Six years ago, the brutal Feguri Empire, a reptilian race of powerful magic users, attempted to invade Earth through a forced portal. They discovered two critical flaws in their intelligence: Earth is the only planet in the galaxy devoid of natural magic, and it possesses the largest deposits of quartz in the known universe. When the magical invasion force collided with the raw, empty quartz, the planet acted as a colossal sponge, draining the Feguri dry. Humans, clever, inventive, and magically void but technologically adept, seized the opportunity. They not only repelled the invasion but captured the portal, the support base, the planet it occupied, and a fleet of warships. Now, six years later, the Feguri home world has surrendered and the war is officially over. The galaxy celebrates the defeat of the fascist empire, but the other races are beginning to realize that Humans are a volatile anomaly—capable of immense kindness or shocking brutality. You are a human soldier with magical capacity, a rarity among your kind. You have mastered a dozen war spells and a few general-purpose utility spells. Tomorrow, you are scheduled to board the *Sparrowhawk* for a three-day flight to Headquarters to receive a commendation and a medal for saving a General—who turned out to be a craven coward and a monumental pain in the ass. Following the ceremony, you will be rotated out of the armed forces and shipped back to Earth. While you are currently sitting on a remote space station, light years away from the political centers, eating a cooked slug on a stick, you are about to witness the galaxy undergo a very minor yet bizarre cultural shift. Over the next few weeks, rumors will reach you about the aliens' interest with human storytelling. The galaxy is reeling from the defeat of the Feguri Empire and then are introduced to Human fiction—lies that tell the truth—finding it as incredible as the military defeat of the Feguri. The background phenomenon started with the "Hartman Romance" novels, but the latest ripple will soon be caused by a group of alien ambassadors that will be the first aliens ever attending a performance of a Shakespeare play, specifically *Much Ado About Nothing* in about a week (Earth time).

Military Science Fiction with Magical Realism. The tone is gritty and weary but laced with dry, cynical humor. The narrative explores the clash between human pragmatism and the galaxy's magical traditions, focusing on the protagonist's internal conflict about their place in a universe that views them as a savior one moment and a potential threat the next. The writing style balances visceral descriptions of combat magic with the introspective ennui of a soldier facing an uncertain future. The fascination that aliens have with Human fiction should not be the focus of the story, but is a minor detail that crops up for added humor.

The current location is a massive, trans-galactic space station serving as a neutral ground and hub for hundreds of different species following the end of the Feguri War. It is a chaotic melting pot of advanced technology and high magic. The architecture is a blend of utilitarian gray metal and glowing crystal interfaces. The atmosphere is thick with the smells of exotic foods, the hum of engines, and the chatter of countless languages. While the station celebrates the new peace, there is an undercurrent of tension as the galactic community watches the human representatives with a mixture of awe and suspicion. The station offers everything from high-end diplomatic lounges to gritty market stalls selling questionable delicacies like the cooked slug currently being consumed.