[August 14th, 2007 - 1:00 PM]
[The Elysian Gardens - Imperial Children's Estate]
Perspective: Iris Valentine
The sun was shining brightly over the pristine, perfectly manicured lawns of the Elysian Gardens. The flowers were in full bloom, the birds were singing, and the air was filled with absolute chaos.
"Princess Iris! Please! It is time for your afternoon meal!"
"No way! You have to catch me first!" I giggled, my little legs carrying me across the marble courtyard as fast as I could.
My frilly, light blue dress bounced with every step. Behind me, three exhausted maids in traditional imperial uniforms were desperately trying to corner me.
"Your Highness, if you skip your vegetables again, Lady Irena will have our heads!" one of the maids pleaded, huffing for breath.
"Then tell the vegetables they are too slow!" I shouted over my shoulder, laughing joyfully.
"We have cornered her! Secure the area!" the lead maid yelled, as they fanned out to trap me by the rose bushes.
"Nope! I am the wind!" I declared.
With a burst of eight-year-old agility, I completely juked them, diving under the large, pristine garden table and popping out the other side. The maids groaned in defeat as I sprinted away toward the main pavilion.
I want to play more! I thought, a massive smile on my face as I looked for my next hiding spot. The royal gardens are too big to waste time eating!
But before I could make my grand escape into the hedges, my face slammed directly into something soft.
I fell back on my rear, rubbing my nose.
"And just where does the little wind think she is blowing off to?" a beautiful, gentle voice asked.
I looked up. Standing above me with her hands on her hips was my mother, Irena Seraphil. She looked radiant, her elegant white hair cascading down her shoulders, though she wore a playful, scolding frown.
"I am practicing my evasive maneuvers, Mother," I said, pouting slightly as I looked down at my shoes.
"By terrorizing the royal staff and skipping your lunch?" Mother asked, raising an eyebrow.
"A warrior fights on an empty stomach!" I argued, puffing out my cheeks adorably.
Mother let out a soft laugh, kneeling down to dust off my dress. "Well, your favorite sparring partner has arrived. Asylym is here to visit."
My eyes widened into massive, sparkling stars.
Asylym! I thought, my heart fluttering with absolute joy.
He was five years older than me, a boy from the prestigious Vexley family. He was always so gentle, coming to the palace just to play with me. He took care of me when I scraped my knees, listened to all my silly stories, and was the only person who treated me like a normal girl instead of a princess. To me, he wasn't just a vassal. He was my very best friend.
I immediately abandoned my grand escape and sprinted toward the guest pavilion.
There he was. Thirteen-year-old Asylym Vexley. He was already tall, wearing a crisp, formal noble's tunic. When he saw me running toward him, he immediately placed a hand over his heart and bowed gracefully.
"Princess Iris," Asylym greeted respectfully.
I stopped in front of him, crossing my tiny arms and putting on my best, most authoritative pout.
"You're late!" I ordered playfully, tapping my foot. "A loyal knight shouldn't make a lady wait!"
Asylym looked up, a faint, genuine smile touching his lips. "My deepest apologies, Your Highness. The carriage was delayed."
From the sidelines, the exhausted maids who had been chasing me practically melted, squealing silently at how cute the interaction was.
Without waiting for another apology, I grabbed his hand and dragged him straight toward the edges of the royal forest bordering the gardens.
*
The forest was our favorite place to play. It was completely safe, heavily warded by Imperial magic, allowing us to run wild beneath the massive, ancient oak trees.
"You're it, Asylym! Count to 50 and don't peek!" I yelled, pointing a commanding finger at him.
"50? You barely need ten seconds to disappear into these bushes, Princess," Asylym noted, crossing his arms with an amused sigh.
"Are you questioning the royal rules? I command you to close your eyes!"
"As you wish. One... two... three..."
I turned and bolted, giggling quietly as I dove behind a massive oak tree, crouching down into a tiny ball in the brush. I held my breath, waiting.
Less than thirty seconds later, the bushes rustled behind me.
"Found you." Asylym said calmly.
"Ah! How did you do that?! I was as quiet as a mouse!" I gasped, jumping up in shock.
"You stepped on every single dry leaf on your way behind the oak tree." Asylym pointed out, gesturing to the crushed foliage trailing directly to my hiding spot.
"Nuh-uh! Those leaves threw themselves at my feet!"
"Of course. The forest is conspiring against you. My apologies."
"Exactly! So that round doesn't count. Let's play knights and dragons instead!" I demanded, shifting tactics seamlessly.
"I assume I am the valiant knight coming to slay the beast?" Asylym asked, picking up a sturdy branch.
"No! You are the captured princess, and I am the fearsome dragon!" I roared, bearing my tiny teeth and making claw motions with my hands.
"I see. A devastating blow to my pride."
"Roar! Hand over all your shiny treasures, Princess Asylym!"
"I surrender, mighty dragon. Please spare me," Asylym deadpanned, dropping his branch and holding his hands up in mock defeat.
"Only if you carry me! My dragon legs are tired!" I declared.
"Your tyranny knows no bounds, Your Highness." Asylym chuckled softly.
He knelt down, letting me climb onto his back for a piggyback ride. I cheered, wrapping my arms around his neck as he carried me deeper along the forest edge. We laughed and bantered, the afternoon sun warming the trees.
I eventually hopped off his back to chase a sparkling blue butterfly into a thick patch of bushes.
"Asylym! Look! It's so pretty!" I called out, pushing through the leaves.
But as I stepped into a small clearing, my smile vanished.
Lying in the dirt, curled into a tight, trembling ball, was a tiny white kitten. It looked incredibly pale and was letting out weak, agonizing whimpers.
"Asylym! Come quick!" I cried out, dropping to my knees.
Asylym rushed through the bushes, his relaxed demeanor instantly vanishing into sharp focus. He knelt beside me, inspecting the creature.
It looks so hurt... I thought, tears welling in my eyes.
However, as I looked closer, there were strange things about the kitten's injuries. Its white fur was matted with an unnatural, tar-like substance. Faint, pulsating black veins were spreading outward from a wound on its side. Its breathing was horribly shallow, releasing small, unnerving wisps of gray mist with every exhale, and the flesh around the injury looked almost necrotic, like a dark-magic burn.
But to my innocent, eight-year-old mind, none of that registered as dark magic or curses.
"Oh no, it must have been attacked by a bigger animal!" I sobbed, carefully scooping the trembling kitten into my arms. "We have to help it!"
"Princess, be careful, we don't know what caused that—" Asylym started, his eyes narrowing at the black veins, but seeing my tears, he immediately softened
"Okay. Let us take it back to the garden."
I carried the kitten as gently as possible, rushing back to the safety of the garden pavilion. I sat on the soft grass, holding the poor creature in my lap while Asylym ran to the manor to fetch a royal medical kit.
He returned a minute later, dropping to his knees beside me.
Asylym held his hands over the kitten, closing his eyes. A soft, warm golden light radiated from his palms, flowing into the kitten's body. The gentle healing magic immediately eased the creature's trembling.
With extreme focus, I took a small roll of pristine white bandages from the kit. I carefully dabbed away the weird black tar, applying a soothing salve before wrapping the bandage snugly around the kitten's torso.
The kitten let out a soft, relieved purr, nuzzling its head against my palm.
"There you go, little one. You're safe now," I whispered, smiling brightly as I gently stroked its ears.
"You have a very gentle touch, Princess. The bandage is perfect," Asylym praised, packing away the medical supplies.
"Of course it is! I'm going to be the best healer in the empire one day! And a dragon!" I declared proudly, puffing out my chest.
"A healing dragon. That is a very unique career path," Asylym noted with a slight smirk.
"You can be my royal assistant! We'll save all the animals together!"
"It would be my honor."
"See? Even the kitten agrees! He loves me the most!" I giggled, watching the kitten slowly stand up on my lap.
But then, to my utter shock, the tiny white kitten waddled directly off my lap, padding over to Asylym. It collapsed against his knee, rubbing its cheek affectionately against his leg and purring loudly.
I froze, my jaw dropping. My cheeks flushed bright red with sheer embarrassment. I crossed my tiny arms, puffing out my cheeks in an incredibly cute, betrayed pout as Asylym simply smiled, gently scratching the kitten behind its ears.
Hmph. Traitor, I thought, though I couldn't help but smile at how gentle Asylym was.
*
Some days passed in a peaceful, joyful blur.
Asylym and I spent our afternoons sitting on the soft grass of the Elysian Gardens, playing with the tiny white kitten. To my delight, it was doing incredibly cute things—chasing colorful butterflies, playfully swatting at the falling leaves, and curling up into a warm little ball on my lap whenever it got tired. Both Asylym and I had grown incredibly attached to her.
"Look, Asylym! She's chasing the butterfly!" I giggled, pointing at the tiny furball pouncing clumsily.
"She seems to be recovering remarkably well, Princess."
"Of course she is! She has the best healers in the whole empire! We need to give her a name!"
"Do you have any ideas, Your Highness?"
"I want to call her Lumi! Because she is white like snow, and she brings light to the garden!"
"Lumi. It is a very fitting name for a royal pet."
"Come here, Lumi! Let me give you a hug!"
"Careful, Princess, her bandages are still sensitive."
*
[September 2nd, 2007]
A few weeks flew by. After a lot of begging and pleading, I had successfully convinced the adults to let me keep Lumi.
However, her recovery wasn't perfect. Lumi was still healing from her strange injuries. Almost every week, she would suddenly grow incredibly weak, trembling and struggling to stand. Whenever that happened, Asylym and I would immediately change her bandages, and he would apply his gentle, golden healing magic until she was strong enough to purr again.
I was currently sitting on the large, wooden garden swing, slowly kicking my feet as I stared at the cobblestone path.
Today was a big day. My half-sister was coming to visit.
Mother told me not to be excited, I thought, my hands gripping the thick ropes of the swing tightly. She told me not to care about her. Mother called her an evil child, and said her mother was a culprit and a tyrant who stole my father's heart.
I vigorously shook my head, trying to shake off the negative ideas.
That's not true! We are still sisters! Her and I can be as close as I am to Zeus and Seraphina! I just have to talk to her... she is only a year younger than me! But... it still makes me so anxious.
"Princess Iris? You seem troubled," a familiar voice called out.
I looked up to see Asylym walking toward the swing, his expression filled with genuine concern.
"Asylym... I'm going to meet my sister today. For the first time."
"The child of the Empress. I understand why that might cause you anxiety."
"Mother says I shouldn't like her. That we are rivals for the throne."
"The succession battle is complicated, Princess."
"But I don't want the throne! I just want a sister!"
"You don't wish to be Empress?"
"No! I want us to be sisters, and play together in the gardens!"
"Your heart is very kind, Iris."
"She can even meet Lumi! We can all be friends!" (Lumi wasn't here at the moment, currently resting inside the manor).
"You believe she will share your sentiments?"
"Why wouldn't she? I felt the same way before I met Seraphina, but she was so kind and lovely! We loved playing together!"
"Seraphina is a gentle soul. This new sister may be different."
"Even if she is, I'm going to show her love! I just... I'm a little scared she won't like me."
"If she cannot see your kindness, Princess, then that is her loss."
He stepped closer to the swing, offering me a warm, reassuring smile.
"You have nothing to fear. Just be yourself."
"Do you really think she'll like me?"
"Anyone would be lucky to have you as a sister, Princess."
"Thank you, Asylym. That gives me courage!"
"I will be here to support you, always."
I beamed at him, my anxiety melting away completely.
"By the way..." I said, tilting my head. "How is your training going? You look really tired lately."
"It has been grueling. Captain Lionel is teaching me."
"Captain Lionel?! The Paladin?!"
"Yes. He is one of the strongest knights I have met. He is virtuous, highly capable, and unforgiving in his regimens."
"But you're working too hard! You're going to break your bones!" I argued, puffing my cheeks.
"I have to work hard, Princess. I have to become as strong as my father."
"But your father is already the strongest knight in the Empire! Why the rush?"
"Because of an incident... that happened three years ago."
"Three years ago? What happened?"
"My father... he is a man who never shows fear, worry, or confusion. But that day, he returned looking like he had gone through hell."
"Your father was scared?!"
"It took weeks before I managed to make him speak. He told me he had visited a secret facility."
"A secret facility?"
"It is called the Decaying Foundation. He witnessed something horrific there. A weapon."
"The... Decaying Foundation?" I muttered, a shiver running down my spine.
"He was sent there just to fight against one child. A 4-year-old. Called 000981..."
"A 4-year-old?! What do you mean? Tell me more!"
"The memory he shared was vague, but they fought in a simulation. My father had his adult body and real weapons. The child was given a steel katana and the simulated body of an average 10-year-old."
"And what happened?!"
"My father, the strongest knight of the realm, managed to land zero hits on that weapon."
My jaw dropped in absolute shock.
"How is that even possible?!" I shrieked. "Your father is a legendary hero! He single-handedly defeated the Abyssal Drake! He holds a twenty-year undefeated title in the Imperial Arena! He survived the blood-plague ambush! And he fought off an entire battalion of bandits blindfolded!"
"He wasn't defeated, Princess. It was a draw. Both he and that weapon couldn't land a single hit on each other."
"That's still nuts! A draw against a child?!"
Asylym looked down at his hands. For the first time since I had met him, he looked vulnerable. His eyes were clouded with deep, overwhelming emotion.
"My father had never seen such a thing," Asylym explained, his voice trembling slightly. "That kid... he knew all martial arts theory, military theory, weapon theory, and magic reading theory, and applied it all flawlessly. He dodged every attack and anticipated all of my father's moves. My father had achieved his strength through experience and the purposeful work of 30 years. That supposed weapon of a human had done it in two years."
I stared at him, my heart aching for my friend. I stood up from the swing and stomped my foot in indignation.
"That is so unfair!" I ranted angrily. "Your father is a million times greater than whatever weapon that stupid, decaying poop foundation made! He works hard, and he has a good heart!"
I stepped forward, grabbing his hands and giving him my brightest, most determined smile.
"And you know what? One day, you are going to destroy whoever made your father sad!"
"That kid... 000981... I will catch you! You stand no chance against Asylym Vexley!"
Asylym's eyes widened in sheer surprise. The heavy sadness in his gaze slowly faded, replaced by a genuine, heartfelt smile.
"Thank you, Iris."
He actually thanked me by my first name? I thought, surprised by the raw sincerity in his voice.
"It is my absolute goal," Asylym said, his voice hardening with newfound resolve. "I will reach a level where I will never go through that despair, and I will protect this empire with my own hands."
*
Asylym and I slowly walked back toward the main courtyard of the children's estate, the warm afternoon sun casting long, peaceful shadows over the grass. I was still thinking about my sister, a mix of anxiety and excitement bubbling in my chest.
But as we approached the grand pavilion, the peaceful atmosphere abruptly shattered.
A large group of royal maids and guards were gathered in a tight circle in the center of the courtyard. They were gasping, whispering to each other in absolute horror, their faces pale.
"What's going on?" I asked, picking up my pace.
Asylym frowned, instantly stepping in front of me to shield me as we rushed toward the crowd. He pushed through the whispering maids, making a path for me.
But when I stepped through and saw the center of the circle, my heart completely stopped.
Lumi was lying on the pristine white marble floor. She was completely motionless, lying in a horrifying, expanding pool of dark red blood.
Standing directly in front of the tiny, lifeless body was a little girl. She was no more than four years old. She had brilliant, golden-blond hair and striking, icy blue eyes that looked completely devoid of emotion. She was wearing a beautiful, pristine white royal dress, but her tiny hands were stained with fresh blood.
"Lumi?!" I screamed, my voice cracking in terror.
I dropped to my knees, ignoring the blood as I desperately pressed my small hands against the kitten's body. I forced every ounce of mana I had into my palms, casting the healing spells Asylym had taught me.
"No, no, no! Lumi, wake up!"
"Princess Iris... stop. It's too late."
"She's just sleeping! My magic will work! Heal! Please heal!"
"Iris, please... she's gone."
"I can fix her! I promised her I'd be the best healer!"
"You cannot heal the dead, Princess." Asylym said, his voice thick with grief as he gently grabbed my shoulders.
Tears streamed down my face like a river, my vision blurring as my golden healing magic completely failed to work on the lifeless body. I sobbed uncontrollably, my heart breaking into a million pieces.
"The cat is dead. You are wasting your energy."
The voice was tiny, belonging to a 7-year-old, but it was horrifyingly cold and rational. I slowly looked up for the first time, my tear-filled eyes meeting the icy blue gaze of the blond girl.
"It was sick." the 7-year-old explained, her vocabulary simple but ruthlessly savage. "It was going to die anyway. You should say thank you to me for taking it out of its misery."
Pure fury exploded in my chest.
I let out an angry cry, clenching my tiny fists as I scrambled to my feet. I got into an aggressive stance and charged directly at the girl, throwing a punch with all my might.
But the girl didn't even flinch.
She simply took a half-step to the side. A faint, invisible pulse of mana wrapped around my ankle, completely shifting my center of gravity. I tripped on thin air, slamming face-first onto the hard marble floor. I scraped my knee terribly, the skin tearing as I let out a painful wail.
Asylym's grief instantly morphed into raging anger. He stepped forward aggressively, his hand hovering over his hip where a sword would normally rest, his eyes glaring at the little girl.
The girl simply looked up at him, tilting her head.
"You shift your weight to your right foot. You want to grab my collar," the girl analyzed coldly, speaking as if she could see the future. "But if you try, I will step inside your guard. I will push mana into your knee so it bends backward. Then I will snap your arms. And if you scream, I will break your neck."
Asylym froze, his eyes widening in shock at the terrifying precision and utter lack of hesitation in the girl's voice.
Before Asylym could respond, the crowd parted again.
My mother, Irena Seraphil, rushed into the courtyard. Seeing me bleeding on the floor, I immediately scrambled up and ran to her, throwing my arms around her legs and burying my face in her dress as I sobbed.
"Iris! My sweet girl, what happened?! Your knee is bleeding!"
"Mother! She killed Lumi! That monster killed my kitten!" I cried, my heart completely shattered.
"You?!" Irena shrieked, her furious eyes snapping directly to the blond girl.
"She tripped me! She hurt Lumi and she hurt me!"
"She murdered the Princess's pet in cold blood, Lady Irena." Asylym added, his voice trembling with contained anger.
"Make her go away! Please, Mother!" I begged, crying so hard I could barely breathe.
"Hush, my darling. I will handle this savage."
My mother stepped forward, her elegant face twisted in absolute rage as she glared down at the 7-year-old girl.
"Explain yourself immediately!" Irena demanded, her aura flaring with authority.
The blond girl didn't even blink. She met my mother's furious gaze with a perfectly cold, empty stare.
"I do not have to answer to my Father's consort." Rose replied flatly.
The entire courtyard went dead silent. The sheer disrespect coming from a child was incomprehensible.
Suddenly, two more figures pushed through the crowd. It was Zeus my brother and Seraphina, my half-sister. They had loved playing with Lumi just as much as I did.
Seraphina took one look at the blood on the floor and immediately burst into tears, covering her mouth in horror.
"Lumi... who did this, Iris?!" Seraphina cried.
Zeus, however, didn't look at the kitten. His eyes immediately locked onto the blood dripping from the blond girl's tiny hands.
"Who the hell is she?!" Zeus demanded, stepping in front of Seraphina protectively.
Before anyone could answer, the heavy, suffocating pressure of an Imperial arrival descended upon the courtyard. The guards immediately dropped to their knees.
Emperor Noctis Valentine and Empress Rosaline Valentine stepped into the courtyard.
"Enough." my father's voice boomed, completely stopping the fight and freezing the air in the courtyard. He stepped forward, his dark eyes sweeping over the scene. "Step down, Irena."
Empress Rosaline walked gracefully beside him. She looked down at the dead kitten, then at her seven-year-old daughter, and let out a soft, amused giggle.
"Oh my. Rose, what have you done now?" Rosaline asked playfully, completely unfazed by the blood.
My father stopped right in front of the little girl, his towering presence eclipsing the sun. He looked down at her, his expression unreadable.
"What is the point of this?" Noctis demanded, his deep voice echoing in the silence. "Why did you kill Iris's kitten?"
Rose looked up at her father, her blue eyes devoid of any remorse or hesitation.
"It was spreading disease."
"It was infected with the Abyssal Rot. A cursed parasite," Rose answered calmly, her voice chillingly steady for a seven-year-old.
"Explain." my father commanded.
"The disease was actively eating its necrotic flesh. It cannot be cured. It releases microscopic cursed spores through its breath and spreads via physical contact. The maids, the guards, and your other children were directly exposing themselves to it. You are lucky the parasite hadn't breached their immune systems yet."
"Even so, why kill it yourself?" Noctis demanded. "You could have informed the maids, or Iris."
"I am the Crown Princess of the Asura Empire." Rose retorted, her icy eyes flashing with absolute authority. "I do not have to answer to anyone or ask for permission before executing a walking parasite. Furthermore, it lacked a collar. I was unaware it belonged to someone. I saw a disease, and I eradicated it."
"You killed my kitten!" I sobbed, pointing a trembling finger at her.
"You are a princess of the Empire, yet you sit on the floor crying like a little girl," Rose countered mockingly, staring down at me.
"Are you only good at that?"
"You're a monster!"
"I saved your life by stopping its breathing." Rose said coldly. "But more importantly, you were the one torturing it."
"What?! No! I was healing her! I loved her!"
"Your golden healing magic only regenerated its outer flesh. It was being eaten alive from the inside out by the rot every single day. You forced it to stay alive through unimaginable agony just so you could play with a toy. You are the culprit behind its suffering. I simply gave it mercy."
Her words hit me like a physical blow, completely destroying my spirit.
Before I could scream again, a mature, elegant presence entered the courtyard. Anastasia Mooncrest arrived, her calm aura slightly easing the suffocating tension.
"Aunt Anastasia! She killed Lumi! She killed my kitten!" I cried, reaching out to her.
"Hush, Iris. Calm yourself." Anastasia said gently before turning her attention to the blond girl. "Princess Rose. Was it truly the Abyssal Rot?"
"Yes, Lady Anastasia." Rose answered respectfully. "The dark veining and gray mist exhales confirmed it. The necrosis was in its third stage. It was incurable."
"I see." Anastasia nodded, her eyes narrowing in understanding. "Then you acted correctly. The estate is safe..."
Seraphina began to cry even harder, hiding her face in Zeus's chest.
My father sighed heavily, his gaze sweeping over the terrified staff.
"The matter is settled. Guards. Maids." Noctis warned, his voice promising death. "If I ever find a disease-infected animal within this estate's boundaries again, you will all be executed."
I couldn't take it. I scrambled on my bleeding knees toward my father.
"Papa! Please! You have to do something!"
"Iris. Come here," Noctis said, his voice unusually warm as he knelt down slightly. "It is over."
"Punish her! Bring Lumi back! You're the Emperor, you can do anything!"
"Even an Emperor cannot bring back the dead, Iris. You must accept this."
"No! I want my kitten! I want Lumi!"
"The creature was in agony, Iris." Noctis explained, gently wiping a tear from my cheek. "The rot would have eventually killed you as well."
"She's lying! Lumi was happy! She's evil! She didn't care!"
"She protected her Empire. Now, you must dry your tears and be strong."
"I don't want to be strong! I want my lumi!"
"Do not waste your breath comforting her, Father." Rose intervened, her tone dripping with disdain. "She is entirely immune to logic."
Rose stepped forward, her icy blue eyes looking down at me, Zeus, and Seraphina with pure contempt.
"I was brought here today to formally meet my 'half' siblings." Rose stated, her voice echoing coldly across the silent courtyard. "But looking at you all sobbing on the floor, I do not see siblings. I see weak, pathetic children."
She paused, her gaze utterly ruthless.
"Know your place. You are not my equals. If you crybabies ever need a tissue to wipe your tears, you can reach out to the maids. Do not speak to me."
Without waiting for a response, she turned around to face my father.
"I have done what you asked of me, Father. I met them. I will be returning to my studies now."
Noctis could only stare at her in silence.
Empress Rosaline smirked, a dark, wicked amusement shining in her eyes as she reached down and took Rose's tiny, blood-stained hand. They turned around, their pristine dresses sweeping across the marble as they walked away, leaving me completely broken.
I couldn't breathe. The pain in my chest was unbearable.
I screamed in absolute agony, slamming my tiny fists into the hard marble floor over and over again, completely ignoring the skin tearing on my knuckles.
Asylym rushed down, desperately grabbing my hands and pulling me into a tight hug to stop me from hurting myself. Zeus immediately dropped down beside us, wrapping his arms around me as well.
"I HATE HER!" I screamed into Asylym's chest, my voice shattering the peaceful afternoon.
"I HATE HER MORE THAN ANYTHING!"
*
[Timelapse - The Years That Followed]
From that day forward, the innocent, crying little girl who just wanted to play in the gardens ceased to exist.
Under my mother's strict, vengeful guidance, and fueled by the burning hatred in my own heart, I worked tirelessly. I studied, I trained, and I cultivated political power. I dedicated every waking second of my life toward one singular goal: disproving the tyrant that our father crowned to be the next Empress.
The moment she laid her bloody hands on Lumi, she died in my eyes. My heart having grown completely cold over the years. I only see her as an enemy. I am no longer kind like Aunt Anastasia, and I am certainly no longer my weak, pathetic, crybaby self. I am Iris Valentine. The one who will completely dethrone her.
Zeus, Seraphina, and I formed an unbreakable alliance. We worked together in the shadows, consolidating our influence to one day tear her down and rule the Empire together. My mother had even tried to get Lady Anastasia to join our cause, but she refused. Anastasia didn't like the idea, claiming that we could've all 'talked it out' because we were family.
She didn't understand. None of them did.
Asylym, however, understood perfectly.
After that traumatic day, he worked extra hard, pushing his body and mana to the absolute breaking point to surpass Rose's terrifying magic and gifts. Rose had been blessed with both cursed and celestial magic, a terrifying anomaly of nature. But Asylym had the grit, the determination, and the raw talent to match her. He climbed his way up from the very bottom, eventually becoming the youngest ever to reach the title of Knight of the Realm.
I remember the day he proved his true potential.
I was standing on the viewing balcony of the Imperial Training Grounds, watching 15-year-old Asylym participate in a brutal 8v1 spar against Captain Lionel.
It was a breathtaking, fast-paced clash of magic and steel. Lionel, an absolute juggernaut of a Paladin, was standing his ground like a fortress in the 1v8 scenario, effortlessly deflecting spells and defeating the other seven elite knights one by one. His golden aura was oppressive, his heavy broadsword knocking grown soldiers out cold with single swings.
But in the very last moment, just as Lionel prepared to declare victory, Asylym struck.
He didn't just attack; he completely bypassed the Paladin's defenses.
Asylym leaped high into the air, his blade glowing with an intense, blinding white mana. The air pressure around the arena violently dropped as he locked eyes with the towering Paladin.
"Nightmare Art: Dragon Ascend!" Asylym incanted, his voice echoing like thunder.
A massive, ethereal aura of a roaring white dragon erupted from his sword. He descended from the sky like a falling meteor, his blade crashing directly into Lionel's impenetrable guard. The sheer kinetic force of the deadliest attack I had ever seen shattered the Paladin's golden shield, sending Lionel crashing into the dirt, completely defeated.
After years of relentless, agonizing training, he did it.
From that day on, Asylym only grew stronger and stronger. Now, at the age of 18, he had finally reached the peak.
He had surpassed Rose.
*
[March 6th, 2012 - 4:10 AM]
[The Imperial Palace - Iris's Quarters]
Perspective: Iris Valentine
I stood on the balcony of my luxurious bedroom, wearing a silk nightgown as I stared up at the beautiful, starry night sky. The cool wind brushed against my skin. For a brief second, I thought I saw two kids flying across the sky in the distance, but I shook the absurd thought off, focusing my cold gaze on the sprawling capital below.
Tomorrow is Founder's Day. A dark, wicked smile slowly forming on my lips. Tomorrow... I am going to take everything from her. Everything.
Rose was completely isolated now. She had absolutely nobody to go to, weakened and alone in the Academy. She couldn't do anything. She couldn't even defend herself. Asylym was stronger than her now, and he was the strongest knight in the palace, standing right by my side.
Who was by her side?
Nobody. Because nobody cared for her.
That arrogant bitch. I sneered internally, my eyes narrowing with pure hatred. Her mother, the Empress, gave my mother endless pain and suffering. Tomorrow, I am going to equalize it by destroying her entirely.
She was going to pay for her arrogance. She was going to pay for every single time she looked down on us, and for the life she took from me all those years ago.
Not even Papa will save her after what I pull tomorrow. I vowed, my grip on the balcony railing tightening until my knuckles turned white. Her life is over.
No magic will save her.
*
[March 6th, 2012 - 6:00 AM]
[The Imperial Palace - Emperor's Office]
Perspective: Omniscient
The early morning sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, casting a long, imposing shadow through the massive glass windows of the Emperor's private office.
Emperor Noctis and Empress Rosaline sat behind the grand desk. Kneeling before them was Captain Lionel, the highest-ranking Paladin of the Vanguard Knights. He looked completely battered, covered in fresh bandages and bruises from the disastrous incident in the Whispering Woods just hours prior.
"I am asking you a very simple question, Captain." Rosaline said, her voice dripping with venomous curiosity.
"Why are you requesting a leave of absence from your duty?"
Lionel kept his head bowed, his massive, heavily muscled frame trembling slightly. "I... I must reevaluate my worth, I am not worthy of serving the empire anymore, Your Majesty."
"How could you, an Imperial Paladin, possibly have lost with your elite squad?" Rosaline pressed, narrowing her eyes.
"Rosaline. Do not ask any further." Noctis warned, his deep voice carrying a heavy, authoritative edge.
"No, Noctis." Rosaline shot back, glancing at the Emperor. "You refused to answer who Rose was with in those woods, claiming they were just 'classmates.' I wanted names, yet you insisted on protecting them. So, I am asking him directly."
She turned her sharp, calculating gaze back down to the kneeling giant.
"Who hurt you so badly you realized your worth, Lionel?" Rosaline demanded.
Hearing the question, a profound, deeply ingrained trigger of absolute terror flashed across the Paladin's battered face. His breathing hitched, his eyes widening as the horrific memories of the Whispering Woods flooded his mind.
"He... he had no magic..." Lionel muttered, his voice cracking with pure fear.
"Yet... he surpassed me in everything."
"He was calling her sister." Lionel whispered, his face draining of all color.
"You mean..." Rosaline's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yes..." Lionel nodded slowly, his body trembling.
"It was Prince Kaiser... Kaiser Valentine."