Chapter One: Prologue
Boom!
The world seemed to spin as all Lucian saw was a sky filled with black smoke.
Boom!
Everything seemed to shake violently as he felt himself lifted into the air before being caught by someone.
There was a deafening silence now, and Lucian, who felt like he had just been through a roller-coaster, finally regained control over his senses. He observed his surroundings with wonder, already anticipating what would soon follow.
Currently, he was in the arms of a handsome young man with extremely long blue hair. He cuddled Lucian so close to his body that Lucian could hear the heartbeat of this man.
The young man looked down at Lucian, his deep blue eyes peering at him with doting love.
"Junior brother, don't worry. I'll save you."
Lucian didn't say anything. It wasn't like he could speak anyways. After all, he was in the body of a baby — not even seven months old.
"HAHAHA. Save him? You…actually think you can save him?! HAHAHA… just hand him over, and I'll spare your pitiful life." Suddenly, booming laughter was heard as someone rebuked harshly in a grating voice.
The handsome young man stared ahead, a solemn look flashing in his eyes. Lucian naturally followed his gaze, and he wasn't surprised by what he saw. This, also, wasn't his first time seeing it.
A few steps away from them was a cloaked figure. Its real form couldn't be seen behind its ragged clothing as it levitated in the air, slowly floating towards them like a haunting ghost from a dreadful nightmare.
The handsome young man exhaled deeply, his frosty breath felt by Lucian.
"Arrogance, don't force me," he warned in a low tone.
"Force you? What can you do to me?! Hahaha..." The cloaked figure — called Arrogance — laughed maniacally, not seeming to put anything in its eyes just as its name suggests.
The handsome young man didn't respond this time… there was no need.
He took a step forward, frosty air spreading from his feet, freezing everything in its way. When it arrived under Arrogance, the frosty air rose, attempting to engulf its floating form.
"Hmph." A cold snort resounded as black smoke began spreading from Arrogance's form.
The black smoke and the frosty air clashed seemed to clash as a chaotic energy of frost and corrosion could be felt on one's skin.
At first glance, both forces seemed equal in strength, but it didn't take long before that notion was shattered.
The frosty air was now gradually falling in strength, slowly being devoured by the black smoke. Seeing this, the handsome young man sighed and stared down at Lucian.
Once again, a doting look flashed across his eyes as tears actually began flowing down his face.
"Seems like I won't be able to watch you as you grow… just like I had promised father. I'm truly sorry, little brother."
He leaned in and gave Lucian a kiss on the forehead. Lucian tried saying something, yet all that came out of his mouth was a mix of cries and laughs, which totally weren't in his control.
This made the handsome young man's already downcast expression plunge even further. But he steeled his heart, took in a deep breath and raised his hands, slashing the air and causing a spatial tear to gradually manifest.
"Goodbye… brother." The handsome young man smiled as his long blue hair rose and spun around like a fan, defending against the smoky arrows heading towards him.
Without hesitating any longer, he decisively placed Lucian into the portal. Lucian's vision immediately darkened as his body spun around, like he was in some kind of whirlpool.
Amidst these chaotic feelings, an earth-shaking roar and a kaboom reached Lucian's ears as he finally lost control over all his senses.
"Frost Empyrean! You dare!!!"
...
Lucian's eyelids fluttered open as a brief wave of dizziness washed over him. He observed his surroundings with a drowsy look still etched on his face.
A blinking light bulb, countless papers scattered all across the room, a single bed, a table and chair and scattered belongings all around. At the left of the room was a large opened window which displayed the starry night sky outside as well as large buildings and flying essence artefacts.
Lucian gently massaged his forehead as his mind slowly began to get active, the realisation of where he currently was dawning on him.
Apparently, he was in his small home, and this current wreckage was caused by him after being betrayed once again.
Three years ago, he was fourteen years old but he couldn't become a supernatural since he had a crippled mana flame, causing him to be unable to bond with heavenly stars. Added to this was his natural ailment which always made him fall asleep during random times, making him have weird and confusing dreams.
Due to this, even if he had a mana flame, he would never have been able to survive in the Primordial Planes — also known as the land of supernaturals. Just imagine him falling asleep in the midst of battle; that would just be a death sentence.
"Sigh," Lucian let out a frustrated sigh as he got up from the floor. He approached the window and stared at the amazing view beyond, with a melancholic look in his eyes. Memories flitted past his mind, causing him to delve deeper.
When he had been unable to bond with a star to become a supernatural, he was extremely unwilling to resign to this fate.
Hence, he began to study alchemy and potion making. His aim had been simple: create a fluid that would make a crippled mana flame become a full one, or at least make it able to connect with the Ethereal Realm and bond with heavenly stars.
For many months, he had roamed the Sunfire country, gathering countless herbs to perfect his recipe. However, just when he was about to succeed a year later, he got invited to a gathering by his high school friends who had now become full-fledged supernaturals.
He hadn't been willing to go at first, but when he heard that 'she' was going, he steeled his resolve and decided. But who could've thought that his tea got drugged? However, due to his numerous encounters with different types of herbs, he noticed and decided not to drink it.
Lucian shook his head and headed for the only table in the room.
There was a mug on it, and an already cold tea was within. This made him remember that he had brewed the tea during the afternoon before his sudden sleep.
He sighed once more as he took it in his hands regardless, taking a small sip while closing his eyes to relish the drink as he continued to reminisce.
Using various excuses like 'going to use the bathroom' or 'check out something outside,' most of his male classmates had left the gathering hall back then, leaving only a few people behind.
Having sensed that something wasn't right, he had also wanted to leave back then but stopped when he noticed the girl he secretly had a crush on, was behaving abnormally.
In actuality, during the gathering, boys had their section and girls had theirs. But she came over to the place of the males and someone was taking advantage of her.
It was then he realised that, just like him, she and that guy had probably gotten drugged. Otherwise, why carry out such acts openly?
He was absolutely furious with whoever did this and without thinking, he pushed that person away and took her to her female friends, requesting she be sent back home.
However, just then, she happened to 'regain' her senses, and he was slapped away by her, unable to do a thing as he was just a normal human while she was a supernatural. She accused him of attempted rape, and no one around said anything in his defense.
If he still hadn't realised that he was tricked, used, and manipulated, then he would be have been a fool. But the pain was real. The confusion was real. His only question at that time had been: why?
But when the girl's family heard of the false accusations, they were incredibly furious and exerted all of their connections. Soon, he was expelled from his alchemy school, all his researches taken away. His workplace kicked him out, his friends abandoned him — like he truly had ones in the first place.
No matter where he went or what he did, he hadn't gotten a job, and soon, he had to move to the outskirts to survive.
However, one day when passing by, he caught wind of the news of a marriage between the girl he had crushed on and the guy who had just so 'happened' to take advantage of her.
Back then, he had been extremely depressed, but as a normal human, what could he do? Lucian approached the window once more as he continued to sip the cold tea while lost in his thoughts. Unknowingly, a pained expression was revealed on his face.
Back then, he hadn't given up. After countless trials and errors, he had succeeded in drafting the formula to cure a crippled mana flame.
Even so, one bottle hadn't been enough but he had no more money to get the ingredients and herbs for the fluid as they were too expensive. Hence, he decided to sell the formula in exchange for the herbs to make the fluid.
Even if everyone knew of it, he hadn't cared. So long as he awakened, everything else were fleeting clouds.
If only he had knew how terribly wrong he had been back then. He got betrayed once more. The CEO he sold his formula to took credit for the work, paid him some measly 100 or so gold notes, and kicked him out. When the theory caused a massive sensation, the damned CEO actually wanted to capture him either so he could create more sensational formulas for his company or to silence him so that the truth would be buried under the hatchet.
At this moment, Lucian burst out into self-depreciating laughter as he finished his tea and wiped his face. Even for his own work, he had to become a slave for it. Just for worldly admiration, appreciation and popularity, he had to be silenced.
The privileged ones were truly too full of themselves. Pride and arrogance were carved deep into their bones. They thought the world revolved around them.
Such arrogance… he swore to crush one day. Lucian yawned as he stretched for a bit. After that, he turned around to face his messy room.
"Although I've failed multiple times and faced countless setbacks, I'm still 17 years old and have endless possibilities ahead. I've created the formula to cure my mana flame, so once I make the solution, I wouldn't be ordinary any longer.
"Until I make them pay for all they have done to me, I won't give up… I won't rest." Lucian clenched his fists tightly.
He went to the table, and amidst the numerous papers scattered on it, he specifically picked up one. It was a map detailing all the countries and kingdoms under the Northern Sage Empire.
After his observation, he soon tapped a spot on the map while muttering to himself:
"It's here, I guess. This is where I'm going."
A/N: I wouldn't say I'm an expert in writing since I'm still trying to improve my skills and can only be considered a newbie at best. Things will start catching up from the next chapter, so please take a look at it before thinking of quitting the book. But you can leave your comments about this Prologue in the comment section as I'm very curious about your thoughts on it. Thanks in advance :)
Your esteemed Author:
Lonely_Apex.