Chapter I: Crimson and Scarlet

"We are the Arbiters of our own decisions. No matter what the Gods have decreed or what Fate may have in store for us. We are the ones who take the path."

This was the first lesson my Father taught me. It's one of the many I carried with me as I went about my daily life. There were many other lessons my Father taught me and there were even some from my Mother too. I was grateful for those lessons because despite my... Condition. I could still aspire to be great Adventurers as they were.

Though I was still at least four years away from that. So I decided to go to the Grand Library of Baskerville to study old magic and history. Granted I could've just as easily studied with the mountain of times Father kept in his study. But that would require incurring his wrath.

So this morning I'd have to deal with the funny looks from passersby as I sat at one of the Library's desks. Mainly students from the St. Augustine Academy where Father worked. It was easy to ignore them as I held in my hands a special book I was gifted on my fifth birthday.

"The Record of the Grand Crusade"

It was the story of Augustine Sinclair, Demigod of Lord Celestus. A Hero that led his fellow Demigod Brothers and Sisters in slaying the Demon Dragon Ragnakhet. The story itself was rather grim compared to the leading man himself.

Augustine was unlike anything anyone including the Gods had ever seen. A man born unaffected by magic, he was just a commoner like me. Most probably considered his inability to cast spells to be inhuman. But he was able to make up for it by being peerless in combat. His charisma gravitated all forms of people around him and now, he had statues erected on every continent. Many children aspired to be just as great as he was, myself included.

But alas I'd have to patiently wait for my time to come. So as I finished the book for the millionth time I began studying more of the old magic my Father gave me to study. Mainly Arcane Magic that everyone started practicing when they first started. I wasn't going to be creating great storms or summoning monsters anytime soon anyways.

As I read another lesson my Father taught me came to mind. "Magic can be created with three simple steps. Visualizing... Speaking... And Actualization. With this, even a little Arcane Bolt could tear open a hole in a fortress."

I chuckled remembering the look on mother's face after he said that. I just guessed something like that happened in their adventures.

About an hour later I finished my studies for the day. So I thought it best to run home before Mother decided to punish me with woodcutting. That was until another group of students entered the Library and came up the stairs. Now, this particular group I'd seen before on many occasions.

The group comprised three girls. Two Humans and a Solar Elf. Their lead was the one who caught my eye the most. Now don't get me wrong, they were all very pretty in their ways. But their lead stood out the most. Her crimson braided hair hung over her shoulder as she held her books close to her chest. Her eyes nearly shined like the emerald jewels they were. She also carried herself in a more dignified manner than the other two which was saying something considering Miss Solar Elf.

They sat down at a table a couple down from mine seeming to speak in hushed tones. The other and Solar Elf seemed to be bickering about something.

"Please... I'm begging you, try for once not to waste time talking about boys," the Solar Elf pleaded.

"I can't help what I'm passionate about," shrugged the other human. "We're going to school with so many it's hard to find one to settle down with."

"You're only sixteen. Why even give such boorish things the time of day."

"You can say that cuz ya gots a sylph that's been eyein' you for a while."

Miss Solar Elf blushed before shooting daggers at Miss Brown Human.

"Yessica... Akie... Your bickering is going to get us kicked out again," said the girl with the crimson hair. "Please let's just get started before we attract some kind of attention."

The duo seemed to stop as their lead commanded. But Miss Solar Elf or who I assumed to be Akie proceeded with her books. I seemed to catch the attention of Yessica.

"Too late for that Rory," she said as she pointed me out.

The other two turned around now noticing me. I tried to hide it by burying my face in a book only to hear the sound of a chair scrubbing against the floor. Seeing a brown-colored finger reach over the spine of my book it was pulled down and I'd been face to face with Yessica.

"Sorry about that girlie. We didn't mean to bother ya."

I adjusted my glasses and though I wanted to speak I couldn't even muster the sound to do so.

"Cat got yer tongue? I was sayin' sorry."

"Yessica please," said Rory as she stood from her seat ready to grab Yessica. "Now you're bothering other people directly. I apologize, We didn't mean to disturb you miss..."

"I'm not a girl," I finally blurted out.

It was probably the wrong thing to say as now all three girls were standing before me.

"Yer not?" Yessica gasped. "Ya sure look like one to me. You're a little too easy on the eyes to be a boy."

Rory elbowed Yessica in the side. It was a little funny but laughing was not the best thing to do right now.

"I-Its fine," I said. "Everyone makes that mistake when they first meet me. You three are welcome to sit down if you like."

"Are you sure?" Rory asked. "We've been terribly rude to you already."

"Don't worry about it it's fine. Just sit."

Yessica was the first to plop right down in a chair in front of me before anyone could protest. Akie and Rory reluctantly followed. Rory choose to sit next to me which honestly was a little startling considering I now had a fair maiden seated beside me. I didn't know what even to say at first. So I just pulled out my Father's book on old magic to see if I could help them at all with their studies.

"You study magic?" Rory asked as I placed the book on the table.

"W-well yes... My Father has been teaching me some Arcane Magic. Although I can't cast it too well."

I motioned for them to go ahead and look at the book. Akie opened the book and began examining its contents.

"Hey, this is what we've been studying for such a long time... But..."

"But what?" Rory asked.

"It's so much more advanced... It's like the professor himself wrote this down."

Rory leaned in closer now reading some of the text herself. "You're right, everything he described is here written in excruciating detail."

"The question is where did a lad like this one get such a thing? Well spill it," Yessica commanded.

Now everyone's focus was on me once more and not in a way I liked. It was better, to tell the truth than to allow their imaginations to wonder.

"It's because it's my Father's book. He's an Archmage."

"W-Wait... There's no way Professor Sunai has a son," said Akie. "He's never spoken of having one before."

"I know we're a group of fair maidens," said Yessica, "But you don't have to try and impress us by lyin'"

"I'm not lying... My name is Ragi Sunai... Son of Daedalus, Archmage of Ars Nova"

Yessica and Akie didn't seem to be convinced of my story, something I came to expect. Though Rory still seemed surprised. It was likely she thought it was possible but something didn't click.

"Kid it's ok if you're just a commoner," Akie said. "We wouldn't judge you any less. It's just you don't even look like Professor Sunai. You've got scarlet hair unlike him but your eyes kinda match."

I pushed my spectacles against my face trying to think of a sound argument to convince them. Maybe it was best to drop it and make them think I was lying. Then there was Rory, I didn't know why but something was compelling me to at least have her understand. Even if I have seen her before today it was like I'd seen her even before then. So within the inner recesses of my mind, I found something that I could use.

"Alright fine... Since you lot don't seem convinced I'll tell you. But you cannot tell anyone... Especially my Father..."

That seemed to catch their attention. They leaned in a bit closer so that I didn't have to speak so loudly. "I was born twelve years ago I think... My Father and Mother found me in a village that was being attacked by the Cult of Ragnara. They rescued me and came to Rigel and retired. They've been raising me in secret."

It was quite the tale, one I doubt they'd recognize as fact so easily. That is until Rory took the book into her hands. "Girls... I believe we've been extremely rude to Professor Sunai's son."

I could only describe Yessica and Akie's looks as total bewilderment. As Yessica was about to protest Rory raised her hand for her to stop before she even started. "This explains why Professor Sunai rarely has time after classes to do anything extracurricular. Plus as far as I'm concerned this boy has trusted us despite not even knowing us that well. We should at least extend the same courtesy."

I knew there was a reason I was fond of her more. Her two companions relented in the end for the next hour I allowed them to study Father's tome. It was getting close to noon so I decided it was best to leave. The girls were a fascinating group to study with. I found that Yessica was from a family of Privateers as she called them. She was next in line for their flagship and was studying at the Academy just for that. Although I already knew of her anterior motives. As for Akie, she'd also been an heiress of sorts to a magical order of warrior Solar Elves.

The only one who didn't speak of herself much was Rory although I had a feeling it was much similar to my situation.

As we left the library I'd given Rory a few of father's notes to study over. "Just memorize those spells and I'm sure you'll do fine on your test."

"I thank you kind sir for your most generous tutelage. To think I'd say that to a boy that's younger than myself."

"It's not an issue. Father says that you cannot just learn from your elders. Wisdom can come from anywhere."

"Ugh," Yessica gagged. "You certainly sound like the Professor. Can't believe a man as handsome as him has settled down. What a waste..."

While it was a bit disturbing to hear my Father being talked of in that light. At least he had students that admired him. It was nice having people to talk to. It gave me a break from all the scrutiny I regularly faced. The scrutiny that I felt was ever so close as I felt a hand rest on my shoulders.

"What do you think you're doing commoner..."

Looking up I saw the cold iron face of a guard looking down upon me. "You know your ilk has no reason to walk amongst the nobility."

Turning around I found there was a second guard with him. Probably to give me a hard time for being around the ladies. Some noblemen and guardsmen didn't necessarily like me including a very spoiled prince.

"L-Look... It's fine I was just on my way."

"No... Why in the blazes are you giving him trouble?" Rory stepped up to the guard. She took my hand and pulled me toward her a bit. "Don't you have some thugs are thieves to be chasing?"

"Listen, young miss... You'd do well to separate yourself from that imp... He's not human..."

Rory looked at me though she didn't seem to waiver. "So what. Lots of people in Rigel aren't human. What's that got to do with this young lad."

The Guard pulled me back toward him. Dropping his spear for a moment he began to struggle with Rory over who had their hold over me. Strangely enough, the guard struggled. So seeing he wouldn't get me so easily he got a nasty idea. Reaching for my spectacles he pulled them off and pushed me toward Rory.

"No!" I screamed before reaching for them now trying to fight off Rory.

"Ragi? What's the matter with you!? He's already let go!"

'My Father made me those! They're special!"

The Guard caught his breath and raised the glasses for everyone to look at. We'd drawn a crowd now with our commotion.

"That little imp shouldn't be able to hide any longer," the Guard spat. He then crushed the spectacles in his hands and tossed them to the ground. A bluish aura escaped the broken lenses and vanished into thin air.

"How dare you!?" Those were precious to him," Rory let go almost ready to fight the Guard singlehandedly until she looked back at me once more. Her eyes widened as she could see what the spectacles hide.

"Ragi... Your eyes... They're Golden?"

Yessica and Akie came from around both sides now looking at me. I didn't know what I should've done at the moment. Should I have covered my eyes? Should I have just run away? My mind became too clouded with ideas. That was until our onlookers appeared to suddenly find something else better to do. A tall Knight in the blackest jagged armor began to approach us from behind the Guardsman. On his back rested a greatsword of considerable size and on his head, a helm that made me almost quiver in fear.

"To raise your hand against children that cannot fight back is most cowardly Guardsmen."

"Who the fu-", the Guard started to shout before he turned to face the man behind him. "L-L-Lord Thermidor!"

"Begone from my sight or be slain," Lord Thermidor commanded, his voice having an unnerving coldness to it

Without another word, the Guardsman and his partner both fled screaming in terror. Lord Auberon knelt and picked up the broken spectacles, then brought them over to me.

"I have no idea how to repair this... But I believe this is yours, young lad."

I'd been too petrified to even take them. Everything in my body told me not to even speak to him. I didn't know what it was but it was similar to what I felt from Rory, something familiar.

"My Apologies young one... I am Auberon Thermidor, Second-in-Command of Divine Ark... I have just come to retrieve Lady Sinclair..."

Hearing that name I snapped out of my fear and looked at Rory, who seemed a bit annoyed at Auberon's presence.

This was the day. The very day my Father's most important lesson would be needed. Both Auberon and Rory would become people who would change my life.

For better... And for worse...