The Void

Making his way down the castle halls his mind wondered of all the possibilities that awaited him outside the castle walls. His mind not once pondering on what could have influenced the king to give him this opportunity, he was just happy to have gain a little bit of freedom.

As he continued down the castle halls he had lost all focus of his surroundings distracted by his own overwhelming thoughts, he couldn't perceive the knife coming straight at him.

Icarus stopped his motion in a split second, enough time to prevent the knife from piercing through his skull, instead it hung on the wall in his front just inches away from his face.

"I see your essence is as sharp as ever, the bastard of the north you don't disappoint", said a snow-blond haired teen. He stood a few feet away from Icarus. He had white hair just like Icarus but with some blond strands and purple eyes like Adrian.

Icarus's eyes flashed to the side as he looked at the teen, "Calvin, still as deranged as ever I see".

Calvin face twisted into a disturbing look while staring Icarus, he remembered the incident that had happened just some few days ago.

Icarus and Calvin had been paired together to spar, the outcome however was in Icarus favour as he won. But unable to accept defeat Calvin tried to attack him from behind which lead to Icarus defending himself but out of instinct he attacked back leading to the scar under Calvin's left eye.

He touched his scar as he remembered his defeat, "Ahh, is this about the little love mark I gave you during our spar". Icarus said, as he raised his hands into the air "I wasn't to blame there, it was 100% your fault".

"Although, it could just be because of the simple fact that I'm better than you", a smile plastered on his lips as he said it.

Calvin instantly became even more furious by this statement made by Icarus

"Huhhh…you've grown cocky bastard, you seem to have forgotten your place in life, how about I remind you" said Calvin as he brought out even more knives from behind him.

"I'll make sure to carve up the word bastard into your skull, that way you'll know better than to talk back to a true blood" as he threw the knives right at Icarus

Calvin was known among the knights for his precision and powerful throw, the knives moved at a speed that was just impossible for a human to see.

"Wow, you truly don't learn do you", He said watching his knives fly at the unmoving Icarus

But he had forgotten who is was up against, Icarus was hated for being a bastard, but no one could deny the amount work he kept in to be were he was today.

When it came to fighting Icarus was known amongst his peers to be an absolute enigma, adapting to fighting style after seeing them after a couple of times, unimaginable healing speed and physical abilities that normal people can only dream of.

The knives were moving at high speed but to Icarus they were the slowest attacks he had ever seen. He dodged every single one of the knives with lightening speed as he strolled over to Calvin.

His platinum eyes shone with a white glint, he had enveloped his eyes with essence allowing him to read the trajectory of the knives.

He was able to do this because of how in-sync with essence he was, their were only a few people among the knights who had this ability but Icarus could do a lot more like coating himself with essence unfortunately he had yet to master it.

Due to his excellent ability for combat and masterful essence control he was tasked with being Adrian's sparing partner which later earned him the nickname 'White wolf' after a few people witnessed one of their live spars.

"The same trick won't work twice" he muttered as dashed before spreading out his arms to grab Calvin.

But being a cunning knight himself, Calvin saw the bandages wrapped around Icarus abdomen and within a split second landed a sucker punch in the bandaged area.

"Arrrrgggggg"

Icarus definitely felt that as he immediately fell to the ground in agonizing pain supporting the wound that was still healing.

"Better than me you said?

such insolence coming from a lowly bastard, I'll just kill you and show you that bastards like you will forever be inferior to me".

Calvin said this as he brought out another knife to stab Icarus but immediately paused.

His body lost all function as he felt an essence so chilling that it locked him in place.

"That's enough" Adrian said with so much coldness as his voice resounded through the halls.

"Broo….. Brother Adrian" Calvin struggled to muster out those words as he fought the urge to run.

"Resulting in cheap knife tricks and sucker-punches on wounds, I never thought I'd see the day when a bastard would have more honor than a royal, you make me sick" said Adrian as he stared down on Calvin.

Icarus was still lying on the floor and seemed unaffected by the pressure of the essence Adrian was putting out

"The big brother to the recuse" said Icarus but Adrian paid no mind to him.

"Getting jealous because he was chosen and you weren't, are you questioning the decision of your KING?" Adrian asked.

"I'd never, it's just that…he's nothing but a lowly bastard…"

"A lowly bastard who was chosen but you weren't shouldn't that speak for itself".

"Instead of stooping so low I advice you train harder so you won't have to resort to cheap methods against this lowly bastard next time" Adrian said as he walked towards the throne room.

Icarus got up, his essence subsidizing the pain and healing the wound faster than normal

"This isn't over bastard" Calvin said as he walked away

"why don't you try this again when I'm at a hundred" Icarus said as he walked to his room

...

Adrian walked through the huge doors of the throne room to meet the king again.

"You sent for me sire" Adrian said with respect to the king

The king got up from his throne and stared him straight in the eyes.

"My child, you follow in the footsteps of your brother very well" said the king as he smiled a little at him but ended up looking devious

"Thank you very much sire" Adrian said with respect to the king.

"Do you have any questions for me" asked the king.

"I would never question my king, I am but a soldier and my job is to follow orders without question" Adrian replied.

"I see, guards, leave us" said the king and immediately the two huge guards vanished.

"Hmmm, I have some things to take care of so I'd like to leave too" said the hand of the king who was permitted by the king

It was now only Adrian and the king that stood in the throne room.

"As my soldier you have no questions for me, buts as my son?" asked the king

Adrian calmed down a little and let out a sigh.

"Do you really think this decision was wise, yes these people are more than ready for war but the void?" asked Adrian.

"I am fully aware of the dangers the void poses to my knights and at the same time I am fully aware of the capabilities of the knights I've chosen" said the king as he walked around the throne room.

"That geezer frey thinks he could outshine me by sending his best knights, including his own son" said the king

"Is this really about your little rivalry with Aevus or something else?" Adrian asked.

"If you're talking about Victor then be straight about it, true I want to see my first child again, but I also know that if he's taken this long in the void then it's because he's still getting stronger, he would never be killed off so easily" said the king as he walked back to his throne.

"I miss him" said Adrian with sadness in his tone.

"We all do, but you don't have time to sulk, you have to show that frey bastard that castinas is no joke" said the king.

"To prove something to a bastard, you send yours?" Said Adrian out of curiousity but the king just looked at him and dismissed him.

...

Icarus laid on his bed but he could not sleep out of excitement, finally he was getting his long awaited chance of freedom, he turned on his bed and saw a man lying beside him

"Hey…." said the man

Icarus jumped from his bed in fright but it was the hand of the king, not some creep who crawled into his bed

"Wow I startled you that much?" The hand said as he stood up from Icarus bed.

"What could you possibly be looking for in my bed sir" asked Icarus in annoyance

"Relax, I'm actually one of the few people you can actually call a friend" the hand said

"I see you're excited for your trip in three days, you must trust that you'll be some kind of MVP in this mission" said the hand

"This is my only opportunity at freedom, I can't let it slide" said Icarus as he sat on his bed.

"Wow…you are officially the most naïve person I've ever met" said the hand laughing

"You honestly think that a king who has hated you from the day you were born could possibly just decide to give you a chance to redeem yourself after eighteen years of hatred?" said the hand.

"What're you getting at sir" asked Icarus with seriousness.

"I'm just saying it'll be in your best interest to not drop your guard on this mission, that is of course if your wish is to come back alive" said the hand as he walked towards the exit.

"why did you tell me this sir" Asked Icarus

"Sir this, Sir that, when it's just us you can call me Henry" said the hand "or better still, Big brother" he said as he exited the room.

Icarus laid down on his bed a little shocked, frightened, curious and excited but his motives did not change, if the king wanted him dead then all he had to do was come back alive and come back strong enough to be seen as a royal knight by the king. His journey was just getting started.

...

Somewhere in the kingdom of Aevus

A red haired girl sat on the wooden chairs of what seemed to be a bar. She had a pretty white gown on. She reached for the glass of wine that sat before her and took a sip out of it.

"Exquisite" she said, as she stood up walking out of the bar avoiding the numerous lifeless bodies that laid on the floor beneath her as her white gown stained at it tips.