The capital City of Aurelia--
Silven—the beating heart of the empire—was a city of gold and marble, a monument to power where noble bloodlines shaped history with their ambitions. The city's great mansions and sprawling gardens were as much a battlefield as any war-torn plain, where alliances were forged, rivalries festered, and betrayals lurked behind every smiling mask.
Among these grand estates stood House Valerius, once among the most revered noble families in the empire, their legacy built upon war and conquest, their bloodline blessed by the gods of battle.
And it was here, within their sunlit gardens, that two children ran—a boy of golden hair and a girl with crimson eyes.
"Leon!"
A child's voice rang out, breathless yet filled with frustration.
The boy ahead, Leon Valerius, turned mid-stride, his golden hair catching the sunlight like a halo. His bright blue eyes sparkled with mischief as he dodged around a marble fountain, narrowly avoiding his pursuer.
"You said you wouldn't run away today!" Cassandra scowled, her small fists clenching as she stomped after him.
Leon only grinned, his confidence evident even at this young age. "But you're too slow, Cassandra! You'll never catch me at this rate!"
She hated that smug tone.
Her legs burned as she tried to close the distance, her small frame struggling to keep up with Leon's longer strides. He was faster, stronger—a Valerius through and through, his bloodline blessed by war itself.
And yet—
She had never once stopped chasing him.
****
Cassandra was the daughter of Duke Everwyn, head of one of the empire's mightiest houses. Since birth, she had been fated for greatness, her family's ambition stretching toward the imperial throne itself.
Her engagement to Leon had been arranged before they could even speak, their union meant to forge an unbreakable alliance between House Valerius and House Everwyn.
But to her, it had never been about politics.
Leon wasn't just her fiancé.
He was everything.
The only one who never flinched at her crimson eyes, which the superstitious whispered were the mark of a cursed child. The only one who looked at her with warmth instead of fear.
He had given her a place in his world.
And so, she worshipped him—not as a noble, not as a warrior, but as a boy she loved with all her heart.
She dreamed of standing by his side, of ruling together, of being the one he looked at above all others.
But Leon…
Leon had eyes for someone else.
*****
"Leon!"
The sound of another voice made Cassandra's small hands clench.
She didn't need to turn to know who it was.
Evelyn Aurelius.
The Imperial Princess.
Golden-haired, emerald-eyed, with a presence that drew people in like a flame. She wasn't just the heir to the throne—she was Aurelia's beloved jewel, adored by nobles and commoners alike.
And Leon—
Leon lit up the moment he saw her.
Cassandra felt something inside her crack.
She had seen that look before.
That longing.
That admiration.
She had spent days by Leon's side, supporting him, fighting for his attention.
But one smile from Evelyn—
And he forgot she existed.
"Evelyn!" Leon called eagerly, abandoning the chase. "Did you come to see me train today?"
The princess smiled, graceful and effortless. "I heard you were practicing with the knights. I wanted to see how much stronger you've gotten."
Leon puffed out his chest. "I won't lose to anyone!"
Cassandra clenched her fists.
That's not fair, Leon.
I was here first.
****
Evelyn turned, her emerald eyes softening as they landed on another boy, one who had been sitting beneath a cherry blossom tree nearby.
A boy with raven-black hair and deep black eyes.
Alistair Vaelthorne.
He was the son of Duke Vaelthorne, the heir to a family known for their ancient swordsmanship and nature magic.
Unlike Leon, he was quiet.
He didn't seek attention.
Didn't chase after power.
Didn't try to impress anyone.
And yet—
Evelyn adored him.
She would always run to him first, always hold his hand, always light up when he was around.
And to Cassandra's growing frustration—
Leon hated that.
She could see it in the way his expression shifted whenever Evelyn spoke to Alistair.
Could see the way he always stepped between them, always tried to draw Evelyn's focus back to him.
Because Leon loved Evelyn.
And Evelyn loved Alistair.
A cycle of pain, one that would eventually shatter them all.
*****
As they grew older, Leon's obsession with proving himself only worsened.
He wanted recognition.
He wanted to be the strongest.
But more than anything—
He wanted Evelyn to choose him over Alistair.
So, when his family was given a secret imperial mission—one involving an artifact of immense power—Leon saw his chance.
Even though his father forbade it.
Leon ignored them all.
And he acted alone.
****
What leon did and ,
What happened that day remains a mystery, sealed by the empire.
But the result—
Was catastrophic.
A powerful noble house—a rival to House Valerius—was slaughtered in the chaos.
And when the truth came to light—
House Valerius was branded as traitors.
Their lands were seized.
Their power was stripped.
And Leon—
Leon lost everything.
The once-proud heir became nothing more than a disgraced noble, cast aside by the very empire he had wanted to serve.
And Cassandra never forgave him.
The boy she had loved so much—
The boy she had dreamed of standing beside—
Had destroyed everything with his recklessness.
Her father severed all ties with the fallen house.
Her engagement to Leon was shattered.
And Cassandra—
Cassandra, who had once worshipped him—
Now wanted nothing more than to kill him.
She hated him with every fiber of her being.
Hated how he had thrown away their future.
Hated how his weakness had made him unworthy.
And most of all—
She hated how he still loved Evelyn.
Even after losing everything—
Even after Evelyn chose Alistair over him—
Leon never looked at Cassandra the way she had looked at him.
And that was a wound that would never heal.
****
Grand cathedral was chruch specificly made to worship every God . Every God have there own priests for God watching over noble houses.
****
The halls of the Grand Cathedral were silent—
so silent that Cassandra could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her chest.
She stood among the gathered nobles, her violet eyes locked onto Leon Valerius, who knelt before the sacred altar.
It had been two years since his family's downfall.
Two years since his arrogance had cost him everything.
Two years since she had last looked at him with anything but hatred.
Now, the fallen heir knelt before the High Priest, his head bowed, awaiting judgment or salvation.
The Awakening Ceremony was a sacred rite—one that determined a noble's future.
At the age of ten, every child of noble blood stood before the altar, offering their soul to the divine.
If they were deemed worthy, they would receive a blessing—a mark of power from the gods.
But if they were unworthy…
The gods would turn away.
And in a world ruled by the strong—that was worse than death.
****
As Leon reached for the sacred relic, the sky darkened.
A low rumble of thunder echoed through the cathedral.
Gasps filled the hall.
Cassandra's fingers clenched at her dress, a feeling of unease crawling up her spine.
Something was wrong.
The High Priest's voice trembled.
"This… This is…"
Then, suddenly—
BOOM.
A massive lightning strike erupted from the heavens, engulfing Leon in golden flames.
Nobles screamed.
Priests fell to their knees.
Even Cassandra staggered back, shielding her eyes from the blinding radiance.
And then—
A voice, ancient and powerful, shook the cathedral walls.
---
"The Hero of War shall rise amidst ruin."
"Betrayed by those he once loved."
"Hated by those he once called family."
"But in the end—his sword shall decide the fate of all."
The words carved themselves into reality, resonating deep into the bones of every noble present.
This was a divine decree.
And Leon—
Leon was its chosen vessel.
When the golden flames finally faded, Leon remained kneeling—his body unchanged, but his presence utterly transformed.
He rose slowly, his bright blue eyes now glowing with an eerie light.
And on his right hand—
A mark of twin lightning bolts, the blessing of Zeus and Ares, burned into his flesh.
The war gods had claimed him.
Despite everything—
Despite his family's disgrace—
Despite his betrayal of the empire—
Leon Valerius had been chosen.
Cassandra's breath hitched.
This wasn't fair.
Leon had lost everything. He had been cast out, humiliated. He wasn't supposed to rise again.
She wanted to see him suffer, consicunsis of his actions.
He wasn't supposed to be chosen.
And yet—
The gods had given him another chance.
Slowly, Leon turned to face the nobles, his gaze settling on her.
For a brief moment, Cassandra saw the boy she had once loved.
But then—
The golden light around him intensified, and his lips curled into a smirk.
And in that instant, she knew—
Leon Valerius was no longer the boy she had adored.
TO BE CONTINUE....