Ten-year-old Raphael sat on the floor of his modest home within the Bloodthorne Empire. He had placed a bread crumb on the ground, and a long trail of ants was diligently marching towards it in perfect unison.
Raphael was captivated by their industry and cooperation. It was a miniature army with a singular purpose, and he couldn't help but admire their unwavering dedication.
Butler Long was seated at a nearby table and enjoying his meal. He watched the young boy with a warm smile. It brought him joy to see Raphael finding amusement in such simple things.
Rumble!
Suddenly, the surface of Butler Long's cup of water rippled. A voice, carried by unseen waves of energy, resounded through the room.
"Butler Long, appear at the King's quarters immediately."
Butler Long's smile vanished and was replaced by a look of concern. He knew who this voice belonged to. "Raphael, I must attend to urgent matters. I shall return shortly."
He rose from his chair and, with a flick of his wrist, erected a bright Blood Field around the small house. This was a protective barrier against any potential threats. Then, with a final reassuring glance at Raphael, he vanished.
Whoosh!
Seconds later, Raphael was still engrossed in his ant army when a shiver ran down his spine. A sense of malice, cold and sharp, pierced through his innocent playfulness.
"Huh.."
Before he could react, the Blood Field shattered like a fragile glass. A menacing foot slammed onto the ground, crushing the ants and scattering the bread crumbs.
Raphael gasped in shock and horror. His eyes followed the foot upwards until he met the gaze of his most feared enemy – Ewa Nier Bloodthorne.
"You little bastard. Today, you die."
It turned out that Ewa Nier had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. Her scouts had informed her of Butler Long's absence, and she had seized the chance to exact her revenge on the boy she despised as a living reminder of her husband's betrayal.
She held a squirming infant in her arms – a four-year-old Tajmani, whose constant crying had been grating on her nerves.
Raphael scrambled backwards on his bottom, trying to escape, but Ewa Nier's glare froze him in place.
"Where do you think you are going?" A powerful aura emanated from her that pinned him to the spot like a helpless insect.
"I will finally wipe away this stain from my eyes."
Trickle, Trickle…
Blood seeped from her fingertip and solidified into a crimson sword that pointed menacingly at Raphael's head. Terror flooded his young mind.
Just as the sword was about to descend, four-year-old Tajmani, in a moment of playful curiosity, leaped from her mother's arms and landed on Raphael's head. She giggled and began crawling all over him while playfully smacking his face with her tiny hands.
"Hmm, this child…"
The unexpected interruption momentarily diverted Ewa Nier's wrath. Seeing her daughter's amusement, a flicker of something akin to tenderness softened her harsh features.
"Tsk! Fine, I'll spare your life for now, you lucky brat. But from this day forward, you will serve my daughter's every whim. You will be her loyal dog. You understand?"
She didn't wait for Raphael's answer. She scooped up both children and vanished in a swirl of dark energy before Butler Long could return.
Raphael's life had been irrevocably altered. He was now a slave, a plaything, a dog to the very person who had murdered his mother. The injustice of it all burned deep within his young heart. It bore a seed of resentment that would grow with each passing year.
…
The flashback faded, and Raphael was once again jolted back to the present by the muffled voices of the Silver Blood Knights in the front of the Psiphon Car.
"… It's undeniable, the emergence of sunlight has shifted the balance of power. Our influence abroad has been waning for the past two decades." Tien Ha remarked.
Gerald D. nodded in agreement. "The Fire Pools… they're appearing with increasing frequency in other nations. Those empires are growing stronger while we remain stagnant beneath the Dark Dome."
"And the younger generation is getting weaker. Look at the princess's companion over there," Tien Ha gestured discreetly towards the back of the car, where Lin was engrossed in a game with her friends. "She's already fourteen and has only just awakened her first Soul Orbital. In the past, nobles her age would have at least three or four."
"It's a consequence of our adaptation to darkness," Gerald explained. "Our bloodlines have evolved to thrive in the absence of sunlight, but that has come at a cost. We are less receptive to the Solar Consciousness that fuels our cultivation."
"The elders believe that continued exposure to the Grey Sun will eventually reverse this trend, but it's a slow process. In the meantime, other empires are taking advantage of our weakened state." Tien Ha was frustrated
"The Allucar Empire, with their affinity for fire, has been expanding rapidly. The Earthling Empire, though technologically advanced, is still a relatively young civilization. But their adaptability is remarkable. They are learning to harness the sun's energy in ways we never imagined." Gerald D. paused for a bit while staring on the road ahead. "The future of the Bloodthorne Empire is uncertain. We must find a way to adapt to this new era, or we risk being left behind."
Raphael listened intently to their conversation. He felt hope at the news of the Bloodthorne Empire's decline. Perhaps, he thought, this shift in power would lead to a more just and equitable world, one where people like him weren't treated like expendable slaves.
In contrast, Tajmani remained oblivious to the knights' concerns. She cared little for political affairs. Her focus was solely on her own advancement.
"Are we there yet?" She whined impatiently. "I'm eager to reach the Blood Forest and start cultivating. I want to become stronger, stronger than anyone!"
"We're almost there, Princess. Just a little further." Gerald D. replied in a soothing tone.
Raphael couldn't suppress a bitter smile. He thought the princess was like a child playing with fire, unaware of the larger forces at play. She sought only personal power, oblivious to the potential consequences of her actions.
He leaned back against the luggage with thoughts of the future. What would become of him? What would become of the Bloodthorne Empire? And what role would he play in this changing world?
Only time would tell.