-Majority credit is respectfully given to Brendan Archer

Disclaimer: The following story contains fictional violence, death, strong emotions, as well as other suggestive themes. As being a realistic fiction story, coincidences between real life and this story will happen. Some places are by the same name or by a similar name. No action within this story would have or will ever happen.

“The ultimate rule to owning power is you must learn to control it. Overuse it; and the power will destroy all things you ever loved.” – Crounus Marcellus Valorus

Prologue

Date: September 15th, 2684 A.D.
Location: Valorui Kingdom, Oxking, France

The night of the fifteenth changed the entire course of my life. I had only been thirteen for a couple months now, as my father was celebrating his twelfth year as king. My mother and I planned a huge ball, inviting several kings, besides the Eldnems, our worst enemy. The Eldnems lived across the waters of the Ridge, just upon the creek of the Undivided Kingdom. It’s been 400 years since the war began. My grandfather, Zarnos Elaneous Valorus, was recently shot by an Eldnem. As who I believed he was to me at the time. On the night of the ball, we were infiltrated by a group of assassins, to which I now know were sent by Victor King and John Walker. They killed my mother and father, alongside seventeen other kings, nobles, and knights. As I know now, my past was never true, my apparent father, Markus, was never my real father. Zarnos was in fact, my biological father. My entire life was filled with delusional lies. Now I must tell the story through my eyes, the story of glory, emotion, strength, and guidance.

Chapter One

The Turn Down

September 3rd, 2676 A.D.

This particular design took me years to master… None of them ever expected someone as young as I was to fabricate rational ideas and concepts as quickly as I could. My overseers and directors looked down on me as if I were a naive kid; Always doubting my every move and never seeing my work for what it was truly worth. As a knight, I was assigned the role of armor design after my close friend, who at the time was still an enlisted soldier, offered to speak on my behalf to this… “elite military organization”. 

“Let’s see the design,” Overseer Blaek spoke.

I reached for my blueprint, unraveling it and placing it onto the flat top in front of us. The rest of the members of high class scanned the blueprint with an unnerving focus, studying every design like a subject in a school software. Afterwards, they began mumbling to each other; in each others’ ears as if they had no respect for personal boundaries.

“After some insight…” Blaek spoke.

“We’ve decided to reject your offer on behalf of Axon.”

“What?” I asked,

“His design is… more appropriate for our endeavors and environment.”

He turned around and unraveled another blueprint.

“Look here.”

After a second, he would point at the limbs of the armor, holding his fingers over the designs for a long period of time, as if I had been too slow to understand his choice of words.

“Consider the use of carbon-infused leather alloy for the underarmor: It is flexible as well as tough to resist blows made with projectiles, also providing a level of protection for the upcoming use of laser rifle technology.”

I was dumbfounded, taking this all in as if I were… Well, in Jaron’s words; ‘Hit by a train’.

“That alloy is susceptible to burns. This doesn’t add up, sir,” I spoke.

“Laser technology is created by the use of atomic energy and great amounts of heat.”

“Wrong again, Crounus,” Blaek added.

“You’re in denial, his armor is the better choice. Either you accept it or you leave and never return.”

The members of high class turned around and began to leave.

“My armor’s the better choice.”

They all stopped. Blaek turned around.

“Really? What’s different this time?”

At first I was hesitant, thinking carefully of my next choice of words.

“They’ll be powered… With a form of… Electricity.”

The overseers laughed. All of this embarrassment added up in my head like an amoeba eating me up from the inside. 

“Enjoy your permanent break, Crounus,” an overseer commented, before they all walked out, still chuckling.

Just then, a voice spoke out from behind me.

“Well well well… So close, but never a cigar.”

It was Axon, the man who made my childhood miserable. Immediately, I turned around and got in his face. He blew smoke in my face, blinding me.

I shook the smoke away.

“You’re not worthy,” I spoke.

Axon looked at me with disgust.

“Heh, You’re just like your late father; vile, alongside your guilt of confidence you believe you’ve got.” 

At that point I wanted to throw him down, but I felt a presence behind me.

“Crounus Marcellus.”

A deep voiced echoed within the chambers of my mind.

I quickly spun around.

“Father!” I said without remorse

Axon laughed mockingly.

“Oh… Poor deluded Crounus, so blind to the truth.”

I slowly turned around to face him.

“Face it, genius. You’re outmatched.”

A smirk creeped to my lips. 

“Outmatched…”

I chuckled a bit.

“Funny…”

In an instant, I jabbed him in the nose, causing blood to drip over his mouth. He let out an angered growl as he reached for his mechanical sword to unleash it. I, however, was unarmed. As I readied myself, we heard a voice from nearby.

“Crounus!”

It was Crimson, calling from behind, though he sounded more angered than concerned. I could hear his footsteps as he got closer, but I still faced Axon with heightened focus.

Axon looked at me with delight, smiled, then took a slash at me.

I managed to evade the blow, almost scraped with the tip, as Crimson – with his blade drawn – rushed at Axon.

Axon managed to barely get by Crimson’s force.

“Crimson, rightful man to the king!” Axon spitefull said.

Axon powered up his sword.

“Has this kingdom not rightfully shown you the survival of hierarchy? That in this kingdom, no lord or noble is wiser compared to his counterparts. All are to be treated and respectfully seen as equal.”

Crimson’s soft voice echoed in the valley.

“Maybe you should be teaching Crounus here those manners, he’s not seeming to cooperate with my blueprinted design of the new integrated knight’s armor, saying as his was the much far better option compared to mine,” Axon said, as if he was some baron from the South.

“Crimson.” 

I began to speak.

“I rightfully earned this spot in the kingdom, it seems I belong nowhere else, and as if, Axon is a noble knight who should be busy training like the man he should be.”

Axon seemed to look at me in disbelief, as Crimson looked at Axon.

“Go you must Axon, your rightful duties are to be training from dawn to dusk,” Crimson ordered.

Axon powered down his sword and sheathed it, walking away as if he had but a problem.

I looked at Crimson. He was not amused by my actions.

He looked at me with no enthusiasm, walking past without a word. I knew this meant we’d have another one of his ‘Family’ conversations.

To be continued…