Chapter One
The Birth of an Envoy– Part One.
Blue skies stretched vastly out beyond the horizon overhead. The bustling of crowds and the sounds of a lively city could be heard. Marvellous steam-punk airships powered by magical rainbow gems roamed the air.
It was an utopia of Magic.
In this enchanting, floating city, one of the core institutions at its heart was Excel Academy; a progressive secondary education provider that prided itself on equality and merit of opportunity.
Though the Kingdom of Farrien was an aristocracy, Excel Academy placed value only on capability. For many such as talented commoners, this was their blessing.
But for Aelius, who was only a 15 year old boy of small stature, coffee brown hair and chocolate eyes, this was his curse. Because, being the heir to the Kanarian Archduchy made him one of the most well-known Nobles in the entire Kingdom, and that, combined with the fact that he had no talent in Mana fundamentals, would result in moments exactly like these:
A shoulder barged into Aelius while he was scurrying down the beige and golden school hall, trying to blend into the large crowd. It belonged to a senior two years older than him who, clearly by his broad shoulders, was athletic and, to be honest, a brute.
All the books Aelius had been carrying in his arms like a mother cradling her baby went tumbling into a heap on the ground. He froze in fear but, thankfully, the senior only cast him a glare and went on his own way, snickering.
Aelius supposed he was lucky that nobody could be bothered to escalate things further today, unlike others.
Around him, the crowd of students had only two types of people– those sneaking past while hoping to not get caught in the mess, and those that felt no need to hide their mockery. The latter group had gathered around him, giggling and snickering while Aelius felt his cheeks flush, leaning over to hastily gather the books.
It felt like an eternity, bent over and stacking his precious books. He just wanted it to be over. He wanted to get out of there. It felt like something was tightly clutching his throat, a weight pressing down on his head and shoulders. But nonetheless, he continued, because this was something he was used to.
Suddenly distracting him from his own misery, a pair of hands reached down and began to help him.
“Huh?” Aelius blinked in surprise as he looked up, finding a familiar face focused on gathering the books. For a moment, he found himself stunned as he always did, at the soft lips, delicate sky blue hair, and bewitching golden eyes.
The girl reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear and Aelius felt his heart skip a beat.
“T-thanks… Aria…” he shyly muttered, turning his attention back to his hands.
“Mmm,” Aria answered, stacking the remaining books in a neat pile and then rising to her feet.
Today, she was wearing a neat pair of high white boots that complimented her white mage robe. Sewn into the insides were light blue highlights that matched her exotic hair. But the most distinctive feature, as always, were her golden eyes that could pierce your deepest insides.
Aelius watched with red cheeks as, without another word to him, she joined her group of high society friends casting him jeers.
As they walked away, gathered around the nonchalant and untouchable flower that was Aria Aerianne, the only other Noble of equal elevated status to him in the Kingdom, Aelius heard a slew of curses directed his way from the girls.
Every word cut him where it hurt him most– they insulted his parents, they insulted his bloodline, they insulted his incapability. Most of all, they said he doesn't belong here, and he certainly doesn’t belong beside Aria, his dearest childhood friend.
Aelius heard them continue to berate him as their voices faded down the hallway, and his fingers balled into a fist. He wanted to find somewhere to hide and cry, but bit his lip and picked up his books.
It’s true. His parents and bloodline aside, everything they said about him was true. Though they badmouthed his lovely mother and his respectable father, he couldn’t even go sock them in the mouth because a group of skinny girls could skin him alive.
Stifling his sniffles and with his gaze cast downward, he resumed onward to his destination. Oddly, he would sneak a peek upward to see if he’ll run into another boorish brute or not, until he finally reached the open courtyard.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
It being that momentary idleness of transitions between classes, Aelius was fighting his way through a war of crowding fellow students. Outside in the autumn leaves courtyard, with the orange sun casting a warm and comfortable embrace over all, Aelius passed by numerous other uniformed teenagers.
A group of girls went past, their gossip loud and disregarding of whether anyone nearby could hear or not. “Did you guys see the Holy Knights this morning?”
“Oh my Goddess. And Leos! He was so gorgeous– I love muscly types like that.”
“I’m jealous of the girls too. I wonder if we can become like them. I heard Valorie, the First Holy Knight, is an incredible fighter.”
Ah, right, the Holy Knights, Aelius recalled. He had momentarily forgotten the shocking news broadcasted via the Sound Magic intercoms across the Kingdom this morning. The King of Farrien, His Majesty King Richard the Second revealed the fact that another continent had been discovered in the southern hemisphere of the planet.
This was upsetting news only because until now, their continent Sacrescha, was believed to be the only one on the planet. King Richard was very direct– they have been unable to communicate with the forces on the new continent and they appeared to be hostile.
The Holy Knights are the cream of the crop of the younger generation. Most of them graduated directly from Excel Academy and had abilities rivalling many adult Masters. They were all under the age of 22 and yet had already refined to the Fifth Star, totally unlike Aelius. He hadn’t paid much attention to the Magic projections of the Holy Knights, though he recalled one of them was very beautiful. Even prettier than Aria.
Aelius shook his head as he crossed the vibrant grass, passing under beautifully red-leaved trees. Thick brown trunks, healthy with bark and abundant with roots, paved the path across the courtyard. He followed it to an isolated building at the end, a homely and comfortable cottage.
Not many other students would come here, but Aelius was one of the select few, as he pushed open the door and rose up the homey carpeted stairs, all the way to the third floor.
One lonesome door sat at the top, a wooden nameplate hanging ajar. It read, Headmaster Polia’, as in Jane Polia, Farrien’s sole Eighth Star Mage. She both revolutionised Farrien’s economy and quality of life by introducing substantive Magic engineering at the age of twenty-four. She was responsible for ushering in Farrien’s golden age and also established Excel Academy, Farrien’s most esteemed Magic academy.
But to Aelius, she was no different to a caring grandmother.
“E-excuse me…” Aelius knocked and entered, making the door squeak and squeal as it swung open. Upon stepping in, he blinked in surprise to see Headmaster Polia had guests. But they looked strangely familiar in their golden white uniforms and grand shoulder-capes, sitting with their backs to him.
Aelius felt his stomach begin to drop while the two turned over their shoulders to look at him.
“Ooo, Aelius,” an elderly, familiar voice remarked. “Impeccable timing as always. We were just discussing when you’d arrive.”
Aelius’ eyes crossed the room to Headmaster Polia, who sat gracefully at her desk. Despite her old age, obvious by the wrinkles on her cheeks and around her kind eyes, she sat with her back straight and dignified at the desk, and her fingers calmly intertwining her hands together.
“Take a seat, young boy,” she offered, gesturing to a nearby, isolated dining chair.
“O-okay…” Aelius softly muttered under his shaky breath, doing as told and stiffly plopping himself down.
He snuck a look at the two. One of them– a muscular older guy was glaring at him with judgement. And the other, a slightly older girl, was looking at him with sparkly eyes and a warm smile. As soon as Aelius met her milky blue irises, he was stunned by her radiance.
She was the girl from this morning, and she was breathtaking.
From her pointy elven ears, her medium-length platinum blonde hair, her small perky nose to her beaming lips revealing her white teeth, Aelius realised he was staring longer than he was supposed to, and quickly darted his eyes back down to his fidgeting hands.
“I’d like to introduce you to Aelius. While young he is, he’s our special in-house Spirit expert. He’s the best person to help you with what you’re asking for.”
Headmaster Polia’s high assessment of him made his cheeks turn even redder.
“Aelius, please meet the Fourth Holy Knight and the Eleventh Holy Knight, Quarren Leos and Alea Langston.”
“N-nice to meet you,” Aelius nodded at the two without looking up.
The beauty named Alea eagerly answered with a, “Nice to meet you too!” while Quarren merely answered with a grunt.
“Brilliant.” Headmaster Polia rose to her feet, fetching her walking stick and stepping out from behind her desk, revealing her esteemed purple mage robe sitting on her shoulders. “Now, onto the next item on the agenda.” She raised the stick and tapped the wooden ground with it as she spoke and immediately, wind picked up around them.
Aelius gasped as light exploded in the corner of the room, blinding him for a moment before particles of pink, blue and purple manifested and combined. Gathering up against the wall, in mere seconds, Headmaster Polia’s Mana constructed a dark, shimmering dimensional gateway.
With a mischievous, smug smirk only the elderly could have when showing off, Headmaster Polia gave them a gesture.
“Come along, young ones.”
The Gate made all three of the younger children gulp in awe at the prowess of the woman before them. Though she appeared old and harmless, she commanded respect and dignity as much as the King and Queen did.
This woman now led them, setting Aelius onto a path of no return together with the other two.
A path of suffering, longing, regret, trauma, and revenge.