Chapter 2 - The War

In a far away land there was a magical  empire named Endium. In endium magic was common yet unreal occurance. It was rare among commoners but quite a hobby among the nobels. It wasn't like the commoners don't have magic powers but stabilizing magic as a job and cultivating it was quite a hefty price to pay.

Endium's magic sources were unlimited. Mines, trees, rivers, Mountains even birds and grasses emitted magic.

The Emperor of Endium though never truly relied on magic to sustain and run his empire. The military was as strong as having each knight able to fight against a demon. But training such a military wasn't a child's play.

The imperial faction and the aristocrat faction went into cold War due to imposer of taxes on nobels, to the point where the life of the emperor was in danger.

Then the emperor called his younger brother and his childhood best friend to consult. After listening to all this the best friend said let's divide the power into 3 segments. One administration second military and third make a magic association. Then install the emperor's trusted vassals as the head. These associations will be dealing with their own financial problems following certain set of rules but comply to the imperial power.

This way the Royal Family's resources won't be strained and also no faction will have an absolute power to rebel.

Even though the plan seemed very logical to work but executing it was herculean task.

So the younger brother chimed in that as his knighting was strong he will help the emperor with the military and the friend became a wizard of the magical tower.

And that's how our current Luvenhawk and Ranchettes family of the Kingdom came into being. And it's believed that a special magic spell is casted upon both of the family so that they remain loyal to the imperial throne.

"My friend", someone chuckled "do you believe what the story teller said?

" Maybe" the robed man replied. He snapped his finger and a silver coin appeared into thin air, he pointed the coin towards the counter and it swum towards it.

That man was none other than a spy of the neighbouring country Samalta.

Moving out of the in he peeked at the sky , and mumbled to himself "seems like a storm is coming".

Imperial year 456 the aristocrat faction rebelled against the imperial throne and helped the Samalta fight against the kingdom helping them with interior information.

The Emperor unfazed annexed the Kingdom Samalta and the aristocrat faction and this event in history was called the "Cleaning Campaign".

Sorry for the mistake the Emperor initiated the campaign for annexe. But the real heroes were the dukes of Endium. Duke Philip Seymour  Ranchettes and Duke Ellington Von Da Luvenhawk.

When Duke Luvenhawk was in the battleground he got the news  "Greetings to the Duke." He nodded his head. "Duke congratulations you became a father. Duchess gave birth to a daughter. They are waiting for you send a letter bestowing a name to her". The Duke was elated yet sad. Elated he finally became a dad. Sad because he couldn't see his wife and daughter for at least 4 years.

It was still night and the sky even though unclear there was still a star sparkling in the hazy night sky.

"Asteria Von Da Luvenhawk".

But not all the happy moment can last forever. The very next day the Duke's palace was attacked. Using her last magic the duchess teleported her daughter to Duchess Ranchettes with a letter asking her to keep her daughter safe.

When the news reached the imperial family it was too late. The Duchess was already dead with the beautiful manor destroyed. The Duke in fit of rage turned into a demon and the battleground burned in raging flames. Killing mercilessly not even sparing women or children the Duke who was loved and appreciated by everyone turned into  Grim Reaper.

At night the Duke would drown himself in wine and couldn't sleep because of his nightmares. He would dream his wife and daughter screaming to him for help.

And so the battle which was expected to continue till 4 years ended in 2 years with the grim reaper killing almost half of the enemy.