1 Chapter.1

November 14th 1871, the day where the skies were split apart, and bolts of light rained down across the heavens, devastating the earth below.

Magic, once the cornerstone of every facet of life disappeared in the wake of the blasts created by these bolts of light. Ushering in the start of the dark ages. A decade of civil unrest and war.

It was also the day I, Kalden Ruth, second son to the Duke of Ruth was born.

It was no coincidence that the date of my birth coincided with the disaster that would soon be known as the Ulysses disaster. The event was crafted by a friend of mine, Oikawa, whom I lost a bet to.

I never was a fan of going out, preferring to stay in the pocket dimension of my own creation to live out the rest of my immortal days, playing video games, reading books and watching TV shows.

That is until I lost a game of blackjack with Oikawa, who promptly threw me into one of the many worlds he lorded over, telling me to and I quote,

"go out and smell the great outdoors."

==========

Fast forward sixteen years later, and I'm now a strapping sixteen-year-old lad, and I have found myself in a little spot of trouble.

"If you have any excuse, let's hear it now, Kalden."

Prince Rainier's voice resounded throughout the hall, his eyes looking straight at me with scorn.

Just days ago, if you asked him, he would say I am his best friend, now though, he would most likely say I am his worst enemy.

"I have none, for while what I did was not right, I stand by my decision," I answered, my voice equally loud and just as firm, if not more so, though unlike Rainer, I don't feel anger or betrayal, just, pity.

Pity for my friends who turned by back on me just because a girl threw a temper tantrum, pity for those that were sucked into her beautiful innocent-looking red eyes that even till now displayed only innocence.

"Why you!"

A hand reached out, only to have me grab it and hurl the offending arm towards the closest pillar. Dorset's head impacted it with a satisfying *Pang!

"Your father may be the honourable knight commander, but you're far from it." I sneered.

"And you're not fit to be Duke! Harassing Lady Yuno like that." Dorset spat back, wiping the blood from his cut lip.

"Not to worry, I'm sure someone already has that covered, isn't that right, Brother?" My head tilted towards my older brother Nate, leaning against a pillar, with a sarcastic smile.

"You got that right Kalden, as long as I'm around, you will never inherit father's title."

"Expected as much. Now," I turned back towards the Prince and his fiancée, Yuno, whom as usual clung onto Rainier's arm like her life depended on it, a damp towel draped over her perfect little head, obscuring her face, though I can still see a part of her makeup had been smudged, giving me a slight feeling of satisfaction.

"I already submitted my withdrawal letter. You won't see me again."

"Wait..." Rainier commanded, stopping me in my tracks. "...Tell me, why did you do it?" His face was now all scrunched up, full of pain and disappointment. Can't blame him for that, we were friends since young after all. Even I feel the phantom pain squeezing my heart, but I made sure it did not show.

"Because she is not for you Rainier. She will never be good enough for you. The sooner you open your eyes, the better." I sighed, giving a final nod as I walked out of the hall, I have already arranged for a carriage, and my room is being cleaned out as I walked. No need to stay any longer. It would only serve to remind me of painful memories.

The journey from the academy to the family manor took a while, made all the more bearable by my earphones and the Razer smartphone blaring out music, the perks of being an all-powerful being, able to summon/spawn anything and a copy of anyone, no matter the universe or world.

I have to admit, declaring everything to Rainier felt good, reliving even, like a massive pressure on my shoulders have been finally released, it was liberating. It made me feel confident I could take whatever comes next, though I can definitely take it no matter my mood.

When we reached the manor, my father's car was already parked by the driveway, it was one of those early model Osean luxury limousines, the type S V16 (Cadillac V16).

I barely stepped foot into the house when Albert, our ever-reliable butler appeared from some hiding place and said softly.

"Your father is waiting for you in his study, young master."

"Can't say I didn't see it coming," I muttered back.

=====

"What were you thinking!?"

I narrowly avoided the thick leather book being thrown my way. It impacting the thick wooden door behind me with an audible thud.

Nice.

I shrugged, "What could I do? Yuno pushed me to a corner, she made sure everyone was on her side. Someone needs to wake everyone up."

"By dumping water all over the Prince's fiancée!?"

"She is a dumb bimbo who's only skill is to seek attention and spend money. She deserves it, if not much more." The retort came slipping out of my tongue.

My father stared at me for a good few seconds, his jaw tight, before exhaling a long audible sigh.

"You know you can't just say that out loud even if that is true."

"It's an open secret dad. Everyone in the nobility knows."

"And they still like her." My father retorted. "Her father might only be a Baron, but his company is influential enough to sway many to her side. With the way congress works-"

"Yeah, yeah need to maintain a balance and all that jazz. Rainer mother was pissed, wasn't she? That I insulted the fiancée adores so much."

My father glared at me, "I don't know what they teach you in the Academy nowadays, but back in my day, we learn how to respect our elders. You will refer to Rainer's mother as your Majesty." He growled.

"You mean, second-empress..." I said below my breath.

"I'm sorry? Did you say something?"

"Nothing. Nothing. Carry on father."

"Sigh." My father sighed for a second time, shaking his head, "Yes, Queen Isabella is not very happy with your conduct in the academy. In fact, several of her supporters want your head on a platter. The Pope even offered to take you under his wing, for re-education."

I rolled my eyes, "By 're-education' you mean imprisonment, indoctrination and fornication." I never liked the church, even the though I got along very well with the Pope's son, Nicholas, back in the academy. To me, religion is just something for the masses to put hope in, in order to get through their daily miserable lives.

"Your mouth has already made you persona non grata with the nobility, no need to include the church in this." My father warned, shutting me up.

He placed a brown envelope on the table, sliding it towards me.

"What is this?" I asked as I opened the envelope, pulling out the piece of paper inside.

"A royal decree." My father sighed heavily, "...One that pronounces you to be the new Lord of the Gunther Fief."

My hands stopped in mid-pull.

"You're joking." I breathed.

This appointment was a death sentence, pure and simple. This region of the Kingdom, ever since one of the bolts of light struck 20 kilometres off the coast of Selatapura, the fief's largest city and Capital city. The resulting tsunami caused by the impact destroyed the city's coastal areas.

Ever since then, the fief has been plagued by civil unrest and poverty. The last lord of the Fief, Earl Danthron had declared the fief bankrupt and transferred ownership of the fief to the royal family.

Even then word among the nobility is that even imperial overseers are unable to effectively stabilise the region. It's a miracle that the fief had not risen up in revolt yet.

And now it is mine?

"I'm afraid not. The queen was adamant about your appointment. It's clear she wants you to be as far away from the capital as possible… I'm sorry son."

I looked up from the letter in my hands, "Don't be."