1 Part 1 - Picture in flames

——A young boy playfully sat in his room, a room filled with colours and happiness, a childhood ushered in bliss. His young life was filled with only the happiest of memories and he was cherished by those he loved.

One couldn't wish for a greater blessing than that.

After what felt like hours of enjoyment, with his favourite stuffed animal held close to his chest, he finally left the confines of his room. Long hallways stretched out before him, its walls were beautifully decorated and framed with exquisite paintings, ones which would fill any of its onlookers with admiration and astonishment.

Such was the grandeur of the Astrea House, an enormous mansion belonging to the noble Astrea family in Hakuruchuri. It was an establishment renowned throughout the Kingdom for its beauty and elegance, refined by the great women of the family throughout the generations who resided there.

Each room was filled with a multitude of scenic flowers, in every shade of colour, and the building itself was surrounded by three enchanting gardens, one of which with a remarkable water fountain chiselled with the frame of their heroic predecessor, Reid Astrea; a person known not only throughout the Kingdom but around the entire world, as the first『Sword Saint』and one of the heroes of legend.

Following the path of sublimely decorated red carpets, trimmed with golden threads at its sides, he joyfully skipped down the familiar hallways with an innocent smile drawn across his face.

His senses were suddenly pulled to a turning on his right as he heard the sound of faint chatter —— no it was laughter. His face lit up at the sound as his eyes rushed to find its source.

Bright lights shun through the gaps of a doorway as the sound echoed louder from within.

He pushed himself up onto his toes as he reached out his left hand to bring down the handle as his other hand remained tightly grasping his stuffed animal. As he twisted the handle and pushed the door open, his bright blue eyes glistened with excitement and delight.

In a large suite, four figures shun brightly as if they were glowing magically under a radiant sky.

???: 「Hmph! You are completely and utterly helpless…, really, what would you do if I wasn't here huh?」

???: 「Hah, well in that case Theresia, I'm afraid I will have to hold you ever more tightly and keep you close.」

Theresia: 「——Ekk… No fair… Wilhelm」

—— In front of him was a beautiful couple. What began as playful teasing and sulking between them quickly turned into a tight embrace as the man pulled her closely into his chest and brushed his gentle hands through her graceful long red hair. Her complaints quickly faded away under his warmth as she ceded a heartfelt smile.

They say that laughter is contagious. That was certainly true in this case for he found himself ardently smiling seeing their happy faces.

Just as he decided to rush towards his honourable grandparents and join in their embrace another voice reached his earlobes, drawing his attention.

???:「Louanna my dear, what should we do this weekend? I can't wait to spend time together, should we go down into the City? Or maybe we should travel to one of the other Cities in the Kingdom?... Hmm, how about Picoutatte? We could go shopping there! Or maybe Flanders? We could see the City of Earth Dragons together——」

Louanna:「Mhmhm…, please settle down dear. I would be happy to go anywhere with you, even if we were to stay here, there is no need to trouble your mind with such things.」

—— It was his Mother and Father, Louanna and Heinkel Astrea. His Father was standing excitedly in his beautifully adorned Royal Knights' uniform as his white cape danced in the air whilst he prattled enthusiastically to his Mother.

She sat gracefully on a beautifully crafted armchair, garbed in a silky white dress which complemented her elegant blonde hair as she entwined her fingers in one of its fine strands whilst giggling softly.

Heinkel:「Hehe… I'm sorry… I'm just really excited to finally get a day off.」

Louanna:「I'm so proud of you dear. Deputy Commander of the Royal Guards, what a great role model you are for our son. You've been working so hard, I just want you to rest too and not push yourself during your break. You deserve that much as protector of our Kingdom.」

Heinkel scratched his cheek embarrassedly at his eager display of excitement but before he could feel bad Louanna rose and pushed her face closely to his as she ushered heartfelt praise to her beloved husband before pressing her forehead tenderly against his.

The image of the two as they stood there with their eyes closed was like a scene taken straight from a fairy tale of a Prince and Princess. It was a beautiful gesture, one which he felt cause his eye's to slightly tear in emotion. They truly loved each other, and he loved them.

As long as that fact remained, they would always be happy.

—— This time, he finally managed to take a step forward into the room…, a step which would turn his world upside down.

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Instantly, the room's walls lit up in flames all around him. Suddenly panic intruded as the resplendent light shining over the four figures suddenly vanished. They all rushed to escape the flames as the sparks lashed out violently towards the room's furniture.

???:「THERESIA!!!」

''Honourable…grandmother…?''

The hem of Theresia's dress was suddenly caught ablaze by the scorching flame, moments later her entire figure soon burst into light.

The flame didn't burn her skin but her eyes soon turned lifeless as the aura of heat separated her from her Husband.

Wilhelm ardently tried to snuff out the flames with his jacket but nothing he tried could subdue its roar.

His knees began shaking as he tightly grabbed his stuffed animal with tears rushing down his cheeks. Wilhelm continued to scream in anguish as he continued to push himself to break through the barrier between them.

???:「Dear?...Louanna what's wrong… Louanna!... LOUANNA!!!」

To his side, his Mother suddenly crumbled into Heinkel's arms as he stumbled to his knees to catch her and hold her from falling over. Her legs were sapped of all strength as they slid across the floor whilst her arms dangled insensibly. Heinkel shook her motionless body fervently as he tried to evoke a response from his wife —— but there was none.

Her eyes were completely shut and her breathing was faint, she had lost all consciousness and slept helplessly in Heinkel's arms.

Heinkel:「ARHHHHHHHH!!!」

Heinkel's screeching voice crashed into his ears like a wave causing him to bend his legs and curl up into a small ball as he tried to block out the horrific noises.

He closed his eyes in fright, but the bright orange light of the raging fire could still be seen through the cover of his eye lids.

—— Suddenly, that light vanished..., along with all the noise.

As he slowly came to open his eyes he noticed the piercing stares shot towards him by the two figures remaining in the blackened fire scorched room.

Abruptly, one of the figures rushed towards him with pure disgust painted across his face. He grabbed him from the scruff of his neck and lifted him into the air vehemently.

Heinkel:「YOU! YOU CURSED CHILD! YOU DID THIS! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT YOU DEVIL! WHY? WHY? WHY DID YOU DO THIS? FIRST MOTHER AND NOW MY WIFE! WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT REINHARD!」

His body was being shaken like a rag doll from left to right as he struggled to hold onto his stuffed animal as his grip began to falter. He looked to his side and saw the other figure.

Reinhard:「Hon..ourable..grandfather! Help!」

He pleaded with all his strength to saved him but ——

''Why?''

Wilhelm's face tightened into a scornful scowl before closing his eyes and looking away into the distance. He would get no help from him… he blamed him too…

''They hate——''

He was suddenly hurled at the wall like an irritable pest.

Heinkel:「Get out of my sight! Just looking at you turns my stomach!」

He picked himself up painfully before staggering away down the hallways back to his room. As he ran his tears trickled from the side of his eyes before being released into the wind.

As he shut the door behind him, his once colourful room now seemed devoid of all lustre. It was now like he was sitting in the deepest well in complete isolation.

It was lonely.

All he had left was his closest companion, the stuffed ani——

As he looked to his right hand his words were suddenly caught in his fragile throat.

Curled around his right arms wasn't his soft toy but rather it was a huge Great Sword, sheathed inside a massive scabbard.

Reinhard:「This is… honourable grandmothers Sword…」

In his arms was none other than the fabled『Dragon Sword Reid』. An heirloom passed down from each generation『Sword Saint』 to the next and is said to be, without question, the most powerful Sword in the world—— a Sword which shouldn't be in the hands of a child.

Out of instinctive fear, he tried to throw it away from him…but to no avail. The『Dragon Sword Reid』was bound to him, no matter what he tried it wouldn't break loose from his grip.

Looking down once more at the Sword, he noticed the clawed marking of the Divine Dragon Volcanica spread across its scabbard. The sight struck fear into his timid heart once again, this time causing him to cry out for help, but no one could hear him here. He was alone, it was completely silent —— until he heard it.

—— The laughter of the Sword God.

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End of Part 1.