Darkness. The feeling of floating through the void without bounds or laws. These were all very familiar to Miragus who had died and reincarnated thirty-seven times. You would've thought he'd learned by now, but when you're truly immortal, some carelessness is only to be expected. That wasn't to say he didn't try, however, as he lost a portion of his power after every death. A minuscule amount, but it was hard earned strength lost nonetheless.

'I was careless.' His thoughts echoed through the boundless void. 'To think I would die from my own pride and arrogance... The same emotion I used against my foes time and time again. How ironic.'

The disembodied voice let out a deep sigh. 'Had I noticed that Malum had been draining my mana... No matter. I shall simply reincarnate once more, and I shall torture those fools for decades to come.'

The familiar tug on his soul alerted him that his rebirth would take place shortly. It would be an honour for the family that provides the vessel for his soul. They would certainly feel cursed blessed to have assisted the great King of Mages in punishing the heroes rebel scum.

'Hmph... No longer shall I defile this world with my presence? What utter nonsense.'

Rays of light pierce through the endless void, filling Miragus' sight with a blinding light. His soul was pulled towards the source of the light; upon reaching it, the light faded, and darkness reigned once more.

--

A fair skinned man in regal attire stood by his wife on the bed as she gave birth to his child. His name was Valerius Dei Sidus. He was the King of the Lux kingdom, and today was the day that his first child would be born.

The royal mages had claimed the child would be a boy. Not only that, but they sensed mana from him. An heir with the rare gift to use magic... Only one in a hundred thousand were born with mana. The goddess of fortune was certainly on his side.

The maid beside his wife gently picked up the baby after he was given one final push to enter this world. However, no sound escaped from the child's lips and the maid frowned, a concerned look on her face as she turned to the king and queen.

"Your majesty... The boy's eyes are..." She trailed off as she presented the boy to his parents. Piercing golden eyes, with slits for pupils, calmly observing the king and queen. As the boy opened it's mouth, almost as if to speak, sharp fangs could be seen.

Valerius' face paled, the child's silence only serving to make him more anxious. "What... Is this?" Did his wife give birth to a monster?

"Summon the royal mages. Now." He ordered the maid, who obediently nodded and hurried out of the room to carry out her task. He turned to face his wife, who was looking at him with fear and concern in her deep blue eyes. "What's wrong with our boy?" She asked him. "It's fine, Elisa." Valerius reassured her. "I'm sure the mages can handle this." But just the slightest hint of doubt creeped into his voice as he looked at his son once more.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

'I'm sure the mages can handle this...' Valerius repeated in his head like a mantra.

The maid returned shortly with a group of five people composed of three men and two women. They were dressed in white robes with golden insignias on their shoulders, and each carried their own respective staffs. They were the famed royal mages of the Lux kingdom, who served as personal guards for the Dei Sidus family.

A grey haired old man stepped forward and bowed his head in respect. "What appears to be the problem, your majesty?" He questioned the king. Valerius picked up his son, and handed him over to the old mage. "My son... There's something wrong with my son."

The old mage frowned as he noticed the boy's eyes. He narrowed his eyes as he inspected the boy, taking note of the sharp fangs and peculiar eyes. As he tried to investigate further by using his mana on the boy, he found that he couldn't. For whatever reason, it kept getting blocked by something. It was then that he realised that the child was subconsciously blocking his attempts to use mana on him.

"Your majesty... I believe your son may be afflicted with the Devil's Curse. The eyes and teeth are both known symptoms of the Devil's Curse. While he shows great talent in magic, I'm afraid that..." The old man paused, hesitating for a bit before finishing his sentence. "That your son may not have much longer to live."

Both Valerius and Elisa paled upon hearing the mage's words. The Devil's Curse, also known as Demonification, is a disease famous for the demon-like traits those afflicted would gain. It was almost always fatal, and those who survived who be in constant pain.

"Th-there must be a cure... There must!" Valerius shouted. "You're mages aren't you? Use your magic and cure him!" He shouted at the royal mages in desperation. Just when he thought luck was on his side, all of his hopes were dashed in an instant.

The old man looked upon Valerius with sadness and pity, for in his life, he had witnessed the fates of those who had the Devil's Curse. "I'm afraid magic isn't that simple, your majesty. If there was a way to cure your son, we would've done so already. The Devil's Curse is incurable."

Valerius slumped to the ground, while Elisa covered her mouth as she wept. Thus the Mage King Miragus was reincarnated once more. Ignorance is not always bliss, but some things are better left in the dark.