I have seen war, and I have seen peace in this new age, and if there is one thing that I have learned, is that all those in power use them as tools.

Knight-General's Archimedes of the order of the purple lebron.

Declaration of righteous heresy

7th chapter

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3 days before reincarnation

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Lucan's eyes opened slowly, it was still very early in the morning, and the bed was far to warm and fluffy to leave. Alas, all good things end, especially when some people that enjoy the discomfort of others live so close to one another.

''RISE AND SHINE LUCAN!'' Was the first thing he heard the moment the blankets were ripped from him.

Opening his eyes abruptly as he suddenly tried to cover himself with his hands, whilst at the same time trying to hold the dark fur he favored; the person shouting in his face was none other than Marcus graves, that stopped just a moment trying to observe what reaction he caused. After small moments of silence, he immediately began screaming again, keeping the fur on one hand and playfully shoving Lucan with the other.

''RISE LUCAN!''

''alright Marcus alright'' fixing a glare at his older brother ''get out of the room, or better yet, what do you want?''

Wholly unsympathetic he answered slowly and loudly, whilst looking at Lucan from above ''Mother and father want to speak to you in the main room, now RISE LUCAN''.

''Fine, fine, I hear you'' swallowing his indignation and telling him what he wanted to hear was usually the best way to stop him, but Marcus had been downright stubborn the past few days and always made sure to make the process memorable in some way.

Sensing disaster Lucan quickly tried to get up but found himself pushed down to the bed once more and a hand between his shoulder and neck, slowly applying more and more pressure.''Stop that dammit…stop…that.'' Lifting all arms and legs and trashing wildly had little effect, especially when making sure he didn't touch Marcus, after all, that would only incite him to stay longer.

Suddenly, after a small eternity, all the pressure dissipated and Lucan, red faced and now fully awake, glared again, promising vengeance in his mind, but holding back tears, so all in all, not very threatening.

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence Marcus simply walked to the door and said nonchalantly ''Don't sleep past the seventh bell again, I hate having to deal with mom and dad alone, you know that, and you are the only one that can make the little goblin quiet''. And walked out like nothing ever happened without closing the door.

''Fuck you'' he whispered, and then winced a little imagining different scenarios in his head where he came victoriously if it came to blows, then he opened his mouth again, closed it, and sighed. Just an ordinary usual morning.

His older brother had always used him as a playmate or a venting machine for when things got serious, it didn't help that his teachers were slightly supporting this attitude, but nothing would come out of brooding in his room…again.

After getting up and walking to his small closet he opened his only drawer to find a good assortment of the same styled linen shirts and breeches, all plain and unimpressive, with the distinctive coat of arms of his family adorning the left side.''Vert a pale sable fimbriated argent four towers coward in pale'' he whispered, he didn't understand a word of it, it was basically 4 white towers, placed in a horizontal black line, with green to the side, but saying that made it sound uncultured and barbaric his father said, so dumb words it is.

After getting dressed and getting somewhat ready he left his small room for the lavatory only to find the goblin Marcus avoided so much, said creature was none other than his little sister, Marian Graves du lac, the little treasure of the family, at least in Lucan's opinion and different than him in every way. She was a small child with an oblong face without a single imperfection(or so their mother said) and a thin nose, hair long and just like her almond-shaped eyes it had a deep black color also found in her thick eyebrows, which contrasted in her pale skin, all hidden by a cascade of hair she always leaved wild.

All thing's perfect, except for the fact that she couldn't see very well and liked to run barefooted, which means that when Lucan left his room, the first thing he saw was a black haired cannonball hitting him straight in the chest and sending them both to the ground.

Most people would get mad at this sort of thing; most people don´t know marian either, ''Hi Luc'' she said with that vibrant smile she used every time she did something wrong and yet knew that there would be no consequences.

''Hello Marian'' he replied casually, admiring the ceiling from his position in the floor and doing his best no to watch the small demon ''how's the morning, everything good.''

''Yep''

'Ouch''

''Sorry''

''……there's a spider in the ceiling.''

''Her name's Miranda and you will leave her alone''

Smiling a little at that reply he finally looked at his sister who hadn't moved an inch from his chest and was instead looking at the ceiling''is that another pet of yours. You know I could find a kitten or something''.

Giggling a little she looked at him straight in the eyes and without missing a beat said''a tabby please…or a puppy…or a-

''Ehem''

Immediately both of them turned to see the eldest sister of the Graves family, Diane, who was at the end of the hallway with a disappointing frown''get up from the floor, you both know that our parents are waiting for you right?´´''

''Yes mum'' ''Ok''

Both answered at the same time and then looked at each other for a few seconds, and after a signal only they understood Marian jumped and ran whilst escaping from Lucan who got a sudden impulse to tickle the little brat. After a short chase Lucan stopped to see his sister disappear into her room between giggles and mumbles of ''good morning''. A good morning that lasted until Diane passed by his side with a swat at his head and a warning with the tone of voice reserved just for him''don't call me mum.'' and continued walking without saying anything else or even looking at him.

''Well… fuck you too''. he replied and turned to walk to the opposite side intent in reaching the lavatory, if she heard or cared, she didn't show.

And that was the normal morning routine of the Graves brothers and sisters.

After entering the lavatory, he readied himself and immediately went down to the main room of the house to find both of his parents sitting quietly whilst eating breakfast and reading. Next he took a moment to steady his breathing and walked to the room with his eyes looking to the floor right until he was about two steps from his mother.

Marine Graves was rigid as she read a simple book with one hand and drank tea with the other, sitting in a very uncomfortable looking wooden chair she was the image of proper decorum and behavior, or at least that was the only thing he could think; if she saw him or even heard him, she made no indication and instead she simply put the teacup down and grabbed her ever present hand fan and made a signal as if to say ''come here''.

''Good morning mother'' was the only thing that came out of his lips, then he stood directly in front of her, and even though he wouldn't see her eyes, he could feel her disapproval coming in waves, after all, practice makes the master, and the only thing he was a master of in this house was in that.

Waiting in silence for the judgement he flinched a little when a hand came down to fasten his collar and to fix his his hair in a more presentable manner compared to the mess he had when he woke up. After some short moments she simply signaled again without a word and he retook the inicial position some steps back, she didn't said anything, and he didn't looked up either.

The uncomfortable silence lasted until at last his mother said something like ''chsq'' and answered his earlier greeting with a question accompanied by a frown of disapproval Lucien could feel in his bones''Why did it took you so long to wake up?.''

''I was getting ready''was the immediate reply''I was speaking to Marian and Diane on the way''and the moment the words left his mouth he knew that he had made another mistake, and his mother seemed to agree when she responded without missing a second.

''Don't make excuses. You are a son of the Graves family, not a commoner, besides, we asked your brother to wake you up, you had plenty of time.''

Ignoring the urge to roll his eyes, he could see the scenario in his head whereas his parents would kindly ask Marcus to fetch him, and then his brother would get one of his puffs of rage, after all, that was the job of a servant, and he would do take it out on him all to please his doting parents; that is how things run in this family, the heads of the Graves family spoke of love and fraternity but forced their sons to fight for every scrap of it. And of course, if Lucan became the black sheep of the family then no matter, a third son is easily replaceable.

''Did he wake you up?''asked his mother after a moment of silence.

''Yes mother''came the reply, and for a moment the image of Marcus enjoying his task appeared in his mind, coupled with a sudden itch in his neck.

If she saw and indication of what happened in his face she didn't show or cared, as per usual''good, well, sit and eat, we need to talk''.

And by talk, she usually meant command, but Marcus didn't said that either, he simply took a seat at the table opposite to his mother, and about two spaces away from his father, who so far, seemed completely uninterested in the events at the table.

In that moment he finally looked at his mothers face, her eyes small, yet black and pleasant; her nose a little hooked and oblong face that she used to half hide in fancy hand fans. Regularly she said that their use was the mark of proper decorum; Lucan suspected it had something to do with the blackening of her teeth, a common problem in the city no one could resolve.

After a few moments she sensed he wasn't going to speak, so she simply continued ''We've been waiting here for a while, your breakfast was prepared but now it's cold''after another signal a butler appeared out of nowhere and placed his food in the table, bread and porridge. When she made sure he began to eat she continued''I got word from the academy, they think that you are not giving your all and instead…advised, that we should allow you to repeat several topics in which they consider you are lacking''.

After another pause she suddenly massaged her forehead and revealed a letter that she promptly opened and then handed to him. Taking that as a cue to read it he flinched the moment he began reading and inwardly cursed himself, his brother and the academy.

The letter began by addressing not his parents, but the 14th family, that was bad, the city had 36 royal families of various sizes representing the first 30 ships that were used to create its foundations, that means that the academy was addressing his entire family for his failing to carry out his duties as a page-student of the royal academy of Lucien. No wonder his parents and eldest sister were furious these past few days, things like these had a way of spreading in the form of nasty rumors and his father wouldn't stand for that.

His father, Leonel Graves, the pater familias; the man that usually was to busy for anything or anyone that wasn't his honor, his firstborn son and daughter and money in that specific order. And worst of all, the man that suddenly got an interest in the conversation, and stared at Lucan for the first time in the morning.

Leonel Graves was a man of short words, unremarkable body, pasty skin, loose grey hair, with a face that you could forget the more you looked at it if it wasn't for his clear milky eyes the color of a full moon; eyes that were peering into Lucan´s soul, and only when the situation became truly uncomfortable he spoke''I expected better.''

And that was it. No insight, no punishment, no nothing and yet the words cut Lucan like a knife. he opened his mouth trying to think on a reply, but no sound came forward, so he simply looked down at his food and that was it.

No more word came from the pater familias, instead he simply looked at his wife and raised an eyebrow. Taking that as some kind of signal she began speaking again''I truly don't know what to do with you Lucan, is as if you don't understand the duty you are expected to carry for the family.''

He had to suppress a groan at that. He expected he would break away and either become a page in a pirate ship or join a knighthood order like the templar of the brotherhood of calatrava. But saying that know wouldn't be wise, it would certainly be enjoyable but not wise.

So breakfast continued with a conversation they had practiced before in which his mother commanded something and Lucan simply accepted whilst trying his damnedest to keep his mind in the clouds.

''You will take extra hours with the tutor we have arranged, he will take care of instructing you in every aspect of the light and the three hierarchies.''

''Yes mother''

''I expect you to remember all the song and prayers to the letter. The graves must have a voice present in the Angelicarium or the cardinals, the seraphs have taken an interest in this year proceedings and the belief is that they are searching for pages to be taught by the order.''

''As you say mother.''

''I want you to focus on remembering your lessons in etiquette, remind yourself to treat them courteously always, or they will tell you in public and that is a loss of face we cannot allow.''

''Yes mother.''

An so on an so forth continued his breakfast, without a single intermission from his father or a question from his mother until at last he finished his meal and just before he contemplated stabbing himself with a fork just to end it then and there a knock stopped the conversation and all heads turned to the door, where Diane and Marian entered the room and joined the table.

As usual, Marian entered like a caffeine filled cannonball and kissed both parents before greeting them with a smile and taking her seat, followed by a mischievous smile shown his way, followed by her stealing pieces of bread from his plate, never mind she had her own already on the way.

In contrast, the eldest sister took her seat silently, without even looking at him''Morning dad, good morning mom'' began Diane quietly''are you ready to come to my reunion in the academy?, today I'm joining my first ship''she said trying to sound calm and failing. Especially because everyone in the table knew the question was directed at the pater familias of the Graves.

He had to swallow a bit when he saw Diane sitting next to their mother. Thanks to the fact that they weren't ordered to join the table, they didn't have to present themselves in front of their parents, they could simply join the table and speak, and as usual he began suspecting Diane of waiting until the last moment to then flourish her accomplishment to the family.

Of course, no one noticed, and Leonel looked at Diane replied''Yes, we are almost ready, we will eat and then a carriage will take us to the reunion with the captains where i will make sure you end up in a proper ship''. Diane smiled a little at that statement and asked slowly ''Actually, I already have one in mind, perhaps you would like to meet the captain?''.

That took his attention''What's his name?''he asked while straightening in his chair.

Lucan didn´'t heard the reply, he was to busy eating and doing his best not to show what he was thinking because as usual his father had managed to make him feel useless once more. The reason for that was that right after breakfast he had to meet his tutor in the library and that meant that when he said that they would go to the reunion and meet the captains of the fleet, he would be stuck at home, reading about theology.

And that was the true problem, the real reason he was doing so bad in his classes, the reason he day dreamed every time he should be reading about the pantheon of beings everyone in this city believed in, namely the light and the three hierarchies. It was because he found every aspect of the whole thing boring to the extreme.

Ever since he could remember, the path of theology and learning and belief was the choice for him. His family needed someone to represent them in the church and that was it, no arguments, no opinion, no nothing. No one cared he didn't like angels, no one cared he didn't want to sing praises for a light that was in many ways silent.

And as if she could read her thoughts, his mother stopped the conversation in the table and addressed him directly''Lucan, if you finished eating, go to the library will you, your instructor should be waiting for you.''

''Yes mother.''

When he left he pretended he didn't listened to the sigh behind him.

And that was the normal breakfast routine for Lucan in the Graves family.