***Aarus Empire***

***Imperial Throne Room***

Seated atop his throne of gold and silver, Emperor Gregory Aarus II could be seen with a smile on his face. Yes, for the first time since the late Queen’s passing, the Emperor was in a good mood. No, he was ecstatic.

Although initially his plan to hire out the Assassin’s Guild to kill the Hyperion children wasn’t bearing much results, he couldn't be happier with the ending. In his emotionally driven state, he payed the Guild double the contracted price so they could place the blame on someone else. Leaving just enough clues for his Hyperion counterparts to come to their own conclusions, and respond appropriately. He wasn’t made aware of the details on who the Guild would frame as the contract giver, though he didn’t care, as long as the investigation didn’t point in his Empire’s direction.

Although he was completely caught off guard when just moments ago a messenger walked in declaring that the nineteenth Nytos King was missing and presumed dead. Gregory hoped Hyperion would declare full-scale war with the perpetrator, but he wouldn’t go pushing his luck. The Nytos King had been around longer than himself, and even if he wasn’t an immediate enemy now he would no doubt become one in the future. Even so, leaders vanishing in thin air wasn’t a subject Gregory was unfamiliar with.

During the height of the first war with Hyperion and when his father held the throne, Aarus was on the verge of advancing towards the capital itself for a complete military victory. Every day the army advanced towards the capital Hyperios the trek became increasingly difficult. Constant ambushes and attacks from the air slowed the army’s advance and put morale at an all time low. Still, Emperor Gregory Aarus I was a very charismatic leader. Despite the unceasing attacks, he kept the army moving forward all the way to the Skyll River, which surrounded the capital itself.

The natural water barrier thwarted the Aarus advance. They knew trying to cross one of the bridges made by their enemies was a recipe for disaster. So the army was forced to set camp while the earth mages spent the rest of the night building a bridge large and stable enough for an entire army to cross.

The young Gregory, only fourteen years old at the time, respected his father very much. As his only son, he would follow in his footsteps and eventually become the next Emperor. Ruling an empire the size of Aarus and Hyperion combined would certainly be a challenging task, but if anyone could do it, it was his father.

That night he went to sleep knowing that soon this long war would be over and he could eventually head home. The next morning, young Gregory woke with goosebumps all over his entire body, his senses alert. He didn’t know why, but his instincts were seemingly reacting to an invisible danger he just couldn’t pinpoint. Walking out of his tent, everything looked normal, tents neatly arranged around the area as far as he could see, but something was missing. He approached his father's tent, spotting the dozen or so guards encompassing all sides of the canvas. Lifting the doorway up, the young Gregory found it empty. The bed as neat as if his father didn’t even sleep in it. Though it was curious that his father’s boots were placed right near the entrance. The Emperor should be in here. But where was he?

The young Gregory questioned the guards and an investigation began. After hours of searching, rumors spread and emotions throughout the entire encampment began to flare. The low morale rearing its ugly face, and without the charismatic Emperor to bring stability, the army broke down. Gregory II was stricken with grief and a horrifying realization came to him. His father was dead, and he was now the Emperor. His father's army was in shambles, with military officers and branch family members he barely recognized now approaching him for orders. Soldiers were beginning to abandon their posts and retreated in the direction of Aarus, the invasion breaking down on itself.

The new Emperor was unprepared and overwhelmed, calling a full retreat back to his homeland and wallowing in his emotions as the Hyperion ambushes continued to strike the now unorganized army. The ambushes on the retreat causing far more casualties than any other attack throughout the entire campaign. By the time the army reached their own borders, only a fifth of the invasion force remained. Ten days later an official treaty was agreed upon and the war was over.

Gregory Aarus II was no stranger to the assassination methods used by the Hyperion Empire. He could only make theories on how it works, but he recognized leaders vanishing in thin air and knew that the Elven King’s death was Hyperion’s response to the attempted assassinations on their children.

Recalling one of his greatest failures as Emperor put a little damper on his mood. Still, there were other things to be happy about. His only daughter Alaina Aarus not even the age of two years, has already shown a strong affinity towards the family's bloodline magic. She was a hardworking and determined toddler, pushing her body to the limits to move and operate the way she wanted it too. She would soon be old enough to begin training, and Gregory would spare no expense for the little girl that reminded him so much of his late wife. Her power was going to be recognized all around the world if he had anything to say about it.

***Hyperion Empire***

***Soltain City***

“So how has your time been at the Academy so far?” Sophia asked her daughter while the entire family was in the dining room eating dinner.

“The school is pretty boring. Everything we’ve gone over you’ve already taught me and the arrogant minor and merchant nobles are annoying. I know you wanted me to make friends for connections but the only friends I’ve made so far are commoners.”

“Ah yes there aren’t House children anywhere near your age are there? That’s sure to limit one’s drive when they have no one to compete with.”

“Yeah there’s also that. There’s one Thanatos boy I’ve seen a couple times but he’s like four years older than me and about to graduate and leave. I can really only compare myself with the really talented commoners.”

“Well girl how do you place yourself with the rest of your class?”

Skylar gave her grandfather a hard look, ever since she returned he’s been testing her on how she’s improved and it usually brought her pain. A lot of pain.

“Well Grandpa how do you think I place in a class where I know everything and have no one good enough to compete with? Of course I’m at the top.” She practically spat in response.

“Don’t get to confident of yourself Skylar, there are kids your age all over the continent whose talent alone could put you on your heels. Look at your brother for example, while you were gone he started making ‘light flares’ as if it was the simplest thing in the world. You need to keep pushing yourself everyday because although you may have no challenge now it won’t always be that way.” Jacob said.

Skylar gaped at the toddler seated in her lap. She even took the time to notice the mana inhibiting bracelet wrapped around his arm. Her father dropped that little tidbit of information as if it didn’t mean her little brother was a magic prodigy. She knew from the start that he was going to be special but channeling the bloodline at his age was a bit much. Max, rather oblivious to the conversation, continued to stuff potatoes in his mouth with his bare hands.

With renewed determination in her eyes, Skylar nodded. She needed to keep practicing to remain at the top.

The rest of the dinner went on peacefully with pleasant conversation until Jacob looked to his wife to see a rather mischievous smirk on her face. He even looked in her eyes and started shaking his head with as most subtlety he could muster to get his point across without gathering his father and daughters attention. She looked back at him and held the smirk.

Jacob let out a loud sigh. She was going to go through with this and there wasn’t anything he could say or do to stop her.

Tapping a spoon against the glass that was holding her drink, Sophia brought everyone’s attention to herself, even her son who was looking for the source of the peculiar ringing sound. She looked at her father in law and then at her only daughter.

“I just wanted to inform you both that Jacob and I have arranged a marriage for little Max to be wed with the heir of House Kumio.”

The General immediately spat his wine across the room and Skylar visibly tightened her grip around her brother. They both had shocked expressions that soon turned to angry ones.

Sophia continued before either could voice a complaint. “I know you two might be angry for various reasons but this arrangement proves to be very beneficial for everyone. I’m not going to go over details during our dinner but what’s most important is Max can still nullify the arrangement if he so chooses. Now I let you two on this little deal because I love you and respect each of your opinions, but we're going to keep the agreement for now until Max says otherwise and that will be the end of it.”

Both, faces still red, got up out of their seats and almost spoke simultaneously. “If you could please excuse me.”

Jacob and Sophia nodded and the rest of their family left the dining room. Skylar carrying a messy toddler included.

Sophia took another bite to eat and swallowed. “That went better than I thought it would.”

Jacob sighed again, “Yes you handled that rather masterfully my dear.”