Flashbacks

*Splash* After getting water splashed on his face, Lux awoke from his short involuntary nap on the cold hard training grounds. Rubbing the back of his head where he was struck by Leo, he asked "How long was I out?" 

"You were unconscious for about seven minutes Your Royal Highness." 

Looking up after recognizing a familiar voice, Lux saw that it was his personal aide Ezekiel. Reaching out his hand so his aide would help him up, Lux inquired "Are the documents regarding the information on the orphanage ready?"

Helping his liege up, he answered "Yes, would you like to read them now?"

"No, I'll read them inside my room. But first I need to take a shower," patting the dust off his royale attire Lux added, "I am filthy."

Lux made a short stop to the infirmary to check on the servants that fainted.

They were currently gathered around one spot chatting. 

After hearing the door open they looked over and, realizing it was the prince, stopped talking. 

Entering the room, Lux walked over to the servants and spoke apologetically. "At ease. I came to apologize on Sir Leo's behalf for making all of you faint earlier in our duel." 

Several servants voiced their opinions;

"You don't need to apologize, Your Highness."

"We are alright Your Majesty."

"Your too kind Your Highness, you don't have to check in on us lowly servants."

With an apologetic smile Lux said, "No, I sincerely apologize." adding a small bow to show his sincerity.

Although the way he acted in front of others and his thoughts couldn't be any more different, 

'It's annoying to deal with worthless things like this but I need to keep up my image as a kind-hearted prince, and Leo, I'll be sure to pay you back for hitting me so hard.'

Seeing that the prince was about to bow, the servants hurriedly tried to stop him,

"Raise your head Your Highness."

"Your Majesty you should never bow your head down to us lowly servants."

"We forgive you so raise your head"

Hearing that he was forgiven, Lux stopped bowing and thanked the servants. 

Bidding his farewell, he then proceeded to head towards his room to take a much needed bath.

Walking down a corridor Lux asked his aide, "Is my little brother taking a regular dosage of the concoction?" 

"Yes my liege. There have been no problems, aside from some violent coughing."

'Violent coughing? Well... If he dies then I guess that's all he amounts to.' were the thoughts of Lux.

*Sigh* "I feel bad for my little brother having to take it as well, but it's necessary to prevent future assassination attempts involving poison. Also, although I hate to say this, be sure to bring up the potency of the concoction when he is no longer affected by the current amount you're giving him."

"Yes Your Highness."

Changing the topic Lux asked, "Hey where did Leo run off to after our duel was finished?"

"He said he had some things to take care of."

Rubbing the sore spot on the back of his head, Lux said mockingly, "Oh? More like he ran away after knocking me unconscious." 

'How should I get payback on Leo? Oh i just remembered that he dislikes interacting with children. Maybe I should order him to come with me to the orphanage tomorrow?' Lost in thought Lux was unknowingly smirking with a devilish grin.

As they were walking Ezekiel glanced back and, seeing Luxs' smile said, "My liege, you shouldn't smile like that in public lest you want others to faint on the spot," after a short pause he added, "or run away in fear."

Touching the corner of his mouth Lux asked, "What's wrong with my smile? I could swoon any woman with this charming face."

Shaking his head at the princes' foolishness, Ezekiel walked on ahead muttering, "Even with a handsome face, with a smile like the one you just showed, even the demon king would get frightened."

Lux didn't reply to Ezekiel's statement.

***

After arriving at his room, Lux headed straight for the washroom. While Ezekiel took a seat at the lounge.

Some time passed and Lux was currently sitting at his study wearing a bath robe. Water was dripping down his chiseled jawline, while a maid was drying his luxurious blonde hair with a towel.

He was reading the information one of his 'shadows' had gathered. His shadows are a group of highly trained individuals skilled in espionage and assassination. They aren't strong in direct conflict and usually travel in groups of two.

The information reads as follows; The Virtuosum Orphanage was established shortly after the twenty year war. It was established to house the children of knights who lost their lives during the war; those that had no spouse to look after their children. At age six they begin to learn how to read and write. From age ten they get taught the basics of swordsmanship and magic. Focusing on what they specialize in, they then train until their fifteenth birthday, thereafter they get sent to the Imperial Academy 'Prosperitas'.

Staff;

• Director Caritas

- Fought in the 20 year war.

- Is currently 53 years old.

- Is a peak S- rank Swordmaster; although it appears he's been stuck at a bottleneck for the past decade due to an injury he sustained during the war.

- He has a reserved personality, gives off a cold impression, and is very strict.

• Teacher Beatrix

- Did not participate in the 20 year war.

- Is currently 37 years old.

- Is a C+ rank mage.

- Teaches reading, writing, basic math, and history.

- She has an outgoing, bright, and cheerful personality truly suited for being a teacher.

- Teaches on Monday, Thursday, 

• Teacher Duran

- Fought in the 20 year war.

- Is currently 36 years old.

- Is a B- rank swordsman.

- Teaches geography, map reading, warfare tactics,       and wilderness survival,

- He has a charismatic personality; perhaps from all     the years on the battlefield.

- Teaches on Tuesday, Friday

• Weapons Training Instructor Sergius

- Fought in the latter half of the 20 year war.

- Is currently 27

- Is an S rank Spearmaster; extremely talented.

- He has a fiery personality.

- Teaches basic swordsmanship

- Teaches basic spearmanship

- Teaches on Wednesday, Saturday

• Magic Training Instructor Prisco

- Fought in the 20 year war.

- Age unknown; very old

- Half Elf/Human

- Very loyal to the Emperor 

- Rank Unknown; presumably peak S class?

- Teaches how to properly channel mana

- Teaches basic spells and magic formulas

- Teaches on Wednesday, Saturday 

On Sunday the students have 'free time'. They can choose to keep studying, practicing, or they can get permission to roam outside along with a chaperone.

Other staff members include the twenty or so servants that take care of the daily necessities of the orphanage. Including but not limited to washing clothes, cooking meals, keeping the pantries stocked, cleaning, etc.

There is also a group of guards that regularly patrol around the area, ranking from C- all the way to B+ rank. I didn't collect information on the guards apart from the fact that they participated in the war.

Also the 'Prosperitas' Academy sends out new instructors to the 'Virtuosum' Orphanage every year, sometimes sending newly graduated students who chose the teaching field, so they can gain some experience. They do the same with the guards that patrol; as in they switch them out every year.

Finishing the report, Lux stretched his body and yawned, complaining "This report was so long, I should have asked you to summarize it for me." After complaining he added, "Go and inform Leo that he will be joining us early tomorrow morning. If it looks like he's going to say no, then tell him that my head still hurts. After he agrees ask him to be at the main gate by sunrise."

Lux was smiling innocently as he thought about how Leo would react at the orphanage tomorrow surrounded by a bunch of screaming children, knowing full well how much Leo dislikes interacting with little kids.

Seeing the 'innocent' looking smile of the prince, Ezekiel responded "Your Highness..."

Looking at his aide 'innocently' Lux asked, "What?"

'It's scary when you smile like that!' 

Walking towards the door Ezekiel answered, "No nevermind, I'll go and inform Leo. Have a goodnight Your Highness."

With an amused look on his face Lux watched as Ezekiel slowly disappeared from view as the door closed behind him.

***

Ezekiel was currently at the dorms of the knights who guard the Emperors castle. The knights are split into those that patrol during the day, and those that patrol at night.

Knocking on one of the doors, Ezekiel waited for the person on the other end to answer.

Shortly after hearing a knock, Leo opened the door and, yawning, he asked "What are you doing here so late at night?"

"Sir Leo, the second prince would like you to accompany him tomorrow morning come sunrise. He has a task to do at the Virtuosum Orphanage."

'The orphanage? Ugh hell spawn... I need to make an excuse.'

Leo was about to respond with an excuse as to why he can't go, "I will be bu-"

Rudely interrupting Leo, Ezekiel said, "He also said that his head was aching, for some strange reason, when he woke up from his 'nap' on the dirty cold ground."

After a short pause Leo agreed to go, "...Alright I will be waiting by the gates come sunrise."

***

It was a dark and gloomy night, the moons in the sky were being hidden by thick greyish black clouds. Lux was sitting on his couch in the lounge area, his mood similar to the weather outside. With one leg crossed over the other, he was currently cleaning his personal dagger that he always carries, in a sheath, tied to his forearm.

With no emotions portrayed on his face, and covered in drops of crimson red the same color of his eyes, Lux looked down coldly at the squirming body below his feet. It was an assassin that had just tried to take his life while he was sleeping. Sensing killing intent, he had awoken from his slumber and, with quick judgement, he made short work of the assassin.

Sighing, he called out to one of his shadows in a cold tone, "Tenebris! Take this trash and interrogate it in the dungeon." After a short pause he added, "I have already removed the poison pill hidden under his molar. Find out who sent him. Oh and make sure he isn't able to bite off his own tongue when you lock him away." 

Tenebris manifested from one of the shadows in a dark corner of the room. Picking up the assassin he tossed him over his shoulder. "Do you want me to use the healing potion method or mind control?"

"No, don't use mind control until you have gathered enough information. You can use it after the interrogation to verify if what he said is the truth." 

'If he uses mind control it has a chance of destroying the target's mind. Then we will not be able to get any information out of him. With the healing potion method, he can torture him, heal him, and continue the cycle. Although healing potions are costly, because the ingredients can only be found in 'that' forest, it will be worth it if I can find out who his employer is.'

Stepping into one of the dark corners of the room with the assassin still tossed over his shoulder, Tenebris responded "Alright boss, leave it to me. I will finish the task and get back to you as soon as I can." His figure disappeared shortly after finishing his statement.

Even after the 'shadow' left, Lux stayed sitting in the darkness for a long time. It was an especially quiet night tonight, the silence was deafening.

Lux had flashbacks of past assassination attempts, one of them succeeded, taking away the life of his twin brother. It was five years ago, they were both barely ten years old. It was just another regular day like any other. They woke up for the day, ate breakfast like always, and attended lessons until the afternoon. That evening they were out in the small forest in the back of the castle grounds, goofing around like always, when they got into an argument over something childish. Even now he still couldn't remember what exactly they were fighting for. His brother went the rest of the day ignoring Lux. That night Lux decided that he would apologize tomorrow morning, except tomorrow never came for his brother. His brothers time stopped that night. He would never get the chance to grow older, accomplish his dreams, start a family, get married. That morning Lux was awoken by a loud commotion, several servants and guards were moving about in a hurry. He could hear a deafening cry coming from the room next door, his brothers room. After hurriedly walking over with his heart beating in his throat, the scene that greeted him when he stepped into his brothers room was still seared into his brain to this day a whole five years later.