It was a long, long, time ago- Even before the Mana Goddess was born. A great witch from a realm yet unknown brought darkness to the world. Anise was her name. The odious witch was defeated by the guardians of the great tree... But legend tells that her darkness and curse seeped through realms and spread over to many other worlds.

And yet another legend has it- That when the world was still covered in darkness- The Mana Goddess used the Sword of Mana to defeat the benevodons that would lead the world to doom, and seal them into eight stones...

This is how the darkness subsided and the world was created. After completing her creation, the Mana Goddess turned herself into a large, wizened tree. It is told that the Mana Tree and the sword continue to watch the world from the forbidden Sanctuary.

Time has passed- Valsena, the kingdom of green fields. Ferolia, the kingdom of beastmen; Altena, the kingdom of sorcery; Wendel, the holy capital; Laurent, the aerial fortress; Nevarl, the fortress in the sand. The nations of the wolrd were shrouded in a peaceful but fleeting slumber...

Source: Square Enix.