The world was called Arthea.
A world with six continents separated by a vast ocean known as the Crashing Ocean. Four of them are isolated by currents that are never calm, while the other two continents stand facing each other, separated by Drafet Island—a long island with a great river that splits it like an old wound.
People call it the border between two factions:
The Moon Continent and the Sun Continent.
In the territory of the Sun Continent, precisely in a kingdom that borders directly with the Moon's domain, stands a nation called Patronus—The Protector. A nation that controls almost all border trade routes.
And within Patronus...
There is one family whose name is even more respected than the nobles.
Billgeth.
A family whose emblem displays a scale of virtue with a sword beside it. A symbol of justice and strength.
They have been offered noble titles many times.
And they have always refused.
Yet everyone knows—their wealth is capable of shaking the economy of an entire continent.
There is a rumor circulating in the underground circles:
The Billgeth estate is the graveyard of assassins.
Because not a single intruder has ever returned alive.
In the backyard garden of the family's grand residence, there is a small embankment with a shady tree standing firmly at its edge. The place is often used for picnics when the weather is clear.
A seven-year-old boy sat beneath that tree.
His hair was blazing red.
His eyes were gold like the last light of dusk.
Maxivont Arctus Billgeth.
The youngest grandson of the family head.
"Mother... when will she come back?"
His voice was soft, full of hope.
No answer came yet.
But another voice appeared first.
"Hey, fatherless brat! What are you doing here?!"
A girl with pink hair and sky-blue eyes stood a few steps away.
Cintia Krevan Billgeth.
Arctus's oldest cousin.
Behind her, two twin boys with black hair and red eyes grinned.
Marckus Jhonny Billgeth.
Marckus Darren Billgeth.
"Sis, why do we even have to deal with a cowardly kid who only reads books?" Jhonny mocked.
"Yeah, why, Sis..." Darren added in a dismissive tone.
Arctus remained silent. His hands clutched the book he was reading.
In truth, they did not completely hate him.
They were simply jealous.
Because their grandfather... called Arctus's name far more often than theirs, implicating the unfair on treatment.
Darren suddenly shoved his shoulder.
"Why are you just staying quiet?! Huh?!"
The book in Arctus's hand was snatched away.
"Oh... a magic book?" Jhonny chuckled. "Why are you holding something like this? Do you even deserve to study magic?!"
Several pages of the book were torn out roughly, the paper almost torn apart.
"Give it back..." Arctus whispered softly.
"Someone without a father like you doesn't need things like this!"
The book was thrown to the ground and stepped on.
"Serves you right!" Cintia scoffed.
"Whatever. I'm already not in the mood for this stupid game," she continued as she turned away, scoffing and huffing in silents.
The three of them left, abandoning Arctus alone under the tree.
The evening wind blew gently.
Arctus knelt down, picking up the pages dirtied by the soil.
His eyes trembled.
"Who... actually is my father?"
Tears fell without him being able to hold them back, his body tremble violently his voice hoarse thinking aback about what Jhonny says.
"Why are they always like that... why..."
The sky above him slowly dimmed.
And behind the branches of the old tree...
A dark blue bird with golden-blue eyes watched him in silence.