“Julian, you’ve returned.”

I bowed in the manner of humans, placing my arms above my chest in a way not too dissimilar to the folding of wings. For a second, I saw my beautiful black feathers flow down my arms. My heart fluttered in excitement, however, the feathers soon disappeared.

The king didn’t speak immediately. He waved his hand. The white transparent puffs of cloth which made up his sleeves rubbed and scraped against the old wood grains of the ancient throne.

“Take off those glasses.”

Diane stiffened. Sir Richard, the elegant knight, stood on the opposite side of the ruined hall. Its cracked marble floor had large holes where earth and samplings grew. They centered around the throne.

I took off my glasses. The knight’s eyes grew solemn, Diane’s eyes rounded and turned to the king. The veins on the king’s hands bulged as he gripped his throne’s armrest.

The king looked at Diane. “What is the meaning of this?” He spoke in a low voice. His face, thin and sharp resembled that of a viper.

She took a knee and let her black hair flow down her face. “I’m sorry, I did all I could. If I had more time, I cou—”

“Do not speak!” He stood, walked to me, and gripped my chin. My neck grew strained as he lifted my head to meet his eyes. “Sir Richard. I could understand if he was turned into a vampiric creature, however, don’t they have red eyes?”

Sir Richard bowed. “Yes, and the vampire who captured the boy had red eyes.”

“At least he is not a vampire…Do you know of any curses which cause black eyes?” He turned my head side to side.

“Not to my knowledge, but I do believe the bestiary and curse master should have more knowledge on this subject.”

The king let go of my chin. “Diane, inform the relevant parties and pray to the goddess of luck that this curse, or whatever it may be, can be lifted. Else you’ll have to tumble with the emerald lady.”

“Yes, your Highness. I’m sorry, your Highness.” She bowed deeply, however, with my short height I noticed her mumbling a few words.

The king returned to his throne. “Sir Richard, I want the vampire’s head on a spike by the end of the month.”

I jumped up hearing of the vampire. To have someone else put his head on a spike, it made my heart sink.

“Whom do they take themselves for? Just because one becomes a beast does not mean blades can’t pierce their chests.” The king exhaled, and his veins retreated. “Now, Julian, is there something you wish to say?”

The overwhelming urge to kill that beast, to break his glass bottles in his eyes, boiled hot in my gut. Imagining his death at the hands of the knights irked me. I didn’t like the king nor his men, were they to kill him my grudge would only shift to them. I didn’t like humans, and I certainly understood why other animals steered clear of them. But now I was a beast and in front of me stood animals. I deserved a certain amount of respect and power. The power to decide who would kill that vampire. “Your Highness, I can now use magic.”

The room went silent. The whispers of the guards, the steps of maids, and the sweeping of fibres on marble floors could be heard from the other side of the grand doors.

“Repeat what you just said.” The king inquired.

“I can use magi—”

“Sir Robert…Has the kingdom of Liliana continued to build up their forces near our border?”

“They have only increased the speed at which they are doing so, but they have yet to infringe on the demilitarized zone.”

“Then let the vampire go. He’s accomplished his mission, let’s disregard this for now.”

It worked.

The knight stumbled back. “But your Highn—”

“I did not permit you to speak!” He slammed his fist on the throne’s armrest. I wondered what Sir Robert had to say. From all the memories and gut instincts only Sir Robert didn’t evoke any ill feelings. “Julian, my son, show me something, and you will make me the happiest father alive. I will grant you whichever wish you may have. No, better, I will grant you the kingdom as soon as you become an official mage. With such luck, perhaps the sceptre may be returned to us in your generation.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

I did not want this kingdom, but its resources, its support could help me grow stronger. I needed the gods' favour and recognition to wish for Rose’s life. I exuded black haze from my pores. I did not hold back. I’d let those who caused Rose’s death sink in black quagmire. I continued to pump out darker and darker haze until I couldn’t see my nose.

The haze took a few instants to dissipate. The first thing I saw was the king leaning against his throne, head tilted back, and tears rolling down his cheeks.

“You are as talented as me. You are your father’s son. Perhaps you can even become a High-Human.” He turned to Diane. “Instruct him in the ways of magic. Do so successfully, and I shall pardon you. But first test his elements. He might have awakened a second one.”

Diane rushed off. Her steps carried a certain heaviness unsuited to a loyal subject. Well, the king certainly didn’t deserve any.

“Sir Richard, have the royal craftsmen make a better frame for his lenses. I’ll also send you to consult the bestiary. You must not say that these black eyes are Julian’s. Some may use this information to spread lies.” The knight bowed.

“K—Father,” I spoke and waited for him to turn his attention my way. “May I know the vampire’s name and origin?”

The king stared me down. “And why is that?”

“Isn’t it something a prince should know?” Julian’s memories brought pain and hatred, however, it also brought knowledge and the know how to solve these problems. Perhaps this sacrifice was the power of Ravns. Perhaps by following my instincts I’d catch the recognition and the favour of gods.

The king leaned back. “Indeed.” He waved his hand, and a sphere of wind imprisoned us together. He did not even trust his own knight. “He was introduced to me by Duke William. When I first met the vampire, he introduced himself as Derick.” The king looked at Sir Richard and passed his fingers above his lips. A wall of wooden roots shot out the ground and further separated us from the outside world. “I forgot about my lips; I’ll have to keep an eye on him.” He muttered with his eyes set on the winding ebony roots. “Humanoid beasts are few, yet I couldn’t find any information regarding a Derick. But my spies in the kingdom of Liliana reported a conflict between adventurers and a vampire.” He smiled. “If he’s at odds with the Lilies then at least we know he can’t escape our grasp.”

The king was unnaturally talkative for someone this paranoid. I pressed, perhaps his son was the exception to the rule. “Then, I assume you know where he hides.”

“Of course.” The king waved off my question. “I always have two spies on his tail. Remember, one to learn, two to hide. One holds an orb of sight, the other a knife of silence.”

Alas, perhaps I should fear for my safety?

“The vampire lives on the border of our territory and that of the Lilies. He believes the demilitarized zone will keep him safe.” He snickered. “Now my son, Diane should arrive soon. After your shadow magic demonstration, I’m sure you have inherited my potential.” The king pulled my arm and whispered in a voice filled with both terror and misplaced certainty, “Remember, do not trust an enemy, do not trust a friend, do not trust a God. Trust no one and act before they think.” He let me go and I stepped back, both afraid and disturbed.

The wind dissipated, and the wall of roots retreated into the earth.

#

Diane returned with a crystal and a petrified griffon leg stand. She placed the stone in between the king and me, cast a spell on the leg, and placed the glass orb in the griffon claws.

The king ordered me to touch the orb. A black and red mist appeared, in which three stars fluttered, each one representing a potential magical element.

For the first time in the kingdom’s history, a royal had the potential for five elements. That day I was promised the title of Julian IX. A title I couldn’t care less for at the time. A title which would bring ruin to these lands.

Status

Newborn Beast

Species: (X)ravn

Gods Favour: 0

LVL 3/15-(X)

Exp: 400/1100

Trait breakdown:

Magic:

* Mana: 120/120

* Flow: C/ S(X)

* Retention: D/ S(X)

* Expulsion: C/ S(X)

* Types: Shadow, Fire, X, X, X

Corporal:

* Strength: D/ B(X)

* Endurance: C/ B(X)

* Dexterity: B/ A(X)

* Poison resistance: D/B(X)

* Weapon of choice (heavy longsword) proficiency: C+/ B(X)

Skills:

* Mental Dam (proficiency 1%)

Titles:

* X (conditional)

As I read through my screen, I felt it hit again, the visions. I had to act fast. I imagined the flow of a river stopping. Yet, nothing changed, and my vision turned black.

#

Julian’s POV

On my way to my next lesson, I heard something. “Julian, you’re worth less than shit,” muttered one of my three illegitimate brothers.

I turned around. “Who said that?” I didn’t want to respond but were I to do nothing my father would beat me to a pulp, he always knew everything.

They were Albert, Borto, and Paul. The three eldest bastards.

Albert, two years younger than me, yielded wind, and fire magic. He kept his head down and let Borto and Paul step up. “We didn’t say anything.”

“No, I heard you talk. Stop it.”

“Again, we didn’t say anything. Do you have a witness?”

I closed my fists. “I don’t need a witness. I’m the crowned prince, and you will never be anything because I’ll have your heads when I get the throne.”

“Stop whining, you can only say that because you don’t have a legitimate brother yet. Things sometimes change,” whispered Albert in the back. He always stared at the ground. I had never seen his eyes. But since he was the most talented magician of the bastards, no one reproached him for his odd social habits.

“Look me in the eyes.” I was tired of his whispers. What made him think he could always attack me and not even face me? If you don’t use magic, it’s no different than not being able to use it. he had never even tried to wield a weapon. His weapon proficiency potential couldn’t be higher than C-. I could easily cut him down. “I’ll report this to Father.”

Albert stayed hidden behind his two brothers.

“That’s more like it. Know your place.” I walked away and ignored Borto and Paul’s taunts. How did they always manage to cross me on my way to my magic lessons?