of actual life, and gaining the hand of creation. The worst of it came when Yukimura Hana's own cousin, a higher ranking scientist in Caelus, discovered a means to merge life cells from different creatures with humans to form an artificial lifeform beyond what was known to man, as well as using Stellaflores to manipulate more than what was authorized by the Terra Magicis Act. They began conducting experiments in areas with less exposure to their research, releasing these creatures into the world as well as supplying the power to many underground organizations that began utilizing it to control people on their own through fear and power.

People began to become aware of the fact that the refinement of Stellaflores wasn't all that it seemed- and once the experiments were released, it became quite clear that there had been a lot that the powerful nations were keeping from everyone. The disappearances and the many "purges" as well as the beasts now terrorizing innocents became widespread- governments had to pull their support for Caelus and shut down the refineries that they'd been backing, bringing them into government control instead of the private superpower it had become. Caelus was already many steps ahead, but through crackdowns and orders from the International Police Authority, a mass shutdown commenced after investigations revealed exactly what kind of research was being done. After managing to get all of it under control and what later became known as "The Second Purge", set after Caelus' First purge of "Naturals"- Caelus was finally shut down for good.

At least, that's what they said officially.

“But hey, take that away, and all you have to worry about is withdrawal, right?”

It was seemingly a victory for the world at large, but from then on, Stellaflores was no longer a viable option for the mass public except in limited quantities, and some outright banned its use. By the year 2012, every Stellaflores refinery formerly operated by Caelus was under the control of either the country's government that they were found in, because there was no way to destroy the power zones. People turned against the few that had managed to utilize Stellaflores safely and well, and anyone seen using any kind of "devilish" magic, became immediately ostracized. The world, though having relied on Stellaflores for many years, wished to continue on without it, and remain reliant on the massive quantities of electric and solar energy that was equally efficient and perfected enough for their use.

That was when the witch-hunts began, as governments began to focus on ensuring no one would ever abuse the power of the planet for such means again. Magic had gone underground, now in the hands of those that had initially been oppressed by it. To ensure that, they had to make sure any "witches", "warlocks" and "magicals" would not be allowed to utilize the power of the Stellaflores again. Magic would only be acceptable in the form of fantasy and stories, and no longer be accepted as "real". And so, the Third Purge would begin- to ensure that real magic and those that used it, would never harm anyone ever again.

“2021 - is it over?”

Stellaflores is no longer a part of everyday life and has seemingly been removed from society entirely. Terms like Fiores, Etoiles, and more, have been all but forgotten by the masses- or at least, no longer spoken of. Things are mostly peaceful, magic is limited to tricks and sleights of hand, and all but a fantasy. Any "incidents" that may occur with unexplained methods are immediately covered up and found logical, scientific reasons for. No more threats- and nothing to be afraid of.

Until people start beginning to disappear again... and this time, no one knows who they've lost.