Chapter 1: That fateful day
Start writing here…We were just bestowed the title of our kingdom, "Murasaki-no knight," the protectors of the Dragoon Kingdom. Our father and mother, the fourth Emperor and Empress, were proud of us. All the citizens were at the ceremony, chanting our glorious names, even our comrades. The priest blessed us with the wings of awakening. We vow to bring a new path to our kingdom, to bring a new light of salvation, and to bring a new sight of life. Our kingdom was cursed; we were doomed to live in the depths of shadow without seeing the light of day, a myth called "the light of day." The people were sick of this overbearing darkness. The only place where we could get a glimpse of the radiant light was in the church of Yggdrasill on the day of the prophecy. The prophecy said that the Emperor's children would guide the citizens to the light by facing the ordeal, Trial of the Dragoon. At the end of the ordeal, it said that the children, with their royal blood, would give it to the status of Yggdrasill. And so, the darkness would disappear, and they would be the chosen heroes who would expand their kingdom's pride and rule once again in the continent named Aletheia.
Children of this kingdom. Thou shalt bring our kingdom to a new light once again... Now go, get ready before your ordeal," said Sister Gabrielle, smiling. "Get up and go. I shall wait for you whenever you are ready."
We nodded while getting up. A lot of pressure was on us. But mostly me, since I was the oldest. I'll be damned if something were to happen to my siblings while being in charge.
"So, brother, where shall we go first before our mission?" asked my brother, Malicious, while grinning.
He is two years younger than me. Malicious is a prodigious young man. He is also known as the best mage. He is also a teacher. The funny thing is...that he doesn't like people that much; hence, for some reason, people still respect or like him. He strangely has malicious thoughts.
"Where else? Let's go to the item and weapons shop and get some words of encouragement from our comrades. Should we cross them?"
"Kyle, can we go home afterward?" asked Ada with a bored face.
She is 7 years younger than me and 5 years younger than Malicious. She is a calm girl, but whenever she is with Malicious, they are both troublesome. She is a bit shy, but not too much. Despite her slight shyness, she is quite direct without being rude. She only has three main emotions and expressions: bored, evil, or sweet.
"Sure... But why?"
"Hmmm, let's just say... Just because."
"Okay, Ada. Then let's get going," I said.
As we left the church, under the watchful eyes of the citizens, I felt proud but also stressed. Since we were young, they had put a lot of pressure on us. It was overwhelming. Thus, as a dragoon knight, I didn't have a choice. It was as if we were born only to save them... Strange. The way our kingdom was built—all the houses were placed in a way to make a huge circle. The lower range of houses were for the very poor, up to the medium income earners like us. Like a pyramid. I truly disliked that; I felt bad. Arriving at the shop, we bought everything we needed. As we were about to leave, somebody bumped into my shoulder.
Eden LeMauvia, one whom despite me since childhood. "Tsk! I should wish you death... but since it's for our kingdom... Don't fail us, Kyle, " he said with a grimace. "I'm disgusted by the fact that only you can be the chosen. It's preposterous."
He's well known as the prince of combat. Because his father is an S rank soldier and a well-known noble. They're the one whom educated newbies to be great future soldiers. Eden takes pride in everything he does. Though, he's the type of person whom is never satisfied with himself. He's always on others' cases... as us.
"Should I put a death spell on you? Do you have a death wish or something?" Added Malicious with a scary smile."I don't recall my brother ever being rude to you asshole"
Eden tsk-ed annoy "If I were you... I'll sleep with one eye opened, " claimed Ada, staring at him.
"Y-you're just a bunch of creep! Something wrong with you two! Tsk I'm leaving"
Both of them laughed, and I chuckled a bit. I always have been the calm and the rational one. I don't like confrontation unless I have no choice. As usual, I felt like I lacked some personality within me. All I did was to be the perfect son as they painted me to be. It annoys me. Seeing Eden angrily left our sight. I sighed, looking at the ugly sky we were forced to watch since birth... Soon, as we finish this ordeal, everything will be back to normal. We'll get vengeance for those who cursed our kingdom. Ada pulled my armor.
"Kyle, I wanna go home now," she pleaded.
I nodded as we walked to our mansion. Our parents' servant greeted us. Ada quickly ran to her room.
"What's wrong with her?" I asked my brother.
He shrugged it off. " Whatever the reason is... she has her reason. It might be her six senses that women have. I might as well go to my room too. See you in a bit, dear brother, hahaha!"
As he left. I decided to go to my room too. I sat on my bed, looking around. A picture caught my attention. It was Ada, Malicious and I. With our favorite uncle. He was always with us to everything we did since our parents were too busy, especially our father. Our mother was in our activities sometimes, though not as much as uncle. We were not hated. Thus, we were considered like the odd ones. Ada was known as the odd maiden. Mally is the knowledgeable weirdo and I the frozen prince. We were always together younger. Our uncle called us the inseparable siblings. People still liked our uniqueness. Hence, something always felt peculiar... but I couldn't yet, but my fingers on it. As I was deep within my thought. Someone knocked on my door.
"Come in,"
Uncle, Alfred, entered my room. He looked proud, yet his face seemed sorrowful. "The day has finally come for you guys, huh... here take this"
As I took his gift. It was a golden crest with a crystal white diamond. "Humm, why are you giving this to me? I can't accept this gift."
He softly laughed "Its a gift to me to you. It's a crest that's going to protect you, guide you, and bless you... during and after your ordeal. I give the same thing to your siblings. Please do accept it... for me. "
I nodded "Okay" I said, getting up. "I wasted enough time here. I'll go get Ada and Mally"
"Okay, though... remember, whatever happens, don't forget who you are. You may face darkness, but don't ever crumble to those who deceive you... goodbye and... Goodluck. May the goddess of all guide you."
"Hmmm... thanks? " I responded, unsure. Why did he say goodbye and Goodluck? Was he scared? As I left my room, I looked at Uncle one last time. I smiled as he did the same. Going downstairs, both my siblings were waiting.
"Took you long enough, Kyle." Malicious said."Now let get this done. I have better things to do. "
Ada sighed "yeah same."
"Okay, okay, let get going."
At the church, sister Gabrielle the 7, was waiting for us infront of big golding door. She took a key and opened it.
"May the goddess of all bless you on your journey to the ordeal. " she said as she let us pass.
Inside was humid. The wall and the floor looked like an old dungeon. The light was dim, but at this point, it seems inexistant. Malicious snapped his fingers, and a ball of flame appeared floating above us. "Let there be light... and there was light, " he said as he chuckled
The atmosphere was really depressing, old and dirty. Hence, it was part of a great history of our kingdom. This was where they used to train the greatest warriors. Henceforth, where they also torture the enemies from different kingdoms. There were many broken chains on the floor with some old bloody stains. They were also plenty of words on the wall, though it was an old way of speaking that I couldn't quite understand.
"Why is this creepy dungeon in a holy church of Yggdrasill?" Ada asked
"Because it wasn't a church at all," Mally responded "it use to be originally a prison/training to our army. They use criminal as their training. Horrible? indeed, perhaps a bit barbaric, thus in their time it was like that"
"Hmm." Was the only answer Ada could say.
"As I said...human are the worst kin ever."
I looked at him. "Come on, don't say that. Don't put innocent people in it. "
"So~rry. Let me rephrase it. SOME humans are the worst"
After a while, as we pushed forward. We arrived at a dead end. In front of us was a huge statue of a man holding a torch and a book. Looking carefully, it looks like there was a door behind it. After a couple of seconds, the statue began to move, making the floor tremor. My siblings and I looked at each others ready to engage a battle.
