Chapter 1: Light and Darkness part 1
*EIGHT DAY OF THE NINTH MONTH OF THE YEAR 204 OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER, NORTHERN DUKEDOM OF THE KINGDOM OF SAFFIRIA*
*DUKE ASHTON GRANT MANSION*
A boy is seen meditating in the middle of the wide backyard of his own manor. He has straight silverwhite hair that shines throught the rays of the sun. Hiis body is smooth like a jade with pale white tint to it.
Around the boy, you could see mana flowing around him like he is in the center of a small whirlpool. This man enters his body like its being absorbed by sponge.
Slowly he opened his golden eyes like of his father, with a smile on his face he slowly stand up and look around him, his golden eyes shined and a little golden lightning flickered for an instant.
This boy is the only son and heir the Duke of Grant dukedom. He is Joshua D. Grant.
When he turned three, his memories slowly returned to him. His past life and all the novels he read before, he remembered, except his friends, family, or anyone related to him in that past life. He only remembered those related to the books he read, what he learned through his life.
Sadly he can't remember anything indicating how he came here in this world. Even if he remembered those things, he has no emotional connectiion to them, he is only interested on the knowledge of that world and the novels he read there.
No matter who he was in his past life doesn't matter anymore, its just like memories of someone that he is seeing. He is not that mature but not that naive even.
He still likes to play like any child of his age, the only difference is, he never stops on learning, he never laze out.
What he is doing is to improve himself and relaxing when he have to relax. For him, knowledge is needed but spending your time to your family and friends is as important as learning things.
He learns to control mana and use it to strengthen his body and prepare himself to the true time he will be qualified to learn magic.
Fot other people, learning how to control mana will need long time to do to make it to the required standard to learn magic, but for him, since he is born, he can see mana like they are part of him, how did he knew this?
It is because he had a photographic memory, he learns fast but before he regained his past life's memories, he can't still understand what those mana are.
Thankfully, because of the novels his past self had read before, he theorirized that those blue lights are actually mana and that is proven truth when he started reading in the library of their family.
It is decided that on his sixth birthday, he will started to learn magic and swordmanship from the teachers his parents will hire. There are other subjects but they decided to look for competent teachers for him because he is too bright and knowledgeable that it is hard to look for someone who can truly teach him.
Ashton and Lilliana wanted to teach him but they both are busy managing the dukedom and some things related to the kingdom of saffria.
"Young master, the breakfast is ready and your parents will be there in half an hour, please be prepared" , a middlle age man with red hair and red eyes bowed and called out,
This middle age man is wearing a butler suit with white gloves. He is 6 feet in height and has a welll built body. He is the head butler of the Grant dukedom, and for the Grant family, he is one of them.
"Oh uncle Cass, how are you?" young josh said with a smile on his face, this uncle cass of his is someone who he is so close since he learned to walk.
"I am fine young master, but you have to be prepared because your parents will be there any moment.." Cass says with a smile, he love the Grant family because they treat him as family, also the Grant family never mistreat anyone and they also help improve there citizens life with work and protection they give to them.
*DINING HALL (AS WIDE AS A BALL ROOM)*
Maids and butlers are all lined up parallel to each one and headed by the head maid and head butler.
A table, not so big and not so small is place in the middle and is under the big chandelier which is ten meters above is set with foods of different cuisines.
A family of three which looks like an ordinary family is eating and smiling while talking to one another, this are Ashton Grant, Lilliana Grant and Joshua D. Grant.
Why there is a D. only in joshua's name? It is because he is the son the duke and duchess, D is to indicate his status, here, everyone has a surename but only noble's has a middle name, and they lose it when they are given a title like Duke Ashton himself and Duchess Lilliana .
This is the custom in the kingdom of saffiria and other kingdoms. When someone inherited your title then you will gain a new middle name that is granted by the Law depending on your position and title at the end.
Traitors to the Kindom will lose their title and surname. This is the greatest dirt in someone's name.
While eating Duke Ashton finally spoke something related to Joshua's future.
" I know that you are much smarter than anyone of your age, josh, so according to what we discussed last week, you will going to learn magic and swordmanship" Duke Ashton said while looking unto his son,
" I understand father, so how do we proceed to the discussion?" joshua said with determination on his face
"Okay, on your sixth birthday, you will meet your teachers and the other subjects will beheld in the later dates okay?" Duke Ashton said with a smile on his face
" Yes father, i will follow your plans." Josh smiled while saying to his father.
The breakfast proceeded as it is, while the father and son are discussing about the schedule of the magic and swordmanship class, Lilliana is on her own world, looking to her husband and son with love and care.
*18TH DAY, NINTH MONTH OF THE YEAR 204 OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER*
*JOSHUA'S SIXTH BIRTHDAY*
*HOUSE OF GRANT HALL*
A lot of nobles and high status people are gathered and are talking to one another.
Guards are all around the mansion and protecting the visinity of the mansion. This is a normal occurence in a nobles mansion and specially to high classes like of the Duke of the kingdom.
Duke Ashton's reputation is the reason why more nobles had attended the birthday of his son.
He has another title, "God of the battlefield", he is one of the six Golden Generals of the Kingdom of saffiria.
He is a great general and also he is a grand mage and a grandmaster swordsman before taking his position as the Duke of the Northern Ace.
" Your highness, the king can't attend the birthday of the young heir because he is still busy handling matters of the kingdom" , An old man with blue robe said with a smile. This Oldman has a height of 5'7 ft, he is not that tall but you can see that mana is dancing around him, he is the right hand man of the king and advisor to the throne.
"Grand archmage Keliosk, you don't have to be like that, you are my mentor and i am am your student, there is no need for formality", Ashton said while rubbing the back of his head, he truly respect the man..
Seeing this, Grand archmage Keliosk smiled and tap the shoulder of his student, he knew how this Duke really treat those people who he cared for and he is happy that he is the one who taught him...
"Hahhaa, you never change Ash, for thirty years, you are still like the young child i taught. sigh, you know, your bestfriend is so serious all the time that he almost never leave his office" , Keliosk remembered the King, with a sigh he continued "Where is your young son and Lilliana ???
Before Duke ashton coukd say anything, a woman rushed and hug Kelliosk, "Uncle, how have you been?, the woman said while slowly letting go fo the oldman Keliosk
"Lilliana, I am sorry i have been busy, so how are you?" Keliosk said with a warm and loving smile, Lilliana is the daughter of his youngest sister afterall and his favourite
"Uncle, i miss you...i am fine ,how about you?" Lilliana said with concern
While of this is happening, a boy of six years old is walking slowly while everyone slowly turned to the boy.
*random people murmurring*
*some of the ladies blush and wants to hug the little boy*
* the sound of the instruments slowly faded to the background while only the footstep of a boy is heard in the hall*
The boy has silver white hair with golden eyes that shined like brilliant gems. His hair is tighed to a ponytail, he looks like a girl but his wearing a kids version of a suit. He is as tall as of those of eight years old, he has a brilliant smile that shines like of the sun.
The boy stop infront of the Duke and bowed in the ways of a noble.
"Father" , bowing, the boy smiked and turned to his mother and said "Mother".
Ashton and Lilliana smiled, seeing Little Josh and turned to Keliosk.
" Joshua, greet your Grand uncle Keliosk" Lilliana said to her son while introducing the old man
Joshua look unto the old man and said with a smile.... "Can you ....