Mystery

The Westerian Empire was one of great power and status on the southern continent. Unlike its neighbor Voldmore, Westeria remains a monarchy ruled by the Vermilion Family. Every ruler of Westeria gains the title of Igneous meaning referring to the brightness of a flame. The empire is split into three belts, the inner, middle and outer belts each led by an archduke, under these archdukes are dukes, counts, lords, marquesses and viscounts. Unlike other monarchies, Viscounts are restricted to the Domain of the archdukes. Lords are heads of noble houses with enough influence to establish domains, counts are the heads of counties. Noble domains can come together to form a county.

--- Short talk on the history of Westeria by Lea Somvot

Five years later, the Uthean Decade Noble Conference.

A line of voitures with different noble houses' insignia were packed outside the Noble Stardom. The house of Wilbert got down from their cars and headed in. Adrian walked quietly by his mom, but looked up when he felt a familiar presence. "Mom, are they also nobles?" Adrian asked as he looked in the direction that familiar pink haired girl's family.

"Oh, now you talk? After all that commotion you caused before coming here." Maria frowned; Adrian could be said to be a bit of an introvert, he didn't like going to events and would sneak out if given the slightest chance. Originally, Maria would leave him be considering the problems he could cause if displeased, however this was the Decade-by-decade conference of nobles, and Adrian had to be educated on the current situation of the noble.

"Dad?" Adrian ignored his mother and walked up to his father leaving his mother with a mouth left ajar.

"They are the Carters, a merchant family who came five years ago. Having drastically aided the situation of the county, they applied to be nobles and the duke of Northern Usera belt accepted." Hillan chuckled slightly but replied.

"What about her?" Adrian asked about the girl . "That's Jean's daughter." Hillan noticed his son's curiosity then branched from the main group to the Carter house.

"Mr. Carter." Hillan greeted Jean and his wife, Sue.

"Mr. Wilbert what do I owe the honor?" Jean smiled back politely.

"This my son here seems deeply interested in your family and as I have things to prepare for the Lords' Banquet, I saw it best to leave him with you guys." Hillan explained.

"Oh really, what is this lad's name then?" Miss Sue didn't really seem to mind as she bent to massage Adrian's cheeks. She was two plus the average gyn's height, being six meters tall.

"He is Adrian, my only son." Hillan said then smiled at Eloise, and headed back to the main group with Maria.

Adrian watched his parent's receding backs with a frozen gaze.

Hillan steeled his heart, making sure to show discomfort as he praised the gods for this once in a millennia opportunity.

"I have a feeling when we go home, he is going to do worse." Maria said. "Oh of course." Hillan smiled bitterly.

Sue looked at Adrian with eyes glowing red, yet when Adrian turned to look back at her, she froze; A fear that hadn't manifested in her for a long period resurfaced. Adrian ignored her and everyone else and went to stand by Eloise. "Hi, I'm Adrian, but you can call me Rian if you like." Adrian introduced.

"Eloise.'' She smiled gently.

"Your nature magic is amazing." Adrian complimented staring deep into Eloise's eyes. Her eyes glowed a light green as she frowned at Adrian's comment.

Adrian then smiled and pulled out his Excel, indulging himself in the world of novels.

Miss Sue looked back at Adrian in deep thought, then sighed and turned back.

"The Noble House of Carter." The MC announced as the group walked in.

That was the second time Adrian met Eloise. They became friends that day, Eloise liked Adrian because he was mysterious, and Adrian just did.

Eloise continued to watch Adrian with deep curiosity. She observed all his movements, even to the point when he took out an old book.

"What is that?" After an hour of silence, Eloise couldn't hold back any more and questioned. The book looked mysterious and had many strange symbols and images on its cover.

"I call it the Book of character." Adrian said then closed his eyes, putting his hand over his excel and grabbing in the hair.

"Character form." He muttered and the book glowed a light shade. Adrian then rose to exit.

"Where are you going?" Miss Sue asked. Adrian cast a glance at her then responded "Out."

"Mom." Eloise turned to Miss Sue after Adrian was far enough. "He is strange, can you find anything off about him?"

"I'm as curious as you. I feel his parents had an ulterior motive for leaving him by." Miss Sue squinted her eyes as she looked at Adrian's disappearing back.

"He will be like 3 years younger than me." Eloise frowned. "I doubt it's an arranged marriage. His dad seemed to have been relieved." Miss Sue said.

"Do you think he is like us?" Eloise questioned noticing her mother's perplexed expression. "Normal gyn have a golden aura, and those like us, have tinted auras… but he has no aura." Miss Sue paused as she noticed her daughter's quiet demeanor. "I had a worse expression when I saw it. The first time he looked at me, that was earlier when I used my skill on him, I felt intense primal fear… be careful, there is more to him that meets the eye." Miss Sue warned her daughter.

"Yes mother." Eloise nodded, rose from her seat and moved in the direction Adrian disappeared in.

"Jean, what about you?" Sue turned to her husband. The blonde-haired son of the matriarch. His eyes shimmered as he watched his daughters disappearing back. "Few times have you failed us, if you chose this town, it means nothing negative will befall us here." Jean reassured his wife.

…

Out on the balcony...

Adrian pulled out his book of character and flipped its pages, then outstretched his left hand. "Valhalla, form." A light shade shot out of his hands as a silhouette of a humanoid creature took form.

"Master?" The dragon-man bowed in reverence to Adrian.

<<You refuse to obey me, yet you use my power >> An ethereal voice spoke within Adrian's head.

"Don't behave like I use it without a price." Adrian said then looked into the night sky. "Old woman." Adrian called out. Out of the shadows, Olga came.

"Yes, young lord." Olga bowed then looked at the dragon-man with a frown. "You are developing your magic quiet well."
"The old fool wants to talk to you." He said then turned his attention back to the dragon-man.

"From now on, you are no longer Ignis the dragon lord. You are Valhalla, my dragon of doom."
Eloise looked down from the skies with a slight gasp, her glowing hair almost dimming.

***

Available on Webnovel, Wattpad, Royal Road and Honeyfeed