Chapter 1 – Black sheep

Deep in the south for the Albras empire, lay a major city of one of several kingdoms in servitude to the empire, Darabas. As with many cities, the royal family rules supreme, and under lay households with power only second to them which they support the ruler with. And the story begins within a major household.

A young adolescent boy can be seen seated in a small house, cross legged on the bed. His eyes closed, hands rested on his knees, his brows furrowed as sweat seep into his clothing. If an outsider were to come in, they would find the scenery odd. From the looks of the exterior of the house, one could guess that it belonged to a medium household. Not too fancy, nor too cheap. However, once you stepped inside, you’d notice it was unkempt, runned down.

Apart from a wooden table and bed, no other furniture could be seen. The boy was the biggest contrast of all. His clothing, if one had a good eye, were of good material. Expensive material. But it was old, a little too small for his body and if looked closely enough, patches were sewn back expertly.

The boy in question goes by the name of Redius Ip. A main family child to one of the main households in Darabas, the Ip household.

“… why won’t it work… god damit…” he said as he opened his eyes and let out a sigh as he wiped the sweat off his forehead.

Redius was performing what was known as cognia. A state where one sits and concentrates to gather the energy around them to become one with the elements. In this world, people are separated into normals, and gifted individuals. They are further divided into Knights/swordsman and Magicians. These gifted people are able to command the elements to their will, and as accordance to the ways of the world, the powerful rules.

The ability to sense these elements are most often passed through blood, enabling the powerful households to stay powerful. Though some individuals can still awaken to this ability without bloodline but is often weaker than the former.

“Maybe I really should give up…” he mumbled under his breath. He was now 14 years of age and still unable to channel the elements through himself.

In every case, at the age of 5, individuals are checked to see their ability in sensing and channelling these elements. Most knights/mages are able to sense 1 elemental particle in the air, depending how many different elements one can sense, the more gifted they are. But the ability to channel them is what makes the difference between Knights and Magicians.

Magicians are rarer than knights, on the account that Magicians learn to channel and command these elements to their will, creating magic. Whereas Knights who are less gifted, can only channel them through their body, creating aura.

Every child in a major household of the powerful bloodlines would be expected to awaken to sense these elements. Even if their channelling prowess is less than desired, with the households power, they could obtain certain pills to create a swordsmen. But Redius, when he was 5, was tested to have no sensory ability despite being a family of the Ip household.

Apparently brought back by his father just when he was a baby to the care of his grandfather, his father immediately left and was never seen again. Though the family cared for him in the beginning, when it was found that he had could not sense anything, they began questioning him, doubting him. That he wasn’t actually a part of the family, that he was a shame to the family. He was the black sheep of the family.

His status dropped immediately, the younger generation immediately treated him like dirt, they beat him, ostracized him, stripped him of all the maids and helpers. In the end, he was left with a small abandoned house right at the border of the household grounds. Even though he was only 14, he had suffered a lifetime of abuse, his mentality was no longer that of a child’s.

Suddenly the door creaked open to his house, and a figure emerged into the house carrying a tray of food. The figure was a girl around 20, she continued to the table as Redius smiled at her. He recognized her immediately, she was the maid assigned to taking care of Redius ever since he was a child.

“Young master, I brought you food.” She said as she laid down a tray of simple food on the table.

“You know that’s just in name only Claire…” Redius replied as he got off his bed.

“None the less I cannot drop the formalities.” Redius chuckled to himself as he heard the reply.

“REDIUS, GET YOURSELF OUT HERE NOW!” A loud voice resounded through the house, it was a shout filled with aura. Claire collapsed on the ground and Redius just managed to hold on without falling.

He stumbled over to Claire and helped her up and made his way outside. What greeted him were 2 elders of the household, guards and several children of his age. James, Bran and Steven. All cousins around the same age as Redius, the 3 were the main assailants of the abuse that Redius had suffered for the past few years.

“And what’s this?”

“What’s this? You know what this is.” James replied with a smirk on his face. The other children all had sly smiles on their faces.

Redius furrowed his brows, he could sense something was wrong.

“Search the house, and him.” One of the elders said as the guards moved to follow the command.

“What is going on?!” he retaliated, but Redius who had no training in Knighthood could not resist the 3 guards searching him. One of the guards pulled something out of Redius’ jacket, examined it and immediately handed to the Elders.

“Take him to the hall, we’re holding a family meeting for the head to decide his punishment.”

The elder replied after having looked at the received item, his expression turned furious.

They dragged a confused Redius away, though he could already sense what was going on.

All the main family members were gathered in the great hall of the Ip household. The head of the house sat on a seat overlooking everyone as the elder handed him the item. He immediately frown and his eyes locked onto Redius.

“The evidence is clear. What have you to say Redius?” his deep voice echoed through the hall, power emanating from it. As expected of a initiate knight.

“To what exactly?”

“Don’t play dumb. This is evidence that you tried to poison James and Bran. It’s the same poison used, and it was found only on you.”

“What?...”

“Do not…” The sound of the Head’s voice faded away, Redius was no longer paying attention. His mind was swimming, obviously they framed me. But how? What was the poison doing in my clothing? I obviously didn’t have it this morning… plus they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to come near me. Unless…

Redius lifted his head and turned it ever so slowly towards the culprit. Her eyes were apologetic, but it showed no remorse. Claire. When Redius helped her up, she must’ve slipped it onto him. But why? And immediately he knew as he saw James’ hand grabbing her butt, her face flushed.

Redius chuckled self loathingly. The only one ever on his side all these years, betrayed him. The weak really are preyed on by the strong.

“For the crime of attempting to kill a member of the family, your sentence… is death.” He finished as silence followed. To the dissatisfaction of a few, Redius face showed no emotion. It was one who had clearly seen through death. He tilted his head towards the ceiling, he knew, that the previous head of the household would be watching. His grandfather. If anyone could save him now, it was him.

But as he was dragged out of the hall and off to the fohlorne forest, no voice came, no one came. He was well and truly alone.

Because this was seen as a disgrace to the family, he was to be killed at the fohlorne forest and dumped into the large ravine and told to all that he went ‘missing’. Though obviously people would know the truth, it’s necessary to put up a front.

As they neared the ravine, 2 guards stood side by side by Redius urging him closer to the edge. They stopped only a few steps away from the edge.

“Turn him around, I want to see his face when he dies.” James said. He and claire had come with the others to witness this.

As the guards turned him around, his eyes connected with Claire, she flinched and turned away. He then looked at James and the others, and smiled.

“What’s so funny huh?! Who do you think you are?...” he spouted crap at Redius. He was angry, he had thought Redius would’ve broke, but instead he mocked him. And as he was yelling angrily at Redius, he found out why he was smiling. Because he jumped.

Redius jumped backwards into the ravine. He was not going to give them the satisfaction of killing him. He took the opportunity that the guards would not dare kill him when James was still speaking. He was their young master after all.

Redius smiled as he fell into darkness.