Nestled in a forest on the border of Earth's Crown City: Ikorra a flash filled the surrounding area with white light and two bodies appeared. A man wearing an armored black leather full-set alongside a long tattered black overcoat shifted his arms around the second small body, an infant. The man looked bewildered, he looked around with wide eyes before heading off to a nearby cabin. Although small the interior was warm and welcoming. As he walked into the cabin he said
"The hell Tali? How could you have possibly pulled this off?" The man spoke as if there were someone to respond and there wasn't.
He held back the anger within himself and looked down at the baby, a child with his fathers features, a head of silver hair and fiery red eyes like gems. The man flicked his hand and summoned flames which scattered from thin air and wiggled to wicks held in place by large candles around the room, when lit above the entrance a plaque was hung which said "Arelle''. The man himself was Varys Arelle & the boy was his son Maric Arelle. As the man rested in his favorite chair next to the stone fireplace he sighed
"I will raise you the best I can child, this life is hard and filled with immense tribulations and trials but you are of my blood and born of a miracle.. I will see you live and able to decide your own fate. This world we live in.. it is changing and one day your generation will know what true war really looks like."
Varys looked disheveled, his hair falling in long locks from his ponytail. He slowly began to close his eyes and he drifted off. As a young wandering A Rank mage Varys had hopes to join the Lords Hall, This is a military organization that selects elite mages to be enlisted. Before mysteriously returning Varys was actually on his proving mission that would allow him to earn the merits to qualify, thus after returning he was formally inducted. With his position the next couple years with Maric would be drastically better than that of a wandering mage.
Years Later.
Varys & Maric circled each other with wooden swords in hand, Maric was 10 around this time and Varys had just returned from a mission. As usual Varys would spend his free time teaching Maric about magic and swordplay. As they came to a standstill
Varys smiled as his eyes met his sons fighting stance
"Good form boy, now let's see if you have the strength to keep it!" He shouted
Varys dashed forward and swung his sword, Maric saw this move several times over the years and it had put him on his ass time and time again. But this time was different. He dashed from his spot swiftly like an arrow then arriving by his fathers swinging sword arm. with a lunge aimed for his shoulder joint! Varys was forced for the first time on the defense. He managed to cast the darkness spell: Phase Dash which allowed him to move universally in any direction without the need for momentum. He made an impossible reaction and avoided the lunge countering it with a spinning slash that knocked the blade out of Maric's hand.
"Ouch!"
Maric fell to the ground and clutched at his now bruised wrist from the impact,
"Never forget your opponents will often defy the logic you know, always commit to a move that will allow retaliation and defense. Varys outstretched his hand and grabbed the boy, "Now let's eat while I am home, I'd like to explain some things to you."
As the boy and father went inside Maric felt a warm sensation in his chest. All he has ever known is his father. He had never taken the time to get close with the servants and even then a relationship of that nature was considered to be beyond their station. Although Maric could sense his fathers deep love for him an unknown sadness could be felt waiting in the depths of his ruby-like eyes.
They walked from the villa's training yard Maric looked up at the home they had moved into after his fathers entry to Lords Hall. It was a Roman style mansion, the entrance supported by rows of pillars leading to massive doors which were saturated with runes which danced across its surface. When they entered Varys sat in his old chair and looked to Maric, his eyes held a deep longing but were mired with years of combat and stress accumulated over the years.
"Maric, you are an exceptional boy. But since the Scarlet Alliance was formed humanity has United and needs strong heroes. You don't have to fight but you must know here in the alliance every human gifted with mana is a well of potential and must be recorded and tested for 2 things; Quality & Quantity. You will be assigned a rank to measure your innate ability. But worry not this can be raised in time, but soon your time will come to be tested and at 13 I will send you to an academy from there you will decide your fate." Varys turned to his tea kettle and summoned a wisp of fire with another, using the wisp he balanced the kettle and levitated the flame. Manipulating the force to balance both.
"Magic is a part of who we are and it's what makes us special in this universe. In time you will know what unique beings exist but for now I will tell you of our world and what it means to be a part of it."
Varys then poured himself and Maric tea and regaled the tale of the alliance and its star. Godking.
Essentially before the alliance Humans were clan-like and had fought amongst themselves for most of their existence, powerful warriors came and went to no end. Until Siegfried, a powerful mage shattered the balance and ascended to Rank SSS effectively becoming godlike among humans who mostly maxed out at S very rarely. Due to this unification humanity flourished in magic and the unique field of magic-tech, an amalgamation of technology that is fueled by magic. In recent times due to space faring and adventure Humanity was invited to the Galactic Theater, a grand organization hosted by other races.
Quel'Thanor or Elves, The Orcs, The Beastfolk, The Drakk, The Hive, The Samarians & The Shun. It offered a new horizon and potential ally's or even enemies to the human race which further consolidated its unity.
Varys spoke until dark and Maric listened until he fell asleep. Varys looked at the boy and smiled, to himself he pondered "He is very attentive and intelligent for a boy his age, I wonder if he takes after his mother?" A thought he often entertained.
The next morning Maric woke up and Varys was gone, Maric for most of his young life had spent his time around the servants and studying in his fathers absence.
Maric thought to himself "Typical, Father is a very busy man. I imagined he would be away immediately"
As he showered and dressed himself in Arelle robes and leather boots. With his features he looked like a small prince, but he never really cared for his looks much anyway. He began his day meditating and practicing the Sutra his father taught him, Varys explained that Sutras were similar to exercise but for your conversion and retention, some sutras even strengthen the body and elemental power others with more mysterious and complex effects. The Elemental Sutra is the introduction to strengthening the connection to the users affinity as well as absorbing and refining universal energy into mana.
Most human children would practice this Sutra until 12 or 13 when affinity would either become apparent or tested for when recorded by the Scarlet Alliance. His energy would appear in his mind's eye, it would flutter and dance around him before slowly being absorbed into his skin. Like most days he would absorb and refine universal energy and convert it into mana which is what allows humans to wield elements and strengthen their bodies. But today his body began hungrily absorbing universal energy and then it would settle around his body as a lightish blue mist. He furrowed his brow and tried to force it into his body to no avail.
Frustrated, Maric mumbled to himself.
"Strange. I'm not able to absorb it but it is being converted? Hmph, maybe I'm just worn out from father one shotting me with that trick move.."
So Maric moved into his physical training and then his duties around the home. By dusk again Maric had spent his day like he spends most, alone. But he had never truly minded. His main focus was on becoming like his father much like any other boy his age, but unlike them he had so much clarity in regards to what it takes to become strong.
The next few months were spent in this cycle, every so often his father would return to their home on earth to spend time with Maric and look after his training and take care of things he needed. Things had remained routine as usual for Maric but one day he decided to be adventurous and look around the nearby woods.
The forest outside of the Arelle estate were called the Amaranthine Pines, this area was inhabited by low level magic creatures and vagrant low level mages alongside the occasional trader and patrol. The forest itself was peaceful, the trees stood tall, seemingly majestic and full of life. As Maric walked alongside a stream he noticed the sound of fighting; he followed the sound and came to a brook.
"Argh!" Yelled out a red haired boy as he fell backwards into the water.
"Pfft. Talent like this has to be a joke. I have taught you far better, in combat you think an opponent will waste a chance to catch you hesitating? You will lose your head thinking with it too much."
A stern voice followed the fall belonging to another red haired man. This man had a strong build with fair skin, his red hair was accented by blonde streaks cascading down his back which was riddled with scars from what one could assume would be battle. The man seemed to sense Maric's eyes upon him.
"You there. Do not hide, what are you prying for?" The man shouted.
Maric sensed that he wasn't hostile but chivalrous, Ever since he could remember this feeling it had never been wrong. When he encountered a wild dog as a toddler he knew it wasn't dangerous but protecting something, if he wandered closer back then he knew he left the creature no choice. Emotional intellect of this depth was uncommon for kids in the same age group.
Maric spoke up and replied hastily.
"I'm sorry sir. I happened to go for a stroll and heard you two sparring so I followed and hid from sight...."
The man relaxed and smiled, he approached and reached out his hand
"You must be the young master of house Arelle. My name is Lucas Isenhild, and this is my son Ludo." As Ludas motioned for his son with another hand to introduce him. Ludo was seen with a snide look in his eye.
"So a noble brat huh? Nice to meet you, I'm Ludo. The strongest 11 year old in my bracket!" Ludo proclaimed proudly while raising a fist.
"Hahaha this child, he has quite the ego" Ludas laughed heartily all this time he still hadn't let go of Maric's hand.
"Erm.. Sir, could I have my hand?"
Maric spoke quietly. As Ludas realized he pulled away and dashed to a nearby rock perching on it as he looked toward the distant brush. He began to tense up like a dog alerted of an intruder and a warm red aura began to exude from his body.
Ludas turned serious and growled in a low tone.
"Boys. Run. Now."