Elonian Calendar, Year 1502, Lunar Month of Fire ⎯ Ember, Day 25

"After the tragedy known as the 'Collapse of the Heavens,' the Eiloong continent emerged, formed as nearby land masses merged into a colossal landmass. This event also signaled the beginning of the decline of one of the greatest empires of its time, the Empire of Qiela Ilona. However, in its final decades as it descended into ruin, the empire laid the foundation for many aspects of our contemporary world, such as the Elonian calendar."

In a chamber within the Imperial Castle, a middle-aged man paced back and forth before two children seated in front of him, a scroll in hand and words upon his lips. His attire, a dark red robe, imparted the aura of a seasoned scholar; however, his demeanor and figure did not reflect one accustomed to courtly politics. Occasionally, the glint of polished metal would reveal itself between gaps in his robes as he moved, yet any sound it made was muffled by the steps atop the marble floor. His face bore scars, rendering it far from conventionally handsome, yet he walked with confidence, wearing them like medals of honor.

"Jomin," one of the scholar's students, a brown-haired boy draped in oversized crimson-red robes adorned with a symbol of a pair of herons, interrupted the man's monologue.

"Airen Casteya, while in this hall, you will refer to me as 'Teacher.' How many times must I repeat myself?" Jourmind admonished, sighed, and lightly struck Airen atop the head with the scroll.

"You got scolded again, Airen." The other student, a young girl dressed similarly but in robes of silken blue, laughed as Jourmind predicted Airen’s attempt at evasion and hit him again.

“But teacher, you already went over this material two days ago!” Airen protested. “And Yuli, you call him Jomin too!”

“Did you not hear me the first time, Airen?” Jourmind sighed. “Call your sister by her proper name and title! There are manners one must portray when you are the Crown Prince and Princess.”

“Okay! Okay!” Airen rubbed the side of his head once Jourmind stepped away, attempting to alleviate the phantom pain that remained. “Just because you're stuck in here with us, doesn't mean you should bully us!”

“These lessons are the sort of thing they should get an actual scholar to teach,” Jourmind grumbled, his voice ringing out in the hall as he dug through a mahogany desk, only his back visible. “When I agreed with your Lord Father to train you two, I did not expect that he would push even the academic lessons onto me. I would rather supervise an imperial scholar drone on and on to two brats instead of having to do it myself.”

“You are the only one that calls us that.” Airen retorted.

“That’s because you need to learn humility, child. Ah ⎯ this should be the right one.” Jourmind picked up another scroll and lazily glanced at the title before returning to his two students. The drawer remained ajar behind him, revealing a disordered mess of parchment, scrolls, and faded books.

"After the fall of Qiela Ilona, five countries firmly established themselves on the west coast of the Eiloong continent. In order of founding, first came the Red Slate Republic to our southwest, the Holy Land of Ecclesia to the north, the Dew Plains to our east, the Kingdom of Four Winds to our west, and then our country, the Kingdom of Macha.”

“Teacher, what are the other countries like?” Yuelei asked.

“The Red Slate Republic's lands are full of hills and canyons, deriving its name from the red clay and sandstone found in abundance there. It is a place of great heat, where winters are as warm as our summers, and vast expanses of sand litter their borders. However, their culture is... extreme, to say the least, and may not suit everyone,” Jourmind explained, tactfully avoiding the topic of slavery.

“The Holy Land of Ecclesia, on the other hand, is a religious society, united by their church that worships the Goddess Ecclisa. It is a land of forests, tundras, snow, and blizzards. They are a somewhat feudal society with a majority of their political power centering around their church but many individuals from there hold personal honor in high regard.” Jourmind nodded his head in approval. “When the Kingdom of Macha was first founded, they were the first to reach out to offer aid without ill intentions, asking only to be able to speak of their Goddess in our borders.”

“The Dew Plains are vast, larger than all of the other countries put together. They are a coalition of wandering tribes, city-states, and communities that live upon those plains. Their cultures and way of life are as varied as the number of stars in the sky. However, they unite to defend their homeland when necessary,” Jourmind nodded to himself. “We have established strong trade relationships with various factions from the Dew Plains for many of the different tribes there pride themselves in their crafts. ”

“The Kingdom of Four Winds comprises four large, separate islands to the west of the Kingdom of Macha. Though called a kingdom, it is ruled by four houses. Upon the king's passing, a successor is chosen from the notable youth of these houses through a series of trials. Originally pirates, they united after a long history of civil wars. Many renowned bounty hunters and adventurers hail from there, and all of the individuals from those lands are said to hold a strong belief in the spirit of personal freedom.”

“Lastly, our Kingdom of Macha was founded, and we are best known for our fertile lands, ideal for farming. Due to our geographical advantage, we often serve as mediators between our neighbors and conduct trade,” Jourmind continued.

“But if our lands are so appealing, and our country is right in the center of the others, wouldn't we be open to attack?” Airen frowned.

“The Kingdom of Macha boasts the most extensive intelligence network among our neighboring countries. In this era of peace, intelligence holds more power than sheer might, and while our army is small, it is better equipped and utilized more effectively. Our country also shares the benefit that is strategically located bordering several danger zones infested with monsters. We control the few safe roads passing through these areas,” Jourmind explained.

“How come nobody has tried to exterminate the monsters?” Yuelei questioned. “If they can do so, is that not more land that they can claim for their own?”

“Throughout the recorded history of the Eiloong continent, there have been several large-scale expeditions to exterminate these monsters. For example, in the year 460 of the Elonian Calendar, the Ecclesian Templar Order launched an invasion into the Whitefrost Mountains to our north. It was reported that three days into the endeavor, they had lost over half their forces and were forced to retreat. The Church of Ecclesia imposed a vow of silence on its members regarding the events, and to this day, we are uncertain about the reasons for their retreat,” Jourmind explained, setting down his scroll and speaking from memory, having studied this part of history himself.

“Why did they fail?” Airen exclaimed. “Were they too weak?”

“One should never call a knight of Ecclesia weak, Airen. They would take that as an insult to their honor,” Jourmind sharply admonished. “As for the reason, there were rumors that suggest that a Divine Beast intervened during their expedition. Now tell me, what is the difference between a Divine Being and a Divine Beast?”

“Both refer to an individual unparalleled under heaven, one who has reached the pinnacle of strength and sorcery,” Airen's eyes glittered as he replied. “Divine Beast is our term for magical creatures that have reached that level, while we refer to our own as Divine Beings.”

“Correct and incorrect. While it is true that a divine individual has reached the pinnacle, there is a significant distinction between one who has mastered their skills and one who has ascended to the divine,” Jourmind clarified, shaking his head, hoping the children in front of him would grasp even a trace of his meaning. “I will delve deeper into this during our practical lesson in a few days. For now, let us move on with the topic.”

“There are many who claim to have reacheded the state of divinity, but only six major named 'Divine Beings' operate in the countries I mentioned. They are…”

“Lord Dumeis, known as the ‘Sword Emperor’, who has mastered the fire and wind elements.”

“Priestess Geisla, dubbed the ‘Soul Saint’, whose light magic is said to cure all wounds.”

“Magus Telsin, recognized as the ‘Necromancer’, a one-man army with powers of darkness and earth.. ”

“Lady Elumia, also called the ‘Huntress’, with mastery over the wind elements.”

“Sage Grendel, referred to as the ‘Ocean Gaze’, known for his paintings and works of art alongside his mastery of water.”

Jourmind paused, a hint of a smile gracing his face before continuing, “…and your father, Macha, known as the 'Fist of the Heavens’, wielding the light and fire elements.”

At the sight of the enamored eyes in front of him, Jourmind could only sigh. In this era, it was common for youngsters to idolize such talented individuals as 'heroes'. To be bestowed with a title as a Divine Being was the culmination of a lifetime's dedication, yet it often obscured the reality of the thousands who failed to reach that level. He did not wish to shatter the dreams of the two seated in front of him just yet, so he tactfully sidestepped another topic.

“That is, of course, only a few of the most well-known individuals,” Jourmind continued. “It is likely, even expected, that there are others who have attained the same level, but for reasons of their own, they have chosen not to reveal themselves to the world. Those that reach the divine are known to be long-lived, so there are likely many more than we even know about. Even Divine Beasts seldom interact with us, or cross into the borders of established countries.”

“On a related note, let us mix in current events and discuss a recent discovery involving a Divine Beast. Four years ago, the Kingdom of Macha attempted to clear the Sel Forest that separates us from the Dew Plains. However, after the first day of lumbering, all the trees regrew overnight. When our Mages' Guild attempted to use fire magic to burn down the unnatural greenwood, their spells had little to no effect, seemingly breezing past the trees like a harmless breeze. As they pondered what had occurred, a voice echoed from the forest, warning them that next time there would be consequences.”

“Teacher, did magical creatures and monsters speak our tongue?” Yuelei asked.

“They most certainly had the intelligence to interact with us, so it wasn't inconceivable that high-ranked creatures or Divine Beasts possessed such an ability,” Jourmind replied, rubbing his beard after pondering how to answer the question. “It was said that the progenitors of the half-blood races all traced their ancestry to a Divine Beast at one point, and many magical beasts that lived alongside humans often understood our language.”

“But because of that warning, the expedition was quickly halted, with your father personally intervening. Unlike the Church of Ecclesia, we made this knowledge public, establishing the Sel Forest as a danger zone that countries should not interact with without repercussions. This was one reason why our Kingdom of Macha and the Dew Plains had such a good relationship. But that was the last time any kingdom attempted to invade one of the bordering monster-infested areas, including the Sea of Voices to our west and the Hero's Desert to our south.”

“Why do they call it the Hero's Desert?” Yuelei had seen that land once upon a time, and the memory of the gray sand had made quite an impression on her.

“Legend had it that the barren wasteland was the aftermath of a clash between ten ‘Divine Beings’ who fought with all their strength before the ‘Collapse of the Heavens’. Many adventurers traversed there in the hope of finding relics of an ancient civilization or the graves of those who died in that conflict,” Jourmind replied as he walked in front of Airen, who had started to drift off thanks to the warmth of the sun’s rays filtering through the open windows.

“It was said that those grave sites held great treasures, and deep beneath the sands lay the remnants of civilizations older than ours!” Jourmind spoke in a louder voice than usual.

“Mm?” At the sound of Jourmind’s voice, Airen shot up, but not before feeling the thump of a rolled-up scroll against his forehead.

“Less sleeping in class, Airen.”

“Sorry,” Airen sheepishly apologized, looking up at his teacher.

Jourmind sighed, his chest deflating slowly in defeat.

“Sorry, Teacher.”

Later that night…

“Yuli, Lord Father is coming back tomorrow, right?” Airen asked, rubbing his stomach. With both of their parents being away or occupied by affairs of the country, the two children often ate by themselves and in the privacy of their rooms.

“Yes, Airen. How could you forget?” Yuelei replied, seated on her bed across the room. Despite their status, the twins had always stayed together in the same room at a young age.

Airen stared at his sister, his hazel-brown eyes taking in her long black hair and fair complexion, which was a stark contrast to his own despite being twins. Although he was the older one, there was no doubt between the two who better fit the visage of an heir to the throne. According to Jourmind, Airen had inherited his mother’s personality while he had his father’s family features, while Yuelei was the opposite. Although he was the older one, in many ways it felt like their roles were reversed based on how they acted.

“Maybe we can finally tell him about stepmother,” Airen said quietly. The two siblings had never known or seen what their mother was like, having been told that she had died at childbirth. Their father had remarried two years earlier for political reasons, but the newly crowned Queen Xeina acted indifferent and cold towards them. She spared not even a glance at the two children when they crossed paths and refused to sit at the dinner table with them and Lord Macha. However, the behavior wasn’t reserved for them; she also treated their father almost the same way.

Of course, Airen, along with Yuelei, couldn't help but notice this difference in treatment. Yet whenever they brought it up to their father, he would sigh and quietly shake his head, putting an end to the conversation.

Yuelei, on the other hand, was more observant and curious than her brother, and perhaps due to ill-fortune, once managed to meet eyes with her mother-in-law. However, what she saw behind the veil was a deep-seated darkness, like the sea when there were no moon or stars in the sky and you were on a small boat traversing into the black unknown. At that time, Yuelei had felt as if she were slowly sinking into a pool of tar, the viscosity holding her in place and preventing her from clawing her way out or even screaming for help. It was an accumulation of many emotions: annoyance, hatred, resentment, revulsion, and profound sadness, yet Yuelei was too young to understand the implication behind it.

“Say, Yuelei, the ceremony is going to be in two weeks, right? What sort of magical affinity are you hoping for?” Airen’s words broke Yuelei out of her stupor, and her face brightened a little. When youths came of age at fourteen in the Kingdom of Macha, they would be tested by mages to see what elemental affinities they held. As long as they received a high enough rating, it meant they would also receive an invitation to famous academies across the country. For Yuelei and Airen, this would have meant a measure of freedom and being able to get away from the stifling atmosphere that was the Imperial Court.

“It is not like we have a choice. But if I could choose, I would like to be as free as the wind,” Airen replied. As successor to the throne, there was an insurmountable amount of responsibilities on his shoulders. He could only wistfully watch from the side as others his age acted like the children their age.

“Then… I would like to be proficient with fire or darkness magic,” Yuli smiled. “Jourmind said that they were the most destructive elements, and they seem like they would suit me well.”

“Yuli, you can be… pretty scary.” Airen rubbed his hands together. Although his sister’s appearance was often quiet and serene, she was always the first to strike back or retort when she felt wronged. Jourmind always said that she inherited her father’s temper and her savage actions were proof of that.

“As your older sister, who else is going to protect you when you become king?” Yuelei laughed as she placed her hands on her hips. It was meant to be an intimidating and assertive pose, but for the young princess, it only meant to make her more endearing to those that knew her.

“But, I'm the older one!” Airen huffed. Nevertheless, he became quite happy at Yuelei's words. With their father seldom being around, Yuelei and Jourmind were the only two that would be considered close to him. “I think you would make a better ruler than I, Yuli. I wish I was decisive as you are.”

“I do not have the patience to deal with people like you do.” Yuelei skipped over and patted Airen's head reassuringly. “I hate this court, where all the people that mull about only want to control or manipulate us. None of them are good people. ”

“But you're probably going to be stronger than me, sis. You’re always studying and practicing with such vigor and dedication. I... I'm just doing it because I have to,” Airen sighed, but even he knew that his talent in the martial and magical arts paled compared to his sister.

“When you stop daydreaming and focus, you can do just as well or better than me,” Yuelei laughed. “Don't worry, elder brother, you will become a great king one day, and when you do, I will be there beside you. Anyone that tries to stop you, I will defeat them and crush their objections.”

“Hopefully, that day will come later rather than sooner. May father be long-lived like the other Divine Beings, and we will be free to roam the world after we graduate from school.” Airen sighed again and stared out into the dimming night sky, beyond the great walls that surrounded the palace.

“You are too free-spirited sometimes, Airen. I would not be surprised if you actually find out that you have wind or water affinity during the Ceremony,” Yuelei teased, poking him on the side.

“Let’s sleep. Otherwise, Jourmind is going to have my head if I fall asleep in class again,” Airen yawned. Tomorrow was one of the rare days there were practical lessons, and they were one of the few times the two looked forward to.

***

The following day…

In a small courtyard, Yuelei and Airen stood side by side while facing Jourmind. The midday sun was beating down upon all three individuals, but it was perfectly comfortable when combined with the fresh breeze that flowed through the courtyard.

“The Casteya Clan's weapon of choice is a heavy rapier.” Jourmind lightly brandished his training weapon in a slow arc. It was a strange weapon with the length of a short spear, yet the blade was thin and pliable, with a basket-hilt that protected the wielder’s hands.

“However, once the two of you get your affinities measured, you can also choose a weapon that calls to you. This is not something I can teach or decide for you, but as a member of the Casteya Clan, you will always have to learn the rapier to defend yourself.” Jourmind lectured, lightly hitting the palm of his hand with the blunted blade.

“Among the noble societies and high houses of the Imperial Court, it is said that the rapier is known as the gentlemen’s weapon used for duels.“ Jourmind coughed. “It is a weapon known for its grace, and in the hands of a truly skilled user, is said to be the greatest defensive weapon. However, what you have in your hands is a variation of that rapier, light enough to deliver rapid blows, but also with a thicker blade that allows you to parry the likes of swords and bladed weapons. ”

“Today the both of you will spar with me at the same time instead of individual training,” Jourmind pointed the tip of his weapon at the two children in front of him. “Show me how well the two of you have improved your teamwork!”

“Yes, Teacher!” Yuelei and Airen shouted and readied their blades.

Yuelei held the rapier to the left of her chest, the tip pointing straight up and towards her foe, her left foot and shoulder slightly forward. This position allowed her to hold the weight of the weapon closer towards her bent knees, which enabled her to easily adjust her weapon into various other stances and positions.

Next to her, Airen held the rapier ahead with both arms extended above him, his right shoulder forward. It was a highly intimidating and aggressive stance that allowed one to deliver strong strikes from above and rapidly from the sides.

“So Yuelei will be defending, and Airen will be attacking, eh?” Jourmind was an experienced fighter, and their posture and stance were something he could easily interpret. As he deflected the first overhead strike from Airen, he retaliated with a swing of the blade, which was promptly blocked by Yuelei as she approached from his left.

“Hmm?” Jourmind exclaimed as Yuelei suddenly changed her stance and aggressively stepped into the swing and traced her rapier along the edge of his, the blade quickly closing towards his face. Clearly the stances his students took were merely to deceive him, and upon that thought, a smile forced its way onto his lips.

In response to the tactic, Jourmind simply flicked his weapon and pushed up, causing Yuelei’s blade trajectory to deflect off the hilt of his weapon. That simple gesture was enough to knock her off-balance, which Jourmind took advantage of to draw back his arm to prepare an attack of his own.

Just as he was about to counterattack, two well-timed thrusts flew past Yuelei’s left shoulder, forcing him to abandon his striking stance to defend himself. Airen had found the ideal time to interrupt Jourmind and maintain control of the initiative for his sister.

“Not bad. It seems you two understand just how dangerous it is to go up against multiple enemies.” Jourmind took two steps back to put some distance between them, which placed him just far enough to avoid the tip of Airen’s blade. That miniscule amount of time was enough for Yuelei to recover and charge towards Jourmind once again.

Together, the two of them worked in tandem to prevent Jourmind from making any aggressive moves. Yuelei would deliver swift and deadly strikes that Jourmind could not ignore, and Airen prevented any chance of him retaliating against his sister by striking during the small recovery window that Yuelei needed after her attacks.

After five more similar skirmishes where he was left in the same position, Jourmind acknowledged that they were able to stand on par with him as long as he controlled his strength.

Perhaps it was time to step it up a notch and see how they react.

“Brace yourselves!” Jourmind took a stance with the rapier held horizontally, and his arm twisted back like an arrow nocked onto a bow. Airen and Yuelei’s eyes grew wide, and they swiftly retreated.

Sonic Thrust. Jourmind released the weapon arte as the rapier thrust forward, sending two waves of wind plummeting towards Airen and Yuelei. The dirt beneath the ground flew into the air as the two gusts of wind whistled towards their target. Although Jourmind had toned the skill down until it was a pale imitation of its true form, it was more than enough to knock someone off balance, and to lose one’s balance in a spar is the first step to a defeat.

The two children quickly made a split-second decision. Yuelei leaped to the side and managed to dodge the long-ranged blast of force, but Airen decided to block it head-on. A surge of adrenaline rushed through Jourmind as he watched, as this was not something a young child could stop, and he had always taught the two to avoid magical skills when possible.

Airen’s knees trembled and he held out for the briefest second until his strength failed. Pushing his arms into the air, the gust of wind lifted him off the ground and sent him flying onto his back.

Taking advantage of the sudden development, Jourmind decided that now was a good time to end the battle before he would sit Airen down and lecture him again. With only one foe in front of him, Jourmind closed the distance between him and Yuelei.

“I had thought that your brother was the better one when it came to creating ploys, but seeing that he blocked my attack despite my teachings. I suppose I was wrong,” Jourmind said as he traded blows with Yuelei, carefully controlling his power so she could block his attacks, but still enough to slowly overwhelm her if she did adjust accordingly.

“Unlike your brother, who attempts to outwit and outplay the enemy Yuelei, you strive to improve your movement to match and overwhelm the enemy. If it was your brother who was dueling with me now, I doubt that he would have lasted this long,” Joumind praised with a hint of admiration in his tone.

“Thanks for the praise, Teacher, but you should not underestimate Airen,” Yuelei replied and dodged to the left of Jourmind's thrust, returning the favor with an overhead slash. She continued to circle him, probing for weakness in his defense and finding none.

“Right now, this is just a supplementary lesson for you,” Jourmind laughed, meeting Yuelei’s attack head-on and interlocking his blade with hers. “Many things can be a weapon, Yuelei, so while you should maintain eyes on your opponent's blade, you must also keep an eye on their general movements.”

Jourmind quickly swapped his grip on his weapon, freeing his left hand while still forcing Yuelei’s blade to be locked with his. With his now free hand, he chopped down on Yuelei’s wrist, causing her grip to temporarily slacken. At the same moment, Jourmind pushed his weapon upwards, causing the hilt of his rapier to catch against Yuelei’s blade, knocking it out of her loose grip and into the air.

“Well, that’s that. I have always said you should be careful and anticipate changes in tactics.” Jourmind yawned, catching the rapier before it fell into the dirt. Although there were some unexpected actions, he had grasped a decent understanding of their teamwork abilities and noticed some growth.

“Not yet.” At the words, Jourmind turned towards Yuelei, whose eyes were twinkling as she stared at something behind him.

“!” With his senses borne from years of experience, Jourmind felt a sense of danger as he quickly turned around. He had not realized that Yuelei had intentionally guided his movements until his back was facing Airen, having believed that he was already out of the fight.

In that moment, Jourmind caught a glance of Airen’s stance, rapier held horizontally until it was perpendicular to the body, his arm arched back, as if one was drawing back a bow.

As the wave of force tore towards him like a gale, Jourmind had a light smile on his face as he stood his ground. He released Yuelei’s rapier and returned to gripping his weapon with both hands. In one well-practiced movement, he dipped his rapier into the earth and slashed upward, cleaving the Sonic Thrust in half and sending a spray of dirt into the air.

“Well, well. Aren’t you two the sneaky little ones? Hiding something from your dear teacher...” Jourmind had never taught his students how to use the ability yet, so it was a pleasant surprise to see his skill imitated. Even more to his bemusement, it was Airen who was the one who had taken the first step to using a weapon skill.

Jourmind’s smile grew as quickly turned around to see that Yuelei had seized the moment to recover her weapon. Despite the twin's failed surprise attack, Jourmind now found himself pincered from two opposite ends.

“Since the two of you have made me quite happy, maybe I should get serious for once?” Jourmind grinned, but it was the type of smile that made Airen and Yuelei shiver.

The two quickly realized that Jourmind had no intentions of letting them off bask in the glory of their achievement.

Some time afterward…

“Let us stop here for today. It’s time for lunch.” Jourmind picked up the dirt-encrusted weapons on the ground. Next to them were his students, who were panting and heaving in exhaustion.

Airen shot him a look as if he had seen a demon. Nevertheless he grudgingly stood up and made their way to the only set of furniture at the entrance of the courtyard, a large, polished stone disc that resembled a table. Yuelei gave him a cup of water, and the two of them slowly caught their breath as Jourmind retrieved a small basket and started laying out the contents within them.

“I have been missing this taste…” Airen said, picking up a giant dumpling and taking a deep bite. The crispy seasoned exterior was oily, but the flavor of the meat and liquids inside offset any heaviness that came from it. Mixed with the spicy and garlicky sauce that came with it, it tempted one to continue biting into it until none was left. Such fare was akin to street food, and was never served in the imperial court. In fact, Jourmind had personally gone and fetched these from outside the palace for them.

“Mmmm,” Yuelei agreed as she stuffed her mouth with her own dumpling.Before even chewing, she reached for another one while her cheeks were still stuffed, giving her the impression of an overzealous hamster. “Airen, since you want to learn to cook, you should learn to make these. ”

“A prince that cooks instead of attending to his duties and learning to manage the nation? What is going to happen to the poor Kingdom of Macha?” Jourmind grumbled with a hint of a smile as pulled out more dishes from the basket. While the food in the Imperial Palace was exceptional, it was seldomly cooked in an unhealthy manner. As such, for the two twins, things like meat skewers and deep fried foods were considered rare and a delicacy.

“Ignore him, Airen, any princess would fall for you if you can make things like this.” Yuelei responded between bites. “You should take the culi-, what's that word again, Jomin?”

“The Culinarian Examination,” Jourmind replied. “This is something you know you should have memorized already.”

“Bleh~” Yuelei stuck out her tongue in defiance. “It’s just a fancy name for a cook!”

“There are several professions that are well acclaimed on the Eiloong continent, such as culinarians, alchemists, blacksmiths, artificer-scribes, et cetera. Each of them serves a purpose, especially culinarians.” Jourmind lectured. “Magical-beasts still serve as an important food supply for many nations, whether wild or domestic, and it is up to culinarians to prepare them in a way that is palatable.”

“In that case, won’t anyone that learns to cook meat be well respected?”

“All professions have five titles, and in order of rank, they go ⎯ Novice, Apprentice, Skilled, Artisan and Grandmaster. Although there are many novice-level professions as grains in a sand on a beach, true Grandmasters are rare and hard to find, even among the highest echelons of society.” Jourmind replied. “As such, their skills are highly valued, you will hear of a dozen queens, or kings before you come across a single Grandmaster.”

“You hear that, Airen? If you become a Grandmaster Culinarian when you become king, people far and wide will come to the Kingdom of Macha, just to meet you.” Yuelei teased.

“Would it not be beneath a king to cook though?” Airen looked at Jourmind for an answer.

“It isn't uncommon for leaders of their countries to be skilled in a few professions. However, the knowledge is usually kept secret so only a few know about it.“ Jourmind answered. “It is rumored that Priestess Geisla is an acclaimed singer, and Sage Grendel is openly an avid chess player.”

“Why do they keep it a secret?”

“Because there are very few Artisan and above craftsmen; after reaching Skilled, you need to take a unique test in front of the respective guild leaders and gain their approval to advance. Every year, hundreds attempt to take the exam. Once every few years, someone manages to be named an Artisan, and only a few every century manage to become a Grandmaster. ”

“What does that have to do with kings and queens hiding their craftsman skills?” Yuelei objected.

“Since it's a public test, there are few leaders that are willing to make a public appearance. It would be rather… damaging to one’s reputation if they were to fail, and some would say revealing one’s professions is an invitation to probe for weaknesses. ”

“It seems like being a king is a lot more complicated than I thought,” Airen said quietly. “Even when Yuelei and I are outside the palace, there is always someone following us.”

“It is for your own good, Airen,” Jourmind said while shooting Yuelei a knowing look. Although Airen was the crown prince, being the crown princess also came with its own series of complications.

“It's not easy being a prince~” Airen sang as he stood up and stretched. Feeling a lecture coming along, he sneakily shot his sister a look before stealing the last dumpling and running away.

“That’s mine!” Yuelei shouted before she gave chase.

Jourmind smiled as he watched the two fooling around. He had come to adore them like his very own children, and as a guardian, he often wished that they weren't born as heirs to a kingdom.

Later that night, Airen and Yuelei had returned to their chambers as soon as the colors of dusk had started to blanket the sky. It was more common for them to eat in the privacy of their chambers with Jourmind tending to everything then with servants. It was also one of the few times Jourmind would drop all pretenses and step out of his role as a teacher.

“Of course,” Jourmind smirked and started to speak in a matter-of-fact tone as if he was reciting from a book. “ In the year 194 of the Elonian Calendar… “

“Nooooo!” The two little ones protested together. Jourmind let them groan and complain for a bit before he chuckled and relented. Only at times like these could he tease them relentlessly, treating them like children and making sure they don’t get too big-headed.

“... There was a certain heroine called Alesta of the Golden Lightning.”

“Lightning?”

“Yes, that was what made her exceptional. This woman that had hair the color of the finest yellow cinnabar, instead of wielding water, fire, earth, wind, light, or dark elements, wielded lightning the color of gold. This was the first time the entire world was made aware of variant elements, and we would eventually put these in a category of their own, called divine elements because to be given one was considered to be blessed by the heavens.” Jourmind smiled, having slyly turned a story into another lesson.

“To be more specific, it was the first time that a human was known to be able to wield a divine element. After her appearance, many countries tried to research them, but there was no conclusive answer to how one can acquire a divine element. However, the theories that came forth from it paved the way for new forms and utilizations of magic. ”

“Alesta must have been special,” Airen commented between mouthfuls of rice and baked meat. Beside him, Yuelei was more enraptured by the story, and only after Airen’s interruption did she realize that she had stopped eating.

“No, Airen, she was human just like you and me. There are few records of her during her youth, but I would imagine that she would have had a rough childhood due to how different she was. But the world knew nothing of her for a long time.” Jourmind paused to wet his mouth with some tea.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“Right after Qiela Ilona had fallen, the largest and most powerful country that formed afterward was called the Gatun Empire. They were a relatively small country at first, but it was said they found and inherited the technologies of an older era, technologies that today we call magitek. ”

“Magitek?” Airen asked.

“From my interactions with of it today, it is the ability to permanently store magical power outside of oneself, and being able to leverage it for spells.” Jourmind replied. “Most magic uses oneself as the source, but that is not the case with magitek.”

“The Gatun Empire then started a conquest to unite the Eiloong Continent. It was known for levying heavy taxes and working its vassals like slaves. Their first target was a nearby village, both to display their might and show what would happen to those that questioned them. The villager resisted, and because of that, that village no longer exists today.” Jourmind paused, giving some time for his words to sink in.

“So the Gatun Empire were the bad guys?” Airen asked naively.

“There are no good or bad people, Airen, but I believe that the Gatun Empire's methods were 'wrong'. Perhaps they wanted to set an example, but I believe that there was no reason to wipe out an entire village’s population.” Jourmind shook his head as he replied.

“Either way, their conquest went unchallenged, country after country was defeated and annexed by the Gatun Empire. The few that resisted were utterly crushed, their people killed, raped, pillaged, and used as slaves, for entertainment, or to power their cruel magitech creations. Those that knew they had no chance surrendered, with their rulers executed, and puppet governments put in their place.

“Even those countries with Divine Beings that could resist would fall eventually, for the Gatun Empire had Divine Beings of their own. They were also backed by a mighty army, which also had weapons that were even a threat for one as mighty as a Divine Being. Many such individuals simply chose to surrender since they would still be treated relatively well as long as they complied with the Empire’s dogma.”

“After conquering most of the continent, their final target was a small country to the west, Roredi, that was made of the various islands that today are part of the Kingdom of Four Winds. They built large mighty warships, each the size of our Imperial Palace, and filled them with magitek weapons that did not need mages to utilize.”

“It was cloudy and foggy that day as if foreboding an ill omen, and the enemy fleet was intercepted on the Sea of Voices. Although the Roredian country's navy was more skillful in naval warfare, and consisted of veteran water element mages, they took heavy losses before they could adapt to the new magitek artilleries. Even their special magic that was able to manipulate the fog on the Sea of Voices was dispersed from the hail of enemy projectiles. Before the first prototype Gatun airships arrived, they were all but decimated. Such was how within the first hour of the start of the declaration of war, the Gatun troops had made landfall on Roredian shores”

“Is magitek stronger than magic?” Yuelei questioned. “Can they not have focused on sinking the enemy ships if they couldn't win a naval battle?”

“That is exactly what they did. But there are many aspects to war.” Jourmind reached out and rubbed Yuelei’s head in praise for the deduction. “As the Gatun Empire's warships sank, their wind element mages would levitate the troops and fly them towards land. When mages clash, not only is it a battle of strength, it is about who can outwit the other. Although the country of Roredi’s navy had more skillful mages when it came to the water element, there are ways to utilize the other elements to secure a path to the Roredian shores. As for your other question, only today do we know the limitations of magitek, so at the time it was something new and terrifying. ”

“But as I was saying, the Gatun troops managed to land and secure the beach, then started making their way towards the nearby harbor. They cut down everything in their path, regardless of age or gender even if they were non-combatants. Roreti was going to be made into another example of what would happen to those that dare oppose the Gatun Empire and it seemed all was lost at that point.” Jourmind paused to sip his tea, but stopped as he was met with expectant gazes.

“When one Gatun soldier raised his sword to strike at a fleeing child, a thundering crackle drew the attention of all on the battlefield. The skies grew dark as if in a storm, and a sword of golden lightning shot from the skies and incinerated that nameless soldier into ashes. As the other invaders stared in shock at their fallen comrade, five more swords of lightning rained down from the heavens. Each one flashed through the battlefield, annihilating dozens of foes before they circled around a lone individual that stepped through the morning fog.”

“That was when Alesta, the 'Golden Lightning', made her name known across the Eiloong continent. Alesta wielded a pure white blade of lightning and flitted across the battlefield slaying hundreds in their wake. With each flash of lightning, she would vanish, and with each clap of thunder, she would reappear, turning all around her into ashes. What made her even more fear-invoking was that she controlled six swords of lighting as if they were her own body, each one of them tearing through the battlefield and leaving only charred corpses.”

“Just like how the world was unprepared for the Gatun Empire’s magitek weaponry, it was also unprepared for the first appearance of a variant element user. Experience borne from hundreds of campaigns was meaningless in the face of absolute power, and the ever-growing piles of bodies dotting the shoreline was evidence to that fact. Even their mages were no match for her, their spells literally and figuratively disintegrated by the golden lightning that sparked from Alesta’s swords. This was when one of the flaws of magitek weapons and tools was also made known, as they simply would not work in the presence of her variant magic.”

"They simply could not stop her. Before long the sand turned a shade of deep crimson, the lapping waves filled with more blood than seawater, and blackened bodies piled up in the thousands. Yet, despite this, it appeared to the islanders as if not a single speck of blood had touched her nor tainted the color of her blades.”

“Why did she appear there and nowhere else when other countries were attacked?” Airen asked.

“Who knows? Human motives are always things that can never be easily understood .” Jourmind shook his head, a hint of sadness in his face “Nevertheless, that was a turning point for the Gatun Empire. Four times they attempted to attack the islands, and each time they were repelled single-handedly by Alesta. Before long, they started to send Divine Beings as part of their assault force as well.”

“Are you saying she managed to defeat more than one Divine Beings at the same time?” Yuelei gasped.

“Very few managed to witness that battle, so we are not entirely sure how she managed it. However, even between Divine Beings, there can be differences in power. From what little we know, two more islands now exist in the Kingdom of Four Winds because of her battles. Those Divine Beings from the Gatun Empire were never seen again, while Alesta very clearly made her presence known throughout the Eiloong continent. Perhaps this story may have been different if the Gatun Empire had sent all their Divine Beings at once, but they were still struggling to maintain control over their newfound territories.”

“It was at that point the rulers of the Gatun Empire knew that they had made an enemy of a very, very dangerous person. They sent a messenger with requests of peace backed by offers of riches beyond imagination. It is said the emperor asked her to name what she wanted, but she never replied.“ Jourmind lightly shook his arm to shoo away a firefly that had landed on him. “Except to kill the messenger, or so many believed.”

“It is said that Alesta went to each conquered kingdom and town, executing all of the rulers put into power by the Gatun Empire. She left rebellion in her wake and exacted justice for the enslaved populace that had unwillingly fallen under the Gatun Empire’s rule. Within a month, all of the countries and lands that the Gatun Empire had conquered were in open rebellion, having been inspired by her actions.”

“In the matter of a few months, there were no more Divine Beings that the Gatun Empire had remaining that dared to contest Alesta. Those that survived their encounter with her would quietly excuse themselves from the growing conflict. Many countries soon also started to gain access to magitek technologies as they obtained the Gatun Empire’s weaponry, and it was not long before a united front was created.”

“In the end, the rulers of the Gatun Empire were executed by Alesta. There are many tales of how she had killed them, but the most common one was that she killed the Emperor in the middle of his court before she started to hunt down anyone that supported the Gatun Empire’s policies. It was said at this time that the true horrors of the ancient magitek the Gatun Empire researched came to light, but unfortunately, most of those records have been destroyed, done so by Alesta herself if the stories are to be trusted. ”

“What happened to her afterwards?” Yuelei asked. “Did she rise to become a queen of her own country?”

“In her final act, she destroyed all magitek devices with her variant magic, and issued a warning to any that would take up the mantle of pursuing it. Leaving those words, she vanished. ” Jourmind shook his head. “To this day, many speculate her motives, who she was, if she is still alive, and even if she was human. But we will never know as many of the countries from that time no longer exist today, and only a few even recall the legend of Alesta, the Golden Lightning. ”

“Now, both of you have been up long enough. It's time for the two little ones to go to get ready for bed. Look, Airen is already half asleep.” Jourmind started to stack the empty dishes quietly to take back with him. As he moved, Yuelei followed his example and helped Airen to his bed, careful to not wake him up. Before she herself retired however, she escorted Jourmind to the door.

“Jomin?”

“Yes, my child?”

“When I grow up, I want to be like Alesta,” Yuelei smiled, and Jourmind faltered before replying, not having the heart to tell her that not everyone was blessed with a divine element.

“Goals are good, Yuelei. But to do that, you’ll need to rest so you can train tomorrow. If you work hard enough, anything is possible. Now off to bed with you, young lady.”

Elsewhere, that same night.

In a small private room, Empress Xeina sat alone in the dark, illuminated only by the light of a single candle. If a servant would have dared to peer into the Queen’s chambers at this time, they would have been surprised that the queen regent was still awake, doing nothing except gaze at the small flame in a trance. If they had peered even closer, however, then they would have noticed her lips slowly moving before their life would have been cut short for staring too closely.

“Did anyone see you enter the city?” A voice drifted out of the veil, somber but elegant.

“No.” a hooded figure spoke in response, hidden between the shadows, his voice raspy as if it was a wind blowing through a desiccated ruin. “Even most Divine Beings would be unable to sense my presence.”

“I take it that our... arrangement is complete then?”

“It is done.”

“And did you-”

“He is nothing but a walking corpse now, as you wished.”

“Good.“ The tension in the room seemed to dissipate with the murmuring of these words. “At long last...”

“Give me your arm.” the owner of the voice walked into the candlelight. His face was not visible, having been obscured by the black robe the figure wore. However, if one were to look closely, there were thousands of runes scribbled onto the ancient robe in an esoteric fashion.

“Is that the way you treat royalty?” Xenia scoffed, but she nevertheless acquiesced. With slow movements, a pale arm emerged from beneath the table as she quietly pulled back her sleeve.

The man ignored her words and withdrew a small ornate chest from inside his robe. It was an odd thing, seemingly formed from black glass and white ivory. The shaded figure slowly opened it, revealing a black, jagged rock. To Xeina's eyes, it appeared to be a dark red crystal not unlike congealed blood.

A light sound of clicking disturbed the silence as a skeletal hand picked up the blackened crystal and held it in the air. Light purple flames that seemed to absorb all the shadows flickered for a moment, and then the crystal started to melt and drip onto Xeina's arm. If it was painful, there was no signs of it as she hardly seemed to reach at the touch. As the final vestiges seeped into her skin, it formed a magical sigil - the only evidence of the dark pact that was just made. Without a word, she took out a box of her own and opened it in front of the ghost-like figure.

“Here it is, per our agreement.” Xeina opened the box, revealing a lotus formed from pink crystals that seemed to be growing out of a block of amethyst. Almost as if entranced, the hooded figure grasped the box with erratic movements and retreated into the darkness before he inspected it.

“It took six years... six years I have waited…” After confirming it was what he had been searching for, the man whispered to himself in glee. At this, Xeina felt her anger begin to rise.

“Six years is a small amount of time to find something that was not even supposed to exist.” She hissed. “The sacrifices made, you would not even understand.”

In response, the man slowly turned his gaze to Xeina, as if seeing her for the first time. Despite not being able to see the man’s face, she felt goosebumps rising and a chill run down her neck.

“You have my gratitude, but do not forget that this was a deal you proposed.” He cradled the box as if it was a child. “You may think of me as a monster, but do not think to speak to me about sacrifice. ”

“Our business is done, leave this place. May we never meet again, Necromancer.”

“It is the fate of all Divine Beings to encounter each other again.” The voice laughed, a hollow, chilling sound that reverberated uncomfortably in the room. Even as the shadowy figure faded away into the darkness, a mocking voice left a final comment.

“Congratulations. May your rule be wise and righteous.”

***

“I thought we were going to be training today,” Airen complained to Jourmind as they entered the courtyard. However, Jourmind had not brought any of their usual sparring equipment with them and carried a small box instead.

“We are, but of a different nature. Today, we will be introducing you to magic.” Jourmind replied as he tapped the ground with his feet. The dirt rippled like the surface of a lake and then rose up into the air in a half-liquid, half-solid form. And just as abruptly as it rose, it fell and left three chairs out of stone. “A warrior trains his mind, but a good mage trains his body. “

“Should it not be the other way around, Teacher?” Yuelei asked as she sat down. “Mages train their mind while warriors train their bodies?”

“You heard me correctly.” Jourmind elaborated. “One must make up for their weaknesses before bettering their strengths.”

“I think I get it…” Yuelei responded. “But how would Airen and I practice magic if we do not even know about our affinities yet?”

“You don’t. There are many ways to train magic, but that will be things you only learn after the ceremony. Today, I will be teaching you a bit of magical theory instead.” Jourmind opened the box, revealing some black-speckled sand. In one motion, he tilted the box and dumped it all onto the floor in front of him.

“Watch.”

Jourmind furrowed his brow and floated his hand above the mound of sand. It began to shift and twist as if being manipulated by a delicate wind. The spiraling sand seemed to slowly transform into a whirlpool, forming into a small sphere. A few seconds after, the sphere started to wriggle before it grew a pair of arms and legs. Before long, a miniature clay Airen figurine stared at the two children.

“This is one of the beginner Earth affinity spells, Clay Image.” Jourmind explained as Yuelei picked it up and held it next to Airen to compare their features. Although the finer details were rough at the edges, it was still a well-made imitation. “It is often used by government officials for census duties.”

“Wow, he looks exactly like you, Airen!”

“It does not. My head isn't that big...” Airen leaned down and peered face to face with his miniature self.

“A higher ranked mage would be able to create a greater version of the spell, making it an animate object, or even creating a life-sized version. Of course, it would require a greater amount of magic as more skillful manipulation of the spell. Perhaps, you can ask your Lord Father to demonstrate when he returns tomorrow.” Jourmind smiled. “Put him back on the ground, Yuelei.”

“Thanks to our ancestors, we have come to understand that there are three parts to casting a spell.” Jourmind held up three fingers as the figure returned into a pile of sand.

“The first part of using magic is to gather the element in the area around you with your magical power.” Jourmind waved his hand, and the pile of sand drifted towards him before settling in front of him. “One’s magical power comes from the soul, and each person’s soul is like a vessel that they can draw from. By dispersing their magical power into an area, shape, or form, it will create a resonance with whichever element the user has an affinity with, granting control of the elemental particles in the world around them. This affects all factors of your spells; for example, the more pure the elemental particles, the stronger your spells, and the more efficient you are at gathering elements, the quicker you can cast your spell. Many say this step is the easiest to learn, but the hardest to master. ”

“The second step is manipulating and forging it.” He furrowed his brow and the sand formed into the shape of a needle. “By manipulating one’s dispersed magical power, you can manipulate the elements to your will. Each spell has its own form, method, difficulty, and sometimes even components, all of which greatly affects the end result. You can think of this as steps within the steps of casting a spell, and the better you understand each of these steps, the greater the outcome of the spells. Compared to the first step however, there are a myriad of different formulas for spells.”

“The last step is to project and manifest the spell.” With a gesture from Jourmind the needle shot into the air and impaled a migrating goose, before returning with the corpse. “This part is both the easiest and hardest, and it is up to the user how they want to use their spell. Small subtle changes can morph a spell into entirely different things, such as a delayed spell execution, or infusing additional effects into the spell. ”

“In reality while using magic requires the aforementioned steps, even among those there are different variations across different countries and cultures. For example, half-breeds and magical beasts are sometimes said to manifest racial magic, in which case they intuitively know how to manipulate magical elements into certain spells. '' Jourmind paused and chucked inwardly at the enamored twins before continuing. “The arts of magical enchantments and the creation of magitek involves transcribing the projection of a spell onto a physical object. In the Holy Land of Ecclesia ⎯ they have a special method of prayer that is akin to casting spells that is said to cast the spells in the opposite sequence. The grace of magic is that possibilities are endless. ”

“As one uses magic, their vessel will slowly grow as they become accustomed to being a conduit for magic. This is why even if two mages even in skill were to clash in a battle of pure magical might, it can be a one-sided battle as one simply has a larger vessel. Many craftsmen also use some manner of magic to assist their work, so it is also another reason why most Grandmasters are considered powerful mages in their own right. ”

“If it is up to the mage to create a spell, how come people give certain names to common spells?” Airen asked. Jourmind smiled as he turned the earthen needle back to sand and started to skillfully de-feather the bird.

“Most of the time spells like this Earth Bolt are given that name because of the magic's purpose and the way the magic is cast. Although I made it into a needle, I could have easily made it into a smooth round rock or a spiked ball. Either way, it was meant to be formed quickly and shot at the enemy.” As he explained, he started to gut the bird while a hole dug itself next to him, the dirt forming a neat little pile next to him. “Magic is a volatile thing, so most mages are taught spells that follow a specific series of steps or rules so that they do not harm themselves. This is also a reason why most academies will teach certain established spells with minimum amount of danger. Only master mages are allowed to invent their own spells, but even then it is not on par with what a Divine individual can do.“

“However, even basic magic manipulation can also be used to change the environment without needing for it to be a spell. For example, this hole is being dug with magic.” Jourmind threw the innards and feathers into the hole and buried it with dirt. “I am simply gathering the earth element from a specific area, and visualizing that it moves elsewhere.”

“Are you going to cook that bird, Jomin?” Yuelei asked, her hunger getting the better of her. “Should we ask the servants for some firewood?”

“No need, it just so happens we have some old training weapons that are beyond use..” Jourmind replied. He carefully prepared a small pit and placed the fuel inside. Once he finished, he stopped and stared intently at the wood.

A few minutes passed, and Jourmind did not move or make a sound.

“Jomin?” Airen and Yuelei chirped quietly. After a few moments of not receiving a response, they raised their voices and repeated themselves. At the interruption, Jourmind turned towards them and put a finger to his lips, and they quieted instantly.

One minute passed. And then another. After a full six minutes, a flame burst forth from the wood, and Jourmind slowly coaxed it into a cozy campfire. Yuelei and Airen stood and stared at Jourmind, for they had never seen him use fire magic before.

“Were you a dual-element magus?” Yuelei ventured.

“No, I am not like your Lord father. I'm just a humble earth mage.”

Jourmind chuckled as he held the bird over the fire.

“But... that was fire magic. We both saw it. “ Airen interjected.

“Yes it was.” Seeing his pupils’ faces, Jourmind couldn't help but start laughing.

“Then, how did you do it?”

“Just because I have earth affinity does not mean I cannot utilize the other elements. A mage can use any element, but it is difficult to use an element that they do not have affinities with. As you saw, it took me a long time to simply create a small flame while it took a few seconds to create an Earth Bolt.” Jourmind revealed as he took out a dagger and cut snippets of meat for Airen and Yuelei.

“That is precisely why dual-element mages are dangerous. Although neither one of their elements are as pure compared to an element of a mono- element mage of the same rank, they can combine the effects of both elements to create new spells.” Jourmind drank from his canteen before offering it to the twins. “Your Lord Father ⎯ did he never tell you how he earned his title - 'Fist of the Heavens? '”

“Is it not because he fights with gauntlets?” Airen asked.

“That is part of it,” Jourmind responded. “There are several stories that most people don’t spread about what led to him getting his name.”

“Tell us Jomin!,” Yuelei said, having grown intrigued at the prospect of another tale. “Tell us!”

At their clamoring, Jourmind closed his eyes and tried to remember his adventuring days. Only after sorting out his memories and thoughts did he open his mouth and spoke.

…

“The first event that set everything in motion was a tournament hosted in The Holy Land of Ecclesia. Your father, Macha, was an unknown man amongst many at that time, sharing the burden of those borne during times of strife. He had no fame to his name, a country to call his own or even a home that he could return to. His only valuable possession was the ring his mother had given him. He was just one of the wanderers in our small band of mercenaries.” Jourmind’s eyes glazed over as if he had returned to a time in the past.

“Despite that, your father was a stalwart and compassionate individual. When times were desperate, he would forego food so the young war orphans we picked up would be able to eat.” Jourmind paused for a moment, before continuing. “I… was one of them. We were merely a group formed in order to survive in a cruel world, but in many ways, it was the closest to a family that we had. We had rules of course, but we took care of our own.“

“When our leader died in one of our missions, your father was unanimously voted to be the new leader. He kept us together and kept us out of any dangerous contracts. Although we had enemies, there were many more that called Macha his friend.”

“A few years afterward, he decided it was time that our rag-tag band would finally have a home to call our own. We had come to participate in the tournament with all intention of taking the monetary prize. But reality is much harsher than you think, Macha was the only person without the name of a school or academy backing him to enter the preliminaries. “

“I still remember how he climbed into the semi-finals. All the spectators and judges whispered among themselves 'who was this man'. Compared to the other contestants, he was dressed in gear taken from the fallen, without mighty inheritances and fought with his hands. ” Jourmind smiled. “He was laughed at as a barbarian, clumsy, and without grace. However… he was our leader, we had thought to ourselves at that time, and Macha was our pride and honor. ”

“When the final duel took place, that was when the foundations of his name were built. The opponent introduced himself as the son of the Acher Clan and asked for his name and status. Macha introduced himself as well, and the opponent, upon finding that he was a nameless individual, started to insinuate that he was cheating and not worthy. This is why Airen, you should never look down on others ⎯ fear not the great spells but the hidden blades. ”

“Your father ignored him and instead waited for the signal to start the match. Right before the bell went off however, his opponent made the mistake of calling our small band a group of highway bandits. Your father was intelligent and had good senses, but he always had a short temper, and nothing ired him more than his family being called thieves. After all, orphans had everything taken from them by war, but despite this, we led a poor but righteous life.”

“The fight was over in an instant. Once the signal was given, Macha had sent the enemy flying into the skies with a flaming uppercut. And in the next moment, he disappeared and grabbed his opponent midair, slamming his head back into the ground.” After another sip from his canteen, Jourmind continued quietly. “It was a one sided slaughter, the Acher scion should have known better then to run his mouth, but that was were all the trouble began as well.”

“Using our newly-acquired funds, your father bought a large estate that we started to develop ourselves. After his display of strength, more and more people came to us for jobs and contracts, providing a steady income stream. Our living conditions slow improved, and before long our mercenary group’s name became commonplace⎯ The Restless Sparrows. The symbol of our house may be a pair of herons now, but sparrows were what we considered ourselves then.” Jourmind smiled briefly, but it quickly disappeared as his face turned grim.

“It was not uncommon for people to die in the tournament… but unbeknownst to us, the Acher house had been plotting for revenge for a long time. When they came, it was... a massacre. They waited until Macha left for a contract, and then marched in with their forces and started killing everyone. Our haven had turned into an execution ground, and we could not even send word to Macha for help.”

“A few of us managed to hide in the hidden underground storage room, and I was one of them.” Jourmind hesitated, before deciding to continue. “We had to listen to the screams and voices of our friends pleading for their lives before they were cut short. After they were finished, they set our home on fire to hide the evidence and conceal their deeds. Black smoke started to waft in our hidden abode, and eventually, we passed out.”

Jourmind 's hands were clenched and his teeth grated against each other. Remembering that Airen and Yuelei were watching, he forced himself to relax. Although he had skipped some of the more gruesome memories, this was a necessary experience for them to understand what cruelty was.

“What happened next?” Yuelei quietly asked.

“When I woke up, someone had dragged me out of the wreckage. I sat up and saw Macha digging through the rubble trying to find other survivors. I took a look around and saw the eight of us, the eight that were hidden in the storage, on the ground next to me. We were the few that survived. I called out to your father, and when he saw I was awake, he rushed over to see if I was alright. His expression that day, I would never forget. It was the face of a man devastated by emotions that was beyond him, crushing him from all sides and leaving only hatred behind. Instead of comforting him, the only thing I could tell him was the name of the culprits because I was also consumed by the same.”

“That was how we came to the Kingdom of Belsing in pursuit of the Acher clan, all for the sake of revenge. If you recall, Belsing was your grandfather's name. At that time, he had passed away and there was a war being fought over the succession. It was rumored that he had an illegitimate son, but nobody was sure of who it was. As a result, several imposters came out, with all manner of stories of their right to succeed the throne.“

“The man your father killed in the tournament was one of these false pretenders to the throne. We infiltrated the Acher clan’s estate as guards posing under a different name and sharpened our weapons. When night came, we returned the favor.” Jourmind paused.

“We spared only the children. Just as Macha was about to strike down the Acher family leader, that person noticed the ring Macha was wearing. With Macha's appearance, his strength, and the ring, he put the pieces together and begged your father to spare the others’ lives in return for his own, calling him a 'benevolent king.' ”

“Perhaps it was the realization of who he actually was, perhaps it was the Acher leader's two daughters jumping in front of their father to protect him, or perhaps maybe both, but Macha's anger receded. He asked for the person that ordered the massacre and found out it was the clan leader's second wife, a mother on a quest for revenge. And then he gave them an ultimatum and offer. Her life forfeited, his allegiance, one of his daughters as a hostage, and he would not exterminate his clan.“

“The rest from there is unimportant. Your father had reached Divine Being status at that point, and that alone gave him the right to challenge the right to the throne.”

“Some of the factions he managed to persuade, many of the pretenders he crushed with an iron fist, but what made him king was not power but rather the admiration of the public. After five years of civil war, the masses were tired and hungry. Macha ordered the clans on his side to open their gates and use their money to feed the people. When fights broke out between factions, Macha would intervene. And when defeating his foes, it seemed to onlookers that he fell from the heavens as he slammed into the ground causing the earth to splinter and crack where he stood. “

“With both the backing of the public and several powerful clans, your father eventually properly succeeded your grandfather. That was the story of how your father became the ‘Fist of the Heavens’ as well as how the Kingdom of Macha came to be.”

“What happened to the Acher girl that father took as a hostage?” Airen asked.

Jourmind stared at the sky that was starting to turn a shade of orange and red and chuckled. “It's funny how love works because that girl was your mother, Airen.”

“What?” Yuelei exclaimed, “How?”

“A story for another time,” Jourmind promised. “Right now, it's time for the younglings to be off for dinner. You cannot be eating in your rooms all the time.” He stood and ushered the two towards the Imperial Palace for their daily bath, ignoring their complaints, and waving them off to a servant.

As Jourmind was cleaning the fire pit, a brown sparrow darted from the skies and perched onto his shoulder. He rummaged around his pockets and pulled out a small bag that smelled of dried fruits and nuts.

“To think that someone still uses our old band's method of communication.” Jourmind mused. “I wonder who it's from...” As the bird pecked at the crumbled nuts, Jourmind retrieved the small scroll that was tied to its leg.

Reading the message, Jourmind's eyes first widened, then steeled into a glare. He glanced around him to check if anyone was watching. After asserting that there were no prying eyes, he hid the message within his pockets. Then with measured steps, he made his way towards the Imperial Palace.

***

“Hey, Yuli.”

“What?”

The pair were returning to their room after a lavish dinner. Airen fumbled around his robes and pulled out a small box.

“We won't have time on the day before the ceremony so...” Airen shifted his feet.

“Happy birthday.” He presented the teal box to Yuelei.

“So that's what you were buying the last time we snuck out of the palace.” Yuelei teased.

“We think alike.” Yuelei also took out a mint colored box, slightly larger than Airen's and handed it to him.

They opened their individual gifts at the same time. Within Airen's was a red piece of cloth embroidered with lotuses. Upon closer inspection, the lines in the designs seemed to glimmer slightly, shimmering like light across waves. Within Yuelei's was a beautiful turquoise hairpin encrusted with three deep blue gems.

Airen picked up the cloth in curiosity, despite how thick it was, it was extremely lightweight and flexible.

“This scarf is specially made from the fur of a rare magical beast that never dirties. You can use this cloth to wipe just about anything and it would still remain clean, and if it tears, it slowly fixes itself. ” Yuelei proudly explained, pleased at her choice.

“That's pretty useful,” Airen admitted.

“Your turn.”Yuelei pressed.

“That hairpin was made by an artificer, not a jeweler.” Airen bragged. “Each gem has a special effect. Touching the smallest one would cause it to emit light. The medium-sized one changes color if it encounters poison, and the largest one can be used to find water. ”

“Where did you get this sort of thing?” Yuelei questioned as she looked over the hairpin.

“Actually... Jomin helped me pick it out” Airen confessed. “The enchantments in the gemstones won’t last forever according to what he said.”

“Really? Jomin told me to get this for you too...” Yuelei said.

They both held their heads in silence.

“That Jomin... he really did ruin our competition this year, didn't he?”

“Either way, I would have won! Obviously, my present was the better one!” Airen declared.

“Is not! You know as well as I do that I do not wear any ornaments. Mine is more practical!”

The two of them bickered for some time, long before they fell asleep.

Airen woke up with a hand softly covering his mouth. His eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness to see Jourmind with a finger pressed to his mouth. Jourmind's piercing eyes stared at him as he shook his head slowly side by side, and Airen nodded in response. He gestured for him to wake Yuelei as he walked to the door and peered outside.

“Yuli, wake up,” Airen whispered. After he slowly shook her a few times, Yuelei finally roused from her sleep.

“What is-” Yuelei’s eyes were drowsy and she was about to complain but halted herself after Airen quickly covered her mouth.

“Shhh!”

“Airen, Yuelei. First, change into these and listen to me closely.” Jourmind handed the pair some black robes. As they fumbled in the dark to change into the new clothes, he continued.

“Your father tasked me to get you out of here. Your things are already in here⎯ ” Jourmind handed the two of them two large burlap sacks. “I know you two have questions but now is not the time. Right now, we must leave.”

The two children were confused at first, but quickly followed Jourmind's instructions. After moving them to the corner of the room, Jourmind removed a few tiles on the floor. He placed his palm onto the ground and after a few moments, the earth started to shift apart until a small man-sized tunnel passage was made.

“Airen, you go first, then Yuelei, you follow him. I will be right behind you two. Do not speak unless you have to, otherwise, someone might hear us.”

The tunnel was relatively straightforward, but it was by no means a comfortable experience as dirt and stone dug into their knees as they crawled forward in the darkness. Normally Airen would have started complaining, but Jourmind’s intense demeanor silenced him. Deep beneath the earth was cold and silent, with the only sound being the patter of crumbling earth as Jourmind continued to open the tunnel ahead of them with magic.

After an hour underground, Airen could no longer bear it and broke the silence.

“Jomin, where does this even lead? And why did Father ask you to take us away from the palace?” Airen’s whispered words echoed in the small chamber behind them.

“Lord Father is Divine Being. Why would anyone want to risk his wrath?” Yuelei added quietly. “Did... did another country attack us?”

“An incident befell your father and he was severely injured. There are rumors that the Imperial Palace has been infiltrated by assassins, and there is a traitor hiding among us.” Jourmind did not wish to lie to the children, yet at the same time, he needed them to concentrate on the task at hand. He assumed that it should be fine to talk since they were relatively deep underground. “This tunnel leads to the outskirts of the city. There, we will be going into hiding for a little while until things settle down.” Jourmind explained.

“Are you going to protect us Jomin?” Yuelei asked.

“I am confident I could protect both you and Yuli, but sooner or later, a small mistake could be the end of us.” Jourmind explained. "When you are not sure who or how strong your enemies are, that is the worst situation to be in.”

“Remember what I said about how to deal with your enemies? If your enemy is stronger, you must elude them.” Jourmind changed the topic in an attempt to ease the two’s growing fears. “If your enemy is your equal, then you can prepare for them. But if they are weaker- ”

“You crush them.” a ringing female voice abruptly interrupted as the earth started to shake. Before anyone could react, the three were met with the sight of the dark night sky as the earth split open and all three of them were launched into the air in a blast of force.

Jourmind quickly oriented himself to land on his feet. A few meters away from him, he came face to face with two masked men. The limp bodies of Airen and Yuelei hanged from their arms, showing that they had been knocked unconscious. However, what truly shocked Jourmind was the all-too familiar figure that stood quietly behind the two men.

“It did not strike me that you were also a reader of the art of war,” Xeina commented as her cold eyes peered over from her side, barely illuminated by the torches held by her retainers. “But to think you, a mere adept earth magus, can elude me?”

“Put those two down. I do not know what sort of grudge you hold, but those two are innocent.” In a flash, Jourmind drew his rapier and took a defensive stance. He glanced at the two masked men and cursed inwardly, unable to grasp the measure of their strength.

“Innocent?” Xeina started to laugh, a grudging laugh full of bitterness and a hint of sadness. “Nobody is truly innocent, Jourmind, or should I call you by your full name? My half brother, Jourmind Acher, once the greatest hope and once the greatest threat to the our clan.”

“The Acher family banished me before I was even born into the world.” Jourmind snarled. “If your grudge is with me, then let those two little ones go, and I will come quietly and accept any punishment you desire! Why are you doing this!?”

“Why? Why should I?” Xeina repeated, her eyes narrowed. “Have you not realized why I am doing this?”

“Macha?” Jourmind read between the lines. “His problem with the Acher family was resolved when he and Aris, fell in love and got married!”

“Yet if they were in love, why did she die? Why did Macha, the mighty Fist of the Heavens, not protect her? Why did she, who sacrificed herself to take my place, have to die!?” Xeina’s voice was quiet, but her last sentence contained uncontrolled venom.

“But that was an accident!” Jourmind interrupted. “Nobody could have predicted that-”

“An accident?!” At his words, Xeina started to laugh. “When that man came back one day, with my sister’s corpse in his hands and with no witnesses and refused to explain, did you think I was a fool? If he had lied, who would dare not to believe him?”

“Macha really did love her, Xeina. He hesitated for years because of the uneasy tension between him and your family. Your sister also couldn’t say anything, believing that she was atoning for what the Acher house did to his… our family.” Jourmind muttered after being silent for some time.

“I, too, was willing to let bygones be bygones. I had sworn that as long as Macha held her dear and his love was true, I would be content.” Xeina walked in front of him until their faces were inches apart. Jourmind braced himself, thinking that she was going to attack, but she merely whispered. “But she died under his watch, and when I asked my dear husband why, he said he had to choose between her and the future of the country. How dare he?”

“Even Macha is a flawed⎯”

“And then within a month, he decided to make me the Queen! He did not even spend time to mourn Aris! Can you believe the audacity? He made an oath to us!” Xeina scowled and shouted over him. “Even the court protested and what did he do? Use his strength to force everyone to listen to him! ”

“He is dead now.” Jourmind opened his mouth to protest but Xeina cut him off. “All that is left is to clean up those that would follow such a man.”

Red mist started to seep into Jourmind's vision as he tightened the grip on his weapon. The letter Macha had sent him was during his final moments, and it was only now that Jourmind found out who was the culprit.

“I would not do that if I were you, Jourmind Acher, or would you prefer if I called you ‘brother’?” Xeina said, her back towards him. “You've always treated Aris well, and I would not prefer to kill my last sibling. I will restructure the Acher clan with its outdated traditions and then purge- ”

“What about Airen and Yuelei?” Jourmind hissed

“These two are a different story.” Xeina snorted. “Do you think they will listen quietly or even understand why we have come to this point? No, the problem must be ripped out from its roots.”

“The Casteya clan is my family now, leader of the Acher house. And if you insist on harming those two, I have no choice but to be forced to fight you.” Jourmind channeled his strength and poured it into his earth magic. Two, then four, then eight Clay Images of him appeared behind his back, each holding their rapier in a dueling stance.

Xeina said nothing and merely sighed quietly. Even as the Clay Images all charged towards them brandishing their weapon, she seemed indifferent. When they finally reached within ten meters, one of the masked men started to walk forward, only to be blocked by her arm.

In the next second, a golden-orange light flashed in Xeina's eyes as the ground around her trembled, before erupting into thousands of dark orange spears of stone. The Earthen Lances pulsed forward in waves from her feet like a cascading wave, reducing the Clay Images to rubble before continuing towards their true target. Several of them pierced and pinned Jourmind, delivering multiple wounds as they impaled his body before he could even react.

“What…” Jourmind spat blood, his eyes on Xeina who was calmly walking towards him. Jourmind had considered himself an adept warrior, but he had not even been able to reach to defend himself. “You are a -”

“Yes, I am a Divine Being now.“ Xeina affirmed sadly. “I had wished to keep the world ignorant, but with the way things are, it seems I have no choice.” Her words slurred as Jourmind felt his vision and hearing starting to dim. “At the very least, this is a burden I am prepared to bear.”

“Goodbye, brother of mine that I have never known.”

“Please...” Jourmind croaked out with the last bits of his strength. “Spare them... they are… your sister’s children.” He wrenched his impaled hand off a spear of stone and placed it on Xeina's shoulder. However, he had no strength to tighten his grip, and blood merely soaked into her gown. However, his half sister did not knock his hand away, instead looking into his eyes as he stared back.

A minute passed as Jourmind’s breath grew haggard as he blood filled his lungs and he fought the toll of the bell. Even as his eyes reddened with blood and he felt his senses slowly slip away, Jourmind did not let his gaze falter as he pleaded with unspoken words.

Finally, Xeina simply nodded. Perhaps it was her way of saying goodbye to her last sibling, perhaps it was out of mercy, but as soon as she did, Jourmind Casteya, traitor of the Acher Clan, entered the final sleep.

Xeina stood there until the warmth of Jourmind’s blood faded from the hand on her shoulder, reminiscing as she sighed. She waved a hand and dispelled the constructed lances, causing Jourmind’s limp body to crash to the ground.

“I curse all of you that put me in this position.” Xeina murmured as she stared up into the night sky. “Aris, may you forgive me for what I have done, and for the things that I must do after this.”

“Shall we dispose of these two? My Queen, there’s no need to dirty your hands any further…” a voice interrupted her. The masked men walked over and pointed towards the unconscious children in their arms.

Xeina walked over and caressed her hands through Yuelei's hair. During their minor interactions in the palace, the two only brought back memories of her dear sister. Every time she had looked at them, she had felt pain and suffering, for they so very much resembled her and Aris.

As her mind drifted between childhood memories, she recalled Jourmind's last words.

They are your sister's children.

That in turn, triggered her memory of a promise she had made long ago, a time when she had felt her sister’s happiness when she had told her she was with child.

“Let them go.” Xeina quietly said. “I gave my word.”

“Are you sure?” one of the men inquired. “They’re already dead, and our plans would be⎯”

“Do I have to explain myself to you?” Xeina snapped.

“I⎯ I don’t dare…”

“Split them and send them away, as karma dictates. If fate and fortune favor them, then one day they will meet again.”