Tales of Millinggarde; Aether's Veil - Millinggarde series, #1

In a world where magic and science vie for dominance, Aether, a powerful nation fueled by mana, teeters on the edge of collapse as it depletes its own magical resources. Driven by desperation and ambition, Aether invades the technologically advanced but resource-rich nation of Millinggarde, a society that abandoned magic for scientific progress long ago. The brutal annexation of Millinggarde fractures its citizens, who are forced into submission or conscripted as cogs in Aether's relentless war machine. Despite this, a spirit of resistance stirs within Millinggarde's oppressed populace, manifesting in daring acts of rebellion and the rise of enigmatic figures who challenge Aether's supremacy.

Amid the chaos, a masked vigilante known only as "The Pierrot" emerges, creating havoc that threatens to ignite a full-blown revolution. His acts of defiance sow discord not only in Millinggarde but within Aether's own ranks, forcing a cast of morally complex leaders to reconsider their loyalties and strategies. As the Pierrot's true intentions unfold, tensions between magic and technology reach a critical breaking point, setting the stage for an inevitable clash that could reshape both nations' destinies and expose long-buried secrets about the nature of power itself.