Prelude; Chaos

Leviathan Capital City, Ninth Circle, Dantanian, the Royal Palace (Year 566)

It wasn't supposed to be like this. It was his birthday, they were supposed to be celebrating, not fighting. Who even are these people? What were they doing here? Cilix doesn't understand. There were knights stationed at the gates, squads patrolling the surrounding lands. He knew because he remembered his father discussing it with the Commander, who oversees the safety of the Royal family. Where was the Commander?

"Listen to me well Cilix."

The warning bells should've been sounded the moment these people entered the palace grounds. But it was silent save for the sound of battle cries, of weapons clashing, of people dying. Why was there so much red?

"The future of our clan rides on you and you alone. You musn't forget!"

The future? But he's eight. His father said he shouldn't even concern himself with old people things like battle strategy and manipulation even if it had sounded so cool. What was his mother even talking about. What was it that he shouldn't forget?

"You must learn to control your power, do not disappoint me!"

But his mother was always disappointed, wasn't she? Cilix saw it in the way she looked at him, brows furrowed, eyes narrowed, lips pressed thin. He wasn't as smart as his Guide, but he wasn't that stupid. What did she want him to do?

"Oleah will be with you."

He can see her now. Face blank, standing stiff behind his mother, guarding the door. She has always been so hard to read, so expressionless for a girl of ten. But Cilix can see the fear in her eyes now. Has her eyes always been that bright? Who was she again?

"Chaos, that is your true name."

But Cilix was his name, wasn't it? Who was he?

"Praetexo"

Was the last thing he heard before a blinding pain consume him. It was horrible, a million times worse than that time he fell off a tree and broke his leg. His bones felt like it was being pulverized, his blood burned, even his skin felt like it was stretched thin over muscles that just won't stop spasming. He felt cold, then hot, he doesn't know. Why does everything hurt?

Until it doesn't.