We are in the year 197 of the Solara Calendar. It is the 7th month, Zhephyrmoon, and the 27th day.
The Imperial Academy Helios.
One of 3 great schools that the Kingdom of Emberheart is proud of. It is also one of the ten Best Academies of the continent of Theya.
In the heart of Emberheart a great Kingdom of Theya, nestled amidst rolling hills and verdant forests, stood the illustrious Helios Academy, renowned as one of the Kingdom's premier institutions of magical learning. It's named after the Sun God.
Its towering spires reached towards the heavens, a beacon of knowledge and enlightenment for aspiring mages and warriors alike. Within its hallowed halls, the echoes of history resonated, tales of valor and triumph woven into the very fabric of its existence.
Generations ago, the Nine Heroes, champions of old, had risen to vanquish the malevolent scourge of the Demon King, bringing an era of peace and prosperity to the realm. Their names were etched into legend, each bearing titles that echoed their deeds: Aurelia Stormweaver, Gideon Ironshield, Lysandra Emberheart, and others, their valor immortalized in the annals of time. Yet, among them stood one whose name struck fear into the hearts of even the bravest souls—the Demon King's Apparition, wielder of dark and forbidden powers.
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A young man named Tristan Stormweaver, scion of two of the legendary heroes. With his age of 16 and his stature of 1.67 meters(a bit short for his age) and with short red-brown hair like autumn leaves and eyes as brown as a leave, Tristan possessed an air of quiet detestation, his eyes reflecting a mix of determination and uncertainty. Trained as a magic swordsman, he sought to uphold the honor of his lineage, yet struggled to escape the shadow cast by his parents' illustrious legacy.
As the sun cast its golden rays upon the Academy's courtyard, Tristan found himself locked in combat with non other than the King's daughter, Seraphina Emberheart who was the same age. Standing at 1.72 meters tall, with glittering honey-blond hair cascading down to her hips, Seraphina exuded an aura of grace and elegance, her slender frame belying her formidable skills as a fencer and master of multiple weapons. With each fluid movement, she demonstrated her prowess, her eyes gleaming with determination as she sparred with Tristan.
Despite his best efforts, Tristan found himself outmatched by Seraphina's relentless onslaught. Each strike was met with precision and finesse, leaving him battered and bruised. As the duel reached its climax, Tristan stumbled backward, his sword clattering to the ground as he gazed up at his opponent in defeat.
"You fight with the spirit of a warrior, Tristan," Seraphina remarked, extending a hand to help him up. "But you lack the focus and discipline to truly excel."
With a heavy heart, Tristan accepted her hand, his thoughts swirling with doubt and frustration. Was he destined to forever live in the shadow of his parents' legacy, branded as a failure in the eyes of his peers?
After the mock battle each side bowed and left the field. While nearing entrace both stumbled into a conversation that was rather not meant for one of them.
"What did I say, haha. Yet, again he won't hold longer than 3 minutes against our campus queen Seraphina. "
"Yeah, a bet is a bet you pay for our Lunch today. Right!"
"Fine, hah seriously. I thought after so many battles he would atlest manage to overcome the 4min line. It is like watching the same battle again and again. The outcome is always the same, atlest bother surviving a little longer. What a Failure of a Hero canidat.
In my opinion he should pay for Lunch since he couldn't met our expetation as the second coming of the Hero."
"Yeah and you know what! He was once in the past–"
In the silent that followed later on, his friends did the same.
Upon realizing two distinctive shadows lurking below a Tree. Their breathing became irregular and their gaze fixated on the Person right there. It was non other than the heroes they themself spoke about.
One with the face full of disdan and sheer resentment to their opinion.
The other looked like as if the very words of them were of no concern to him and left the place afterwards.
The Princess imidiatly tried to pursue and comfort him but upon almost touching his shoulder, he briefly stopped and answerd as it was the most peculier thing-
"No, Mutter how much you try to deny it. And it doesn't matter if you even punish them for telling the obvious.
See it they are right, as always i Lost without Holding my ground."
After saying that the Prinzess could nothing more than just stand there with a bitter expression. And sadnes filled her heart.
As did the spectator beside them, except them feeling down.
"And by the way i won't pay for a bet i don't even know happened behind my back idiots."
After saying that the the tens atmospher was gone as fast as it was there. And everyone was gone leaving only both of them there.
"See'ya tomorrow Sera"
"Wait, Tris-"
"It's okay. I don't give crap about what others say or think of me. But if you really want to apologise for something than that, that i am still single because of you!!!"
"HAH!!!!!"
For some reason Seraphina was pissed about the comment of being single, than be apologetic.
Before she could say anything at all, he ran like a scared chicken pursued by a hungry fox.
As soon as he left, the fire that burned within the girl vanished. "Idiot, what an idiot. Why, oh why, did I fall in love with such an idiot?!" The girl shouted, ensuring no one was nearby to hear her voice. It was no secret that the number one student, Seraphina Emberheart, was head over heels for the biggest thick skull in the school, Tristan Stormweaver. Only the girls and a few boys who weren't living under a rock recognized this. Previously, whenever a group of girls spoke well of him, whether about his looks, kindness, or prowess as a shaman, she would immediately intervene. Occasionally, the girls pretended just to observe Seraphina's behavior. It was like a romance from a novel, but after a while, they stopped because they saw her ambition, and as fellow females, they respected her feelings and decisions. From that moment on, not a single girl dared to approach the young hero. It was intended to clear the way for them, ensuring that no one would come between the couple.
However, the reason she hadn't made any progress until now was twofold: she was too cowardly and shy to make the first move, and he was too obtuse when it came to feelings and never realized it.
Whenever they had a match, she always defeated him with dominance. The fact that he never reached the four-minute mark wasn't because he was weak; on the contrary, after the undefeated princess, he was the strongest. So strong that no one except the princess had defeated him yet. That's why bets were always made on how long he would last and whether he would defeat her, as it was out of the question. If anyone claimed Tristan could defeat the princess, they would be labeled as insane, even the teachers, whose actual job was to treat everyone equally and have no preferences or prejudices, failed. Because it was unthinkable to them that he would ever defeat her. They even stopped bothering about it, if no one mention it, than the single sentence would be Lost to be never rememberd again.
It had become a rule, like the rules upon which this world rested: the rule that Tristan could defeat anyone who didn't belong to the Hero Clan, including Princess Seraphina Emberheart. Such power had the idea, it was as absurd as the moon falling to earth.
"Haaah, these thick skulls, and I've been doing this all along for him, and this is the result. And I can't do anything about it now since it's already too late." She didn't show it, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep him in check.
Once she had asked him when they were young what kind of girl he liked, and his answer was as follows:
'A girl who can do everything and keep me in check so I don't do any nonsense if it comes to that.'
His answer came from his parents always saying he needed a girl who could stand up to him and keep him in check, as well as being a girl for everything. But were those really his true feelings?
It should be noted that his parents had no time for him, so they had sought a caretaker for him. Innocent as he was, he had given that as his answer, which had brought him this dilemma. And to this day, this misunderstanding has never been clarified.
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Before he knew it, he had arrived home. As he stood in front of the gate, his expression changed for a moment from the annoyed boy to the emotionless one with eyes as dead as a fish. When he entered, he didn't show it to the servants. And changed it back to normal. As soon as he entered, he encountered two familiar figures.
One was the head butler, Reginal, who controlled the entire mansion. He was an older gentleman who had served in the Stormweaver household for years, his exact age unknown. But judging by his silver-white hair and his old accent, he was rather old. It was a wonder he didn't have any wrinkles on his face and had smooth skin. One could think he was in his mid-30s at first glance. What did he use to stay so young?
Aside from the two heroes, he had the most say in the house, even Tristan himself had to obey him, and there were only a few instances where he had the say. "Welcome home, young master, how was your day?" he smiled cheerfully.
"Regi, have I ever mentioned how sick I find it to see your old face as the very first thing when I come home, HAH And don't ask so hypocritically about things you already know the answer to."
"Oh, forgive me for my inconvenience. I accidentally forgot your motto again. Me and my Alzheimer's, yes, really, how did it go again, Tinay?" The person who was asked the question was Tinay, even though she was 27 years old, she was single. I EMPHASIZE SINGLE FOR 27 YEARS- "WAS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO EMPHASIZE THAT?!"
"Tinay?" Asked the butler.
"Huh eh, yes, the master's motto is: A new day, a new loss."
"As always, you did well, Tinay."
"UGH, youuuu!!"
"And what's going on here again, Mr. Regis and Tristan?" The one who was just so rude was the head maid Furude, who just passed by to clear up the chaos before it got worse. She was also the only one who addressed the young master by his real name.
She is a very strict person who has the biggest say after Reginal. She is titled as MAD ICE QUEEN and feared, both inside and outside the house. But most people miss what's behind her name and where it really comes from. Only the king and his closest, including the heroes and everyone in the mansion except Tristan, know the true reason.
She was once part of the heroes in her early teenage years, she is currently 37 years old and is a servant in the Stormweaver household. The reason for this is. She was rescued by the heroine Aurelia back then. Since then, she has been infatuated with the heroes. So much so that she sees them as idols, and every time she meets them, she lets her little sister mode come out.
Even the king can't order her anything. Except her BIG SISTER, she listens to no one. And coincidentally, this so-called big sister is Tristan's mother.
Aurelia Stormweaver better known by her Title: Archmage of Arcane Wind
One would think she would treat the child of her idol with the greatest care and love, but reality was completely different.
"So what's going on, does anyone want to explain it to me, or should I squeeze it out of you, hm?"
"No, nothing's going on here, ma'am. Regi just said I should take a bath and then study for the upcoming test, that's all." he answered with a trembling voice. One would think he saw her as a person who would beat him for the smallest mistake. And someone capable of that.
Despite the fact that Tristan can order her something, he doesn't and obeys her. Because he is scared of her, unlike Reginal who has more rights, he is afraid of her, and this fear is what controls him. But he has forgotten where this fear comes from. Since he was traumatized by her unintentionally on both sides.
"That was it, my lady. Can I offer you some tea later?" Even Reginal, known for his cruelty in the house. He could only give orders to her in certain cases.
"Well, Tristan, you go to your room and take a bath, then study. But before that, you'll have something to eat.
And no, i have to view some documents later"
"Are my parents here or will they be there?"
He inquired about the presence of his parents.
Furude replied, "Unfortunately, they don't have time be-"
"You don't need to explain it to me extensively. Just say the usual no, and that's it," Tristan interrupted her rudly, well aware of the consequences.
Before she could say anything at all, Reginal intervened. Shortly after, she understood why. The eyes that should have been trembling with fear until noe were not there. Instead, they were as lifeless as those of a fish with an emotionless expression.
Unable to bear witnessing it anymore. She execused herself left the place and headed to her chamber to clear her head and leaving Tristan there alone.
But was abruptly stopped by Reginal. The young master that stood there had long been gone to finish his meal and would not experience what had happened.
Seeing that her youmg master was gone, her moof changed swiftly again.
"I hope you understand the consequences of wasting my time with useless matters!"
"Yes, I am aware full aware of them, and you had to experience it firsthand like me if you want to fully grasp it. However, you must dropp everything when it comes to the Blood Hounds, am I right? It's time to unleash the hounds once again. Personal feelings don't matter, and if you need to blow off steam, something like this is just the right thing."
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Tristan, who had left his meal half-eaten, went to his room and took a bath. To clear his head, it was an especially long one. Yet it was of no use.
After the bath, he changed into his sleepwear, jumped onto his bed lying ther motionless.
Afterwsrd he curled up like a hedgehog. And he began to cry! The tears were the ones he had held back since his defeat today. But he, too, was at the end of his tether and could barely bear it. His sobbing was not loud, but everyone in the household knew that the young master was crying. Because it was nothing New.
The boy's parents were never there for him. Even in his darkest hours, he was always left to fend for himself. Due to their demanding jobs, they were rarely at home, a pattern that began when he was just four years old. And when they were finally present, they only seemed to sleep, complaining about the long hours they had worked or how exhausting the week had been. They never had time for their child when he needed them most.
So ended another day for the young hero. He cried until his eyes were red and his chest ached with sorrow, sinking once again into the embrace of sleep.
Despite everyone knowing how the young hero sought solace in slumber, no one stepped forward to offer help. Even if they knew the cause, solving the problem seemed beyond their abilities. The two heroes were repeatedly informed, but their response remained unchanged: "He can take care of himself; he's not a child anymore. Besides, he should follow the example of the others." By "the others," they referred to the children of the other heroes. While the circumstances varied, the context remained the same. Could anyone blame him for feeling neglected by his parents?
It was another pityfull night that gone by for our Hero. He sleept soundly unaware of the danger lurking beyond his room.