"You're getting better at welding your sword, my boy!" A man said to a child.
"I will become one of the greatest knight the whole Nethilor has ever seen, just like you dad!" The child boldly said.
It was a reminiscence of Jeruzen's childhood. He was having a sparring with his late father, Benedict. His father was one of the greatest and most honoured knight under the reign of King Adelio. Jeruzen dreamed of becoming a great knight just like his father. Everyday he would woke up early to train at the training ground of their house.
Years had passed, and he became skilled enough to join the junior knights of the empire. He auditioned at the final selection together with his childhood friends who have now become his enemies.
Jeruzen was at the park sitting on the swing when girl appeared and startled him from behind. "I bet you won't make it to the finals Jeruzen!" The girl said.
"Well see about that Bellatrix!" He smirked as he jumps out of the swing and faced Bellatrix.
"I'll see you on the finals then." Bellatrix replied.
"Quit it you two!" Meissa pushed the two of them away from each other.
Their quarrel awaken the kid sleeping on the bench under the shade of tree.
"You're all a bunch of noisy weirdos!" He said with a bland tone.
The three looked at him offended.
"You're the weird one here, Saiph!" Meissa confronted him. "You've been sleeping all day when in fact you should be training for the final selection!"
"Whatever." Saiph said under his breath and put on his hood.
"Where are you going?" Bellatrix asked him.
"The sun's setting down. I'm going home." He said as he walks away from the three.
"Hey, wait for me!" Meissa yelled after him.
Jeruzen and Bellatrix were left behind standing at the park as their shadows raced each other away from the setting sun.
"So here's a deal." Bellatrix said as she looked Jeruzen by the face with her arms clutched together. "If I pass the final selection and you don't, then you'll have to treat me."
"And what if I pass the final selection and you don't?" Jeruzen asked.
"Then I'll be the one treating you." Bellatrix answered.
"Deal!" Jeruzen instantly replied.
"Yet, I'm afraid you won't make it." Bellatrix said and turned her back from him.
Jeruzen was about to say something when two figures appeared from behind.
"You two sure do get along, don't you?" A man's voice said.
"Of course we're not!" The two shouted together.
"Quit, it Jeruzen!" The other man said.
"She started it, father!" Jeruzen answered back.
"It doesn't matter." Benedict said calmly.
"Is this true, Bellatrix!" The first man asked to which Bellatrix did not answer and just give him a pout. "Enough with the pouting, young lady. Why don't you apologize to Jeruzen? You two look good together to be fighting over a foolish argument."
"Ewww! I would never marry someone like him." Bellatrix as she made various facial expressions that shows disgust."
"So do I! I would never want someone like her. Hmph!" Jeruzen said as well.
Their dads just laughed at them.
"I'm going home now dad!" Bellatrix said angrily and walked away.
"Alright! I'll be right up ahead." The man shouted to Bellatrix.
"Then we'll be going home as well." Benedict said to the man.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." He said to him. "And for you junior knight…" He turned to Jeruzen. "Always keep up the good work. Let your spirit keep burning and seize every moment to achieve your dream. I wish you the best." He winked.
"Same regard to you as well, Sir Zancrow!" Jeruzen said as he stood still and give the man a salute.
The man just laughed. "Why don't you just call me Uncle Zanc?" He pat him on his head and messed Jeruzen's hair. "Enough with the sir thing. I'm not at work." He smiled at him.
"Alright! Uncle Zanc!" Jeruzen said that latter follows a smile.
Not that long, Jeruzen did passed the final selection and became the junior knight of the kingdom. Bellatrix, Meissa and Saiph passed as well. The four seem to get along under the same group.
Everything was well until the king and queen vanished when they tried to search for their son who had run away from home decades had passed. Many believed that the king and queen had been killed along with all the knights with them on their quest.
With the abrupt disappearance of King Adelio and Queen Minerva, the kingdom fell into despair. The entire Nethilor was left to rule by the only Princess Victoria, who is also not in the right state of mind because of what had happened to her parents.
Out of nowhere, the king's brother, Aiden returns in the kingdom and proclaimed that he is the rightful heir to the throne of Nethilor. Many had protest about the idea of having Aiden as their king because of the treachery he had done decades had passed, however the citizens were powerless and were forced to stay silent. Aiden indeed has someone with him from the empire's officials.
Year after year, Nethilor's borders expand every time it invades a new kingdom or land. The new king seem to be devouring every neighboring cities and small countries.
Jeruzen and his troops along with Bellatrix, Meissa and Saiph were ordered to invade Alfheim, the Land of the Fairies which were located at the south west of Continent Gaia. They marched for days until they finally arrived on the place and tampered the fairy kingdom.
That was the time Jeruzen and Chaneri crossed paths. He saw the pitiful child crying out loud helplessly across the raging flames that slowly eats the houses and everything in the place. He don't have the guts to kill an innocent child and so he took her out of there.
At that moment, Jeruzen realized what they were doing was totally wrong. These people had done nothing. The innocents were killed as their mothers cry for help and as the voices of their fathers echo through the battlefield. As blood spilled and tainted the sacred land. As hatred and despair starts to build up within their hearts. He knew the king was doing a very dangerous dirty gambling.
"What do you think you're doing?" Bellatrix asked him out of anger.
"She's just a child, she has nothing to do with this." Jeruzen replied.
"The king's order is to eliminate all of the fairies. Now if you cannot adhere to follow one simple task, you better move out of the way and let me handle the killing. Hand me the girl before we end up killing each other." Bellatrix threatened him.
"You have clearly no right to order me. I will take this matter to the king and once we got back at Nethilor, you'll have my answer." Jeruzen said.
Jeruzen and Bellatrix was not in good terms s they march their way back to Nethilor. Their beliefs hardly oppose each other. As soon as they got back, Jeruzen went immediately to his father to ask for help. He took Chaneri with him on his horse as they venture across the streets of Nethilor to reach the north city, Yorthendon. He was hoping that his father might do something to resolve the issue.
"You have accomplished too much for this empire, now it's time to fulfill mine." These were the words that struck Jeruzen's ears as he enter the office of his father.
His eyes widened when he saw the dead body of his father lying on the floor. On his father's back, a dagger was stabbed into it that took the man's life. What shocked him the most is to witnessed the face of the person who killed his father, his godfather and the father of Bellatrix, Zancrow.
He enflames in rage and tried to attacked Zancrow but he was agile to escape out of the room. Jeruzen rushed towards the cold body of his father and caress him in his arms. He took out the dagger out of his father's back and unfortunately, a knight came and misinterpret the idea of him killing his own father.
Zancrow quickly grabbed the opportunity and framed Jeruzen for treachery and murder. He was sentenced to death for killing his own father. That is what everyone believes. Jeruzen was surrounded by countless knights and he was not strong enough to fight them all at once. He swiftly maneuvers through them and grabbed Chaneri. He quickly rode off his horse and fled Nethilor for good.