Jonathan Unsterblich has gone mad.

That fact remained clear the moment everything had summed up. In just three days, he murdered countless families ranging from n.o.bility to common folk. And it was not just in Feuer, but also across the seven countries over the continent of Zuerst.

This was an unprecedented event. Jonathan was a student in Magierstadt, in par with the prodigy genius Eulalia Fortunatorum. The two of them symbolized light and darkness. The duo. The Pair. They were the epitome of balance, others claim (who were mostly students and citizens in Magierstadt)

Jonathan came from a prosperous family—the family that established Magierstadt itself. The schoolmaster being Jonathan's ancestor saved a bit of his reputation, however, he's still considered a product of 'oddity'… even before he committed a heinous act.

Why so?

The Unsterblichs possessed a silver hair akin to the schoolmaster's portrait that hung over the Great Hall of Magierstadt. The schoolmaster had purple eyes that were complimenting his look, along with his slightly pointed ears serving as a proof of his origin. The schoolmaster was a pureblooded Elf, they say. It was year 100 when Magierstadt was built, and it is more likely that the Elves were still presiding over Earthland back those days, although in the current era, no pureblood can be found anymore.

Even if it is known that a dignified silver hair connotes an Unsterblich, it did not remain so over the course of years; and it was due to the fact that the fair and silver hair they once possessed turned into a plain, dirtying off-white color; their purple eyes getting rarer at a span of time, which is perhaps due to their bloodline getting thinner and thinner over the progression of many generations.

The declining Unsterblich blood has carried over a thousand year—until a certain boy was born, who completely tarnished the whole line.

The boy had no features of an Unsterblich; he had black hair as dark as night, red eyes like sinister blood. This child matched not the distinct look of a distinguished family, but rather, he matched that of a slave's race. This caused numerous rumors pertaining to a certain affair between the Lady of the Unsterblich house, and a probable Heilen slave. This happenstance caused a derelict to the family, leaving the boy tended to nursemaids and left to fend on his own. He had no siblings due to the fact that the scandal permanently scarred the lives of his parents, and perhaps, even the future Unsterblichs.

Nevertheless, he grew up to be quite the man whom people had never expected him to be. He topped on Magierstadt as he showed a vast magical potential, s.h.i.+ning along with the prodigy Eulalia Fortunatorum at his coming of age, his debut to inherit the t.i.tle of the house. His features were largely ignored and dismissed in Magierstadt due to his achievements, although it grew several a.s.sumptions and rumors in n.o.bility.

However, these moments deemed to be short-lived. At the Graduation Ball of the Senior Mages, it happened.

The disappearance of Eulalia Fortunatorum,

And the murder of the royal family—the tragedy of the Feuerkriegers.

It happened too swiftly—these were unprecedented events. Upon the investigations of Higher-ranking mages, it is therefore concluded that Jonathan was possessing the ability to use dark magic—an art which cannot be learnt without the help of several books which are said to be hidden deep within Alte Stadt, an ancient city in the middle of the two continents where the Council preside. These books are forbidden for they use the power of darkness—the ent.i.ty that takes life.

For months of Noah's confinement in an enclosed powerful barrier, he received private reports regarding Jonathan and the murder of his family. He continued to study and train under Julian Ortfalcon's care, teaching him the rules of the Opus, politics, history, and train his body to be accustomed to his mana.

Several years and months did not do much progress over the maintenance of his body, yet the boy learned something far more important.

Noah learned to detach himself from his emotions, and mask himself into a person who can be equipped with the necessary elements for things to go to his bidding. He learned these through the guidance of Julian, and mostly himself. He knew has to be the next king—he has to. There is no time to be a child, no time to play and enjoy everything anymore.

**

"Noah… is king now?"

"Yes, Sheila." Julian answers. "He is now."

Sheila cannot believe what laid before her eyes. There stood the 12 year-old Noah, wearing robes that the late king once wore, adjusted to his built. Sheila's body trembled as she saw his expressionless eyes and his cold smile. This boy was not the one he played with before.

This boy, who was secluded for five years in an enclosed barrier as he planned strategies to take back territories of Feuer; the mind of new military formations and the one to a.s.semble a modified group of the Knighthood of the Firehawk—is not the boy she used to know.

This is not Noah.

"Behold, people of Feuer. The king behind Feuersturm's prosperity: a king who can use the Opus… Alexander Octavius Ein Feuerkrieger IX!"

"Long live, King Alexander Octavius IX!"

"LONG LIVE, THE YOUNG KING OF FEUERSTURM!"

"LONG LIVE THE KING!"

Noah turned to Sheila, and then smiled again. He walked past her, completely ignoring her presence. Sheila closed her eyes as she knew who the king shall be talking to—a woman who the king might loathe.

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"I congratulate you." A woman's voice. "King Alexander."

"I give you my thanks, Lady of Magierstadt." The king exclaims, "Maria Unsterblich."

Maria smiled, her silver hair and black eyes glistening in awe at the boy. "You can use the opus, king. My student Sheila will be of use to you, I believe; her abilities are next to none, as her father."

Sheila bowed her head, and gracefully smiled. "It will be an honor."

The young king smiled back, and left.

"What a c.o.c.ky little brat." The woman, Maria, says. "Just like his mother. She was not an Unsterblich, and just because she possessed a silver hair"—Maria stopped, realizing her words—"P-pardon me, Sheilalev. I must have spoken out of context."

"Yes, Madame."

"As I was saying, as the next head mage, you are needed to possess a compatibility to the four elements. If not you will be reduced to a mere priestess, a clairvoyant."

Sheila looked down. "I am trying, Ma'am."

"It's alright, you still have years to go… sometimes people just bloom late."

"Sheila. Madame Maria."

Julian Ortfalcon walks towards the two ladies, kissing the back of the palm of Maria as a sign of courtesy. He smiles. "The royal banquet to celebrate the king's ascension to the throne is now occurring. Shall we go to the hall?"

Maria Unsterblich smiles. "I am afraid that I cannot, Monsieur. The academy requires my presence… after all, I am the school director. I must be in Magierstadt at once."

"Is that so, My Lady?"

"Yes. I shall be going now." Maria says sweetly, and then she bows with grace. "Glory upon the Feuersturm Empire. I congratulate his majesty for his ascension. May prosperity be with us always."

And with that, she left.

Julian Ortfalcon sighed. "Are you alright, Sheila?"

"I'm fine, dad." Sheila exclaims. "I just hope I can be compatible with the elements soon."

"You will be." Julian says, patting her head. "Will you be joining the banquet? Do you have to go back to Magierstadt as well?"

"No." Sheila answers. "I want to see Noah."

"Shh, Sheila."

"Hm?"

"That name is forbidden from now on. We must not speak of His Majesty's given name, it disrespects the first king."

"Oh… the first king of Feuersturm."

Julian smiled dreamily. "We must not forget to pay respects to the first king. He is an absolute, the real hero of Zuerst. The friend of the Ortfalcons." He says. "You must remember that, Sheila."

"Yes, father."