Darian, known as Syrus by his mother, had a knack for causing trouble. Today, he was in the garden of the Voss family mansion, his mischievous grin lighting up his face as he picked up a rock. He aimed carefully and hurled it at a large bee nest hanging precariously from a tree branch. The rock struck its mark, and the nest exploded into chaos as bees swarmed angrily out.
“Syrus!” she scolded, using his birth name, a name that held weight and expectations. “What have you done now?”
Syrus, panting and trying to catch his breath, looked down at his feet, his face flushed with guilt. “I... I didn’t mean to, I am sorry...”
“Didn't mean to?” she echoed, her voice stern. “You’ve caused chaos once again. The entire garden is in disarray, and the bees are furious.
Darian approached the bed, his heart sinking. His mother, Lady Elara Voss, lay propped up by several pillows, her once vibrant features now pale and frail. The AI robots moved around her with precise efficiency, adjusting her blankets, monitoring her vitals, and administering medication. Their cold, unfeeling precision contrasted sharply with the warmth and care that once filled the room.
The AI robots continued their tasks, oblivious to the tension in the room. One of them spoke in a soothing tone, “Please remain calm, Madam Voss. Stress is not conducive to your recovery.”
His mother sighed, her stern expression softening slightly as she looked at her son. “Syrus, you must understand that your actions have consequences. The Voss family does not thrive on chaos. We maintain order and discipline.”
"Make sure to behave properly, you soon have bonding ceremony"
"Yes, mom!" Darian said with sad face.
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9 DAYS LATER
The grand hall of the Voss family mansion was filled with anticipation. Syrus, now standing with his brother Theoran and several family members, felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Their father, Lord Voss, a tall and imposing figure with a stern yet proud expression, watched over them.
“Today is a momentous day,” Lord Voss announced, his voice echoing through the hall. “The Bonding Ceremony is a significant event in our family’s tradition. The bond you form will define your future and your place within our family.”
Theoran, standing confidently beside Darian, grinned. “Don’t be nervous, Syrus. This is what we’ve been preparing for.”
Syrus nodded, trying to steady his breathing. The family members gathered around, their expressions a blend of pride and expectation. The ritual circle in the center of the hall glowed with an ethereal light as they activated the ancient symbols.
As the ceremony commenced, a sense of calm washed over Syrus. He closed his eyes, feeling the ritual’s power envelop him. The energy in the room intensified, and he could feel the presence of the Soul Parasites drawing closer. After a moment that felt like an eternity, the energy surged, and Syrus knew the bonding was happening.
When it was over, Syrus opened his eyes and looked at his arm. Unlike the rest of his family, who bore the same traditional marks of the Voss lineage, Syrus's marks were different—darker and more intricate, almost like shadows intertwining with his skin.
The family members exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from pride to shock and concern. Lord Voss stepped forward, examining the marks closely. “What is this?” he exclaimed, his voice tinged with anger. “These are not our family’s marks!”
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Theoran's smile vanished completely, replaced by a look of confusion and annoyance. “What have you done, Syrus? This isn’t normal!”
Syrus felt a surge of panic mixed with defiance. “I didn’t choose this! It just happened!”
Before the situation could escalate further, a man in the crowd stepped forward. He was an expert in the field of parasites, known for his extensive knowledge and research. His eyes widened as he examined Syrus marks. “This is... this is Nocturnis,” he announced, his voice heavy with concern. “It has become grade 3 summoning branch parasite. It’s much worse than you can imagine.”
His father sighed studying the reactions of other members of the family present there and to not tarnish the main branch reputation, he did something very cruel despite knowing he was his child and has no control over it.
Their father’s eyes narrowed. “This will bring us disgrace. You are no longer Syrus, the name that carries our legacy. From now on, you will be known as Darian, to mark your deviation from our path.”
"Your name is no longer Syrus."
The other family members murmured among themselves, their previous pride replaced by whispers of doubt and disdain. Darian’s heart sank, feeling the weight of their judgment. He looked at Theoran, hoping for support, but his brother’s expression remained cold.
“This is your burden to bear, Syr-, No Darian” Lord Voss said harshly. “Prove that you can still bring honor to our family, despite this... aberration. But know this: you will always be watched, always judged. Do not disappoint us further.”
Darian’s mother, her face pale and strained, tried to intervene. “Please, he’s just a boy. This is too harsh.”
But Theoran's mother, Lady Imara Voss, interjected coldly, her voice cutting through the room. “Our family cannot afford any weakness.”
He bonded with Nocturnis, a mutated parasite whose origins were shrouded in mystery. Unlike Theoran's noble and regal parasite Umbraxis , Nocturnis was unpredictable, chaotic, its powers tied to the darker forces of the void. It granted Darian strange, shadowy but useless abilities that made him an outcast even among his own family. They whispered among themselves, questioning whether Darian truly belonged to their bloodline and whether his bond was a mistake. The once-adoring eyes of his family now turned cold, doubting his place among them.
Lord Voss's voice was unwavering as he addressed Darian. “This is your burden to bear, Darian. Prove that you can still bring honor to our family, despite this... aberration. But know this: you will always be watched, always judged. Do not disappoint us further.”
Lord Voss's voice softened slightly, though the sternness remained. "In our family, names carry weight, significance, and legacy. To be called by your name is to be recognized as part of that legacy. If you can prove yourself, if you can show that you can still uphold the honor and strength of the Voss name despite this anomaly, then and only then, will you be allowed to reclaim your birth name. Until then, you remain Darian."
This was not the first time an influential family changed their direct inheritance name to reduce dishonor it might bring to them and their child, disregarding the feeling of the few others.
Theron, once his closest friend, now looked at him with disdain, his pride growing as he realized the gap between their abilities had widened. His bond to Umbraxis only magnified his sense of superiority, and soon, he began treating Darian like an inferior. What once was a bond of brotherhood turned to rivalry, and Darian felt more isolated than ever.
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Again in the battle field, Darian’s body shook as Eldora and Morgath continued their assault, the relentless blows pushing him to the edge of his endurance. Blood dripped from his wounds, staining the ground beneath him. But suddenly, the air around him began to change.
A heavy silence fell over the battlefield, and the atmosphere thickened, turning suffocating. The earth trembled slightly as dark, thorny vines erupted from the soil, creeping outward like serpents of shadow, their black thorns glinting with a malevolent hunger. The sky above flickered, as though the light itself recoiled from what was unfolding below.
Darian’s eyes flared with a blinding, fiery glow, burning like black flames as tendrils of dark black aura leaked from him, swirling in the air like smoke from a dying fire. His bruised and battered form began to rise, as though some unseen force was lifting him from the ground. The vines coiled around him like living chains, binding his body with dark energy, yet offering him newfound strength.
With every fiber of his being crackling with power, Darian’s voice shattered the silence—his words thick with a dark, almost primal edge. “Who are you… to judge me?”