As the early light filters into my private palace, I take a deep breath of the cool morning air. There's a particular stillness in the capital at dawn, a moment before the clamor of the city stirs into life. From my balcony, the sprawling streets and towering buildings of Viatori stretch toward the distant hills, bathed in a pale light. Far from the bustling suburbs, my residence stands as an oasis of calm in the heart of the empire, a place of silent discipline, a place I've shaped into something entirely my own.
Today begins like any other, with a routine I have refined over years of training. It's a habit I carry with me from my past life, something comforting, if not exactly familiar. The sword a weapon I've come to master in both lifetimes rests by my side. Among all the supernatural abilities available in Graeca, I chose the physical path. Psychic and elemental powers seemed far out of reach, never aligning with my natural strengths. But in the art of swordsmanship, I found something thrilling, something that bridged my two existences.
Then, of course, there's the one ability that sets me apart, the power I never anticipated. Ever since I turned fifteen and that fateful fall unlocked my memories, I've harbored an ability no one else in Graeca possesses. I call it visualization. To the untrained eye, it may seem a simple parlor trick, but I see the potential within people strengths, weaknesses, even the hidden attributes they themselves have yet to awaken. It's like viewing the world through a lens layered with numbers and values, as if everyone around me exists within a game, a trait I can't explain beyond my past life's influence.
On the day of my fifteenth birthday, I discovered it unexpectedly. After the accident, as I lay disoriented in the palace gardens, I saw the Imperial Guards rushing toward me. Yet it was more than just movement; they appeared as if on a screen, with attributes and numbers hovering faintly around them. Power radiated in quantifiable markers an anomaly I could barely comprehend but instantly recognized as a gift, something to be guarded carefully. For as long as our history has been recorded, no one has wielded more than one supernatural ability. Yet, I have this silent advantage a secret weapon, one that may just alter the future of Viatori.
In the years since, I've honed this skill, testing its limits and keeping it hidden from all but my closest circle. I've used it to discreetly surround myself with the best the Imperial Guard has to offer. My two closest aides, Kuk and Noíl, owe their roles to this power. Kuk, whose strength and physical talent surpass anyone in the guard, and Noíl, whose potential for psychic abilities could see her ascend to the level of a King. Both were orphans taken in by the imperial family, and I was fortunate enough to spot their talent early. Together, they've become more than aides; they're allies, trusted with a loyalty I rarely see, even among family.
Speaking of family, the Balam line runs strong and wide. My father, Emperor Kinich, stands as our sole Emperor-ranked individual in a realm where power is as tangible as a sword in hand. My mother, quiet and observant, balances his rule with a wisdom that holds our family together. My brothers and sister each have their own strengths two elder brothers who carry themselves with the weight of expectation, a sister as fierce as she is brilliant, and a younger brother who dreams of his own place in this hierarchy of power. Our extended family stretches across Viatori, and we remain united in purpose, bound to protect the traditions and people of our empire.
And yet, even the strongest legacy is vulnerable. Forces beyond our borders threaten the peace we've known. The Yankeae Republic, backed by its wealth and innovations, has stirred whispers among our own people, inspiring a wave of idealists who push for reform. Their ideas are radical, calling for Viatori to cast aside our traditions, to evolve into a republic like their own. What they fail to understand is that in Graeca, power lies not in systems but in the strength of those who lead. And here in Viatori, loyalty runs deeper than ambition.
My routine brings me to the training courtyard, where I practice forms with my sword, each stroke calculated and precise. The physical powers I have cultivated enhance my strength, my speed, and my senses. It's my chosen path the discipline that has made me more than just a prince but a potential leader who, one day, may need to protect not just my family but the very legacy of the Viatori Empire.
The day I turned fourteen, I underwent the Awakening a ritual performed throughout Graeca but with variations unique to each realm. In Viatori, it is marked by ancient runes carved in stone and obsidian, a ceremony that calls forth a person's latent potential. I remember the cold, sharp bite of the blade, drawing a single drop of blood that fell onto the stone, the shimmering surface of spiritual silver mixing with the life force within me. For most, the ritual is a moment of revelation, awakening powers that might otherwise remain dormant. But for me, it was the beginning of something far stranger. At fifteen, my memories returned, and with them came visualization the power to see more, to understand more.
Few, perhaps one in a billion, possess the potential to reach the rank of Emperor, the absolute pinnacle of power in Graeca. Yet in my visualization, I see Kuk and Noíl's potential shining with the promise of a King. I've quietly nurtured their growth, positioning them close to me, trusting them with my secrets and shaping them into allies who one day may become more than mere guardians.
Soon, though, everything will change. In three months, Ikal, the virtual world created from the sky metal, will open. This vast realm, fifteen times the size of our own world and divided into five continents, will become the stage upon which our fates are decided. For the wealthy and powerful, advanced capsules will offer complete immersion, while others make do with helmets providing anywhere from seventy to ninety percent fidelity. For some, Ikal is a means of securing resources and prestige without bloodshed; for others, it's a new arena of power. And in the heart of it lies the promise of even greater secrets artifacts and abilities that may yet be drawn back into our world.
I gaze across the city, feeling the weight of what's to come. Ikal is not just a game; it's a war front, a testing ground, and for some of us, a second chance. While others seek wealth or renown, I have a different goal in mind. This new world presents an opportunity to solidify my place, to master the power that lies within me, and to ensure that Viatori, with all its tradition and strength, remains unbroken.
Today may be an ordinary day in Viatori, but I know that soon, my every choice, every alliance, and every hidden strength will be tested. The world stands on the edge of something far larger than it realizes, and when that time comes, I will be ready.