The kingdom of Avadin was in its most peaceful era for more than 20 years. The ruler, King Aslon Florence Ava the fifth, has kept back bandits, bregards, famine and corruption. It was a golden age all the citizens were happy and had full bellies. It was rare for the kingdom to be wealthy and bountiful. The harsh deserts of Ava surrounded all sides. Only to the west flowed the mighty Asucadian Sea. This allowed for new trade routes and importation of goods. The kingdom had few exports, but because of the king the nation found desert beasts with strong materials and powerful mana crystals.

The harvest of the desert was only thanks to the royal family’s birth right. Only those who carried the blood of Ava could use special abilities, known as magic in this world. All other citizens used mana crystals to power their daily items. This caused the price of mana crystals to be extremely beneficial to the kingdom, with their high value and new influx. The King used his power in an unusual manner; where all royals stayed behind the front lines in the past he was the first ruler of Avadin to jump headfirst into battle. This gave the training and experience for the army to grow. Allowing for normal people to gain materials an fortune to fight the beasts alongside him.

With the prosperous times not a single crime was committed, even in the rare occurrence there was a scuffle the Royal Knights would punish the delinquents an intervene within moments.

Yet sadly….. all good things must come to an end. It started with the drought. Avadin had many stores of grain as the King was aware of the harsh summers and brutal winters. Even with his preparations the reserves started to dwindle and even the aristocrats who were the most rich had to start rationing.

Then there was the sickness. No one was left untouched. Strangely the royal family even had causalities. No one knew how it came or where it went but like a thief in the night everything was taken but no one saw the culprit or explain how. Millions died.

The king started dealing with rebellion and mistrust. The citizens blamed him. Ignoring all the years of peace and abundance. The years of gold were spent up, a the royal family was the only ones to blame.

King Aslon knew he had to do something and soon. His desperation grew further with the announcement of the queens pregnancy.

All the years of virtue had come to an end but the king was overjoyed. Even if his kingdom was no more, his wife now had a child to bare. Years he tried a tried to have an heir a now it was finally time. Regret was present his joy couldn’t mask the sadness of his people, knowing the next ruler wouldn’t have the kingdom of their father.

Within months the queen grew and grew. As she was closer to giving birth the country grew closer to disaster.

The straw that caused the camels back to break was the death of the queen. As she reached her day of birth the sickness got her. By some grace of god the child, her only son, was born. Unaffected and healthy.

No one could explain how the boy was born strong and the mother frail and weak, but they thanked the god who protected them. Giving up what little offerings and sacrifices.

The god was not pleased though. God was annoyed with the lack of belief an faith that the people once had in the golden years when the land was blessed an overflowing. Now that things were dry and scarce there was only prayer and begging, not any sacrifice or tithings.

With the Gods command the ruler of Avadin would be punished for they were in charge of the countries peoples. If the ruler couldn’t show praise to his God then the people never would.

So God sent a message down to Aslon.

An angel with a scroll.

The angel went to the king directly and bowed with respect. Pulling up the words the angel presented it to the king.

On the silk woven parchment God said to the king.

“In your years of glory you showed many offerings and praise, but now that you have been met with harsh years you have abandoned your faith. With your faith gone that of your peoples has also disappeared.

I am a merciful being so I will give you an opportunity to right your wrong. With the birth of your heir your kingdom shall flourish. For 8 years you may train and teach him. Take care of him and raise him, be the father you always wanted, but your heir is the next king. The child born on this day with the protection of his dying mother I demand of him. Even if you are to marry and birth more children . The one born on this day will be king or none will. As your people were beggars so shall your son be. He will be my proof to you and your people of my blessings. If he’s able to reclaim the throne on his 18th birthday, I will rid you of any lingering disease, drought, famine and sorrow within the country. So you may all see a know my glory never to be forgotten again even within times of hardship.

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To make my power clear for the next 18 years there will no longer be a drought and lack of trade. You will continue to grow and flourish as you once have. If your son fails to sit on the throne at the years end you and your kingdom will cease to exist within the sands of time.

Lastly since I don’t want anyone to forget my words once a year there will be a day of darkness. As you felt the darkness of the loss of your queen your people shall feel that same darkness on this day. There shall be no sun or moon in the sky. Not even stars will light up the walls of your country. This is your warning. If my chosen is not king that will be the future of your proud grand nation.”

With that the scroll was set ablaze with holy flame, spreading ashes and the promise with the wind. With the gust the angels wings opened a flew out of the castle. Leaving the court silent, everyone present hearing of their Gods promise.

The king was saddened. His wife the beautiful queen now dead. An his only son the future heir of the kingdom was to be taken away in 8 years time. He begged God to forgive him for his mistakes an prayed even though it was meaningless.

The king he vowed to show his son the joys of life and train him the best he could as a young boy.

As the years passed the day of darkness was pronounced “Night Of Nox” or the night of nights. Every citizen brought offering a sacrifice to the lord even if they were poor. None wanted to meet the wraith like their ruler did.

The boy was now 7 an was named Nicholas Aslon Ava the first an the 8th Nox was to be the next day.

The boy was still young but with his father’s desperation an Ernest drive he was already becoming a young man.

With the best swordsmen’s to train him an his father to teach about his magic an leadership it wasn’t a surprise.

The boy was still very protected and watched over nonetheless. Now with siblings there was jealousy, as he had more attention then the others one of the mothers to his brothers felt she had to do something if her child was to rule.

The new queen wanted her son Aslon Florence Ava the sixth to be king. So she began a plot. Now the king had started getting older his old strength was depleting and his younger brother, Alexaviar, he was in charge of the military.

The new queen spoke with the general and for the boys 8th birthday they told the king he should be allowed to visit outside the kingdoms walls for once.

The king didn’t like the idea as he knew God would come collect his son in only a few days. With some persuasion the new queen got him to agree, in the condition his brother Alex accompanied the boy with his brother and now youngest sister named after the countries most beautiful flower Mary Lilliana Ava.

The kids where the best of friends the two oldest brothers always sparing an learning together watching over their adorable baby sister.

On the day their uncle told them they’d get to visit outside the walls they all jumped with excitement and joy. None of them have got to explore that far, As the deserts were full of bandits and hungry creatures they never got to go even close to the border.

Their uncle took them to the farms with tall wheat fields, as they walked he told them.

“Only a few years ago when your eldest brother was born these fields didn’t exist, there was no green grass here. Thanks to our God we were blessed an allowed all of this.”

The children looked around with disbelief, no way was this field barren only a few years ago. It was flourishing with life and beauty…

As the uncle walked with them the kids grew restless and started to run within the fields. Nicholas being the eldest an most rash ran further ahead.

Ignorant of what was happening behind him, the queens plan was set into motion. Bandits that lied in wait started to come into view.

By now the boys uncle noticed them and rushed to the boy as quickly as possible. Even with his quick reaction an yelling from his younger siblings. Nicholas was captured. His uncle barely reaching him slaying one of the bandits the rest of them started to fight.

He was outmatched, even using his royal blood, the magic wasn’t enough. Everyone in the family had an elemental affinity. Aslon was earth, an his brother Alex was fire.

The flames Alex summoned where mighty an powerful he set the fields ablaze fighting. Trying to reach his nephew in time. Yet it wasn’t enough.

The boy was gone. As the fields flames died down the uncle sat with blood and tears. Knowing his brothers first born was gone, unable to face him with the news he ran.

Alex didn’t know where he ran leaving the siblings with a royal knight, he was tired but he didn’t stop. He knew he had to bring his nephew back home.

Aslon wept earlier then he thought that year, as the night of Nox approached he knew god would be angry without the boy being there. Unable to turn to his brother as no one knew where either went. He fell into depression.

No one except the new queen that is. With the news she was happy, with the boy gone her son would be king.

Now all she had to do was finish the king. Given his old age and trust it was easy. Some mana crystal and ancient herbs would create an undetectable poison. If it was slowly fed to him through his food no one could trace it back to her as the court could even see the Kings depression. With the King saddned he didnt predicted her betrayal.

On the darkest day, the night of nights. King Aslon Florence Ava the fifth was proclaimed dead on his 83rd year of being crowned. His death was attributed to the wrath of God, for being unable to acquire his son on the childs 8th birthday.

All that was left of the king was a stone tablet created with the last ounce of his magic. What was written in great detail read

“God I’m unable to give my son so please have mercy on my people. I do not know where I went wrong but protect and watch over them. I also beg of you watch over my son wherever he is now”

Little did Aslon know, God planned this. It was all going as it should. The boy was now in his possession on the 8th year as promised.