As dawn breaks, the morning mists hung heavily in the air.
Dew droplets drip from the leaves of the surrounding greenery.
The sun, blurred out by the morning clouds, began its ascension to the top of the sky.
Prince Kenius’s eyes opened with immediate clarity.
Then, a searing pain throbs through his right arm, originating from his palm.
As he raised it, there it was, the Insignia.
A bat like motif made of lines, burned into his flesh.
The next moment, the flesh began to mend and seal.
The Insignia disappeared from his palm entirely.
The pain stopped.
The prince got out of bed.
He was not at home, but in the school’s hospital wing, especially after the events that happened at the ceremony.
What happened, what about his friends – have they got their postings?
Questions began building up.
His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened.
Headmaster Mensarius walked in.
“I hoped you had a good rest.
I have things to update you.” Prince Kenius started getting dressed.
“I have spoken with your father.
You are summoned by him.
There is no school today after all, since its the weekends.
Once you reach home, your father awaits you.” Prince Kenius looked up.
“Why?
Is he happy that I got the King’s talent?
Am I going to be used as part of his schemes?” Mensarius looked down on the floor.
“Truth be told, I do not know.
He may want to explode this truth to the council, so that he gains more power.
Or hold it back, and release it when the time is right.
In any case, there is a use for you now, to him.
Lets head home first and see.” Prince Kenius attached his sword to his hip.
While grabbing the sword, he noticed some dark vapors seemed to be emitted out of his hand and flowed into the sword, but paid no heed.
His mind is occupied, with the thoughts of what his father is scheming again.
“Only one way to find out.
Shall we, Uncle?” They both headed down and boarded the carriage.
As Mensarius gave the command to go, the coachman pulled on the reins to begin the journey.
While in transit, Prince Kenius asked.
“My friends, how are their talent awakenings?
Have they got a good posting?
Or are they still in school?” “Nephew, you do know I cannot share with you what talent they have gotten.
The only thing I can say is, they all got great talents and should receive news of their posting next week.
When you meet them back in school, you can discuss with them, but remember, never reveal your talent.” “Why can’t we tell our talent to others?
Like the school, how will you know how to post us and in our posting, how will each person be tailored to learning?
Also, won’t using your talent reveal it in the first place?” “Firstly, sharing your talent with others is like telling your salary.
While it is good to share, only certain people should know.
In this case, like the staff of the school, or the people in charge of the posting.
Letting others know of your talent creates jealousy, arrogance, changes in how people treat you, scheming and plotting, even murder.
Lets take your case for example.
Letting your friends know you have the King’s magic, they may not see you as an equal but put you on a pedestal.
They may treat you formally and respectfully, or may even harbor grudges as you have a great destiny ahead, while they do not.” Prince Kenius interrupted:” My friends are not like that.” Headmaster Mensarius grinned and shake his head.
“This world is populated but various beings, different races like humans, elves, dwarves, and many more.
Beings’ nature are truly one of the worse things on this.
It is the reason why we are so divided, so burdened, so quick to judge and be dismissive of others.
Different beings, different races, different factions, different elements all cannot unit together because of their nature.
The innate self that do not wish for it to be so.
It took the planet’s own being, the great dragon, to come down to quell the great war of the first age.
While your trust in your friends is admirable, I do highly recommend exercising caution” The Prince sank back in his seat in defeat.
“Does this mean, I cannot trust anyone, not even you, Uncle?” Headmaster Mensarius got caught off guard with that question.
He then put a hand on the young prince’s shoulder.
“I promised your mother that I will take care of you, and I intend to honor that.
There may be a day our views may clash, but it does not mean I will not do my best to protect you.” The prince looked up, showing some relief through a smile.
“Thank you, Uncle, for saying that.” “Anyway,” The headmaster continued.
“Secondly, those people who get to know your talents are bounded by magical seals and contracts.
They cannot tell other beings about it unless its someone under the same seal.
So, information is greatly controlled.
Thirdly, using your talent.
Lets say someone awaken a talent relating to fire.
They head for the front lines and use fire magic a a lot.
Yes, then everyone can more or less guess that his talent is of a fire alignment.
Those of us in the dark faction, are special.
We believe in conducting lessons in elementary spells.
Things like basic enhancement magic, for strength or speed, or some of the 5 elements.
Like if you awaken a fire talent, and you use wood magic in conjunction with your fire magic, the results will be doubled.
More impact and power.
Also, it makes it harder for people to determine if your magic is of the fire element or wood element.” “Oh, that’s why you were able to use other elemental magics while fighting the flame devil before.” Mensarius adjusted his monocle.
“Yes, that is correct.
However, my case is more of a special nature.
I shall not go further into that.
Oh, but there is one iron clad rule.
Practitioners of Light and Dark magic, normally do not try to use the opposing element.
They tend to cause the user to implode from the violent reaction of the forces.” “Interesting, Light and Dark.
Trying to combine them yield catastrophic results.
I see.” Prince Kenius looked out and he saw the gates of the Obsidian palace came into full view.
“We are arriving soon.
Best prepare yourself for the audience with your father.
Lets continue our conversation the next time.” As the carriage pulled up at the gates, servants rushed to open the door and assist the young master and his uncle.
As they walked through the grand foyer, an announcer saw them and shouted: “His Highness, Prince Kenius and Headmaster of Marshgrave School, Mensarius has arrived!” They both walked in to the grand hall and Prince John is sitting on his throne, looking at them, while holding the Sword of Imminent Darkness pointed to the floor, sheathed in its scabbard.
Both knelt on a knee and bowed.
“Rise, both of you.” Prince John commanded.
“Mensarius, step forward.” Headmaster Mensarius took a step forward, placing his hand on his chest and bowed.
“Yes, my lord?” “I have received the news of my son’s talent.
I want you to answer me, is it the truth?” Prince John said.
“Indeed it is, my lord.
The diagnostic board has shown it is dark magic.
The purest of its form.
Also, it is already at rank 3.
Most students awaken at rank 1, some rank 2.
It shows the young prince may have a high affinity for this magic.” “Or the magic itself could be powerful from the beginning.” Prince John sneered as he puts the sword on his lap.
“Even historical records of past kings showed, like the first human king, or the first undead king, or the first spectral king, they awoken this magic at 2nd rank.
The rest awakened it at 1st rank except for the primordial dark king itself, who had the full power from the start as mentioned from the records.
Hence, Prince Kenius’s rank is unprecedented.” “I see, so you are saying he is powerful.
Has he awakened the King’s Insignia?” Prince John questioned further.
“He did mentioned that a being taking the form of a large bat was the one he saw in his subconsciousness.
As to whether he has awaken the King’s Insignia, as of now, we do not see it.” “Mensarius, are there cases where someone awaken dark magic as their talent, but not having the King’s Insignia?
What of their fates?” “There are less than 5 documented records of such beings.
The brother of the first human king was one of them, he went on to master bone magic using the dark magic and was a strong user.
However, his last records was that he wandered around the wastes near the old site of the dark faction.
Others basically took on important roles like Prime Minister of the council, or Herald of Darkness for the army etc.” “And now, my son is one of these great people.
Very well, Mensarius, you may leave.
I wish to speak with my son alone.” Mensarius stood up straight and looked at his liege.
He then muttered a “Yes, my lord.” and turned back and walk, glancing at Prince Kenius, still kneeling.
As the headmaster left the halls, it was only father and son left.
Prince John stood up, sheathed sword in hand.
“My son, I expected you to awaken some lousy talent and be shipped off to the front lines where you can serve and come back a better man.
Then, you can take over my role and take charge of all the humans under our wing.
Instead, you aimed bigger, higher.
The whole dark faction.
If the council gets to know of your talent, many will want to bring you over to their side.
They will also fight and argue, seeing as the last dark king was human.
However, I will not let them.” Prince Kenius looked up in genuine surprise.
Is this concern, protecting the ones you love, ensuring his heir is safe.
Such behavior being exhibited by his father has rattled him.
Prince John took out the sword from the scabbard.
“I will not let them use my son.
If anyone is to use you, only I can be the one.
I will ensure that the human race will prosper in this dark faction.
My son will be the ship to guide it.
With this, I will rule the dark council.
None of the rest of the races can do anything to stop me.” Prince John started laughing menacingly.
Prince Kenius stood up.
“Are you mad, Father?
What makes you think that I will let you use me?
I thought you will be happy for me.
That you will do your best to help me in this stage of life.
In the end, you can only think of the race of humans, but not your son?!” “Silence!” Prince John screamed.
“Fate has given me this path, not even you will forestall my destiny.” With that, Prince John swing his sword and unleashes a dark corrupting wave of energies at his son.
Prince Kenius gripped his sword.
This time round, he pulled his sword and slash towards the energy wave.
Both energy and blade met and started clashing.
As Prince Kenius puts more strength into his blade, the dark vapors began leaking out again, flowing into the sword.
As the energies traveled from the hilt to the blade, it touched the energy wave launched by Prince John.
Aspect of Darkness: Absorption.
Dark magic activated and absorbed the energies into the blade.
The blade began glowing with a sickly greenish hue, the same color of the energy launched by Prince John.
Suddenly, more black vapors flowed into the sword.
Aspect of Darkness: Corruption.
The black vapors seemed to flow and consume the greenish energies, charging the sword even more.
Magical powers are starting to flow out of the sword violently.
It corrupted his father’s corruption magic.
Aspect of Darkness.
Nothingness.
Prince Kenius’s thoughts suddenly vanished.
His body just acted.
It took a stance and swing.
A dark massive energy blast got blasted out towards Prince John.
It flew straight towards him.
Prince John barely had enough time to lift up the Sword of Imminent Darkness to try to parry it.
It managed to hold the blast.
With his other hand, Prince John began to try injecting his own magic, the corruption magic, into the energy blast.
Try as he might, nothing is taking effect.
“Impossible, I cannot corrupt this magic?!” As the blast reach criticality, it exploded and sent Prince John flying to the back of the chair.
The throne held him there in place but it was quite a hard knock after all.
Blood began to trickle down from the edges of Prince John’s lips.
“True Dark Magic.
Such Prowess.
Fascinating.” As he tried to stand up again, about 20 guards rushed in because of the commotion.
There, they saw it, two royals, each brandishing their own blade.
One bleeding on the throne, one panting and sweating at the center of the hall.
“Your Highnesses, is everything alright?” Prince John spoke:”His Highness, Prince Kenius, has struck his lord.
Send him to the Dungeons to reflect on himself.
He will not be released, until I said so.” The guards look at one another in disbelief, then turned towards the young prince.
“Your Highness, please follow us back to the dungeons.
Your father has issued the orders.” Prince Kenius sheathed his sword, and spat to the ground.
He then turned around and walked off, with the guards trailing behind him.
Prince John sat back down on his throne, and began laughing to himself.
It all but seems that his hegemony of the dark faction is about to begin.