Chapter 1 - The Cold Years of Valahar

The breakfast

The foundations of the Kageyoshi Empire were built on a legacy of fractured brotherhood.

More than two hundred years ago, the world of Aloria was unified under a single king. But upon his sudden death, the kingdom was torn apart by his three sons, brothers whose relationship was defined by bitter rivalry and terrible bloodlust. They grew up harboring vastly different philosophies; one brother claimed to carry the true lineage of the ancient dragon nesting in Mount Kaiser, a claim the others dismissed as madness.

When the old King died, the brothers shattered the continent into three separate realms, plunging Aloria into a bleak era of war and famine. The eldest son claimed the largest and most fertile territory, making the grand province of Valahar his central seat of power and naming the empire after himself: Kageyoshi. The second son marched east to establish the Drakon Shogunate, vowing that his people would one day unite with the dragon of old tales, while the third brother disappeared into northwest. From that day on, whenever the bloodlines of Aloria met, they spoke only with the edge of a blade.

Kageyoshi flourished, blessed with rich farmland and oceans teeming with fish, but within the walls of its royal palace, the atmosphere remained as cold as a tomb.

Seven-year-old Ryuu Kageyoshi woke up early, the lingering ash from his recurring dream still fading from his mind. After a quick bath, he pulled on his clothes and walked down the massive, echoing corridors toward the royal dining hall.

Inside, his father and his four older siblings; Taizo, Shinjiro, Rin, and the eldest, Katsuro, were already seated for breakfast. The dining hall was gigantic, dominated by a long table with ten high-backed chairs. Six silent maidservants stood in the corners of the room, meticulously serving food under the strict, wordless gestures of the royal butler. Beside the King stood two elite imperial guards, their eyes scanning the room, their hands resting near their hilts.

As Ryuu quietly slipped into his seat, Taizo, the second eldest son at twelve years old, glanced over with a smirk, though his posture remained rigidly tense under their father's presence.

"Ha! Look how lazy someone can get," Taizo sneered, resting his spoon and pointing his finger at Ryuu. "Waking up now for breakfast when the rest of us are already done and almost ready to leave the table."

Katsuro, fourteen years old and the heir to the throne, didn't look up from his meal. "You're not much better, Taizo. You only sat down a few minutes before him."

"Brother, quiet down," Taizo snapped, flinching slightly as his voice carried too loudly across the room. He turned his sharp eyes back to Ryuu, lowering his tone. "Ryuu is just a kid who thinks he’s an adult just because he doesn’t open his mouth often."

"At least he behaves like an adult, unlike you," Katsuro countered coldly.

"Children, do not speak with food in your mouths," King Kenji Kageyoshi commanded, his voice heavy and unyielding.

The table instantly fell silent. Taizo swallowed hard, a flicker of genuine apprehension crossing his face before he quickly masked it with a scowl. The King took a slow sip of his tea and looked over the table. "Children, what are your plans for today?"

"I’m training with the sword," ten-year-old Shinjiro spoke up eagerly. "I’m going to grow up and become one of your great Generals, Father."

"Ha! Good luck with that," Taizo mocked, trying to regain his footing. "You haven’t even beaten me yet. You better practice your mana control so you can imbue enchant on your weapon. Only then will you reach my level."

"I will win one day, just you wait!" Shinjiro muttered, gripping his spoon tightly.

The King ignored the bickering and turned his gaze to the eldest. "And you, Katsuro?"

"I will be studying history and spellcraft today, Father," Katsuro replied smoothly, adjusting his tunic, which bore the embroidered blazing crimson Phoenix, the proud insignia of the Kageyoshi royal family. "My tutor fell ill, so I intend to use the time to deepen my understanding of our empire's lineage."

A heavy silence settled over the table again. The siblings quietly ate their soup, breaking pieces of fresh bread. Ryuu stared at his bowl, his heart squeezing in his chest. He always wondered what it felt like to have a family, but they always kept him at an agonizing distance. They blamed him. They always had, for the family’s motherless state, for a death that came with Ryuu’s birth.

Gathering his courage, Ryuu looked up at the King. "Are... Are you not going to ask what I am going to do today, Father?"

Before the King could speak, Taizo let out a loud laugh. "Why would anyone care? No one expects you to achieve anything anyway. The best you can hope for is to be a low-ranking foot soldier. Besides, your power is just weird. No one has ever heard of it."

The King’s eyes snapped toward Taizo, narrowing into a terrifying glare. Taizo choked on his words, turning visibly pale. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple as he shrunk back, staring fixedly at his bowl and letting out a quiet, submissive "Tsk" under his breath. He didn't dare look his father in the eye.

King Kenji then turned his cold, indifferent eyes toward Ryuu. "You may do as you please, Ryuu. You are only seven. No one expects anything from you."

The words pierced Ryuu's heart. He desperately wanted his father's attention, a single shred of acknowledgement. "Would you... would you like to come watch me practice with the sword today?"

"Father is the King of this empire, Ryuu," Katsuro interrupted, his tone chillingly practical. "He does not have time to sit and watch you play. He already said it: do as you please. No one expects anything from you anyway."

"YEAH, YOU CAN ALWAYS BECOME AN ADVENTURER! HAHAHA!" Taizo barked, the sudden outburst sounding more like a desperate attempt to deflect his own lingering fear of the King. Shinjiro snickered, and their older sister, Rin, giggled quietly into her napkin.

"Silence, Taizo," the King commanded calmly as he stood up, smoothing his royal robes. "Katsuro, continue your studies. One day you will inherit this realm, and I expect you to conduct yourself like a true heir."

Without another word, the King walked out of the hall toward his private office, his guards marching closely behind him.

Ryuu sat perfectly still. He had never cared about inheriting the empire, but the constant, mocking side-eyes from his family were suffocating. He had learned to keep his mouth shut, to hide his feelings deep inside. He knew the truth of this world: if he didn't do something, he would remain weak. And in the Kageyoshi Empire, the strong preyed upon the weak.

He pushed his chair back and stood up.

"Just remember," Taizo muttered, though he kept his eyes lowered, refusing to look up as Ryuu walked past him, "you're nothing but our weak little brother."

A single, hot tear escaped Ryuu's eye and rolled down his cheek as he burst through the grand dining hall doors. He ran fast, his small boots echoing on the stone floor, desperate to ensure no one saw his vulnerability. Right then and there, he gave himself a solemn vow: I will never cry in front of anyone again. No one will ever see me weak.

Raven’s Training Ground

Ryuu rushed to his bedroom and picked up the wooden practice sword that his personal maid, Yuna, had neatly laid out for him. Gripping the handle, he marched out to the castle’s inner training grounds.

The courtyard was alive with activity. Heavily armored soldiers of the King’s vanguard clashed weapons while their generals’ barked orders cut through the din of steel.

"Watch your footwork! Anticipate his move! Don't ever let your enemy get the edge on you! No mercy!"

General Hakuro Kurogane shouted, his massive frame radiating authority. An unyielding figure, he was one of the Titans of the Kageyoshi Empire, an elite order that answered only to their king, the Shepherd, who led them as one would a flock, coordinating the empire’s impenetrable shield walls and spearheading its fiercest charges. But as Hakuro glanced to the left, his stern face softened into a warm grin.

"Oh, there he is! Finally. Did you eat and sleep well, Ryuu?"

"Yes, General!" Ryuu said, forcing a determined smile and holding up his wooden blade. "Eight hours of sleep and a big breakfast, just like you said. I can train all day now."

"Excellent. Then you’re ready for today's routine," Hakuro said. He turned to the ranks of soldiers. "Rinji! Get over here. You’re sparring with Ryuu."

Rinji, a young vanguard soldier, stepped out of line, looking thoroughly annoyed. "But General, I don't know how I'm supposed to train with a seven-year-old. He doesn't know anything. Besides, his brothers are way better than him..."

"Rinji!" Hakuro's voice boomed like thunder, silencing the entire courtyard. "That is the last time I will hear you speak of the King's son with such insolence. He is of the royal bloodline, and you will treat him as such. Leave the field. You take the night shift tonight with zero rations, and you can use that time to think before you open your mouth again!"

Rinji’s face twisted with anger. He threw his wooden sword into the dirt and stormed off. As he walked away, the surrounding soldiers began to whisper among themselves, their voices blending into a low hum about the rumour of the youngest prince having no mana, no aptitude at all, likely spread by his brothers.

Mumbling to himself, Rinji cursed under his breath as he reached the barracks. That's the last time I ever try to help that little brat. God, I hate him. He'll get what's coming to him.

Ryuu hated being the cause of the tension, but he understood. Hakuro held immense respect for the King and he was fiercely loyal. More than that, Hakuro had been there for Ryuu since day one. Hakuro’s nickname is The Raven because he kept a watchful, protective eye over the royal family, ensuring no harm befell them from the shadows but also in the battlefield, with a keen eye and ways to deploy tactics over the enemies. To Ryuu, Hakuro wasn't just a teacher; he was a great role model.

"General... can you train with me instead?" Ryuu asked quietly, looking up.

Hakuro looked down at the boy, his expression turning deeply resolute. "From this moment on, Ryuu, I will personally teach you the Way of Blades. I will dedicate my time to you, and my lieutenant can handle the soldiers. We don't need their bickering. I will personally see to it that you become strong, just like me, ha-ha."

Overjoyed, Ryuu gripped his sword with both hands, ready to spar.

The training was brutal. For hours, Ryuu lunged, swung left and right, and constantly fell into the dirt. Some of the watching soldiers snickered from the sidelines, and a deep, burning frustration began to boil within Ryuu's chest every time he dragged himself back to his feet.

"Always keep your eyes on my blade, Ryuu. Watch how I react to yours, that is how you predict where I will swing," Hakuro instructed easily, parrying a blow. "Tell me, do you feel something inside of you yet?"

"No... not yet," Ryuu panted, wiping sweat from his brow. "But I hope I will."

"Good. Do not force it. When it's ready, it will awaken. You must breathe in, and eventually, you will feel a deep heat rising from within your core."

As Ryuu continued to swing, Hakuro effortlessly defended himself. He knew the boy was carrying a heavy burden. Mana was the foundation of all creation in Aloria, a gift possessed by only a fraction of the population. In the Kageyoshi Empire, that power was a strict tool of military might, and the royal family took absolute pride in their innate mastery over fire. They even hired elite, defected tutors from distant lands to train the young princes.

Except for Ryuu.

The Phoenix’s Lie

Ryuu still remembered every horrific detail of his sixth birthday. He had been taken down into the castle's darkest basement for his Magical Appraisal. The paid magic teacher had marked a massive ritual circle on the floor, etched with four elemental stones at its corners: Fire, Earth, Water, and Wind. Ryuu stood in the centre, praying, but as the ritual concluded... none of the stones lit up. Not even one.

King Kenji had refused to acknowledge it. The shame of having a child with absolutely zero magical aptitude was a political embarrassment. Desperate to protect his pride, the King paid off the teacher on the spot, commanding him to lie to the public. They announced that Ryuu carried the Phoenix’s fire aptitude like his brothers, but that his power would simply bloom late.

What the King and the teacher never realized was that, back then, eleven-year-old Taizo had sneaked down into the basement that day. Standing in the dark shadows of the corner, Taizo had heard everything. He had slipped away back into the upper castle, clenching his fists and muttering to himself: Everything was his fault. He killed our mother, and he doesn't even have power. He's completely worthless. I wish he was never born.

That was why Taizo’s words at breakfast stung so badly. Taizo knew the fire aptitude that had been announced was a complete lie.

Back on the training grounds, the sun had begun to set, casting long, crimson shadows across the dirt. The soldiers were packing up, heading to the barracks to wash and change. Ryuu had fallen for the hundredth time, his lungs sore and burning."It is okay to be tired,” Ryuu," Hakuro said, sheathing his sword. "Not many adults have the stamina to keep up with what you just did. We will do this every day. Tomorrow, I want you here at six o'clock sharp. We train for two hours before your breakfast, and then you come right back after you eat. I truly believe you will be a promising swordsman. Now, go inside and get some food."

"No... not yet," Ryuu wheezed, pushing himself up with his trembling arms. "I have to try once more."

"Why do you press yourself so hard?" Hakuro asked softly. "You have many years ahead of you. You won't get better in a single day. You've only been training with the blade for a year since your appraisal."

"My brothers... they could feel their mana immediately after their appraisal," Ryuu said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I haven't."

"You are not your brothers, Ryuu. Give yourself time," Hakuro urged.

"One more time. Please," Ryuu begged, lifting his wooden sword.

Hakuro sighed, but a proud glint shone in his eyes. "Fine. But if you fall, we are done for the day."

Ryuu stood flat-footed, anchoring his weight. He gripped the wooden hilt with both hands, pointing the tip directly at Hakuro. He closed his eyes. He took a deep, agonizingly slow breath, held it for three seconds, and let it out. He repeated the cycle, tuning out the world.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The First Spark

Ryuu’s eyes stayed closed, but his internal world shifted. His heartbeat began to pulse violently, echoing in his ears like war drums over a bloody battlefield. His blood pumped furiously through his veins, rushing down his arms and pooling into his hand.

In that exact moment, the small, black birthmark on Ryuu’s hand began to glow, shifting from a dark stain into a faint glow. A sudden energy surged backward from the mark, flooding his entire body.

Ryuu’s eyes snapped open.

"HAAAAA!" he roared, leaping forward.

To Ryuu, the world suddenly ground into absolute slow-motion.

The black mark on Ryuu's hand crackled with small bright, erratic sparks of purple electricity. With a sudden, explosive burst of speed, Ryuu didn't just step forward, he literally propelled himself across the dirt in a blinding blur.

In a fraction of a second, Ryuu crossed the distance, his wooden sword slicing through the air in a vicious horizontal arc aimed directly at Hakuro’s hip.

Hakuro’s mouth fell open in utter, paralyzed shock. How is he moving this fast?! the General’s mind raced as he desperately tried to drop his own blade to parry. The King told us Ryuu was born with fire aptitude, he is just like his brothers. He hasn't been able to imbue enchantment to his sword with fire, and this speed... it's like a gale! Does he have a Wind aptitude?!

But Hakuro realized his hands wouldn't make the block in time. The seven-year-old boy had completely bypassed his guard. Just three inches before the wooden blade touched against his ribs, Hakuro instinctively tapped into his own Earth element, instantly hardening his skin to absorb the impact.

BAM!

The wooden sword struck Hakuro’s reinforced side with a heavy thud. Ryuu stood there, panting heavily, looking up at his teacher in utter shock. Slow-motion snapped back to reality. Hakuro stared down at the boy, his stunned expression slowly melting into a massive, breathless grin.

"Ryuu... do you have a Wind aptitude?" Hakuro asked, his voice hushed.

Ryuu lowered his sword, staring at his own hands in complete bewilderment. "I... I have no idea what just happened. I opened my eyes, looked at you, and when I tried to attack, it felt like my footsteps doubled. I felt this incredible, roaring heat inside of me. Do you figure this is it?"

Ryuu's mind spun. He remembered the ritual stones from his appraisal. He had always secretly hoped he would eventually awaken fire, just like his father and brothers, but as he looked at Hakuro, he doubted the truth. This wasn't fire. He didn't even know what it was.

"That was a magnificent strike," Hakuro said, clapping a heavy hand on Ryuu's shoulder, intentionally hiding his deep shock. "An incredible session. Now go inside, rest, and do not forget, six o'clock tomorrow."

"Okay!" Ryuu beamed, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. He turned and began walking toward the grand palace entrance, turning around one last time to wave his sword. "Thank you, Hakuro! You're the best!"

Hakuro watched the boy disappear through the massive castle doors, his smile fading into deep, calculating thought.

What the hell was that? Hakuro thought, looking down at his hip where the blow had landed. I know what Wind magic looks like, but right before he jumped... I didn't see any wind. The first stage of wind magic is light foot, a technique that reduces drag on the body and allows for faster movement and strikes. But he simply vanished, and his hand was crackling with faint electricity. I've never seen anything like it.

The General turned and walked slowly toward the barracks, his mind blown. I must keep this a secret for now. If he can tap into that power… I’ll be damned if he doesn’t become a terrifying warrior this world has ever seen.

The Sister He Cherished

Days turned into weeks, and weeks became months. Ryuu did not let a single moment go to waste. His existence shrank into a strict, unbroken circle: waking at dawn, sweating on the training grounds with General Hakuro, eating a hurried breakfast, and immediately returning to his sword training. When his muscles finally screamed in exhaustion, he locked himself in his room to study. He devoured books on the kingdom's history, geography, mathematics, and the study of various materials and magic. Knowledge of the realm became his shield, and the sword his blade. After six months of unyielding toil, he felt the fundamentals finally taking root. He had taken his first true steps on Way of Blades.

Yet, the corridors of the palace remained filled with ice.

One evening, the door to Ryuu’s bedroom slid open, and his nine-year-old sister, Rin, stepped inside. Her cheeks were wet with tears, and she was sobbing quietly. Ryuu immediately set his book aside, walked over, and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"What happened, Rin?" he asked softly.

"Taizo and Shinjiro... they were horrible to me," Rin sobbed, wiping her face with her sleeve. "I don't understand what is wrong with them. Why do they always have to be so angry?"

Ryuu pulled his sister into a warm embrace, a protective wave of instinct washing over him. Rin was the only member of the family who had never mocked him. She had never shown him malice; she had simply been quiet, another shadow in their father's monumental castle. I won't let them break her too, he thought.

"It's okay," Ryuu comforted her, looking into her eyes. "Don't worry about what Taizo does. He is just the way he is. He has always been a mean, but deep down, he is just terrified. And Shinjiro just wants to be like his brother. Don’t listen to them"

Rin sniffled one last time and looked uncertainly at his bed. "Is it okay if I sleep here with you tonight?"

"Yes, of course," Ryuu replied, making space for her.

They fell asleep side by side. That night, Ryuu felt a new sense of peace in his body. Over the past few months, his training had begun to bear fruit. He had gradually started to comprehend how to control the inner energy that provided him with mana, feeling himself grow stronger with every passing day.