Chapter One

"Damn, the look in my eyes is still the same."

In the balcony, Victor let out a mutter under his breath, before he took another drag of his cigarette. In his other hand, was a family album.

There he was, with his father and mother. He wore checkered pants, and a bland red shirt, you could even notice dirt marks if you squint your eyes hard enough.

But despite his young self's toothy smile, his eyes were the same as he was in the present.

He didn't know the best way to describe himself, but from what he heard from his schoolmates by eavesdropping, they said even if by merely talking to him, they felt uncomfortable.

Indeed, the more he looked at his young self, the more he realized, he hasn't changed at all. If one were to look at the picture long enough, it will eventually be apparent that this wasn't a real smile.

It was a mere imitation. There was no happiness in it, nor was there any other emotion. At least, that's what it looked like, but for Victor, he knew that he was happy in that period of time.

Perhaps his face is the reason why no one talked to him? Eyes so freakish, and an empty face, as if no emotion was there. It was unsettling, nauseating even, to an average person.

Although he didn't feel that unsettled, because of course, it was his face, and he has seen himself every day, but perhaps this is why no one wants to talk to him.

No, perhaps, his current face might be even worse. At least before, some students in his school occasionally talked with him. Albeit they weren't friends, but they at least talked.

Yes, perhaps that is why. His face is the problem, he thought.

It was odd, he always tried to strike up conversations, and while his eyes were a bit creepy, he joked around quite a lot. But even then, people looked at him as if he was horrid.

"Shit, this pisses me off so much." Victor cursed under his breath, as he turned off his cigarette. It wasn't like he was a robot with no emotions whatsoever. But because of his terrible face, he couldn't even get a girlfriend!

With an angered expression, he tossed the album book to an empty, old chair besides him in the balcony, and muttered in a disappointed tone, "What a dreadful face.", and went inside.

A barely note-worthy room, having nothing besides a drawer, a mattress, and some covers for himself. Other than that, the room was unbearably dull, with the wallpaper being an odorless gray color.

Noticing the time, Victor threw himself at the mattress, and covered himself up.

A minute, two minute, five minutes, an hour, Victor tried to sleep, but Amnesia was an annoying beast. After One and a half hour, drowsiness began to set in, and Victor finally slept.

Mere minutes later, a bright light came from the middle of the room, and two people appeared after it has diminished.

An old woman, likely in her sixties, dressed in highly expensive clothes only meant for royalty, her hair silver from old age, but a soft smile is on her face. Next to her, a much younger woman dressed in clothes similar to those of British soldiers in old times, although unlike the old woman, her eyes were sharp, and gave off a hint of disgust.

"We're here, my Queen." The young woman said while closing her eyes, to which the old woman responded with a slight nod.

"I can see that." The "Queen" muttered, before glancing around at Victor's room. The room was quite empty, barely having anything note-worthy, with even the walls being depressing to look at. Although, everything was neatly done. There was not a speck of dust anywhere, and the mattress he was sleeping on was pristine clean.

While the Queen was looking around the room, the young woman kept looking at the boy, lightly clicking her tongue in disapproval.

"I'm sorry, my Queen, but isn't he... a bit young?" The young woman asked, her voice elegant, and smooth. Although most wouldn't notice, but the small hint of malice in her voice couldn't go unnoticed by the Queen.

The Queen hummed, before peering into Victor, still sleeping peacefully. In a soft voice, the Queen answered, "Humans aren't that different from us, Violet. Like us, they are known to grow more the earlier they start."

"So I've heard..."

"But my, he's such a sly little rascal." The Queen said with a small smile, before suddenly appearing in front of him. "You've been hearing us from the start, haven't you?"

Indeed, under the moonlight, one could see two small silts on Victor's face. This whole time, he has been awake.

But despite being caught, he still didn't move, or opened his eyes fully.

"Well, it doesn't matter." The Queen lightly caressed Victor's face, although he still didn't open his eyes, but the touch was quite calming, "Being sly will help you greatly. Now, which weapon will fit you the best..." The Queen muttered, before humming a little bit as she caressed his face, just like a grandmother would to her grandkids.

"Oh!" She exclaimed suddenly, "A sword will fit you nicely, eh? Violet over there uses a sword, too. And I'm sure it's an easy weapon for a beginner. Wouldn't you agree, Violet?"

The solider, "Violet", wore a proud smile as she nodded.

"Indeed, Swords are the pinnacle of Weaponry, with most masters in the world being Sword masters. Sword users are elegant, powerful, and more powerful than other-"

"Yes, yes, now about your starting powers..." Violet depressingly sighed as the Queen interrupted her mid-way through her speech.

"Hmm... Fire might be the best option here... Very well, then." As the Queen nodded unconsciously, she leaned towards Victor's ear, and whispered,

"When the time comes, find me in the Empire of Magick. I have high expectations for you, please, do not disappoint me."

And with that, a bright light came from Victor, engulfing his entire body. As he felt the burning sensation in his chest, he finally opened his eyes, almost being blinded by the light. Amidst this burning light, he turned his gaze at the Queen,

A face riddled with wrinkles, silver, messy hair that made her look like a witch, a weird, small symbol on her head that seemed like a Hand, and finally, a smile filled with love, as if a mother looking at her child.

Before he could get a good look on Violet, the light became way stronger, and like that, everything turned to black.