The Banished Prince of Crystalia

-Celestine City, Crystal Palace, Kingdom of Crystalia.

Inside the throne room stood a man quietly admiring the beautiful glass-stained windows. Nothing but the rays of sunlight illuminating his features, the man had a cold look in his eyes, his hair was gray like the ashes, his aura, like a magnificent cold-blooded beast.

His name, Kaede Yoshida.

Known for his legendary combat skills and heroic military leadership, Kaede Yoshida is the reigning ruler of the Crystalian Empire.

*Knock knock* A person's at the door.

"Enter."

A Crystalian royal guard enters the throne room where the king was standing.

"Sire, prince Ichijo has safely arrived in the kingdom of Phoenix." The royal guard informed his king.

"I see. Is that all you wish to say to me?"

"No sir. There's someone who wishes to speak to you."

"Let him in."

Then, a young man, wearing a pristine, elegant dark-colored suit, slowly stepped inside the silent throne room. He was holding a newspaper.

"Greetings, your highness."

He took a bow to show his respects.

"Oh, Kyosuke, it's you. You don't have to be so formal."

His name, Kyosuke Tetsuya, son of the prime minister of Crystalia and a close friend of Hideki.

"So, What brings you here?"

Kyosuke had a disturbed look, like something he feared has happened.

"I... just wanted to ask if you've already seen this."

Kyosuke handed over the newspaper he was holding to the king.

He slowly opened it, gradually revealing its contents.

The king's expression suddenly changed. his grip tightened, crumpling the paper he was holding while his eyes, burning with anger.

"Hmm... So that's how they want to play it." A small grin slip through his lips.

"Looks like it wasn't enough that I had to send my son away. And now, they do this?!"

The king spoke with outrage.

"This newspaper was released everywhere across the Eastern region. well, all except here in Crystalia."

"Who made the article?"

"Sources say it was published from the Northern Empires."

"I see."

The room turned quiet.

Suddenly, the king spoke.

"Colonel!" King Kaede yelled with a powerful tone.

The Colonel rushed inside the room.

"Call the ministry of defense and tell them to arrange a meeting with the Norbanian Emperor."

"Yes sir!" the men hurried to carry out the king's orders.

"Kaede, I need to ask you a favor."

...

Meanwhile in Phoenix...

"Beep beep!"

The sounds of Ember City's busy streets can be heard almost everywhere across the city.

Steamboats filled the riversides and airships can be seen all across the sky.

Grand Central Arena, Ember City, Republic of Phoenix.

The Arena was crowded with soldiers and military officers from all across the Eastern Regions, each representing their kingdoms and nations to participate in the upcoming "Eastern League Qualifiers".

Ichijo, after getting lost for quite some time, has finally found the main arena and has been waiting in line.

" Ahh! This line is taking too long!" Ichijo said with a loud voice.

He's not relatively used to doing things on his own, that is why he is very impatient.

"Hey! Can you move! the line is moving! I don't have all day!" Ichijo yells at the person in front of him.

The people around him are starting to feel anxious.

"What are you looking at?!" Ichijo said in an irritated manner.

"Uhm... I'm... I'm... sorry."

Ichijo angrily waited inline until finally, it's his turn.

"Ahhh finally! That line felt like forever!"

The lady at the registration table gave Ichijo a weird look.

"Uhm... sir, if I may, can you please tell me what kingdom you're representing? I am not familiar with the uniform you are wearing."

The lady said in a confused tone.

"I'm from Crystalia. is there... a problem?" Ichijo asked in a worried manner.

"Ohh. Crystalia. Well, technically, your kingdom is eligible to participate in the Eastern League but..."

The lady was speaking hesitantly.

"We would need a letter of approval from your kingdom that the king of Crystalia is allowing you to participate here instead of the Northern Leagues where Crystalia usually participates."

"What?! Why am I the only one who--"

"And besides", The lady added.

"You need at least ten people from your kingdom dor it to be represented. With that being said, where's the rest of you?"

"I... Uhm..." Ichijo was confused. He didn't know what to say.

"I came alone because my... I mean, the king ordered me to participate here. He didn't mention anything about this!"

"It says here on your form that you want to try out for an officer slot? I would have to inform you that to be eligible to tryout, you have to be of royal stature. Meaning, you need a royal crest to prove that you're royalty."

Ichijo's heart started to pump.

"Now, are you from a royal family?"

"I... I am." Ichijo replied with hesitation.

Everyone near them was looking towards him.

"Then may I see your family crest?"

"Is there... is there no other way?"

Ichijo said in a quiet tone.

The lady felt sorry for him. She saw the desperation in Ichijo's eyes.

"I'm sorry sir, but there's nothing I can do. Unless you provide us with a royal crest, I'm gonna have to ask you to step aside.

Ichijo quietly left the line while everyone's attention was on him.

"Who is that? Why did he come alone?"

"He didn't even know the requirements yet he was so eager to enlist? what an idiot."

"I would just give up if I were him."

Ichijo then sat at a nearby wooden bench.

He pulled something from his pocket. It was his royal seal. He had it all along but, he was contemplating whether or not to use it.

"What should I do now?" Ichijo said in his head.

"Maybe you should try out for other teams with vacancies?" A random voice came out of nowhere.

Ichijo turned towards the voice.

It was a soldier as well, about the same age as him. He has this friendly expression as he was smiling at Ichijo. He had shining light brown hair, paired with dark eyes. He had a gentle, easy-going feel to him.

"Is he talking to me?" Ichijo said this in his mind as he was confused.

"Yes, I'm talking to you. You're Ichijo Yoshida right?" the young soldier responded with enthusiasm.

"What the?! Can he read my mind?!"

"No don't worry, I can't read your mind."

...

"Oh... umh, I mean... Nice to meet you?"

Ichijo responded with a weirded-out expression.

"Wait, who are you again? And are you actually reading my mind?!" Ichijo was confused and at the same time irritated by the young soldier.

"I... I just want to help you enter the tournament." He smiled at Ichijo as he was saying this.

"But... Why would you-"

"You need to find a girl with a Katana. She's the answer to all your problems."

"Wait, hold on a second! What are you talking about?" Ichijo was confused. He didn't understand the young man.

"We'll meet again after you've entered the tournament. Until then, Good luck!" The young soldier left.

"What just happened?" Ichijo still couldn't grasp what the young soldier said.

*gurgle gurgle*

Ichijo's stomach started to grumble.

"Maybe I should just eat first." Ichijo then stood up to look for a place to eat.

Meanwhile, the young soldier from earlier watched him leave from a distance.

"Hey, did you use your powers to help that guy out? You know you're not supposed to use it in this sort of thing right?" Another soldier with the same uniform asked.

"Well, maybe just a bit."

The young soldier's name was Kazuya Inoue, a "Seek-finder". He has the ability to find and locate anything he wishes to, or in other words, he can indicate the exact location of anything he wants to find.

"I just figured he needed a headstart. He already had a hard time just to get to this point."

"What do you mean? And who is that guy anyway?

"Hah! You didn't even know you were looking at a dead person! hahaha"

"What are you-"

"You were looking at one of the most powerful fighters in all of the Northern region. Son of the legendary Emperor Kaede, he is the price of Crystalia."

"He's Ichijo Yoshida, the 'Seventh War Blood.'"