A beautiful starry night stretched across the sky, the twinkling lights mirrored by the soft glow of fireflies hovering over the vast gardens of the Starling household. Crickets hummed in the background, their rhythmic song carried on the cool night breeze. At the heart of the grounds stood the mansion—a towering structure of grandeur, known across the Great Lumenor Empire as the home of Armon Starling, the strongest knight in the empire.
The night air seemed to hold its breath for a moment. And then, it came—a single cry, sharp and clear, cutting through the stillness. A cry that signaled the arrival of new life. Inside the grand mansion, in a majestic chamber draped with fine silks and glowing lanterns, the atmosphere was thick with joy and relief.
Sara Starling, a breathtaking woman with flowing silver hair, lay upon the bed. Her face glowed with exhaustion but also with an overwhelming warmth as she watched the maid carefully cradle the newborn baby in her arms.
"He's perfect," Sara whispered softly, her voice filled with wonder. She reached out to touch her son's tiny hand, her fingers trembling with joy.
Suddenly, the heavy doors of the chamber burst open. A tall, broad-shouldered man strode in, his steps full of urgency. Armon Starling, his silver hair shining in the soft moonlight, wore his red and gold royal dress with an elegance that matched his power. The aura of strength he carried was enough to fill any room, yet tonight, it was dwarfed by the emotions rushing through him.
"Sara!" he called, his voice trembling with excitement as he rushed to her side, immediately pulling her into a gentle embrace. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, Armon," Sara replied, her voice soft but full of happiness. Tears glistened in her eyes as she pointed towards the small bundle in the maid's arms. "Look at our son... isn't he beautiful?"
Armon turned, and for the first time, he laid eyes on his newborn child. The baby's tiny features, his bright eyes peeking open for the first time, filled Armon with awe. The room seemed to hold its breath as the future of the Starling family began in that instant.
"Alexander..." Armon whispered, the name falling from his lips like a prayer. "Our Alexander Starling."
As if sensing his father's presence, the baby let out a small, contented coo. Armon reached down, taking the infant into his arms with a tenderness that belied his immense strength. He marveled at the tiny form he now held, this fragile life that had so much power sleeping within.
"One day," Armon murmured, "he will become greater than we could ever imagine."
Sara smiled through her tears, resting her head against Armon's shoulder. "Yes... he's destined for greatness. He will create wonders, Armon. I feel it."
Just then, the door creaked open once more, and a young girl, no more than eight years old, peered around the corner. Her silver hair was the spitting image of her mother's, and her wide eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement. Emilia Starling, the older sibling of the newborn, stepped hesitantly into the room, her gaze fixed on the baby in her father's arms.
"Is that my brother?" she asked in a hushed voice, stepping closer.
Armon smiled warmly and knelt down, lowering the baby so Emilia could get a better look. "Yes, Emilia. Meet Alexander, your little brother."
Emilia's eyes widened as she looked down at him. Gently, she reached out to touch his tiny hand. When Alexander's small fingers curled around hers, a giggle escaped her lips.
"He's so small..." Emilia whispered, her voice filled with wonder. "Will he really become as strong as you, Father?"
Armon laughed softly, glancing between his daughter and newborn son. "Stronger, Emilia. Much stronger."
Sara, watching the scene unfold, felt her heart swell. Her family was complete, and with that completeness came the weight of destiny. Alexander was born not just into a noble family but into a legacy that stretched beyond their world. He would grow with power and responsibility that would shape the future of the empire.
As the family sat together under the soft glow of the moon, a whisper of the future brushed against Sara's mind. She remembered the prophecy—about a child born with the power to create anything, a power that could reshape the world. And with that power came a heavy burden: to confront and defeat the Demon Lord, a being capable of undoing creation itself.
Armon must have sensed it too, for he stood tall once more, looking out of the window at the vast sky beyond.
"The time will come when he'll need to face unimaginable challenges," Armon said quietly. "But for now, he's just a baby."
Sara reached for Armon's hand, squeezing it gently. "We will protect him, Armon. And when the time comes, he will be ready."
Emilia sat down beside her mother, her eyes fixed on her little brother as he slept peacefully in Armon's arms. "I'll protect him too," she declared firmly. "No matter what."
The room was filled with warmth and the quiet sounds of the newborn's gentle breathing. Outside, the night continued, stars twinkling brightly over the world that Alexander Starling had just been born into—a world that would one day look to him for salvation.
Far, far away, on the distant edge of the empire, another castle loomed under a sky cloaked in darkness. Ominous clouds churned, crackling with thunder and lightning, casting a sinister glow over the foreboding landscape. In the shadow of the storm, within a grand throne room bathed in cold darkness, a figure stood. His presence was commanding—majestic and terrifying. His elegant black hair cascaded down his back, and his glowing red eyes pierced through the gloom, radiating power and malice. The air around him pulsed with an ominous aura, heavy with dark magic.
A grin slowly spread across his face as he felt a distant shift in the world. "He has been born..." he whispered, his voice dripping with anticipation. "At last. I've been waiting for you."
He raised his arms, and the air around him crackled with raw power, dark energy swirling in the room. His laughter echoed like thunder, shaking the walls of the castle. "Don't disappoint me, Alexander Starling," he growled, his grin widening into a wicked smile, releasing even more of his terrifying aura into the night.
Chapter 1- END