Mortals, despicable beings worthy of being dubbed savages.
It frames and slaughters atrociously to save it's own skin leaving no evidence.
A young child and even more, a child born of noble blood could not comprehend the complications of the way the world worked when dragged down from his lavish tranquil abode to the depths of the abyss.
[Two Years Ago]
No one could ever envision the fall of the powerful Chesterton family who served the empire for centuries and generations. They were faithful aides to the throne who were powerful enough to defend the kingdom without the interference of the Royal army.
However none escapes the crimes of treason.
The Chesterton family were a house of powerful mages. Each generation produced an even more powerful mage however now the household was in chaos. The royal guards were seen marching towards the gates bearing hostility.
The Duke had left early at dawn after being summoned by the emperial court, however what returned of him was the news of his death and a treason charge against his family.
Fear crept the now widowed Duchess and her two children.
The eldest son soon realized the situation and was ready to take responsibility as the new heir of the family and face the emperor's wrath.
He knew his family was innocent and that his father had been framed nevertheless he was just a powerless seventeen year old who had recieved the Dukes title in this mayhem, not even having the time to mourn his fathers death.
He could not afford to let his beloved mother and younger brother suffer this fate therefore the only solution he could afford to enact with was to buy time.
He ordered the headmaid to take his mother and younger brother and to escape through the backdoor while he stalled for sometime to let them escape. He reassured his mom telling her that he wouldn't die and was just going to compromise with the guards. His mother knew well of his motive of dying in order to protect them, but with teary eyed parted as time had run out. The guards were now ready to barge in and exterminate the criminals family.
The mother hastily grabbed her youngest and ran to the backdoor along with the headmaid.
The hallways were filled with the scream of the young boy,
"PHILLIP! NO! WHAT ABOUT PHILLIP! MOM WE MUST GO BACK TO PHILLIP" the young boy cried for his brother but their was no reply from his mom.
The young child was carried away just like that.
Phillip did not look back once, afraid he would hesitate to let go of his younger brother. The screams continued until only the guards outside could be heard.
After he assured that they had left, with a torch in his hand he set the house on fire believing it would burn away evidence of the remnants of the Chestertons. The sun had long set and the moon was now high up. The ravens could be heard and soon the house was an inferno and everything started crumbling. He stared through the glass windows with the muffled noise of the guards as he slowly watched his home burn.
His vision was now blurred with all the smoke he inhaled. It made him dizzy and he felt himself fall.
But the ground was soft and before he knew it, he was in his mother's arms.
With concerned eyes and with all the strength he had, he tried to raise a question
"M-mothe-r what about Lou-". but his mother just hushed him and whispered to him while caressing his face and smiled.
"It's all over now my dear boy".
From behind the butler and all the maids were there. No one had left, none of them were going to leave from the beginning. Everyone loved the late duke and his family and was willing to die with them. The only one missing were his nanny and his brother. He could be at ease now and was ever so glad his mother came back to him and everyone he loved was there with him at his end.
His eyes were half shut now as he thought to himself.
"The sea must be very beautiful now, right? Louis."
He had fond memory of the beach where he spent his days with his brother until he became busy with heir duties, and at that moment he was filled with regret, wishing he had spent more time with him. A tear trickled down his cheek, and with this, he breathed his final breath and rested his eyes for eternal sleep...
The mansion exploded and continued burning.
The young boy had already escaped through the maidservant's backdoor along with his nanny.
He was carried away in her arms, and he watched as his mansion and the silver family crest burn. His tears blurred his vision, and his screams were so loud it made his head spin and throat sore. The nanny was of no help either as she was drenched in cold sweat and heavy with tears. They got into a carraige and fled with the wind.
The night was long, and the cold autumn wind blew. The sound of the dried trees and the howling wind created a horrid experience for the child who had never been outside at night. He was but a mere nine year old with no understanding of the situation and that he would never see his family again, he just held the dull black onyx stone brooch his mother gave him as he tried to recall what she said as they parted.
The turmoil made him unable to recall what his mother said to him, but all he could reminiscence was a warm smile. He crept under the arms of his nanny, who was still crying, in a means to comfort her, and with this the night went on, weary from the incident, he slept away.
It was now dawn, and he awoke to a familiar scent, the scent of the sea... He gazed as he saw the sun rise and hit its rays on the gentle waves. It seemed as if they were the stars of the day.
"It's beautiful," he mumbled with weary eyes.
He, along with his nanny, were on a rowboat along with a stranger. No ferry was safe for a child whose family was guilty of treason. The stranger was a seafarer, so he was unaware of the news onland and thus made it a safer means to travel. The empire was no longer safe for him, and they were off to another neighboring country.
A few days later. They entered the town, and although it seemed normal on the outside, every empire had its darkside. Poor, hungry, and dying children on the street with nobody to look after them. It seemed as if their bones were stuck to their skin and their eyes potruding out as if they were to fall with a slight budge, hair all grubby and soiled, and an unpleasant stench came from them. Some did not look alive. These gruesome scenes were new to the young noble. However, he was sympathetic and pitied them, not knowing in the near future he was soon to be like them.