Chapter 1: Cycle

457 Years Ago

“In five hundred years, the Pandora Box will be opened. Humanity will rise and achieve glory once more!”

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Monday, 5 January 2027

5:43 a.m.

The fog is still thick that morning, but there is a young man running alone in the middle of the still-empty park. Since today is Monday, not many people are out jogging because they all have more important things to do, such as getting ready for work, school, or perhaps taking their children to school.

But this young man is different.

He had enough time to run around the park, his breathing steady at a consistent pace, looking like he is used to doing this.

On his jacket, there was writing that read “League of Nations Armed Forces” on the back.

The young man broke through the fog with footsteps that sounded like “dik dak duk”.

After several laps, he decided to sit on a park bench nearby.

He leaned his back and head against the backrest of the park bench, breathing in the fresh morning air.

For a moment, his eyes closed, drifting into a state of relaxation after exercising and the fresh air that calmed him.

[*TUT-TIT]

The young man's cell phone rang from his pants pocket.

He picked up his phone and opened it.

There, he saw a message with emojis commonly used by teenagers today, especially those who are dating.

The message read:

Bianca: “Ludwig~ are you up yet? Have you finished jogging? Don't forget to get ready for school, I'll pick you up as usual (⁠｡⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠｡⁠)⁠”

Ludwig smiled when he saw the message sent by Bianca, his girlfriend.

He then got up from the park bench and immediately walked home to his residence.

The residential area where Ludwig lived was not far from the park, which was often his spot for jogging or exercising.

It had become his daily routine to take the time to do some jogging or light exercise.

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Upon arriving home, Ludwig immediately ate his breakfast.

The menu looked simple but was carefully measured to meet the nutritional needs of a soldier. Sorghum, corn, tempeh, grilled chicken, and green vegetables.

He finished his breakfast quickly, in less than five minutes, showing how disciplined he was.

Ludwig immediately put his dirty dishes in the automatic dishwasher, where he would leave them until he returned from school. After all, the machine would turn itself off once it had finished its task.

After finishing his kitchen chores, Ludwig immediately headed to the bathroom to take his morning shower.

With his efficient use of time, it only took him five minutes to clean his entire body, without any fuss or gimmicks.

Ludwig went straight to his bedroom on the second floor to get dressed.

In Ludwig's bedroom, there was a bed, a study desk with a complete gaming laptop set with a keyboard, mouse, and a wide monitor, and a wardrobe. A double window with a balcony was not far from his bed, and there were several clothes hangers there.

There were several photos on the walls of the room. Some of them were photos of Ludwig in his uniform, photos of him on missions with his squad, and there were also photos of him with his girlfriend, Bianca.

He opened his wardrobe and took out the school uniform he had prepared since last Saturday.

Ludwig then put on his school uniform.

His school, the Nervanade Royal School of Albirionic Science, is a military school where all students are soldiers in the League of Nations Armed Forces. That is why Ludwig's school uniform looks like formal military attire.

From the rank on his shoulder, Ludwig is a Second Lieutenant. This is rare at the school, as only certain students are able to become officers while attending school; most only hold the rank of enlisted soldier or non-commissioned officer until they graduate.

Ludwig stood in front of the mirror, looking at himself in his school uniform, checking to see if he looked neat and tidy.

He attached a name tag to his right chest, which read “Ludwig Dietrich Voltaheim,” his full name.

Once he felt good enough, he took his bag and went downstairs. In the living room, there was a photo of his late father, Manfred Albatros Voltaheim, who had died in a plane crash when Ludwig was 6 years old, and also a photo of his late mother, Estella Romierg, whom Ludwig had never known except from that photo.

Ludwig left his house and locked the door from the outside.

He sat on the front steps of his house, waiting for Bianca to come pick him up.

Every day, Bianca usually came to pick up Ludwig by car.

A newspaper delivery man passed in front of Ludwig's house as usual on his bicycle and threw the newspaper at Ludwig before leaving. There was no greeting, probably because Ludwig didn't have enough time to get to know the newspaper delivery man, or maybe it was purely business.

Ludwig caught the newspaper with his hand.

He opened the newspaper and started looking at the news. Although he could see the news on the internet, Ludwig was the type of person who rarely browsed the internet because he didn't want to be too glued to his cell phone.

“What's been happening lately...” (Ludwig)

His eyes scanned the front page of the newspaper, where several news items were placed at the top because, according to the publishing company, they were important news.

The most prominent thing on the front page was a headline that read:

=====================================================================

The Royal Ruznāmeh

Your royal reporter since 1854

Date: 5 January 2027

WELCOME BACK, OUR GOLDEN PRINCE!

Seven years have passed since our beloved prince, His Royal Highness Arslan Reis, Crown Prince of Norterdam, departed Norterdam to pursue his education and training in the Mandalan Union, our long-standing ally. Yesterday, the Golden Prince has returned!

The Crown Prince was accorded a full state reception, with enthusiastic crowds gathering at Nodrate International Airport to welcome his return. The scene underscored the strong charisma and commanding aura that define the Golden Prince. The question now being widely discussed is whether the return of His Royal Highness will reshape the political landscape of our beloved Kingdom of Norterdam? Circulating reports suggest that His Royal Highness is expected to soon receive titles from His Majesty King Aldrich Rustam Phenex Crimsons, being simultaneously conferred the titles of Duke of Arystania and Duke of Amidram, a step intended to formally reinforce his position as the Crown Prince of Norterdam.

Always the same fire!

=====================================================================

“It's hard to believe that there are people in this country who still revere a group of people because of their lineage.” (Ludwig)

Ludwig didn't seem particularly surprised or interested in the news. Considering that Royal Ruznāmeh, the newspaper he subscribed to, belonged to a state-owned company in the Kingdom of Norterdam, news about the monarchy had always been prominently featured.

But one thing was certain: Ludwig only subscribed to that newspaper because it is a state-subsidized newspaper, which is cheaper than other newspapers.

[*PIP]

The horn of a gray sedan stopped right in front of Ludwig's house.

The car window rolled down, revealing a familiar face.

“Come on, Ludwig. Get in.” (Bianca)

said the girl with long sandy blonde hair and blue eyes to Ludwig.

Bianca Florence. She was Ludwig's girlfriend and also a fellow student at the Nervanade Royal School of Albirionic Science.

She was so beautiful with her sweet smile, it was no wonder she was considered one of the prettiest girls in their class.

Ludwig smiled at Bianca and stood up from where he was sitting, walking towards Bianca's car.

He got in and sat in the passenger seat, right next to Bianca who was sitting in the driver's seat.

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Bianca is driving her car along the highway that passes through the mountainous terrain, heading toward their school, the Nervanade Royal School of Albirionic Science.

As a military school, it's no surprise that its location is quite remote from residential areas, especially in urban centers.

Inside the car, Bianca drives with her right hand on the steering wheel, while her left hand holds Ludwig's right palm. On the other hand, Ludwig himself is busy reading the newspaper.

For a moment, while paying attention to the road ahead, Bianca glances at Ludwig.

“Is there any good news that caught your attention?” (Bianca)

Bianca asked.

“Hmm... nothing so far. Just looking at the soccer news.” (Ludwig)

Ludwig said in a friendly tone.

His fingers gripped Bianca's tightly.

Because the car they were driving was automatic, Bianca could freely drive with one hand.

Bianca's eyes glanced at the newspaper Ludwig was reading. Bianca's gaze fell on the front page headline that read ‘WELCOME BACK, OUR GOLDEN PRINCE!’.

Bianca took a breath, trying to refocus on the road. It seemed that the headline made her a little anxious.

[*SYUT!]

“Oh my God!” (Bianca)

“OWOH!” (Ludwig)

Suddenly, a group of motorcycles sped past the car they were driving.

Ludwig immediately opened the window next to him and yelled at them.

“HEY, JERKASS! DO YOU WANT TO FUCKING DIE?” (Ludwig)

Ludwig yelled loudly and angrily through the side window of the car.

The people on the motorcycles ignored Ludwig, but one person turned around and gave them the middle finger, then immediately sped away.

From the clothes they wore, it seemed that they were also students of the Nervanade Royal School of Albirionic Science.

Ludwig closed Bianca's car window again.

“Tsk. Potential criminals.” (Ludwig)

Ludwig said irritably.

For this guy, there were certain types of people who he judged to have the potential to become criminals, one of which was rebellious teenagers who liked to ride motorcycles wildly and endanger other road users. He would immediately label them as the type of people who deserved to be behind prison bars.

Bianca continued to drive calmly, trying to focus after previously almost losing her balance.

She let out a sigh.

“They... if I'm not mistaken, they seem to be second-year students from Class B-5.” (Bianca)

Bianca said.

"Huh, the students who once got into a fight with a teacher because they were drunk in class, right? Rolan Merwik? No wonder. People like them won't have a bright future. Their past is like that.” (Ludwig)

Those words came out of Ludwig's mouth in a judgmental tone.

Bianca, who heard that, raised her eyebrows while focusing on driving.

“Did you know, Ludwig? Rolan Merwik and his friends ranked first in the Field Combat Practice exam last semester. They are quite talented.” (Bianca)

Ludwig turned to look at Bianca, who was talking, and listened to her.

“I also heard that they often visit an orphanage in the city of Anza to provide support to war-orphaned children.” (Bianca)

Bianca tried to show Ludwig a clearer perspective.

“So what’s your point?” (Ludwig)

Ludwig asked in a slightly cheeky, joking tone.

“What I want to say to you is... Ludwig, I know this isn't the first time I've said this to you, but don't be too quick to judge others, okay?” (Bianca)

Bianca's tone became a little worried.

For her, as Ludwig's girlfriend, Ludwig's attitude would only make things difficult for himself.

Ludwig nodded as he listened to Bianca's words, but as usual, his moral compass treated his girlfriend's criticism of his attitude as a recommendation. If he wanted to, he would follow it, but if not, the words would just be stored in his head until they gathered dust.

“Yeah... I know. But—” (Ludwig)

Bianca's index finger pressed against Ludwig's lips, preventing him from saying anything else.

“Hush~ That's enough, don't talk so much. Listen to me for once, okay?” (Bianca)

Bianca said with a chuckle.

Carefully, Bianca's hand turned the steering wheel and stepped on the brake pedal to slow down the car. They were already close to the school grounds.

Bianca removed her index finger from Ludwig's lips and held his right hand again.

Ludwig didn't take issue with Bianca interrupting him earlier. He considered it a normal joke. However, if someone else had done that to Ludwig, he might have thrown a tantrum and started a fight.

“You know, Ludwig? I hope you can find a role model. A mentor, like that.” (Bianca)

“Huh, a mentor? A role model? Like a teacher?” (Ludwig)

“Something like that. A role model who can guide you. Train you to be stronger, or maybe share some wisdom with you. (Bianca)

“I like that idea. But as an immigrant, I don't know any wise masters who could be my teacher in this country. What? You want me to try to get closer to one of the teachers at our school? (Ludwig)

“Hmmm... sure... it's strange, actually, Ludwig. A model student like you doesn't even have a teacher who mentors you.” (Bianca)

Bianca seemed to raise a question in Ludwig's mind. If he really is a model student at school, why isn't there a single teacher interested in mentoring him directly?

“Maybe they think I'm already strong and good enough?” (Ludwig)

Ludwig furrowed his brow and looked at Bianca.

“There's a sky above the sky, Ludwig.” (Bianca)

Bianca said to Ludwig.

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The car driven by Bianca and Ludwig arrived at their destination, the Nervanade Royal School of Albirionic Science. It was a military school exclusively for Albirians, where all students were also soldiers in the League of Nations Armed Forces.

Because it's a school under the League of Nations Armed Forces, the students came from diverse national backgrounds. Some were citizens of the Kingdom of Norterdam, while others were not.

Bianca slowed down the car when they were about a dozen meters away from the school gate, which was guarded by several adult personnel from the League of Nations Armed Forces.

[*SHUSH!]

Suddenly, a bicycle came flying by, overtaking them and turning sharply to the left in front of them. There had been no sign of it beforehand.

Bianca suddenly slammed on the brakes because the cyclist had overtaken them sharply, cutting them off, and Ludwig's head almost hit the dashboard of the car.

Bianca, who was shocked, immediately honked loudly.

[*PIIIIIP!!!!!]

The cyclist turned toward the car driven by Bianca and Ludwig.

From there, they could see him for a moment. The cyclist was a young man with long, golden hair that fell down his back. Not only his hair, but his eyes were also golden, visible behind the glasses he wore. From his sitting position on the bike he was riding, he could be described as a tall person.

They both exchanged glances with the young man before he entered the gate and stopped at the guard post.

“Fuck! For Rucheist sake!” (Ludwig)

Ludwig intended to get out of the car and confront the guy. However, an SUV passed in front of them with the flag of the Kingdom of Norterdam stuck on its hood. That meant they weren't allowed to get any closer.

From a distance, they witnessed a rare sight. The soldiers at the guard post saluted the young man riding the bicycle.

The young man then pedaled his bicycle into the school grounds. The SUV with the national flag followed behind him.

“Who do you think that person is?” (Ludwig)

Ludwig said as he looked at Bianca, but all he could see is Bianca staring blankly. As if she had just seen a ghost.

Her blue eyes looked empty.

Her lips didn't move at all.

Her hands were stiffly holding the steering wheel.

“Bianca? Hey, what's wrong?” (Ludwig)

Ludwig scolded Bianca because the scene felt strange to him.

“Uh, no. It's nothing. We have to get in quickly. The Monday ceremony is about to start.” (Bianca)

Bianca said, suddenly waking up as if startled, and quickly driving her car towards the entrance gate.

Ludwig felt that something was strange about Bianca at that moment.

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7:15 a.m.

Nervanade Royal School of Albirionic Science Courtyard

As a military school, the Nervanade Royal School of Albirionic Science has a tradition of holding a ceremony every Monday.

The school principal, Major General Daniel Hills, is present as the inspector of the solemn ceremony.

There were also teachers and instructors along with all the staff, who were all officers of the League of Nations Armed Forces.

The students from each grade lined up in the morning sun. In total, there were approximately 3,000 students at the school, equivalent to a brigade, with each grade consisting of around 1,000 students, equivalent to a regiment.

The student council president, who also served as the brigade commander, Colonel Vladimir Alferov, acted as the ceremony leader, standing in the middle of the field.

The flag of the Kingdom of Norterdam flew alongside the flag of the League of Nations. This symbolized that the Nervanade Royal School of Albirionic Science was originally a school under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Norterdam, before being “loaned” to the League of Nations.

Ludwig and Bianca lined up with the students of Class A-1, which was their class.

Not far from there, in the Main School Building on the 3rd floor, which was the teachers' office, a window was open and from the darkness, a figure stood behind the window.

It is the same young man who was riding a bicycle earlier and suddenly sped past the car driven by Bianca and Ludwig.

The young man stands looking towards the field where the Monday ceremony is being held.

“Damn. I feel like a shounen villain. It's only Monday and I'm already aura farm.” (??????)

He said to himself.