Few years earlier
In 2965, Lucas Caussade's life took an unexpected turn when he encountered a stray child wandering near the outskirts of Starsbough. The child was a boy of no more than twelve, ragged, covered in dirt, and with a strange aura that immediately unsettled Lucas. He could not shake the feeling of dread that washed over him as their eyes met.
Despite the boy's unsettling presence, Lucas could not ignore the child's vulnerability. The boy's eyes—cold, calculating, yet somehow lost—reminded Lucas of a lost soul in need of direction. Against his better judgment, he decided to bring the boy into his home, despite a gut feeling that told him something was not right.
When Lucas mentioned the child to his wife, Sophie, she insisted on taking the boy in, believing that no one, not even a troubled child, should be left to fend for themselves in the unforgiving world. Sophie, ever compassionate, treated the boy with the care and kindness she extended to her own daughter, Aurelie.
Though the boy's presence was strange and unsettling, Sophie saw a flicker of something in him—something she believed was worth nurturing. And so, despite Lucas's lingering suspicion, they welcomed the child into their home, offering him food, shelter, and a place within their family.
The boy, despite his unsettling aura, showed little affection toward the Caussade family. He rarely spoke, often retreating into the shadows, observing more than participating in family life. His silence was as chilling as his gaze, which never seemed to soften. Still, Sophie persisted, treating him with the same warmth and care she showed to Aurelie.
Lucas, however, remained on edge. The child's presence disturbed him in a way he could not fully explain. It was as if the boy harbored a secret darkness, a potential for violence that Lucas could almost feel radiating from him. There were moments when the boy would glance at Lucas with an intensity that almost felt like an unspoken challenge. Yet, despite these moments, the boy never acted on his cold intentions.
Sophie, ever optimistic, believed that with time, the child would open up, finding a place in their family. But the boy's indifference persisted. He never called Lucas or Sophie "mother" or "father." He never sought their comfort, nor did he offer any form of gratitude beyond the bare minimum. He was a silent presence, his emotions carefully hidden behind a cold, unreadable mask.
Yet, despite his detached demeanor, the boy showed a subtle form of loyalty to the Caussades, often protecting Aurelie from dangers, no matter how small. He never spoke of it, nor did he acknowledge it, but Lucas began to notice these acts of silent allegiance. The boy's actions spoke louder than words. Though he never showed love or affection, the boy remained undeniably loyal to the family that took him in.
Over the next few years, the boy's behavior didn't change much. He remained as distant as ever, seemingly uninterested in forming emotional connections. However, his silent devotion to the Caussades became more apparent.
When thieves attempted to raid the Caussade estate one night, it was the boy who single-handedly thwarted the attempt, taking down several would-be assailants in silence. Lucas, though grateful, was left unsettled by the cold precision of the child's actions. There was no hesitation, no remorse—just a calculated execution of duty.
Sophie, on the other hand, was relieved that the family had been protected. She saw it as a sign that the child had found his place in their family, even if he couldn't show it in the way she hoped.
But Lucas couldn't shake the dread that lingered in the back of his mind. He couldn't explain it, but something about the boy's quiet loyalty and detached actions made him feel uneasy.
One night, as Lucas was alone in his study, the boy entered without a word, standing silently in the doorway. Lucas looked up from his papers, meeting the boy's cold gaze.
For a moment, the child simply stared at him, before offering a single, cryptic statement.
"I will always protect her."
Lucas felt a chill run through him. It was the first time the boy had spoken with any clarity, and the words, though simple, sent a shiver down his spine. The boy's loyalty to Aurelie was unquestionable, but what did it mean for Lucas? What kind of person had they taken in, and what role would he play in their future?
The boy turned and left without another word, his presence once again fading into the shadows. Lucas sat in silence, pondering the strange child they had taken in and the bond he had formed with their family—one that, despite its coldness, could not be denied.
The fateful night when Sophie Caussade was killed by a group of bandits sent shockwaves through the Caussade family. Lucas had been away on a mission, and by the time he returned, the damage had already been done. Sophie had been ruthlessly taken from him, and the family was left shattered.
Aurelie, though a child, had witnessed the brutal attack on her mother. Despite her fear and the chaos around her, she was spared only because of the intervention of the nameless boy—the stray child Lucas and Sophie had taken in. The boy, despite his detached nature and unsettling presence, had acted with startling speed and precision. He fought through the bandits without hesitation, rescuing Aurelie and ensuring her safety.
The boy, still only a child himself, had carried Aurelie away from the chaos, bloodied but resolute. Aurelie, though deeply scarred by the attack, was alive, and it was thanks to the boy's silent loyalty to the family. He never spoke about his actions nor asked for thanks, but his dedication to protecting Aurelie spoke louder than words.
Lucas, returning to find his wife dead and his daughter traumatized, was overcome by grief and guilt. He blamed himself for not being there to protect Sophie. The weight of this failure began to warp his mind. His once-clear vision for Starsbough became clouded by endless nights of sorrow and regret. Every time he looked at Aurelie, he saw the face of his lost wife. His leadership faltered, his decisions became erratic, and his once-immense strength began to wane under the crushing burden of his emotions.
He was no longer the man he once was—no longer the stoic leader of the Stars Knights. Lucas had lost his purpose, his direction, and the pain of his wife's death gnawed at him relentlessly. He became a shadow of himself, unable to function at his usual capacity, and the Stars Knights started to notice his instability. Whispers of his decline began to circulate, even among those who had once revered him.
Aurelie, too, suffered in silence. She felt the weight of her mother's loss but also began to worry for her father's mental state. She tried to help him, but there was little she could do. The bond they once shared, strong and unbreakable, was now strained by the weight of grief.
Magdahlia's Focus on Lucas
As Lucas' mental state deteriorated, Magdahlia began to see an opportunity. With the Caussade family weakened by grief, and the once-unshakable leader now vulnerable, Magdahlia knew it was time to act. Her ambitions were clear—she had already eliminated those who had stood in her way, and now Lucas was the last significant obstacle preventing her from seizing full control over Starsbough.
Magdahlia had always been shrewd, and she understood that in order to eliminate Lucas, she couldn't simply strike him directly. No, the best approach would be to exploit his emotional vulnerability, using his grief to cloud his judgment. And what better way to do that than through her own charm and beauty?
She made her move subtly, presenting herself as a compassionate figure in Lucas' time of need. She began visiting the Caussade estate under the guise of offering support and comfort to the grieving family. In her immaculate attire, with her perfect smile, and her warm words, she slowly wormed her way into Lucas' fractured heart.
She would often sit by his side, offering him a sympathetic ear, speaking of the great loss they both had experienced. Her words were laced with empathy, but underneath, there was always a deeper agenda—she sought to break him down, piece by piece, until his will was no longer his own.
Lucas, deeply entrenched in his sorrow, began to find solace in her presence. The emotional support she offered, though artificial, was something he desperately craved. As he began to open up to her more, Magdahlia would subtly guide him, suggesting ways to deal with his grief, always steering him toward decisions that served her own ambitions.
As weeks passed, Magdahlia's influence over Lucas deepened. She knew just what to say to make him feel understood, how to draw him closer with every visit. Slowly, Lucas began to rely on her—more than he realized. The grief that had once consumed him now found a new outlet in his conversations with Magdahlia. She gave him a false sense of relief, distracting him from the reality of his deteriorating leadership and the growing threats around him.
Aurelie watched from the sidelines, growing more and more concerned as she saw how her father's dependence on Magdahlia grew. She was still just a child herself, but she could sense that something was wrong. She could see how the woman manipulated her father, using his pain as a tool for her own gain. But despite her suspicions, Aurelie felt powerless—her father was slipping away, and the more Magdahlia wormed her way into his life, the more Aurelie felt that there was nothing she could do.
Lucas, once a strong and resolute leader, now seemed lost in a haze of grief and reliance on Magdahlia. His decisions grew more erratic, and he turned to her for advice in matters of state and strategy. His will was no longer his own—it had been clouded by his emotions, and Magdahlia was the one who held the reins.