For days now I have followed a strict routine. Wake up, eat breakfast, get escorted to Eleazar's lab for experiments, get glared at by that asshole of a Prince Arthur, get escorted back to my cell, eat dinner, then sleep. Other than that, it has been a boring week.

In my stay here I have learned more things about the world from questioning Eleazar whenever he is not babbling about something I don't have a clue about while waiting for some kind of reaction on the different instruments that he either make me hold or poke me with, to the various solution mixed with either my blood, hair, and some fingernail clippings. The world's name is Astera and like Earth, has a diverse landscape.

Eleazar told me of a story of how Astera came to be. The legend says that in the beginning the world is only inhabited by the elves. But every few millennia, the Goddess Luna creates and adds more Races and Land in the world until it is what it is today.

There are various races that inhabits the world, but it is mostly ruled by four major races, the Elves, Dwarves, Beastmen and Human.

The Elves occupy a territory of mostly woodland. Eleazar said that their land is the richest in terms of ambient mana. According to him due to the high saturation of mana in the Elven Territories, the Elves became more attuned in controlling mana and since the Elves are mostly pacifists and keep to themselves they are adept in nature magic.

Eleazar usually whines about how the Elves are hoarding vast amount of knowledge in the Arcanum Librarium and how the knowledge within can change how people live their lives if they only shared just a fraction of it to public.

For example, there is surely something about the Void Walk teleportation technique that Kaizer uses inside their books that is fairly clear since they have a counter for it. What other world changing knowledge must be just laying around in their shelves gathering dust, waiting for someone to use the knowledge within the page to elevate the way of life of all who dwell in Astera maybe even beyond.

I can see his hurt expression and asked about the other races just to change the subject and he is happy to oblige since the solution he is observing is still not showing any kind of reaction. He resumed his story while he starts mixing something new after getting another vial full of blood from me.

He started to talk about the race inhabiting the northernmost region of the continent. the dwarves. the dwarves live inside the tunnels of the mountain ranges of the north. They usually carve the inside of the mountains and from the stones they sculped their homes and other buildings. Other cut the stones and make buildings out off it. But the most extravagant of all is the Main Palace of their Dwarven Kings which is made of stone and marble with walls engraved with runes to make it more durable. Each mountain is ruled by a dwarven king who are then ruled by the Dwarven High King who the other kings voted to lead their race as a whole.

Dwarves, who are total opposite of Elves, can't use external mana manipulation due to the small amount of mana stored in their body. Eleazar said it is because of the environment where they live. In the Marzante Mountain Region where most of the dwarves dwell, the ambient mana is so low that mages from other region have their mana recovery fall into just 10% when they are there. The reason for such low ambient mana levels lies within the ore that are abundantly found and mined in the mountain. Mananite.

Mananite ores are stones that are able to absorb and store mana from the atmosphere. These Mananite ores are then processed into materials that the dwarves use, from the basic light apparatuses to the magic canons installed in the parapets of the castle walls. He said that he was only able to visit the dwarven kingdom once while accompanying Prince Arthur in diplomatic business, but it is clear that the short visit made a big impression on him.

Eleazar sounds like he really likes the dwarves. I do see why. For a man who pursues knowledge as fervently as him, I imagine he would really get along with the dwarves. Unfortunately, the dwarves don't share their knowledge of magic engineering to outsiders and protect its secret vehemently that they install failsafe in their inventions that if anyone tries to tinker with it will cause it to explode.

Well that is a crazy way of patenting their inventions. What the hell, if it ain't broke don't fix is so they say.

We stopped our discussion there one of the important looking person, probably a high ranking officer based on how elegant his armor looks, came looking for Eleazar. They whispered something to each other which I can't really hear clearly, but judging from his usual complains when no one is around, it must be about the surges of energy becoming more frequent.

The Officer then waited till Eleazar exited the room before he addressed me. "Sorry for cutting your meeting with the Arch Mage short Mr. Alistair. The prince have a task for him and is not able to come here personally since he is occupied with urgent matters. But don't fret little hero, I will have a soldier escort you back to your room and have someone deliver you your lunch. It is already past noon and you must be famished." Wow, just a few moment with this guy, and I already like him way more than the asshole prince.

"Well you couldn't really call my cell a room tho. But yeah I am kind of hungry. Eleazar usually to feed both of us when he is absorbed in his works so thanks." Well since he looks like a kind man, should I push my luck? "By the way Mr?"

"My name is General Romulus little hero." Romulus smiled when he answered.

Here it goes. Please don't get offended. "Yeah… Er… General Romulus sir. May I request some meat and vegetables for my meals? For almost a week now, I only dined with bread and water and could use more variety in my diet. Well… only if it's ok with you."

The general grimaced and I feel my heart skip a beat. Well it looks like I offended someone from up high again. But I am just so god damn tired of eating nothing but hard bread and water.

After a few seconds Romulus answered with his back facing me. "I do apologize for the prince's behavior. I advised him that this is not the way to treat a hero and to reconsider your living arrangements, but he is just so stubborn especially when it concerns his big brother." He then turned around and face me. He put his hand on my shoulder and continued. "I don't have the power to move you to a more comfortable living space, but I can at least order some of my most loyal soldiers to come deliver you good food and install a decent bed. That is the least I can do for a hero of this country."

Wow. What luck! Goodbye hard bread and plain water. Hello meat. "Oh… Can you also give some to the family next to my cell? They have been good to me ever since I got here and I want to pay them back. I would've like it if you could release them but I know that you don't want to risk this location being exposed to your enemies but you could at least make them more comfortable. You know, since they are just refugees that got caught in crossfire."

Romulus frowned after hearing the words that came out of my mouth. "I suggest you don't acquaint yourself with those traitors little hero." Sensing my confusion he continued. "They may look innocent to you but they are not what they seem. Mr. Vash is a soldier of the Ice Queen Minerva. He is also not your normal run of the mill soldier. He is one the captains of the Ice Queen who led in the assault to quell our rebellion. Although he says that he deserted this does not cleanse him of the blood of our brothers and sisters who fell to his sword." I can feel the simmering anger underneath his voice. "Only because of his wife and child that we haven't yet hang him by the neck. We tried to convince his wife to take their child and go on to the Elven kingdom as a refugee, but they refused to leave the man. Left with no other choice we have to put them in the same cell together."

Welp. I didn't know that. Vash and his family all look like good people.

"You could still share your food with his wife and child. But if my men ever see you share even a bit of the food I give you to Vash, I will stop helping you." He then proceeded to walk out the room.

Well that sucks… I do like the family… but meat is meat. Hmmm… What to do?

*******

Without the nobles and warriors bickering all day on what to do, the war room falls silent. I was so fixated in taking revenge on my brother for so long. Now that he is gone, I don't really know what to do… Haahhhh… I do know what to do… but I feel that I lost something after knowing my brother has died. Something that makes retaking the country lose some of its meaning. I always dreamed of facing my brother in some kind of final battle. Good vs. evil. I just wish I can face him once more. Know why he did the horrible things he did. Maybe even change his ways…

What am I thinking? Reginald threw away all of his chances of redemption when he killed father and brother. He plunged the kingdom to chaos. He is beyond redemption. Even if the magic circle worked as intended and we faced him in battle, will we be enough to stop him? The answer is an easy no. Just like General Romulus said. Reginald is so strong that even anti-magic strategies will most likely not work and he will wipe us out with just a wave of his hand. We should be thankful that Cloud was able to take him down in the Void.

As the memory of Reginald falling to his death flash my mind, anger started to flare in my heart. I still couldn't get over his death and most likely won't be for a long time. We grew up close to each other. I look up to him more than the heroes of the kingdom. Strong in both body and mind, he became the champion of the colosseum at the age of 16. All of the people in the kingdom adore him. Seeing him as the hero who will lead the kingdom to glory. That is what I thought too.

None of the kids our age was able to touch him in a fight, even if we are to group against him. Even the captains fall short in front of his flawless technique. He was the perfect warrior. He was my idol. For so long as I can remember I was chasing after him. Learning all I could from him.

Following his footsteps, I also overcame the colosseum at 14 and show my superiority against kids and adults alike. But even as I win duel to duel, from competition to competition. I have never heard him praise me. He always tell me to get stronger. To chase after him.

One fateful day, I fought against him in a tournament. Although he defeated me with no problem, I was still able to give him his first wound. To call it a wound would be an exaggeration. It was more like a scratch. But even so it made me proud. The scratch I made was the proof that I was improving. That day by day I am catching up to my idol. Soon to be able to stand beside him as his equal. I was really happy back then.

But after the tournament, Reginald changed. It was all because of that damned book. Because of that book he killed Marius. Because of that damned book everything fell. If only we could find that cursed book, we could at least find out why Reginald fell so far. Alas, it is nowhere to be found. Based on the memory of that damnable Cloud, It seems like the book is not in Reginald's possession when they fought. We even searched that bastard thoroughly and we found nothing! Where could it be?

Staring at Reginald's robe hanging in the wall, a knock on the door knocked me out of my wandering thoughts. I straighten my back and sat straight on my seat. Seeing that everything is in order, I ordered a soldier to open the door.

Eleazar entered the room and after walking a few meters toward me he bowed. "My Prince. I have answered your call. What can this old man do for you, your majesty?" Eleazar said.

"No need to be so formal old man. Raise your head and take a seat. We have a lot to talk about." I ordered him.

"Thank you your majesty." He replied and took a seat.

"Any update on your studies on the Void old man?" I opened and ordered one of the soldiers to bring us snacks.

"Right now your majesty, there is no progress to report. I know there is something about the man that protected him from the effects of time while inside the Void. He didn't feel tired, he didn't suffer from fatigue even after walking for what seems years and most importantly his body resets back to his optimal state even after sustaining severe damage that could've killed a normal man." He reported as he ravenously ate each food lain in his plate. He must've been skipping his meals again.

Yes, the damage he took from my brothers attacks should've killed him ten times over. Whatever the effect of the Void in his body made him tougher.

"After much tests I am able to feel a strange energy inside him. Although I don't know what it is or how to draw it out, I will not rest until I uncover his secrets. That I assure you, your Majesty." He finished as he drank another glass of wine.

"No need for haste. I would appreciate if you take your time old man and take care of yourself. What would I do if my trusted friend and advisor fell ill? I sorely need your help in this trying time so don't go skipping your food and rest." I fear he will sooner die of hunger due to his obsession to knowledge than die in battle.

He straightened himself in his seat and gave me a courteous bow. "I am flattered that you care for me, my prince. Do not fret. I will not die until I uncover the secret of the Void. Just think of all the benefits it will entail to our people---?"

"Yeah yeah… I get you old man. Don't let your mind wander yet. There is more I need to discuss with you." I interrupted him before he goes to another rant that will most probably last for hours. "The real reason I called you here is about the surges. It is becoming even more frequent now. I am afraid that this is unnatural. We also received report that one of the patrols didn't came back last night. Is it possible that the Elves are behind this? Afterall, we are near their borders. Add up the debacle which is the botched magic circle. I worry that they not on our side in this fight."

"About the surge my Prince, we were still unable to pin point the source but we are close to solving its mystery. We have already close to zeroing in on the cause of this strange phenomena." He answered.

"Now your Majesty, about the Elves. Never believe for one minute, that the Elves are on our side. The Elves is always in no one side but themselves. For millennia they kept to themselves. Not bothering with affairs not concerning them. Granted there are some of their kind who are adventurous enough to venture out of their territory and go on and help other races, but they are the exemption." He declared.

"Are you trying to say that since Reginald is now gone, they view us as the new threat?" If that is the case then we are in deep trouble. Merida did find a new possible hide out far from the Elven territory, but we are no way ready yet to move out of this position. Logistics must be planned. The path we would take must be secured. Our trails must be covered. A lot of planning, so little time.

"Most likely. But don't fret my prince, they will not attack us. As long as we don't provoke them. So the possibility of them taking out our patrol is very low. As for the magic circle malfunctioning. I believe it is nothing more than a fortunate accident." He stated.

It still kind of irk me to remember what happened to my brother but I try to keep it out of my mind. "If the Elves are not involved, then who?" I asked

"Either they met a vicious monster or must've gotten lost since there are pixies here in the forest. The days of peace these past couple of days must've made them soft and lower their guards." He implied.

I can't ignore the fact that what Eleazar said must have been right. But I have a bad feeling about this.

"You might be right. Before you go back to your Lab. Could you relay to Pariston to send a patrol to find those who are missing? I won't be able to relax knowing some of my men are lost and hungry in the forest." I asked Eleazar.

"Your will be done, your Majesty." He answered. But before he stood up I quickly asked before I forgot.

"By the way Eleazar, how is our prisoner?" I inquired.

"Cloud? He is quite a guys that one. The most helpful test subject I have ever known. Not only is he cooperative, he was also able to give me some insight on the mysteries of the Void by sharing his perspective in the matter. A little bit on the slow side but is eager to learn." Eleazar continued to rattle on how great a guy that Cloud is.

It is starting to get in my nerves.

The soldiers keep on asking to see their hero. The old man is also enamored by his test subject. Why do they keep on praising him like he will save the kingdom by himself? For god's sake he doesn't even have a lick of mana to use much less stand against even one of the weakest soldier who is capable of using spells. What he did against my brother is just a fluke. If Reginald is only thinking straight he won't fall against this guy.

I've had enough. I am the Prince. I am the one who will save this country. Only I have the strength, wisdom and authority to lead my people to victory.

I guess it is time to show how weak their so called hero is, and I have the perfect plan for it.