Rebirth from Ashes — The Renaming of Hitai to Sunset City

A city is a gathering of people—its destruction signals countless lives lost, and its rebirth depends on countless others who choose to rebuild.

From the Heart of Four Realms to the Crossroads of Four Wars

Etheis, a nation at the intersection of three continents, holds crucial geopolitical importance. To the north, the Eybor Plain[1] is accessible via inland waterways; to the west, the Heavion Sea[2] separates it from the continent of Elron; to the south lies Starlight; and to the east, the Sunblade Plateau[3] and Eagland Peninsula[4]. Owing to its unmatched geographic position, Etheis is often referred to as “the Heart of Four Realms.” Hitai, its most prominent port city, gleamed like a jewel in the crown.

Yet in times of unrest, the more prosperous a hub is in peace, the more likely it becomes a flashpoint of conflict. Following Kroham’s divergence from the Sunder system, Hitai rapidly turned into the epicenter of competition between the two global blocs. For the Keystone Fiscal State, Hitai served as its tri-continental headquarters; for Kroham, it was a critical link to both the R.E.D. Covenant Alliance[5] and Vezina. With overlapping interests from multiple global actors, Hitai became a primary stage for international confrontation.

The Flashpoint: A.G. 2051 — The Final Year of the Age of Grace

Barely a century after the end of the “Total War,” the fragile peace was already unraveling: technological stagnation, the rise of “fiscal states” challenging old powers, and the credit crisis of A.G. 2049 all contributed to a tearing of the world’s order. The scent of war lingered in the air—everyone sensed it, but no one knew when it would ignite.

In A.G. 2051, the standoff between Kroham and Keystone reached a boiling point. In April, Keystone COO Damian Voss arrived in person at the Hitai headquarters, accompanied by Ivan Cheno[6]; meanwhile, at least 30 Kroham agents were confirmed to be operating in the region. Weston and Bolein later admitted to having agents in Hitai as well, assisting Keystone in countering Kroham’s intelligence activities. In the shadows, Vezina continued funneling materials into the city—its intentions unclear.

At noon on August 27, a sudden barrage of missiles descended from high altitude. Etheis’ air defenses were caught off-guard. Amid the blinding light and shockwaves, chaos engulfed Hitai. This was humanity’s first encounter with a space-based strike, later named “Noonfall”[7]. Although nearly two-thirds of the warheads failed to detonate, the destruction and death toll were devastating.

No state or organization has since claimed responsibility. The truth remains a mystery. Etheis condemned the strike as a “terrorist act” and called for global sanctions. The National Credit Covenant Organization (NCCO) convened an emergency summit, for the first time inviting R.E.D. Alliance states and Vezina to join the investigation.

On September 22, A.G. 2051, a special global credit conference descended into mutual accusations among Keystone, Kroham, Weston, and Bolein. Just before adjourning, one final proposal silenced the chamber: to end the Age of Grace and inaugurate a new calendar in remembrance of the tragedy. It passed. During the deliberations, Keystone Chancellor Mike Tong addressed the assembly:

I thought war had begun. I braced for the worst. But what followed was not a prolonged escalation—only a single strike from the sky, like fire from judgment. By grace, it ended there.

At midnight on December 31, A.G. 2051, the Sunset Age (S.A. 001)[8] officially began.

From Ruins, a City Reborn

With the new era came a new name. Through public referendum, Hitai was officially renamed Sunset City. The Keystone Fiscal State, together with BOOM Group (Beyond Orchestration & Operations of Megastructures)[9], launched a massive reconstruction project, investing tens of millions of SDRs to rebuild the devastated northern zone.

Architect Gail Roark[10] designed Keystone’s new headquarters as both a monument and an office tower, erected in what is now Noonfall Square—a symbol of remembrance and resilience.

Keystone also signed a security pact with Etheis to establish a Governor’s Hall[11] and military base in Sunset City, with Ivan Cheno appointed as the city’s governor, overseeing regional defense.

More than two decades later, the “strike zone” has transformed into a commercial and technological hub, often referred to as the Uptown District. Yet the mystery of the missile attack remains unsolved. Speculation persists, circulating among the people:

1. Arms Smuggling: Hitai secretly served as a conduit for Kroham’s weapons imports. Once uncovered by Keystone and Weston intelligence, a joint preemptive strike was launched, reducing the city to rubble.

2. Coup and Hostage: Rumors suggest Kroham seized control of the Etheis government and its president, using Hitai to stage a military buildup. Weston and Keystone intervened with precision strikes, stopping Kroham—but at the cost of the city.

3. The Watchers’ Shadow[12]: An unconfirmed third-party agency—possibly mythical—may have manipulated events from the shadows. The truth remains elusive.

Today, the Etheis National Archive is in talks with global intelligence services to declassify relevant documents by S.A. 030. The NCCO is also preparing to reopen international hearings into the Noonfall incident.

The truth lies ahead, still hidden. Sunset has fallen—but will it rise again without repeating the past?

[1] Eybor Plain – A vast lowland in southeastern Kroham and eastern Elron, critical for agriculture and transit. [2] Heavion Sea – An inland sea encircled by Elron, Bosazia, and Starlight. Its calm waters earned it the title “Sea of Hope” or “Heaven’s Sea.” [3] Sunblade Plateau – A major plateau in western Bosazia. [4] Eagland Peninsula – Located in southern Bosazia, southeast of the Sunblade Plateau. [5] R.E.D. Covenant Alliance – A coalition of authoritarian nations excluded from the Sunder system. “R.E.D.” stands for Repressed, Excluded, Destitute, symbolizing their systemic marginalization in the global credit order. [6] Ivan Cheno – Former security operative of Keystone, now Governor of Sunset City and commander of regional defense. [7] Noonfall – A devastating high-altitude missile strike on Hitai on August 27, A.G. 2051. Named for its timing and the blinding midday light that accompanied it. [8] Sunset Age (S.A.) – The calendar system adopted after the Age of Grace (A.G.) to commemorate the Noonfall tragedy. S.A. 001 corresponds to A.G. 2052. [9] BOOM Group – A global megastructure conglomerate. Full name: Beyond Orchestration & Operations of Megastructures. [10] Gail Roark – A renowned architect known for merging memorial symbolism with functional design. [11] Governor’s Hall – A semi-sovereign administrative body established by the Fiscal State in cooperation with local governments. Functions as both military HQ and governance center. [12] The Watchers – A rumored intelligence agency allegedly involved in critical global events. Its existence, operations, and structure remain unverified.