Four years earlier…

It was Cornelius’s eleventh birthday but he was not happy he was filled with a strange melancholy for this was the first birthday he would spend without his parents. As the new lord of Amydros he had duties to his barony and vassals, his family estate was buzzing with the sound of busy servants for tonight a banquet would be held in his honor.

But Cornelius couldn't care less, he was standing in front of his mirror while Bernard his personal servant was dressing him. He was dressed lavishly in silken robes in the family colors of black and red, if he was being honest he hated it. He hated the fact that he was expected to appease the people in his parent's stead, he hated the fact that the lesser nobles of his barony all tried to exploit him.

Bernard had finished dressing him and was looking at his handiwork “Thank you Bernard you are excused,” He said. Bernard bowed to him before making his exit. Cornelius sighed again looking at his face much had changed since that dreaded day, the childish innocence had all but left his eyes replaced by a smoldering wrath most nobles could no longer look inside of his eyes.

He had grown by a few centimeters as well, now he was as tall as most adult men. He emanated a sense of maturity, his once vibrant yellow eyes had grown darker whether due to his wrath or due to him growing up he did not know.

Sighing again he knew he could not hide in his room all day so he left his room and made his way to the banquet hall, he passed many servants preparing for the banquet they all wore the black and red of his family. When he arrived inside the hall he noticed that some nobles had already arrived, after his entrance, the guests turned to him, and the first to approach was Alister of House Douglas he was a baronet obsessed with the elevation of his house needless to say he was a shady character.

“Ah, Lord Cornelius may I be the first to congratulate you on your birthday,” he said with a slimy smile. Lord Alister was a portly man his belly protruding over his belt he was of short stature. His Thin brown hair was already balding, his smile did not reach his eyes a clear sign of false sincerity.

“Lord Alister, I thank you for coming I hope you enjoy the festivities,” Cornelius said with a forced smile the wrath in his eyes only growing. As he said that he continued to make his way to the end of the hall where his throne was located, it was an extremely ornate chair the base was made from Valkyrian Steel it was dark grey steel with a slight red sheen, while the seat itself was made from a red silken pillow and backrest. The chair was designed to depict the dragon House Amydros was known for. He finally arrived and took a seat on the way he exchanged pleasantries with his other guests.

The hall itself had two long tables with a large variety of food laid out, he as the lord of the house sat on his throne by his lonely, and a smaller table was situated in front of him food and whine laid out, the food was a variety of roasted chicken, boar and cow with vegetables as a filler.

The Banquet was beginning, Samien was standing at the door of the hall announcing the guests as they entered “Baron Dreadus of House Laerd accompanied by Lady Suzan and their daughter Lady Lou-ann” he heard Samien announce before a family entered they bowed to Cornelius as a sign of respect and found appropriate seating befitting their rank.

The lesser nobles sat at the far end of the table while those of higher rank sat closer to Cornelius. “Dutchess Avory of House Moon and her daughter Lady Prudence,” Samien announced. The House of Moon had always had a good relationship with the House of Amydros so their presence was to be expected, Cornelius rose from his throne to personally welcome them. As they reached he gave a low bow befitting someone of their status and smiled, The Dutchess and her daughter were truly a sight to behold with their blonde hair and purple eyes marking them as cousins of the royal family for they were the only ones who had purple eyes.

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“My lady,” he said turning to Lady Avory “It is good that you could make it to something as insignificant as this,” he said while gesturing to the hall.

“Nonsense, How Could I miss the birthday of my favorite nephew,” she said while waving away the notion as if it were nonsensical. “I am sure you remember my daughter, Prudence,” she said while gesturing to her daughter who gave a light curtsey.

“Of course,” Cornelius replied matching her courtesy with a bow of his own. “I do hope you enjoy the festivities but I am afraid that duty calls,” he bowed again about to make his way back to his throne but Lady Avory grabbed his arm, her face turning serious for a second the wrath in his eyes grew but he corrected himself before she noticed. “We have some things to discuss, it is one of the reasons I chose to attend,” she said her voice turning cold, causing the fire in his heart to rise.

“If it is alright with Milady we can have said discussion a bit later in the evening for now I still have a responsibility to my other guests,” he said his tone even not betraying the wrath he was hiding inside. The answer seemed acceptable as she nodded and allowed him to return to his throne. At the same time, they made their way to the edge of the table to the left.

“Third Prince Shtad Commander of the First Legion, The holy blade of the Empire from the Royal House of Photizo,” Samien announced before continuing “Fourth Princess Abigail from the Royal House of Photizo,” there was a lull in the crowd after the announcement, no one had expected royalty to show up.

When they entered everybody including Cornelius rose from their seats and bowed to the royals. Cornelius left his table to welcome them the shock apparent on his face. When he reached them he bowed low “Your Highness I must say I am shocked by your appearance here today,” he said in an even tone. “Why are we not welcome?” The prince raised a brow his tone questioningly.

Cornelius’s face paled when he said that. “No, no you are always welcome I merely meant that it was unexpected,” he said explaining himself, which caused the princess to laugh a little while the corners of the prince’s mouth rose slightly. Cornelius realized that they had made a fool of him his wrath rose once again.

The prince’s blonde hair was a light blonde almost white color his purple eyes so vibrant they looked quite majestic, he was a stoic man with strong features he had a muscular frame proof of his military might. While his sister was younger looking to be about the same age as Cornelius himself she was far more delicate looking than her brother but the fierceness of her gaze matched her brothers. She had white hair wearing an elegant floral dress of a blue and golden color.

“We merely came to pay our respects to the new Lord of Amydros,” he paused “I knew your father he was a great man my condolences,” he said the last part in a somber tone. The Slaughter Force was a part of the first Legion so his father had worked under Prince Shtad. His wrath had almost reached a breaking point.

“We also have other business to discuss with you but that is a concern for later for now let us enjoy the festivities,” Prince Shtad said. Since Cornelius had not expected royalty to show up he did not have appropriate seating for them, so he gave up his throne to the Prince and ordered the servant to bring two extra seats for him and the princess.

Two more hours had passed when all of the guests had finally arrived, as Lord he was expected to make a speech for this was his Banquet. He rose from his seat with a wine glass and a spoon in his hand, he tapped the glass with the spoon causing a clinking sound before clearing his throat to silence the crowd. With all the eyes now focused on him his anxiety rose “First and foremost I would like to welcome everyone and thank you all for coming,” he said before pausing “The House of Amydros is a house of great history we have left our mark upon our great empire, we have fought in every war this Dynasty has ever faced and we have continued to honor our word and oaths to this empire and it’s royal family,” he said nodding toward the prince and princess “Today I announce that it will not change, as the lord of Amydros I will uphold the standard that has been established by my forefathers and strive for the heavens once more, just as assured that the dragon will rise so shall my house soar once more,” he said the last part no longer holding his wrath back “To those who have ill will towards my house I will burn you with dragons fire to those who think they can take that which is mine your death will be brutal or my name is not Cornelius of House Amydros, the dragon ascends once more,” his tone had reached a new precipice turning low and deep devoid of any emotion except for wrath.

His blood felt like it was on fire, steam was visibly rising from his skin his eyes shone with a golden radiance his pupils had slit almost serpentine-like smoke had risen from his mouth and nostrils, those who had witnessed it would forever swear it was no mere eleven-year-old standing there but a young dragon whose fury knew no bounds.