A fire exploded in the sky, a comet of devastation as it seared across the horizon.
Below it, a village was smoldering. Destroyed houses were crumbling behind it at a distance. Smoke was weaving through the air like snakes, dirtied the twilight sky. Ash was falling like snow, slow drops blanketing the broken roofs, thawed wagons, and lost souls.
The smell of burning flesh permeated the air producing a stench colliding with the pungent smell of blood and wood. It constricted everything.
There were carcasses on the earthen road leading them—is it hundreds, thousands? One man lay dead without his head, the eyes rolled into the back of his head ghostly in terror; another's body lay slain and open exposing his own intestines spilling out down the street to where a shock of yellow brick met rubble—a fine glimmer on a gray cobble; they had him nailed to a wall with a distressed sword thrust into his mouth.
Out of the fire something lurch.
He was moving, gliding though as if shadows formed flesh. His face concealed behind a curtain of crackling blackness he stepped one foot down onto the entrails and ground the other into a skull. Faithful, aiming no argument no brevity, no loud division through silence.
Something moved again in the trees near by, a dozen dark sheathed beings walking out. They had come close to him taking up with them a half circle; their black coverings synthesizing with the night.
The figure came to an abrupt halt. His expressionless gaze now fell on the butlers, his eyes completely devoid of warmth.
One of the assassins took a step forward. "This is your last day," he stated flatly.
The figure flicked his wrist, sending a knife flying through the air toward them.
It missed... just barely, slicing a gash down the man's cheek. Purple blood welled up from the cut as the figure looked at it on his fingers, and he smiled.
The assassins froze in place.
That smile did not belong to a mundane man, it belonged to something without a name, something ancient. Something dangerous.
Then it began.
An immense dark purple aura erupted from his form, expanding with rippling waves of force, the air became dense and held until leaves curled, trees shook violently, and even the fire of the nearby campfire bent backward in a forceful repulsion.
A couple of the assassins hesitated, one even stepped backward.
"There are twelve of us!" spoke their leader, "He's alone, kill him!"
They all charged him.
The figure's smile became impossibly broader, his knuckles white with pressure as he cut into his palm.
Purple blood flowed, shining dimly. "You've made the biggest mistake in your lives."
Before they could move, their bodies stopped. Stiff.
The aura wrapped around them like a chain, pulling them up to the sky. Kicking legs. Bugged eyes.
The man raised his hand—and slowly made a fist.
Crack.
One assassin's rib cage was crushed. One assassin's spine twisted. Screams pierced the night as each bone broke one after another.
Blood burst out of mouths, eyes, ears.
Then—boom.
They rained down in chunks.
He was again alone. Silent.
He sat amongst the ruins, blood smeared over his face.
"It all started eight years ago," he said softly, "when I was just a kid."
Present Time
Sunlight spilled over the green grass and trees and a light breeze swirled gently across the ground, where a boy with black hair and black eyes stood, smiling. His name was Leon Graves. He was twelve years old and today... was the most important day of his life.
The beginning of is journey to Astralis Academy.
In his world there were four great nations surrounded by the vast of Great Ocean. His homeland, Azrathis, was a kingdom of power, which meant power runs in the blood.
The color of blood determined strength. Only one percent had rare blood colors that gave extraordinary power.
On every child's twelfth birthday, they would journey to Astralis Academy to drink the juice of the Celestara Fruit. If their blood changed color, they were gifted. If it stayed red... they were powerless.
Leon stepped up to the wooden cart where he would ride through the jungle.
"Leooooon!"
A voice yelled out. Leon turned to see a golden-haired boy running toward him—it was Finn Carter, his best friend and always beaming.
"You didn't think you'd leave without me, did you?" Finn said, panting from his run.
Finn was energetic and loud, the complete opposite to Leon, but the two had been inseparable since childhood.
They jumped on board, one of Leon's family servants took the reins, and the cart creaked to life.
Morning sun blazed through the jungle canopy that dotted the dirt road. Birds chirped nervously—there were stories of demons stalking the woods for prey.
The cart, with its two black horses, lumbered along.
Leon sat quietly on its edge, boots caked with mud, eyes glued to the ground.
The air took on a heaviness.
Tall, gnarled trees loomed about him like sentries. Vines dipped dangerously low. Shadows kicked up along the path.
Even Finn was quiet. Then— a scream. A girl's scream. The horses jumped. Birds flew out of the trees.
Leon and Finn's eyes widened and they looked at each other.
"Did you hear that?" Finn asked in a whisper.
Leon nodded. "We should check that out."
Their servant hesitated, but Leon's resolute look settled the matter.
They turned toward the sound.
Soon they were in a clearing.
The path ahead was obstructed by two carts. In the center of the clearing was a girl in a wheelchair with a white bunny clutched close to her chest, while two boys were mocking her and pushing her.
One boy kicked her wheelchair. The second boy was laughing and trying to grab her bunny away from her while she held tightly.
The girl's servant was nearby, pinned to the ground by two men, screaming and screaming with no one able to help her.
Leon narrowed his eyes. He recognized the girl.
Amelie.
He hopped off the cart.
"Hey!" shouted Finn. "Leave her alone!"
The bullies barely flinched.
"Who's he?" said one, glaring at both Leon and Finn.
Leon stepped forward, his eyes on fire. Clenching fists, he growled, "You'd best back off. Or it'll be real bad for you."
One of the bullies laughed. "You two are gonna stop us? Are you serious?"
The bully shoved Leon back, showing no fear, "We're knights. You can't do anything, wimp."
Leon looked to the cart - two knights were very close by, watching this unfold.
He gritted his teeth, feeling like there was nothing he could do. How could he let this happen to his friend? But then, his eyes flickered with the spark of an idea. He smiled.
"I'm House Graves. Noble House. Want to test me?" he stepped forward boldly.
The boys froze. The expressions on their faces changed.
"Is he bluffing?" one said quietly.
The other gritted his teeth. "We can't take the chance ... if he's telling the truth, we are screwed."
He pointed to Leon. "We'll let you go this time. But next time, you won't be standing."
With that, they turned and left with the knights.
Amelie looked up, surprised. Her face was pink with imprints.
Leon's knelt beside her. "You alright?"
She smiled. It was a soft, real smile.
Leon felt hot. He was completely loss in her smile, it was pure and beautiful. His heart raced in his chest.
Finn was behind them, smirking. "You better not fall in love too fast."
Leon woke up from his moment. "Shut up," he muttered, face pink.
"Thank you." Amelie said quietly.
"Why were they hurting you?" Leon asked softly.
She looked down. "They were trying to burn this bunny with a hot metal stick. I stopped them... so they turned their attention to me."
Finn looked shocked. "What? They were really doing that?" He clenched his fists. "Monsters."
Amelie laughed at his anger.
Leon's demeanor softened. He had known her forever. When they trained with swords, he would sneak off to visit her almost every time. She had no friends. No one. He was the only one.
"Your cart is broken," Leon said. "Do you want to ride with us?"
She considered it for a moment—the nodded.
Night
Crickets chirped. Moonlight slashed through the trees like daggers.
They entered a village and got a hotel, a small inn.
A pretty receptionist greeted them with a soft smile. Finn became bright red and almost tripped over his tongue.
Leon sighed and pulled him aside.
Amelie laughed behind them.
They got three rooms.
Later that night, a light knock at the door.
Amelie rolled into Leon's room.
She seized his hand.
Leon turned red. "W-What are you--?"
"Shhh," she said. "You were injured earlier. Let me apply something."
She dabbed a cloth onto his arm.
"But didn't your parents try to persuade you not to come?" he asked softly.
Her hand stopped moving and she smiled but not her eyes. "They never cared. I'm better off anyways without them."
Leon regarded her. Her solitude was matching his own.
"But you're not alone, you have me and now Finn too."
She gazed at him, a flutter of warmth in her chest. "Thank you. For everything."
They both stared into each other's eyes in silence.
Then she pulled away, "I should go."
Leon nodded.
After she left, Finn slipped in.
He saw the blush on Leon's face...and smirked.
The Next Morning
They had arrived at Astralis Academy.
The huge gates loomed ahead. Students were swarming everywhere, no less than over five thousand children from all throughout Azrathis.
As the gates opened, a enormous statue of a man holding a golden spear loomed over them.
"Whoa..." Finn whispered. "Who's that guy? And why is there a giant statue right in the middle of the academy?"
Leon leaned over and whispered, "That's Zareth Kaine. The strongest warrior in five hundred years. Seven years ago, he disappeared in the Demon Forest. They say the Demon King, the Unmasked, killed him."
While they talked they shuffled through the crowd.
Leon watched the bullies from yesterday.
His eyes narrowed.
Finn stopped him. "Not worth it. Fighting is forbidden here."
Leon sighed.
Then a loud horn blew.
An instructor's voice rang out: "All students report to the central grounds."
In the central grounds of the academy, sat a golden throne.
In the throne sat King Aldric Veyron, King of Azrathis. His eyes were sharp. His crown shiny.
At his side sat the heads of the four noble families: Everhart, Ravenshade, Beaumont, and Stormhale.
The instructor raised a crystal vial.
"This," he said, "is the juice of the Celestara Fruit. Each and every one of you will drink. If your blood changes...then you are gifted. If it does not..."
A hush came over the crowd.
One by one students were called up to drink the juice.
The time for drinking was here.