Brad stepped through the immense, arching gates of Valarus and felt his breath catch in his throat. The building wasn't just a structure; it was a monument to power. Sunlight gleamed off polished marble and gold trim. "Wow," he whispered, his voice echoing in the vast entrance hall. "So this is the Valarus of our kingdom. It's so glorious and shining."
An old man in a sharp, black butler's costume greeted them, his posture rigid and his voice calm. "Students, please follow me. I will show you to your rooms, the training grounds, and the canteen."
Brad and the others followed in a awed silence. They were assigned rooms—simple but far more luxurious than anything at the orphanage. Soon, they were led to the training grounds, an enormous indoor arena where the sounds of clashing wood and shouted spells echoed off the high ceilings. Other, more experienced students were already there, sparring with a speed and skill that made Brad's fight with Kael look like a child's game.
Brad watched, a strange, cold feeling settling in his stomach. What the hell is this feeling? he thought. It was a mix of excitement, intimidation, and a pressure he had never felt before.
Unseen by the new recruits, from a high balcony on the second floor, a man observed them. This was Jaxon Alfred, the Vario-rank Marion, the leader and founder of this Valarus branch. A man whose command of fire magic could allegedly scorch half the kingdom. He smirked, swirling a dark liquid in a crystal glass.
"Pretty boys we have this year, huh, Rainer Zairion?" he said to his butler, who stood silently beside him.
"Yes, sir," the butler replied smoothly.
Jaxon's sharp eyes, glowing faintly with embers, locked onto Brad. "That one... someone is powerful enough to give our older students a run for their money." A slow, intrigued smile spread across his face.
He descended the grand staircase, his presence seeming to suck the sound from the room. The new students fell silent as he approached. The butler announced, "Students, please pay respect. I present the bright light and protector of our kingdom, Lord Jaxon Alfred, the Fire Possessor. A Vario-rank Marion."
An invisible wave of power—his sheer aura—washed over them. Brad felt his knees go weak. This person... he... this is a Vario-rank Marion? This powerful? I never expected... I've never experienced this feeling.
"Don't worry, guys," Jaxon said, his voice deceptively light. "See me as a friend. I won't take much of your time. But first, someone tell me: what is a Marion?"
Brad, compelled by the man's gaze, raised his hand. "A warrior who kills Bores."
Jaxon's smile widened. As expected. "You are absolutely right. Now, tell me, do any of you know about the World Beasts? Vardia, the Forest Beast. Ignisia, the Fire Beast. Warmina, the Water Beast. Zimona, the Light Beast. Caromo, the Beast of Time. These beasts are the most powerful in the world. Some have human vessels; some do not."
He paused, letting the strange names sink in. "And then there are the gods. The God of Life, the God of Time, the God of Water, the God of Fire, the God of Strength. The first god's name was Marino, then Zorina, Virona, Ifretar, Minos. These were the most powerful beings in existence. You all must think, 'What the hell is this person saying? We've never seen anything like this.' But it is true."
Brad's mind reeled. The world suddenly felt infinitely larger and more terrifying. If this person is saying that, it must be true.
"409 years ago," Jaxon continued, his voice dropping to a storytelling rumble, "there was a man named Arthur Throne. The strongest man who ever lived. He was a Marion, but the king killed his wife because of a prophecy. In his grief, he worshipped a forgotten, betrayed god—Zinos, the God of Death. He became Zinos's vessel, his blade. He killed the king. Then he killed the entire kingdom's population. The gods, the World Beasts, and all the Marions declared war on him. The whole world was against him. He was so powerful that gods feared him, and World Beasts were like pets to him. The war lasted a year."
Jaxon's eyes grew distant. "Finally, a Primarch-rank Marion named Borin Warnus—who was also the vessel of the God of Time, and Arthur's own best friend—managed to seal him away. But Borin died from his brutal injuries shortly after. He killed his own friend to save the world."
Brad listened, utterly captivated. Wow, he's a history teacher and a powerhouse.
"Sir," Brad found himself asking. "If Arthur Throne was that powerful, how did they ever defeat him?"
A shadow passed over Jaxon's face. "Arthur Throne was a man of his word, but he still had a heart. Killing his friend was the one thing that truly broke him. It created an opening. He had killed fifty percent of humanity on behalf of his god. Zinos was a fallen god, betrayed and sealed by the other gods. Arthur begged for his power and freed him. Arthur even gave some of the gods 'death,' though they eventually returned. But Borin Warnus, in his last moments, was able to see the future. He gave a prophecy."
The training ground was pin-drop silent.
"He said there would be a person who would once again host the God of Death, Zinos. This person would become his new vessel. It was Zinos, by the way, who created the Bores when he was first betrayed by the other gods. And history... at that time, there were seven Primarch-rank Marions. Now, there are only four. And two World Beast vessels whose power rivals theirs."
Brad's head was spinning. This history is really too much to understand. I don't think a person like that could even exist.
"Well, that's all for now," Jaxon said, his cheerful demeanor returning as if he'd just discussed the weather. "You are free to explore Valarus or go to the canteen if you're hungry." With a final, unreadable glance at Brad, he turned and left.
The students erupted into excited chatter, but Brad stood still, staring at the intricate carvings on the wall that depicted epic battles of a past he never knew.
He thought of the immense power Jaxon described, the gods, the beasts, the fallen hero who became a monster.
And for some reason, his thoughts drifted back to the orphanage, to a boy with defiant eyes and no magic.
I wish you were here, Kael, he thought, a cold knot of unease tightening in his stomach. I don't know why... but I am getting a very bad feeling.
(Chapter 5 Fin)