21

His story, it's a complicated one that began many years ago. Those who know it, they're so few, almost wiped out of the world, either by their own fear, or by his own doing.

He was just a crying baby when a group of three sorcerers found him, abandoned in the cold, damp street, crying his lungs out with a fierceness that had grated on their nerves. His eyes, ever so early, had been gleaming with a crimson light, a silent evidence of power, which had drawn their attention right away.

One of them, a power-hungry sorceress named Agnes, took pity of the baby, but not from a heart of compassion. She saw opportunity, a great potential in him that if nurtured, could be turned into an raw, unstoppable force. The other two, skeptical and cynical, warned her of the possible dangers, but she didn't listen.

They agreed at some level, with this woman raising the boy, while them watching, intervening if something happened. The boy's cries were like a terrible played violin, never ending, never calming. It was just after days that he decided to get used to his new environment. His eyes would occasion switch between a cold blue and a bloody crimson, making them palpably aware of the little devil they had brought home.

Once under her watch, Agnes began to study him, as if he was a mere experiment in her lab. She had been poor, tossed around and underestimated all of her life, and this was like she had won the lottery. Soon, she learnt that his powers, they came from an ancient essence named 'Eternal Ember'. That shocked her. It was the same power held by the royal family that ruled at the time.

But his DNA, it was demonic in nature, with no way of his bloodline to be connected to the royal family she so much hated. His blood was different, coursing with darker magic than she had ever seen. He was a weapon, and the thought of having such pure power under her control, it was intoxicating. She could use it for her own ends, to get what she believed she deserved.

The boy for his own part, grew quickly into a quiet, grumpy child. She raised him with cruelty disguised as discipline, preaching fear and pain, pushing his limits when all he did was just stare at her with his shifting eyes. He was a fast learner of magic and other sciences, like no other child or creature she had known. And his physique, it was clear he was meant for destruction.

She told him of the world, a corrupt and ruthless place where the most powerful monsters survive. The way she painted his abandonment—him being born in a poor family, the King and the Queen seeing him as different and dangerous, and throwing him on the streets, it was too influential. It was a story she herself didn't know of how true it was, but it was enough to plant the seeds of hate and doubt in his mind.

The whispers and rumours of a demonic creature spread over their village like a wildfire, and the townsfolk grew suspicious of the odd woman and the child she was raising. But she'd constantly deny it, saying that he was just normal boy, and she a poor woman longing for a child. To ease the suspicions and words even more, she'd expose him to the villagers, send him to school, where they'd beat him, bully him, make him feel like the monster she claimed he wasn't.

And as he grew, so did the anger, the hatred, for them all, for himself too. He knew he wasn't like the other children. He was a monster, but he couldn't yet see how she was exploiting him, how she was using his own insecurities against him, how she was projecting her own twisted plans in his mind. 

He looked like a young man by the age of nine, used to her orders, her expectations. He'd listen at her, deep in thought, when she spoke with so much passion and loathing for their kingdom of Avalon, a merciless monarchy that had made people's lives hell, that had destroyed his own life too. Her words were too potent, too strong, evolving his own hatred into a visceral cruelty.

And these, they weren't just old tales of despair. They were plans Agnes meant to bring to life. With all the power he held, all the knowledge, all hidden under the facade of a quiet, weak boy. But she knew that was just for the pathetic village they lived in.

She forced him to do his own search, find a way to infiltrate within the royal family ranks. He heard that the kingdom was looking for young soldiers and recruits. His intelligence and strength caught the eye of the military leaders quickly, and he was accepted into the royal army. 

His remarkable skills in combat were enough to rank him higher, but as he trained and served, never did he leave any trace of his true nature, or of his powers. His eyes, that once would frantically shift, now where a cold, icy blue, offering a cool coverage. But the anger simmering beneath, could easily turn them to bloody red.

During his time there, his willingness to overthrow them and get revenge intensified. He saw firsthand the luxuries enjoyed by those in power while commoners struggled. He gathered intelligence, weaknesses, and dark secrets confined within the walls of royal palace, political and personal. He used that knowledge to exploit and manipulate his rank to his suits.

A crown ceremony for one of the kingdom's heiresses was approaching, and the glass on Agnes's side was full. She was the one pulling the strings, and she had decided to act upon their long-crafted plan. The crown ceremony would be a perfect distraction, they'd be unprepared.

First, they gathered people, sorcerers, rebels and bands, turning them into their minions, using manipulation, fear and unkept promises. They waited for the day eagerly, for the day they'd attack and get their revenge.

That day came. They managed to catch the royal family off guard, with the whole mass of greedy, angered, poisoned people. They were good at combat, as if they had been trained all of their life for that. But him and Agnes, they had dark magic, he had fire powers. He was a far more dangerous threat, a formidable force. 

The kingdom wasn't passive, it fought back with all their might, but it had never expected the ambush. Their soldiers were overwhelmed, and the shock of the attack reverberated through the palace.

But the plan wasn't just to show their defiance. It was to kill the royal heiresses, which Agnes had decided to deal with herself. He for his own part, found both the King and the Queen during a fight, and approached them, eyes glinting with malice. He told them he had killed their precious daughters, just like they had stolen his life. 

The Council arrived, but it was late. The damage was so devastating, they couldn't believe it anymore. The heiresses were missing, chaos and havoc singing all over the kingdom. Only a few survivors managed to escape, the once beautiful land, turned to blood and ash.

Agnes was caught be the Council anyway, seized under their control, but Sirius, he managed to escape them. He wasn't done here. The daring escape from the soldiers, it was one thing that'd be always rooted in his mind.

It was then when he felt something he had never felt before. A tug in his chest, sharp and strong, as if leading him to way out, or to a way of more destruction.

He followed it, the tug sending him to an abandoned old building that was still holding. His eyes narrowed, with a mix of cruelty and confusion when he saw two girls hiding behind a wall. A blonde teenager, and a small red-haired one.

He cursed under his breath when he realized the blonde was princess Artemis. Agnes hadn't done her job well. He had met her before and she had tried to imply he liked her, but he couldn't stand her. She was a spoiled brat, stirring up drama that he had wanted to met her secretly.

The redhead, however, he hadn't seen her before, not even inside the royal palace. She looked five years old and seemed to be throwing a tantrum. Artemis was hissing back and then slapped her. Sirius's mind raced with thoughts as he watched them run, not even spotting him there. He followed, part from curiosity, part from his own managing of situation. 

But he knew that with these two alive, the mission wasn't completed. Agnes had told him about one of their heirs possessing the same power as him, and no, it hadn't been Artemis. 

"So it's that girl," he had muttered under his breath, feeling something scary. Was it....pity? He didn't know. He hated everything and everyone, after all. Even himself.

But the redhead girl, she seemed trouble. He needed to deal with her just as with everyone else. She would be a problem if she survived. Maybe take the throne and then jeopardize his plans.

How could deal with her anyway? He wasn't that much of a monster, right? She was just a child. But he had been a child once too. 

Anyway, there was no way for them both to survive. The portals were closed, fire and smoke dancing around them. He had done terrible things already, but he couldn't bring himself to kill a child firsthand.

But before he could do anything, a giant tree fell on the ground with a loud thud, rising a large mass of dust and mist in the air. He couldn't see them anymore, and he didn't want to know what happened to them.

Despite his attempt to escape Avalon then, he was caught by the council and imprisoned in the worst convict cells. He was tortured every day, growing more vengeful with each passing moment. They had weakened his magic, but he still was strong. 

Weeks and months passed in prison, and when he found the opportunity, the weak points, he struck. He wasn't going to give up, not after so much, not after so far. His name had become infamous when he escaped from the chains, the most wanted criminal. He used his powers, which they have still been unable to block or remove. He opened portals to other realms, the searches and parties for him never leaving. Once, he was caught by an officer, but got rid of him quickly.

The nomadic state lasted for some years, and it all only made him more vengeful, cruel and impatient. He couldn't stay like that anymore, he needed a change. A change that would grant him what he wanted: power, control, prestige.

Avalon's destruction didn't serve him all he had planned. It just wiped out those he loathed, but it didn't wipe out the desire to rule himself. He didn't even win that war. He was imprisoned. It wasn't like he got through it and took the throne. And Agnes, he didn't even care about her anymore. In fact, he had been a fool to lead by her plans. Agnes had lied about him for so many things, but that only fueled his satisfaction to have destroyed Avalon. It was his homeland, but they had made it hell for him.

Still, the thoughts about the heiresses nagged at his mind. Rarely, he would think about them, about what happened, but still, these little times he thought, he felt something unknown. They were said to have died just like everyone else. At least no one was left to hold the same power as him. He should have felt powerful but, he didn't. He felt an emptiness within his soul that he couldn't get rid of.

And as for the change he wanted, he had plans. His powers and magic, they had gained improvement. But that didn't extinguish his thirst for power, authority, or fill the emptiness within his soul. He was on the verge of this need when he planned another kingdom fall. But not like the first one. That time he was going to use diplomacy, speech, and manipulation. There was a perfect opportunity, a realm called Silvertide.

Rumours circulated about this planet, their king not being capable of ruling, terrible government, unhappy people. He found a way to travel to that planet and appeared as a savior to these people. Of course, they were dumb enough to buy his manipulation. He made everyone think he was going to being peace and prosperity. And they raised a rebellion against the previous king.

The king was unprepared at such rebellion and knowing that he didn't have any help anymore, he abdicated from the throne. There were no heirs to the throne too, and it all made it too easy for Sirius to get it himself.

So when he finally achieved his goal, he didn't call himself a king, as if a member of royalty, but a ruler, an emperor. The people had gained his trust enough and he knew it was easy to control them. He used a combination of charm and fear, but it didn't take a lot of time to install that fear deep into their souls. His life, no matter how terrible it had been, he was excellent at understanding psychology. It wasn't hard to manipulate, it was the easiest he could do. And his intimidating nature only helped more about that.

He was determined to make this kingdom the most powerful one in the galaxy. He used alliances and order to create a powerful army and build a strong wall around the kingdom. He asserted full control of the territory, removing any possible opposite forces that lingered around. The remaining who didn't obey, were banished and never returned.

Still, despite the tyrannical turn, he was a wise ruler and respected by his people. Of course, they didn't know his backstory, all what he had done. Nevertheless he was fair to them, making sure that everyone in the kingdom was treated equally, and they had access to education and healthcare.

But he was still not satisfied. The emptiness within his soul lingered. He wanted more power, more territories. He wanted to conquer other realms and become the most powerful ruler in the galaxy. He began to craft conquest plans, and continued to expand his magic's knowledge. By stealing other spells in other planets, and by adding the realms to his dependence. He built strong armies, who were loyal and obeying, serving his purposes. He colonized numerous lands and by that time, everyone learnt his true identity. But no one was strong enough to go against his reign, to disobey him or oppose him.

They all respected him, but it was mainly feigned respect. He had endless enemies. Even though he had been fair at protecting his people, at least taken care that there was no poverty, he was called the worst epithets. They'd say he was the devil himself, the dark and evil lord. And he was more than pleased with it.

And that's where he is now. Nothing in him changed. The same cold, stern, calculating man. He's powerful, but he wants more. More territories, more reign. The emptiness within his soul lingers.

The girl, the redhead he keeps in the castle. The girl he haunted for all that time. It was a thorn

on his side. She shouldn't have survived.

But she had. 

And now, he had to deal with it.