The rumble of hooves echoed across the grassy plains as Crown Prince James surveyed the awaiting forces from atop his steed. The elite White Dawn Knights, 500 knight strong, had mustered at his command to meet the invading hordes from Ruben who are ten thousand men strong at Starry Fields.
James thought back to his rapid journey here from the royal capital. Only a day ago, word had arrived of the enemy crossing their southern border in force. Now it seemed the Rubens aimed to sweep all resistance aside in their opening blow.
As the prince, it fell to James to head this defense personally despite his youthful appearance he was still the divine realm master Nathan Pendragon inside. some at court viewed him as too inexperienced for such heavy responsibility. He gripped his banner bearing the von Nova heraldry—a solar crest emblazoned upon a field of azure—hoping to still any doubts among his men.
In the distance, a dark mass materialized along the horizon. The Ruben vanguard emerged like a crawling stain, a swarm twenty times their number that glinted with polished steel and roughspun armor. The war drums began their grim tattoo, and a chill crept over James's nape. Could they truly withstand this horde?
He surveyed his forces—stalwart heavy cavalry at the flanks, center crossbowmen backed by spearmen and swordsmen. It was a tried formation, yet against such overwhelming odds, any misstep could prove ruinous. James steeled his resolve, knowing retreat meant abandoning their homeland to ravagers.
As the enemy swarm neared within longbow range, James gave the signal to raise battle banners. A sea of colorful standards blossomed across the field, fluttering proudly to rally flagging spirits. Then he drew his decorated longsword, pointing it skyward.
"For Nova and her people!" James cried. "This is our land, and these invaders shall find only steel and arrow if they think to claim it! Knights of the Dawn, stand with me! For kingdom and glory, charge!"
A bellowing cry went up as the army surged forth at a tight canter. Volleys of arrows arced skyward from the crossbows to greet the closing foes. In answer, a cacophonous howl rose from the enemy ranks as they broke into a headlong run.
The Rubens spread wide to envelop the flanks yet James held the center fast. When enemy numbers threatened to overwhelm at the edges, he sent reserve cavalry to bolster defences. For every Ruben who fell, two more seemed to take their place. But the Knights stood like an immovable bastion, shields locking as spears thrust.
Though the sun rose high and hot, the defending lines held firm through the hours of bloody clash and maneuver. James led repeated countercharges that took a fearsome toll. His mastery of tactics kept their formation intact against the Ruben swarming attacks. Yet his troops grew weary as casualties piled, and he feared it might not be enough.
At the height of one desperate fray, a lull came as both sides reordered. James took stock—only half his men yet stood on foot, the rest scattered dead or riding rescue. It was then a scintillating surge arose within, flooding his limbs with alien power.
Gripping his sword hilt, James let the magic flow forth in a scintillating wave of force. Where it passed, enemies were thrown back or crushed, rent armor and bone. The Knights roared in awe at this display, taking heart from their prince's newfound gift. In its wake, the Ruben hordes broke under the slaughter, fleeing in disarray back across the trampled grasses.
Exhausted yet exultant, James took stock of the tremendous cost wrought upon the battlefield. Hundreds of lives spent on both sides, the once verdant field now a muddy morass of carnage. Victory was theirs this day, but further trials surely lay ahead to secure Nova's safety. James vowed to hone this magic and prove himself a leader his people could depend on through any challenge to come. Their kingdom's future began here.
A Frigid wind blew across the Northern Marches as Princess Daina looked out over the forested hills. For over a fortnight she had led the Crimson Knights on endless patrol after receiving grim reports. Smallhold villages along the frontier were being harried and razed by a mysterious force emerging from the depths of the wilderness.
With her mounted forces, Dana tracked the raiders' movements, piecing together clues left in blackened longhouses and corpses. She began to suspect the invaders were no scattered bandits, but the advance parties of a larger hostile force massing in the deepwood. Their brutal acts left innocent families slaughtered or taken for dark purposes.
It was on a misty morning that her tracking paid off. Scouts spied telltale plumes of smoke rising beyond the next ridge. Urging her mount Snowfire into a gallop, Dana crested the rise with twenty knights in tow. In a small clearing below, a timber village was engulfed in raging fire as armored figures looted and tormented the fleeing survivors.
"There!" Daina cried, noting a towering brute in oily mail haranguing a kneeling family with his notched axe raised. This could only be their leader, the one responsible for spreading such wanton malice. She gave the signal to charge.
As one, the Crimson Knights smashed into the raiders' rear with thunderous impact. Blood flew from rent flesh as Dana led the assault, hacking aside all in her path with twin sabers dancing. The brigands scrambled to form a shieldwall yet were no match for the disciplined attack.
Soon only the hulking commander remained, turning with a snarled challenge as his men fell. His armor was scythed with gore yet his bulk seemed impervious to normal weapons. But Daina was no normal foe. Feinting left, she slipped right past his crude guard and severed his hamstring with one fluent movement.
As the brute crashed down howling, she glared into his eyes. "Monster, your raid on Nova ends here. Who sends you to despoil our lands?" At his wordless spit and curse, she drove a saber through an eye slit with a splintering crack. Finished with this vile work, she turned to aid the survivors.
In the aftermath, those villagers not claimed by burns told of being waylaid and conscripted north by a mysterious empire known only as the Evergreen. Their banner, witness testified, bore the symbol of twin pine trees wrought in emerald upon sable. This raised grim concerns, for no records spoke of such a realm existing within Nova's borders before.
After evacuating survivors to frontier holds, Daina rode fast and hard to brief her father the king of this dark development. If a new and hostile power had risen in the uncharted north, it threatened not just border folk but the entire kingdom's security. She prayed her brother James was faring better against the ruben invaders even as she feared greater threats were gathering on the horizon.
In the coastal duchy of van, grand Admiral Vald von nova gazed seaward from the gray walls of Fortress Navale. His thoughts, like the churning tide, were restless as birds wheeled and cried overhead. For long years, he had captained Nova's stout fleets to dominance of the southern waters. But now new stormclouds gathered that even his veteran sailors could scarcely fathom.
Comes had arrived on swift galleons of a vast armada emerging from mystical fog banks far to the west. Their language was unknown, yet messages delivered spoke of an ancient power rising once more—the Empire of Evergreen, lords of ancient seas and forests from the western continent. A herald presented Vald with a writ challenging Nova's claim to offshore isles and demanding tribute or face total war upon the waves.
With only months remaining before could be brought to bear, Vald drove his crews hard in preparation. Shipyards worked sun to sun crafting new war dromonds and catapults while veterans drilled fresh conscripts. Spies were sent west to learn what they could of Evergreen's strengths and vulnerabilities.
Vald knew if the invasion fleet found Nova's fleets unprepared, their coasts would burn under bombardment till no holds remained standing. Everything depended on intercepting this threat ere it could rampage at leisure among defenseless towns. As the foghorn echoed its mournful cry into gathering dusk, Vald said a prayer to patron vol that the coming battle may find them equal to whatever mysteries await upon the bounding main. For their kingdom's very life now hung in the balance if these foreign tyrants were not thrown back into the West.
As daylight's glow faded into dusk over the Royal Manor, Crown Prince James strode wearily towards the training grounds. His heavy boots echoed across cobbled courtyards still bustling with servants readying for the evening meal. After endless councils and inspections since returning from Starry Fields, James yearned for the calm focus that sword practice granted.
Yet upon arriving, he spied an unexpected pair already at work amid the torchlit arena. Sergius, a grizzled knight who acted as his knightin the order, was putting a comely squire through rigorous drills with quarterstaff and shortsword. The lad moved with fluid grace, parrying Sergius' seasoned presses while countering with darting attacks of his own.
Intrigued, James drew closer and was startled to recognize fair features peeking out from under a page's coif. "Julius? I knew not you had such skill, lad." At his voice, the squire started and went instantly to one knee in salute. "Your highness! I meant no intrusion, merely sought to hone my skills while I may."
Sergius bowed as well. "The lad shows promise, sire, with dedication to match your own. I thought it worth cultivating while our forces are stretched across the kingdom." James nodded approvingly. "Rise, both of you. Any who defend Nova are welcome here." A shy smile grew on Julius' lips at the praise.
As the three fell into paired drills, James found solace in the familiar rhythms and camaraderie. His doubts lifted watching younger talents blossom much as he had under Bennir's ' tutelage. Yet shadows remained that even steel could not dispel. News from the borders grew grim—Luke still fought a losing battle in the west while Daina sent word of mysterious invaders in the north.
Their session ended with the Deep Bell tolling none. As James retrieved a skin from the well, hushed voices carried from the darkened hedge maze. Creeping closer, he made out a lurking figure accosting another within. "You grow bold, meddling where you don't belong," the assailant hissed. "Mark me well - keep your silence or share Lord Stellan's fate!"
At that, a glint of steel flashed and the second cried out, collapsing. James burst from cover with an outraged roar, drawing his sword to engage the lurker. But with inhuman speed, the attacker scrambled over hedges and was gone into the night. He rushed to the fallen and found a palace healer with a dagger protruding from his throat, gurgling his last.
Worse, the weapon bore an all-too-familiar crest—the twin axes of House Drocton a noble family from one of the houses of of a country south of nova, longtime rivals to the crown. James grit his teeth, realizing enemies had breached even the manor's walls. Someone dared eliminate witnesses to treason under his very nose. Come dawn, he would begin unraveling this twisted strand, and any role the treacherous Duke Stellan or his ilk had played in it.
The next morn, James summoned his council as guards scoured the manor and city for the assassin. With Daina's latest reports and the attempted killing within the palace itself, the threats had grown too varied and insidious to discount. Yet beyond military matters, leadership required outmaneuvering foes through intrigue as well.
So James listened keenly as his mentor and Battlemage Grandmaster Bennir of the van duchy gave sage counsel. "My prince, difficult days are upon us. But remember - a true leader inspires not just by might of arms, but ideas. Rally your people with a vision of security, justice and prosperity that opportunists cannot hope to match. Stay vigilant, but do not let fear or suspicion cloud your judgment. Focus instead on cultivating allies you can trust above all else."
At Bennir's words, James felt renewed determination swell within his heart. By battle prowess he had gained recognition, yet kingship demanded uniting diverse interests through wisdom and empathy as well as strength of sword. Sergius and Julius, Daina too, had proven their loyalty through deed rather than birth. It was by cultivating the support of such steadfast companions that he would navigate darkness yet to come.
As summer waned into autumn, the health of King Augustine continued its decline. Though still sharp of wit, his once mighty frame had wasted to skin and bones propped up by silk pillows. From his chambers within the Royal Manor, he watched new leaves burn crimson outside gabled windows and recalled seasons past.
None but his children and royal physician Gorin were permitted at Augustine's bedside now. When Prince James came that eve, he found Daina and Luke already in tense discussion beside their father. "My brother faces disaster in the west. Zon forces have breached the Marches and advance unchecked!" Dana said grimly.
Luke slumped, adding, "Our knights fight bravely but are outnumbered three to one. If help does not come within the fortnight, our borders may collapse..." Bowing his hoary head, Augustine took James' hand in a bony grasp. "My son, all our hopes now rest with you. Save your siblings' domains before this enemy consolidation destroys us."Luke looks at James in a disgruntled manner as he sees that their father places more faith in James than him.
James nodded resolutely. He knew what must be done, though never had the risk been so great. That very night under guard of maesters and elderly royal members who swore fealty, a secret ritual was held within the sanctum of the Royal palace. There accompanied by Grandmaster Bennir and royalBattlemage colleagues, James underwent an arcane rite of empowerment to forge his nascent talents into a focused weapon the star god vol power was at it closest to James at it was the sacred place where vol first blessed the first ruler of Nova,he could feel himself enlightened and completly bypassing the grand master realm becomes the youngest mystic master at just 16 years old,all those present are shocked by James growth at best they hoped the ritual would make James a Grandmaster but none though he would reach the mystic rank this way, as James steadly control his outburst of mana ,vol says my assistance ends here from now on you have to achieve the mission with your efforts
As dawn broke, James emerged from the ritual more resolute yet weary of spirit. He had accessed depths of ability but sensed shadowed strings that now tugged his will in subtle ways. No matter, for their kingdom was at stake. Calling for his sibling and advisors, James laid out a daring strike on multiple fronts to break Nova's enemies in one climactic push.
First, the White Dawn Knights under Henry with Sergius as as vice commander would thread through mountain passes to relieve Luke's marooned forces facing destruction in the Western Marches. Simultaneously, James would lead the elite royal cavalry with bennir in a lightning thrust north to engage the zon kingdom primary armies of invasion before they consolidated further holds. Lastly, he bade Daina ready the Crimson Knights to join Admiral Vald's dreadnought fleet finally setting sail to engage the mysterious Evergreen Armada at sea.
Their simultaneous offensives caught the invaders wholly unaware. Struck from multiple directions at once, resistance crumbled across fragmented frontlines. James wielded newfound magic the zon kingdoms grandmasters were killed with ease he decimated foes in awe and terror,till the zon kingdom banners broke and scattered into dusk amid piles of ravaged armor.
In the west, a relieving dawn saw the hosts of rubben fleeing pell-mell with nary a stand, and the liberated towns of the Marches welcomed their liberators with gratitude and relief. At sea, an epic naval engagement raged beneath roiling stormclouds where Vald and Daina braved overwhelming numbers. Yet through naval cunning and a sorcerous howling typhoon summoned by Nova's vald from afar, Evergreen's leviathan fleet was sent to watery ruin against the rocky shores.the chief commanders of the zon kingdom and Ruben kingdom who were mystic knights sneeked into the palace as they thought they earn easy victory if the nova capital fell as nova royal army commander was not in the capital and the king was ill but their plan was foiled as a frail looking man stood in their way with conviction in his eyes as he released his full powers as he knew he had to end this quickly as fighting two mystics for a long time in his condition was not possible unleashing his full powers was the only way but it put great strain to his ill body ,he was determined on sacrificing himself king Augustine used his unique magic ...gravity manipulation and used his ultimate skill in his gravity magic a type of magic that can simulate a black hole and it absorbed them grew the black holes gravitational pull he killed both chief commanders and himself with this move this left their kingdom's defenseless and through quick thinking from the senate and short lived civil wars in the Ruben and zon kingdoms as the kingdoms royals lost the lost their ultimate power the chief commanders ,Julius father the cunning duke avin with the help of some of the senate knowing James will not sanction the assassin of royals secretly ploted to kill the enemy royals in secret as the kingdom's were thrown to chaos they were absorbed by the nova kingdom and turned into the nova empire
Within ten days, all fronts had been swiftly reversed through this coordinated onslaught. Victorious, James immediately began the process of bringing newly purged border lands into the fold of the Nova Empire, expanding its dominion like never before. All knew this stunning reversal could only have been brought through his vision, leadership and growth into a legendary battle-mage.
As autumn slipped into winter, word spread through the continent that King Augustine had passed on to join his forebears among Nova's pantheon of ancestors. At the capital, Crown Princess Dana presided over a lavish coranation where before cheering crowds, James Alexander von Nova crowned the first Emperor of the nova empire .
As snow drifted gently upon an era now ended, the new Emperor stood upon a balcony overlooking his capital ablaze with celebration fires into the night. Though dark undercurrents remained, the dawn of a new age of prosperity was at hand under his vigilant watch. Emperor James gazed to the starlit horizons he'd secured with blood and magic, resolved to face any threat that would steal this brighter future from his devoted people. The legacy of House von Nova had only begun.
The once 500 white dawn knight were now just a 100 knights but the ones that survived the war became even stronger these 100 knight were now referred to as the nova empire strongest order they served as the emperor personal guard but now a new threat looms of James word of the Augustine death spread among the 9 continent and another rumor that nova empire has three magic stone mines that have not been mined yet this rumor is further validated by Evergreen's invasion as it said that the mine was their main goal now James and his Knights must face a new and fearsome threat to deal with the increase in grandmasters due to the kingdom's being one he astablishes the elders council a group of 16 grand masters from the the three kingdom's he tells them they will be his advisors and the highest military officials second only to him he gives a royal decree that all citizens shall be treated as equal and appoint his sister and commander of black wolf's an organization responsible for security and internal management of the empire Henry is the chief commander of all five army's of the empire Julius avin is commander of the vice commander of the White dawn Knights and Sergius is empire commander of the blue lion the vanguard army of the nation it know for it high calvary powess and grand Master Bennir is commander of the royal army and the former chief commander honorary count Christian vert of the nova kingdom is given the role of head of the elders council
The Evergreen Empire's ruler angry at defeat calls upon his strongest army 500 000 strong to March to nova and bring him James head he also sends his three of his five sons to lead the attack the current total of all the army of the nova empire has increased from 70000 knight that Augustine had to 346 000 knight that James has trained due to the three countries merging into one but the invading army of Evergreen only sent just 7 grand masters along side the prince's as James is sleeping star god vol appears in his sleep and says
"We need to talk Nathan"