Axel

Ever since I was a child, the people around me had great expectations for me, even my parents. My holy magic was more powerful than my peers. Apparently, I was favoured by the great goddess of Light, Astria, therefore i was blessed with a large amount of divinity, which increased my magic tremendously and completely altered my appearance. People described my beauty as outer worldly, perhaps they were right since I was given this remarkable gift.

A few weeks before my ascension as High priest of the holy empire, I snuck out to spend my last few days as myself. I was intrigued when I heard about the Kairos Empire and how their King detest Priests. They were one of the most wealthiest and one of the most powerful empires in the world and the stories of the immortal Emperor Tal'algan and his harem made up of The cold-blooded empress and a hundred concubines were legendary, some say that the emperor had a thousand children and the others claimed that there were more, I found the stories more interesting than the fantasy books I read when I was a child, I just had to see it for myself. Immediately, I decided on my destination.

I arrived at the capital within 17 days on horseback. I wanted to use the warp gate but I feared that the priests might discover my whereabouts before I could have my fun. The people there told me that the emperor left for war against the Falmuth kingdom, how lucky. Then again, I was a blessed child. But the Falmuth kingdom huh?. Except for the food there was nothing eye-catching about that place. The royal family were scum amongst scums, they had no interest whatsoever in their citizens. Their King tried to bribe me once to come work for him, I'm glad I refused his offer, my head would have met Kairos emperor's sword and besides, the offer was not nearly appealing. How dare they try to buy me with only 5 thousand gold coins, I'm obviously worth a lot more than that!.

Anyways, moving on. I ventured into the capital to explore. I felt the warmth and saw the smiles of the people. This was the attitude of people who were content with their lifestyle. The goods here were cheap and of high quality. I observed how clean their environment was, I also noticed it previously during my travels here. I saw how there were no alleyways that hid the poor and deprived unlike most kingdoms and cities. But one thing was constant, the thuggery and theft. But theirs were more sophisticated and meticulous. It was I was in the midst of expert assassins waiting to ambush me. They speculated that I was a foreign man touring the capital, at least that was what the middle age man who gave me a single fresh loaf of bread for free told me. He warned me that I was an easy target for the people in the capital looking to make easy money. Was it my long white hair or my golden eyes or maybe my clothes that gave it away?. Well, that did not matter. I was confident I could handle any trouble that came my way.

**THUD**

A little child runs into me and disappeared into the crowd.

"Hm?"-I looked at my waist and saw that my money pouch was gone.

I take back what I said, I was too complacent!.

I took haste after the little thief. But how is he so fast?!.

When he ran into an alleyway, I smiled at the opportunity. I entered the alleyway and followed him with the help of my holy magic that buffed my stamina and reflexes.

"Mister are you even human?!!"-The boy screams out of nervousness as he ran.

"I could say that to you!" I could not believe that I still couldn't catch him even with the aid of my holy magic. "Is the kid a monster disguised as a human child or is this normal in Kairos?" The sore loser in me refused to accept defeat.

Unexpectedly, I saw the boy fall, more accurately, he was tripped. The culprit was a muscular young man in his 20's. He had light brown hair and brown eyes and although he was wearing normal clothes, he seemed out of place. He easily carried the boy up in the air by his collar with one hand. It did not look like they were acquainted.

The boy kept yelling at the man to let him go but he ignores him. I sighed at how absurb the situation has gotten. Taking pity on the boy, I choose to intervene.

"Hey let go of that kid!"-I shouted, walking over.

The man glances at me with dull eyes and asked "Is this child yours?".

This bastard.....

"Do I look like a person with kids?"-I asked in my head, putting on a calm yet pissed expression.

"No but he has something of mine. Can you put him down?".

"I shall, after he returns what he stole from my lady".

"I see. You are also a victim too"-I sighed.

"Hey boy, you better do what he says and return what you took, mine too"-I adviced the boy.

"But....But I need it"-The boy refuses.

"This tiny piece of_"- I cursed inwardly, quickly regaining my senses. The boy stole from us and he's acting like he needs it more than us, The amount of money in there is all that I have left!.

"Aren't you being too arrogant?"-A female voice remarked from behind the Brown haired man. She was wearing a black cloak which also hid her face as well.

"What shall I do with him my lady?"-The brown haired man asked respectfully.

"Put him down Guerin so I can talk to him"-The woman says. The brown haired man called Guerin did as she said and places him down gently, letting go of his collar in the end.

The young man, Guerin mutters to the boy in a minacious manner "Run and you die". I was now certain that he was not ordinary. To easily threaten a child with such a scary look is frightening.

"Now stop it Guerin, he's just a child, and a very special one at that"-The woman reprimanded him as she squats down and faces the boy. When She took off her hood, I was mystified. Her pitch black hair and amethyst colored irises left an impression on me. She resembled a beautiful night sky adorned with hundreds of raidiant shooting stars, bewitching yet fleeting.

"Boy what's your name?"-The woman asked smiling.

"L-Larry"-He replied nervously.

"How could someone be so beautiful?" Was what his face was saying. I know the feeling.

"Okay Larry, why did you steal it?" Her voice was gentle and sweet, so sweet.

"M-My mother..... She's sick. My father left for the war so I.....".

"Your father is a soldier?".

"Yes" The boy nodded.

"You were trying to help your mother. How brave" The woman genuinely commends the boy. "But I'm sorry, something important to me is inside that pouch you took and I need it back, can you hand it over?" The woman asked nicely.

"....Okay"-The boy acceded to her request hesitantly. He gives her what he stole from her and she pats his head. She ordered the man Guerin to inspect it. "It's here my lady" He notified. The boy also returns my money pouch afterwards.

"...., Larry can you take me to your mother?. I'm a healer so I can help".

"Really!?"-The boy exclaimed. He thanks her and guides her to his home.

How can he be so trusting?. Oh well, I had nothing going on so I followed them. When we got there, I saw the mother's poor appearance. Death was hanging around her.

"Larry is that you?"-The sickly woman asked.

"Mother, don't worry. I brought someone who can help"-The boy assured his mother with teary eyes.

"Let's skip the introduction shall we?"-The woman seemed to be in a hurry seeing how she speedily places her hand on the boy's mother's head and hears her within three seconds.

"She's a mage"-I thought as I observed closely.

The boy's mother's complexion turns normal. Surprised, she sits up and examined herself.

"Payment isn't necessary. Take this.....you need to eat something to replenish your energy"-The woman takes out ten pieces of small gold coins and gives the boy's mother.

"Oh thank you oh magnanimous one"-The boy's mother bows to the woman as she leaves, and I decided to follow her.

The boy stops her and inquires the reason she saved his mother after what he did. The girl smiles at him and answers with a question of her own. "Why did you steal?". The boy realizes what she meant and brushes his hair backwards with his fingers. I could see his eyes clearly. It was abnormal. His eyes were multi colored. Part light yellow, part blue and part green, in that order.

"Your eyes....."-The woman utters. The boy flinches and looks away. "It looks weird right?. People always say that when they see it" The boy says, dejected.

"No, it looks like an aurora, different but beautiful"-The woman responds honestly. She pats his head and says "Don't let people tell you otherwise".

The boy smiles happily. It looked like it was the first time he ever heard someone compliment his eyes. It must have been refreshing to hear.

"Larry, you have the gift....of mana. I want you to take this, when you are ready to practice magic, go to the magi tower and give them this" The woman tells him and hands him what he stole from her. It was a large golden coin, engraved on it was the symbol of the Crown princess of Kairos, Twin dragons rotating around a sun's eye.

"This...Are you sure my lady"-The man called Guerin asked, worried.

"To outrun a high ranking priest with just mana alone, The boy shows great promise". Hearing my identity revealed, I flinched. I thought she had no interest in me seeing how she ignored me up till now.

"Your holy magic is something 'We' can sense easily, there's no use trying to hide it"-Her sharp gaze was petrifying and quite, titillating.

What's wrong with me?.

"The crown princess symbol, who are you?"-The boy asked curiously.

"Me?, I'm someone who likes your eyes"-The woman replies in a coy manner and leaves. I did not have the courage to follow her so I watched her back until she disappeared into the distance.

Before I left Kairos, I investigated her background and discovered that she was truly the crown princess. I felt like I met my destiny and I fell for her deeply. When I returned back to the holy empire I got an earful from the other high ranking priests and the current high priest. After my coronation day I secretly sent a marriage proposal to the Empress of Kairos. I asked her if she could allow me to court her daughter, princess Aurora, with the intention of marriage, in another word, engagement. Yes a priest cannot get married unless they quit, lose their divinity or die. But I was special and I was not one who followed the rules. Besides, Surely Goddess Astria would forgive me for giving into my only heart desire.

Though my selfish decision could jeopardize my position in the church and revoke my divinity, I had to have her. After all, What is life without Love?.

Luckily, Goddess Astria saw my unshaken faith and my Divinity was not taken away. I considered this sign as Astria's permission and blessing. I used my 'mission' as a cover to visit Kairos and meet Princess Aurora.

My heart beats like a boy in love for the first time, how exciting.