Prologue

"Argus, you have lusted for power... and iniquity is found within you.." The Archangel, Rafaela, said to a mortally wounded Argus, who was held by two Nazar guards. "And because you have done this, deceiving your brothers and rebelling against the Almighty, you shall be punished. Everything you have earned all throughout these years; your power, your rank, your wings... they will be taken away from you."

"Don't!" Argus begged, bowing his head. "Take away everything... but not my wings! I am NOTHING without my wings!"

"That is where you have been blinded, Argus. You seek power. You protect power. You lust for power." Rafaela replies, extending her staff. "You have done the unforgivable, and so you shall pay the ultimate price..."

Argus' eyes widened as Rafaela looked at him straight in the eyes.

"You will be bound to the Earth.. and in it you shall wander forever and ever until the end of days, when the Almighty shall crush the Serpent's head, and he shall strike his heel."

"I was tricked!" Argus pleaded one more time. "I-it was him! The deceiver! He's the one you should punish, not me!"

"It was you who let yourself be tricked." Rafaela replies. "You and your pride."

This was enough. The humiliation was too great to bear. Was not Argus one of the cherubims appointed by the most high who personally stand by his side? Was he not the destroyer of evil, mankinds worst nightmare and the angel of death? This reasoning was inadmissable!

Argus stands up and shoves the Nazar holding him with such force that it sent them to the ground. He tries to grab hold of Rafaela, specifically trying to strangle her... but just before he was about to reach her, Rafaela uses the holy staff given to her by the Almighty (used for exiles) and blasts Argus out of the highlands and into space... where he is then sent towards the Earth.

Rafaela pauses for a bit before kneeling, tears on her eyes.

Punching the ground hopelessly, she uttered the name of her beloved comrade...

"Argus..."

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Yun "Zilong" Zhao's POV

I woke up, feeling dazed about what just occured during my sleep. What an awful dream... whatever could it mean?

I stare blankly into the ceiling of my humble abode, thinking about many things...

Until my eyes widened...

"The slips!" I shouted, and looking at the sundial... I knew that I was screwed.

"I'm late!"

I quickly got up and washed myself, not bothering to take an actual bath... picked up some clothes and headed towards the doorway.

I rushed over towards the Royal Knight's Academy, where the entrance ceremony would supposedly take place.

I got past the townspeople, but I couldn't help but overhear the same thing I would hear every morning.

"That's the Dragonborne..."

"Son of the Great Dragon? Lionggard the damned?"

"The one who was sent to destroy us all?"

I didn't mind everything I just heard. I'll prove to them that I can be a hero just like the Great King. They'll see.

Into the bushes, over the fence... everything was no problem. The energy stored within me had no equal.

This was the day that I take the slip to join the Academy's Exam... where passers can join the Royal Guard. The Royal Guard were the most elite and respected soldiers throughout the Kingdom... and held a title stronger than the Prime Minister Dragovich himself. All I had to do was... pass the exam...

Or even actually try to make it in time...

The students have already got their slips for admission in taking the exams... and I could see a "Thank you for coming! Office is now closed! See you next year!" banner up the building.

I slowly started to halt my approach... and stared at the ground.

Various students had already passed me by then... not even acknowledging my existence. I believe that I was standing at a pause for about 5 minutes until I saw a figure stop right in front of me.

I slowly lifted up my head and saw Gusion Paxley, the fourth son of the Paxley Clan, the protector of the sacred scroll.

He looked at me with disbelief and mysery... and I would've looked at myself the same way...

Until he decided to give me his slip.

"W-what?"

"I don't need it." He says, walking past me after giving up the important piece of paper.

I was really happy at first, but my decency stopped me from being so after a few seconds.

"Gusion, thanks for trying to help!" I shouted, throwing the paper back at him. "But I still believe in getting in there by myself!"

Gusion looked at me with such disbelief that I couldn't think of what just happened right there. My pride was on the line here... I can't let a guy beat me like this... especially not my rival.

Gusion looks at me straight in the eye before turning back around. "You never fail to amuse me, Dragonborne."

He walks over like the rest of the academy was.

Well, it was time to prove it. To prove that I can be somebody and become strong! I'll show them I can do stuff.. I will!

I was on my way to the Academy building when I noticed the General, Tigreal Lionheart, closing the front door.

I immediately knelt in front of him and begged to be given a slip.

"Oh, look who just showed up." He chuckles, getting the keys off his sachel. "Mr. Lateborne... son of the untedious. What can I do for you?"

"I already told you..." I said, face still on the floor. "PLEASE, General... give me a slip."

"Tough luck, kid." He replies. "Academy is closed... and so is admission. You gotta push your luck up next year."

I wouldn't want any of it. This guy was smirking all the way across his face. That sort of 'friendly smirk' that people get when they're about to win an effortless victory.

"May I at least try?" I asked.

He thought about it for a second, then looked at me with a sigh. "Well alright! But it's only because I owe your mother once."

"Yes!" I exclaimed, standing up. "Thank you, thank you General!"

General Tigreal was about to reply when a soldier suddenly called for his attention.

"Sir!" He shouts, standing tall and proper. "The King is in need of you in the Council."

He looked at the good soldier and nodded, then turned back at me. "Look, I'll deal with the specifics later. For now, let's just say this was our little secret."

"Got it." I nodded.

"Good lad." He tells me before turning over towards the soldier.

They talked about something for a while then left towards the Royal Palace.

I watched as the two of them walked calmy but properly over towards the palace, and looking at the houses around me, I couldn't help but think...

"I wonder how trouble will come at a time like this, with people like the General?"