The Gravis Royal Family had ruled over the White Empire for many years. Their noble bloodline dated back to over a thousand years in the past, back to when the White Empire was first established. Back then, they had not been the founders, but eventually, after a series of events, they had taken the title of the Royal Family, ushering the White Empire into a new era.
Lodestar Gravis clearly knew the history of his family very well. As the only child of his parents, they had made sure to instill the necessary knowledge into him before he had grown to take the throne. A heavy burden rested on his shoulders as the lone child of his parents, the heir to the throne of the White Empire. He had done his best to live up to their expectations after being forced to ascend the throne when he was barely of age.
After the vanquishing of the Demon King, Lodestar felt that his burden had eased considerably, but now, he could feel a weight slowly being placed on his shoulders once again. Thoughts of the aim and motives of the ones stirring the waters on the outskirts of the Empire constantly filled his mind.
'Could it be that they are conducting a ritual to gain strength? Or are they trying to resurrect the Demon King? Maybe something else...' Lodestar constantly pondered about this matter. While he bathed, while he ate breakfast, while he listened to the suggestions of his subjects in the Royal Court. The matter never left his mind.
"You look like someone sat on your face." A sweet, feminine voice snapped Lodestar out of his stupor at the dinner table. He looked to his right and saw his cousin, Countess Audrey Wall. She had come to the Royal Palace to spend some time with him over the past week.
"I am just thinking of matters concerning the empire, Audrey. It is nothing you need to worry about." Lodestar said, turning his attention back to the food before him that was still warm.
"...I know what you are afraid of, Little Star, but it will be fine. The ones responsible will be stopped and peace will be returned to the land. It is only a matter of time." Audrey said, consoling her cousin.
"Sigh... Those Heroes have grown conceited after they defeated the Demon King. They think that there is nothing out there that can stand against them anymore. If only they knew the truth." Lodestar shook his head and let out a deep, heavy sigh.
"You had another vision?" Audrey's face turned stern and she looked to Lodestar curiously.
"Yes. I saw a shadow fighting against Emlyn, the White Ghost. They were evenly matched." Lodestar said, his tone heavy, and Audrey's face fell.
Emlyn was one of the Heroes, known for his strange and mysterious assassination techniques. He was one of the deadliest among the Heroes. As long as one could not detect him, then they had already lost the fight.
"Did you tell them?" Audrey pressed.
"No. It is not in my power to warn them. Fate is not something I can control." Lodestar shook his head again and picked up the cutleries that were beside his plate. This was a sign that he wanted the current conversation to come to an end.
Audrey silently shook her head and continued eating her food, allowing the dining hall to slip back into silence.
.
.
Raven's eyes snapped open as he jumped up from the ground just in time to avoid the sweep of his opponent's leg. His right foot had barely touched the ground before it pushed his body upwards and allowed him to spin rapidly in the air, twisting his body to deliver a powerful downward kick.
Whoosh!
The sound of rushing wind rang in the ears of the young man that was fighting him. This fight had been organized by Old man Wikes in order to train Raven.
It had already been a couple of weeks since the incident with Jiro Court. Raven had somewhat settled into this new 'routine'. He lived according to what Old man Wikes said, but he was not truly restricted. He was occasionally sent out on errands but aside from that, all his time was spent on training and learning.
Because of the tragedy that happened early in Raven's life, his education was rather lacking. If it were not for his occasional spying on villages and random interactions with the voice in his head, then he would have probably been a lot dumber than he currently was.
The young man caught Raven's ankle, and with the powerful strength that was hidden in his body, he tried to flip Raven around and slam him on the ground, but Raven's flexible body twisted like a snake's and managed to loosen the grip around his ankle, allowing him to escape the young man's hold.
Hanging in the air, Raven oriented his body so he could fall onto the young man, and at the same time, the young man turned upwards, anticipating Raven's action.
"Enough!"
At that moment, an old, withered voice rang out and an invisible force came between the two of them, separating them. Raven fell onto his back while the young man stumbled back. They both turned to look at the one who had interrupted them with anger in their eyes, only to shrink back and twist their necks away when they were met with the impatient glare in those wise eyes.
Old man Wikes stood, his cane in his hand as he met the gazes of the two eager young men. The right corner of his lips twitched with a smile as he saw them twist their necks away and their glares melt like ice in the hot summer sun.
"Raven, Gavin, I have a chore for the two of you." Wikes grunted, his voice rough and deep.