1 Prologue

I see a masked man killing people. This must be a dream. He first betrays humankind by selling information to the other races. Then, he tricks his friends and companions into abandoning crucial spots, leading to deaths of millions.

I see a masked man killing people. I see him killing my family, friends and everybody that I know.

I see him fighting with my brother. I see his mask break.

I see his face. His face... is the same as mine?

I see now. He is me. I see him killing my brother.

Then... I wake up.

*panting*

"What... what was that? A dream? A nightmare? But... it felt so real?"

A hand reaches for my head as I keep panting.

"Son, Darcy are you alright? Was it a nightmare? It's all okay now, it's all gone, you will be okay."

This was the hand of my father, Archduke of Veriandale. Owner of the territory located on the east of the Great Euclid Empire, the territory which acted as the eastern border of the empire.

"I am alright father, I just... my dream, rather, nightmare was very realistic, so I was taken aback. Sorry to worry you."

My father patted my head and made a sour face after hearing that. He always treated me like this ever since I got sick as a baby... I am still being treated the same even as an eight year old.

"Don't say stuff like that, and I told you to call me "dad", not "father"... I know you must be nervous to go to the Nubem Academy, but it will be fun! Trust me, you will meet a lot of people, nobles and others alike! People from outside the empire will attend as well, such as some nobles or talented individuals from other countries. That was also the place your mom and I met for the very first time... you could say it's the reason you were born."

"... that's not why-"

I know not to be nervous because of such things, but my da-, I mean father refuses to let me finish.

"Okay, okay. I will stop now. I know the actual reason you are nervous is because of this your first time leaving home for such a long period of time. But remember; your older brother and sister also attend here! You will still have family in there. Surely, you will be there from your age of eight to until you are at least eighteen, so you will have more than enough time to make new people. Perhaps, you will feel reluctant to come back home at all..."

"Father... are you sure you are not just projecting yourself onto me? I know this place was the most (only) fun part of your life, you even met mother here, but can't the people not attending here still be happy?"

"Ouch... you really know how to hit where it hurts the most! Really just like your mom!"

He made a pained face, but I'm sure he knew that I was not serious. He also jokes like this around all the time, and mother replies the same way to him. Looks like mother really is the his reverse scale as my elder siblings said.

After talking with my father for a bit, I put my head to the back of the carriage that was headed for the largest academy in the continent, the place where I would be spending the next ten years of my life.