The universe was a tree, its roots grew out into the void. The world was born as fourbranches fell, as they they gradually began to change into humanoid giants through space and time.

As they fell they named themselves Titus, Argana, Lycra, and Osiris.

Titus and Argana were the first to form, while Lycra and Osiris were still yet to bloom. Titus seeing his younger siblings struggling for nutrients created the first ocean and forest.

Argana seeing this gained a cold glint in her eyes as she waved a hand causing the sky to form with loud strikes coming from the sky.

The rumbling charged the two unformed giants as they both sprouted from their branches with gritty excitement.

The two younger giants looked at their older siblings rather than at the landscape the two made for them.

Lycra was first as she touched the forest floor, flowers began to bloom, the earth shook into mountains, and singing could be heard atop the trees.

Osiris giddy with the glee of a newborn stepped into the sea as fish began jumping out of the water followed by a huge wave that crashed onto the land. Craters in the forest and the open land began filling up with water and fish.

Finally, Titus clapped causing a gust of wind to blow through the earth they created, the animals sang, and the trees rustled with the wind. As the wind slowed the clouds parted, and down shined the sun on the land.

Titus's giant brow arched at his sister, causing Argana to smile gleefully at the sun she created.

15,000 YEARS SINCE THE CREATION

Alexander woke with a start, sweat dripped off him as he frantically looked around long-forgotten walls. A look of sorrow and anger passed through the young man's face but was quickly gone as he turned from the painting hanging on the wall.

A knock came from the maple door, causing Alexander to jump out of bed.

“Young Master, the lord is waiting for you at the table” The voice was gruff and hoarse from outside the door.

Alexander opened the door trying his hardest not to smile at the gruff old butler he’s known his whole life.

The old butler looked at Alexander sensing sadness in his eyes, yet when he looked down all worry he felt was gone.

“You are going to breakfast looking like that young master”

Alexander looked up with a half-cocked grin as his butler looked down his nose at him. He was dressed in a plain white linen shirt, with black linen pants to match.

“ I thought I was his son,” he asked with his eyebrow arched “Should I dress like one of his delegates, or maybe like one of his merchants”

The old butler looked at him indignant but found he could not argue, after all, he was his son.

Alexander watched the turmoil in the always well-dressed butler until he finally dropped his head and stepped out into the hallway for Alexander to follow.

The Godt family was one of the four royal families said to be related to one of the four creators or Gods as some call them. The Godt family claims lineage from the God Titus.

Alexander is the only son of the Godt family head, as he walked through the opulent west wing hall, he looked around as his butler followed from behind.

The old butler watched Alexander with furrowed brows as his young master seemed to be soaking in the hall and all its decorations of paintings and vases. If someone didn’t know who the young man was they’d think it was his first time in the hall, not that he lived there.

They reached the end of the hall stepping down the spiral staircase. The staircase was made of marble causing each step to loudly be announced.

When they finally reached his father, he was standing at the head of the table, clearly hearing them approaching.

The head of the Godt family was a towering figure with a dark almost black eye. He was cleanly shaven besides a bushy brown mustache that almost hid his top lip.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

His skin was light brown, which he passed down to his son as well as his grey eyes. He wore a purple robe tied tightly around his waist. The robe was customary for family heads to wear as a sign of their standing.

Each family's head’s robe was different with the Godt family being the family's color of purple, yet it was outlined in gold including the golden emblem stag sewn largely the back.

The butler stopped a couple of feet from the table as Alexander walked toward the chair directly opposite the head of the table.

His father eyed him as he reached the chair. The family head nodded as his son stopped with a hand on his chair.

Alexander’s father opened the left side of his robe taking out a large, curved katana in its scabbard as he placed it on the table as he sat down. Alexander followed his father as the two finally sat not saying a word.

From the left side of the dining room, a young lady with brown hair tied in a bun walked out with two plates. She first served Alexander’s father as she lifted the lid from the plate bowing.

Smoke rose from the plate as a smile tugged at the family's head. He looked at the young lady still standing near him. The family head looked at her annoyed waving her off with a knife.

She read his father's attention, as she walked the second plate over to Alexander, with less courtesy quickly removing the lid. Alexander hid a chuckle from escaping as when his food was served his father quickly began cutting the sausage.

“If you were not so anal about customs and etiquette you could enjoy your food sooner,” Alexander said with a cocksure grin.

His father did not even look up, instead answering with a gruff as he inhaled his sausage. The old butler walked from behind Alexander towards the opposite side of the table where his father was as he wiped his mouth with a cloth.

The father-of-son duo sat and ate their breakfast without a disturbance. Each plate had three sausages, a muffin, with a side of fruit.

After ten minutes both parties were satisfied as the head of the table stood.

“Did you forget what today was”

Alexander looked up from his plate, a look of resignation and surprise on his face.

“Pathetic,” the family head said shaking his head as he walked out of the dining room.

Alexander dropped his fork as he stood, looking over at the old butler still standing a couple of feet back.

“Why didn’t you remind me” he asked.

“If you remember young master, you told me you weren’t a merchant who needed to dress up for the lord”

Alexander scoffed trying to hide his amusement, “You know what I’m talking about, why didn’t you remind me of the ceremony”

“Honestly Alexander,” he said while he sighed, “I did not think it could be forgotten, it’s the most important day in your life. I thought you were trying to make some statement to your father that you were not worried”

Alexander rolled his eyes, not even glancing at the old man as he walked out of the room.

Alexander headed up the marble stairs once more, his harsh steps echoing louder as he passed numerous portraits of similar-looking men and women all in the same purple robe as his father. As he passed the portraits not even sparring them a glance he returned to the west wing hall.

Each side of the hall had three doors, the second door to the right was the one Alexander entered shutting the door as he did.

He is still the same as I remembered thought Alexander as he slid down onto the floor.

Even before he had reasons to be ashamed

Alexander began laughing, there was no pain in his laughter only amusement.

Today will be the last day we speak before the invasion; he will send me away without a word.

He was finally brought out of his reverie by the sound of soldiers outside, the sound of bells ringing as they arrived in town.

AS HE GOT UP LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW HE COULD SEE THE GREY ROBES OF THE SEER AND THE SURROUNDING MOB THAT FOLLOWED AT HIS FEET.

A loud knock came from the door as it opened for a towering teen to walk in. The teen had the rune for protection around his eye, an augmenter.

“Lord, I will be your protection as we go into the city, my name is Cyrus”

Alexander looked at the large young man with a warm glow to him.

“You are an augmenter”

The young man didn’t speak but nodded in response.

“Is the seer on his way to the hall?” he asked

“Yes, your father already left to greet him, and escort him there”

Alexander looked at the young man with a raised eyebrow, “You seem to know a lot for someone in your position”

“Erys told me sire, if I wasn’t responsible for escorting you, I wouldn’t know such information”

Alexander nodded at this, “Erys must have great trust in you”

“The Guard Commander is my father Sire”

Alexander pulled his face from view, feigning surprise.

“Well, it looks like we will have much to talk about”

Cyrus looked in confusion at his lord, much to his amusement.

“Relax Cyrus, and call me Alexander, not sir or sire you will find I am not much like my father”

This seemed to relax Cyrus as his shoulders slumped slightly and a slight grin appeared stretching his rune.

“Do you need to put in a cloak?” he asked, quickly adding “ I don’t mean to rush you sir, but this is my first solo escort, and the people are excited to see what chooses you”

Alexander watched as a Mariad of expressions crossed Cyrus' face, as he scratched the back of his head

Laughing as he spoke, “I thought I told you to relax” he said as he picked up a grey cloak from behind him.

As Alexander walked past Cyrus, he felt him tap on his shoulder, causing him to turn around right before the door.

“Why do you look so agitated” he asked with a smile, “You are of ancient blood there is nothing to worry about”

Alexander smiled at this, yet his expression did not express the same as his smile as he looked down. He lifted his head slightly as he tapped Cyrus lightly on his left shoulder.

“You are always loyal to a fault,” he said to his guard his gloomy expression gone for just a second as he left a confused Cyrus in his room.