2 Chapter 1- Fallen Savior

2 years ago

'Cough! Cough! Cough!'

A ill beyond help old man coughed blood, he had been bedridden for over 3 years and had to pass on his duties as head of the house hold to his eldest son. His Grace, Duke Alexander Victor Quinzel I, savior of the Ducal House of Quinzel, was on his deathbed.

The dying Duke's son, Marquis Michael Kilahand Quinzel VI, waited patiently with a concerned look on his face " Father, you are running out of time, after all you done to save the family, not verifying a will is going to result in a succession crisis and make the House of Quinzel vulnerable you and I do not want that."

The Marquis made sure to invite Imperial Officials and a Court Magican to approve that the will would be legitimate. Anything less that the Duke willingly signing the will and stamping it in his blood while he was alive would mean the Imperials could do nothing if his younger brothers Clovis and George could challenge his claim legally. " Please, Father"

"Only because I do not wish to leave this world without leaving the family stable." With a shaking hand the Duke signed the paper, impressed his crest and used the blood he cough up to stamp for living consent. "Now leave me, and send in the children, at least they are honest as they were raised." Marquis Quinzel to the will from his ailing father from which he handed to the officials, after beaconing his children in the room he left to finally send word to his brothers that their father was dying.

"Alexander, Andrea, Alisha come help me to the balcony, this room is stuffy." After helping direct the ill man to a chair on the balcony, the children stood in silence breathing in the midsummer evening in.

"Alexander, my namesake, take care of your sisters in the years to come, because the House of Quinzel will soon facing the incredible troubles, especially with your father and uncles. The changes this family will be undertaking will require strength. The military academy will give you a chance to amass that strength and collect allies, so you may face your father and the empire, heavens forbid."

"Andrea, my angel, please do your very best in the Vanarian Ivory Tower Academy, magic is dangerous, and the family name can not protect you there. You are embarking on something beyond the Quinzels, if you do leave the family behind, at the very least find some happiness beyond the limitations this empire has confined us in."

The sky brighten in the silence, the old Duke finding his breaths laborious, and chest heavy as he watched what would be his final sunrise, reached to take the hand of his youngest grandchild, " Alisha, my lucky star, I hope your siblings become pillars you can depend on, but do not forget you are much stronger than you know." Reaching out to touch the amulet on her neck. " It will soon be time to take that off and let go of the past. I love you all,"

Dropping his hand, looking in to the sun one last time, the old duke exhaled becoming the second person to die on Alisha's birthday.