As I stared at the night sky from Valtair’s chamber, I reflected on the reasons why I needed to get away from Valoria. The capital was a hotbed of intrigue, rumors, and relentless surveillance that forced me to hide my true self. A constant impediment that only brought me setbacks.

In order to keep a target off my back and achieve my future goals, I’d worked hard on keeping my strength a secret. While this strategy had served me well, it seemed that it was no longer effective in propelling me forward. My progress had stagnated, and it was time to shake things up and adopt a new approach. I knew that if I wanted to become stronger, I needed to find an isolated place where I could train without distractions. And to do that, I needed Valtair’s backing.

What the hell is that old geezer up to? I’ve been in this room for like three hours... What’s taking him so bloody long?

At last, the sound of approaching footsteps reached my ears, and I quickly ducked behind a nearby curtain. I kept a watchful eye as Valtair entered the room, analyzing his every movement with precision. For what seemed like an eternity, I waited patiently, biding my time until the opportune moment presented itself. Valtair continued to roam around the space, his gaze sweeping over every inch of the room, but he remained oblivious to my presence.

Finally, I emerged from my hiding place, my heart racing with excitement. Valtair jolted in surprise, his eyes bulging with disbelief as he realized that I had been right in front of him the whole time. ”LUCIAN?!?!"

“Hello, father.”

“How did you manage to hide your presence?” he asked, his voice filled with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

I stepped forward, a small smile playing on my lips. “I have a special talent for hiding.”

Valtair stared at me for a long moment, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh and shook his head.

“Lucian do you have any idea what time it is,” he muttered. “Your mother would lose her mind if she knew you were here.”

I could feel the tension in the room dissipating as Valtair spoke, and I knew that this was the perfect opportunity to begin my ploy.

“Father,” I said, my voice filled with a sense of urgency. “I need to leave the palace.”

“What?!”

“I need to leave Valoria and go somewhere far away. Someplace free from the relentless scrutiny and watchful gaze that invades every corner of this castle. A place where I can truly be myself without fear or hesitation.”

“Son, are you feeling unwell?” Valtair asked, staring deep into my eyes. “Are there any voices in your head, perhaps?”

“Father, I’m not crazy, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Really? Because you sound a little crazy.”

Exhaustion weighed heavy on me as I let out a weary sigh. “Father, you understand better than anyone the burdens of kingship. You know the constant threat that looms over you, the need to stay vigilant to protect yourself and those you hold dear. I’d wager that most of the nobles in your court wouldn’t hesitate to betray you if given the chance. They covet your throne, your power, and, above all, your glory.”

“Where is this all going, Lucian?”

“I’m your son, father. I’m Prince Lucian Atticus Darkbourn, and because of that I also have a target on my back. The children of all your friends stare at me with envy, your supposed friends, secretly wish for my failure, and the rest of the world thinks of me as a lump of meat.”

“I’ve always known you were wise beyond your years,” Valtair said as he walked over to the fireplace and poured himself a drink. “Still, you’re too young to be worrying about such trifling matters. I need you to believe in me, and trust that your mother and I will protect you with all that we are.”

“Here’s the thing, father, it’s not you that I don’t trust. Or mother. It’s everyone else.”

Valtair placed down his glass and turned to face me. “I still don’t see why I should allow you to leave.”

“This is why...”

Calmly, I began to peel off the seal I had placed on my core. Small tendrils of mana began to flow through my body, and I felt my body grow stronger.

Sometimes the best way to take off a band-aid is to just, TEAR IT OFF!

The air around me seemed to freeze, and the flames in the fireplace snuffed out in an instant. A split second later, a wave of energy exploded around me, causing the furniture to shatter and fly across the room.

With a sense of urgency, I swiftly contained my mana, diffusing it evenly throughout my body. Although I had utilized my mana on countless occasions over the past few years, this was the first time I had fully unsealed its power. As a result, my body felt like a bottle of carbonated soda that had been violently shaken and then released.

Having regained control of my magic, I took in the state of the room. The release of my energy had been so explosive that it felt like a hurricane had struck the room, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

“H-How... How is this possible?” Valtair asked, staring at me wild-eyed.

Oh wow, I completely forgot he was here...

“I have a magic core, father.”

Valtair shook his head and paced around the room. “I can see that. But still, it makes no sense. Children don’t develop cores until their horns begin to bloom, so how can you have a core?”

“That’s true,” I acknowledged with a nod. “Despite having a core, because of my young age, my core has yet to develop any affinity. As a result, I’m only able to use mana to enhance my physical strength.”

“Interesting,” Valtair remarked, his arms folding across his chest as he regarded me with a curious expression. “Although that may be true, the sheer amount of mana you possess is simply obscene.”

“The amount of magic I possess isn’t remotely close to yours.”

“I’ve been alive for over two centuries!!!” Valtair exclaimed. “You’re only five!”

Crap, this isn’t good! I need to dig myself out of this fast...

“What if I told you that I’ve been marked?” The moment the words left my lips, Valtair’s body froze. It seemed I’d hit home. This was the only way I was going to get him to agree.

After reading dozens of books about the history of Azurax, I’d come across the discovery of “The Marked”. Every couple thousand years, a demon child would be born with a mark. If a child was marked, it meant he’d inherited the powers of one of the Four Primarchs. The Four Primarchs, were the first demons to ever exist, the first of their kind. While I didn’t know much about these primarchs, to be marked signified the birth of a monarch. Whenever a monarch was born, a long and prosperous reign would soon follow.

To put a little more perspective on the significance, the reign of an ordinary Demon King usually lasted about fifty years. The reign of a monarch could last up to five centuries.

“A-Are you sure?” Valtair asked, his voice coming out raspy.

I nodded. “I’m pretty sure.”

Valtair sighed and sat down, laying his back against the wall. “This is big. This changes everything.”

Good. It seems he’s bought into my story.

“It does.”

“When did you find out you were marked?”

“I think I always kind of knew. Ever since I was born, I knew was different. I didn’t know what I really was until I read about it in an old book in the library.”

Valtair snorted, running a hand through his hair. “I guess that explains why you’ve spent so much time in the library, instead of doing what other kids do.”

I shrugged.

Wow, I’m a really good actor! I should’ve been a Hollywood actor in my old life.

Valtair broke the silence, his voice low and urgent. “No one can ever know about this,” he said, his eyes darting around the dimly lit room. “If word gets out, they’ll come for you. They’ll hunt you down like a rabid animal and put an end to you before you have the chance to grow into your full potential.”

“I figured as much. Do you see why I need to leave?”

Valtair nodded but remained silent. I could feel the weight of his thoughts and emotions, his inner turmoil as he grappled with the gravity of our situation.

Taking his silence as my cue, I continued. “I need to go someplace quiet and isolated. Someplace where I can train and grow strong until I’m strong enough to protect myself. Every second I spend here, within these walls, I run the risk of being discovered.”

We lapsed into silence once more, staring blankly at the walls around us. Time stretched out, an endless expanse of waiting and uncertainty.

After what felt like an eternity, Valtair stood up, the sound of his clothes rustling echoing through the room. “I’ll make the necessary arrangements. Tomorrow you’ll leave.”

“Where will I go?”

“Someplace isolated, just like you wanted.”

“I’d really like to know where...”

“You’re going to meet my master,” Valtair replied, his lips curling into a smile. “A couple of years with my master, and you’ll be strong enough to defend yourself against pretty much anyone.”

WHAT!? Valtair has a master!? Why is this the first time I’ve heard of this?

“Father, who is this master of you speak of?”

“I can’t tell you much. What I can tell you is that my master is much stronger than I am and that without her, I would have never become king.”

Her? So it’s a she... Wait, this isn’t part of my plan... Crap...

This new revelation was troublesome. My original plan was simple. Go someplace isolated where I could train by myself and get strong. The last thing I wanted was to be stuck with someone I didn’t know, teaching me how to defend myself. Even worse, a demon of all people. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a strange anticipation. If this so-called “master” of Valtair’s was stronger than him then maybe I could learn a thing or two. If this “master” was the one responsible for making him this strong, maybe this could end up being a good thing.

“Sounds like a plan,” I finally said, surrendering myself to the flow of fate.

“Good.”

Just as I turned to leave, Valtair called out for me and I turned to see what he wanted.

“I’m proud of you, son.”

Well, that was unexpected...

“Uhh, thanks.”

“I can’t believe I was blessed with such a strong and wise son. So, forgive me for wanting to try something.”

Ok, now he’s lost me...

“Try what?”

“This!”

As soon as the words left Valtair’s lips, his entire demeanor shifted. Tendrils of mana began to flow out from his core, and his eyes took on a dangerous glint. It was clear to anyone with even a modicum of intelligence that things were about to get violent.

“Father?” I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

In the next moment, Valtair leaped forward, his movements smooth and intimidating. My body reacted on pure instinct, calling forth all the power at my disposal as I conjured a burst of mana between us. The resulting blast sent a wave of hot wind hurtling toward me, and I was thrown backward until my back slammed against the cold stone wall.

I felt my lips curl into a grin as I pushed myself up with my elbow. For the first time in five long years, I realized just how much I missed the thrill of battle.

As the smoke cleared, I found Valtair totally unscathed, brushing the dust in his hair. “Very good, son. Very well done indeed.”

Before I had the chance to reply, Valtair charged at me, his body low to the ground.

Acting on a reflexive judgment call, I set off another combustion of mana right next to myself. The blast hit me hard enough to send me flying to the side.

In that same instant, I heard something slice through the air next to my ear, and my blood ran cold. Valtair’s fist had slashed through the space where my head had been a split second earlier.

He’s using little to no mana, and he’s still this fast? He really is a monster...

I had managed to evade his attack by a hair’s breadth, but the effort had taken its toll on my body. The muscles in my limbs were straining with pain, and I could feel my breaths coming in short gasps. Despite my sharp mind and quick reflexes, my five-year-old body simply wasn’t up to the task.

“Your reaction time is incredible,” Valtair said, as he cracked his knuckles. “Let’s see how good you are in combat.”

Son of a bitch! He’s testing me...

My heart was pounding as Valtair advanced towards me, his movements fluid and calculated. I could feel the weight of the upcoming battle on my shoulders, my muscles tensing as I prepared to defend myself.

As he raised his arms in a southpaw stance, I mirrored his movements, my guard up and my eyes locked on his every move. I channeled all of my mana and split it equally between my legs and arms, hoping that it would get me through the first couple of exchanges.

Valtair closed the distance between us with agonizing slowness, his gaze locked on me as he prepared to strike. Suddenly, he pivoted to the right and lunged forward with a devastating straight punch that was faster than anything I’d ever seen before.

I tried to dodge, but it was too late. The punch connected with my forearms, and I felt the full force of it resonate through my entire body. It was like a truck had slammed into me, sending me flying backward until I hit the ground with a sickening thud.

I coughed, trying to catch my breath, but the pain was overwhelming. My arms felt like they were on fire, the bones within them threatening to shatter.

“Shit!” Valtair cursed as he rushed to my side. “I overdid it, didn’t I?”

What do you think, Sherlock?

I gave him a look of disbelief as he helped me up. “Why did you attack me?”

“I’m sorry, son,” Valtair sighed, as he carried me to the couch. “I just got overly excited when you told me you were marked. I’ve always wanted to see what kind of powers the Primarchs possessed.”

“Hence, you attack your five-year-old son.”

“No ordinary five-year-old could have dodged not just one, but three of my attacks.”

Damn, he’s got a point there...

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “I might be marked, but I’m still young and unskilled.”

“You’re absolutely right. Please don’t tell your mother.”

“What’s in it for me?” I asked, feeling devious all of a sudden.

“My life?”

“Not good enough.”

Valtair slumped down beside me and sighed in defeat. “What do you want?”

I folded my arms across my chest, my gaze drifting upward as I pondered my response. Time stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity as I weighed my options and considered the consequences of my words.

I turned to face Valtair, who had been waiting patiently for my answer. The look on his face was one of anxious anticipation, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt at the thought of what I was about to ask of him.

“I have a request,” I said slowly, carefully choosing my words. “Before I leave, I want to take one artifact from your vault with me.”

Valtair’s eyes widened in surprise, and I could see the cogs turning in his mind as he considered my proposal. I held my breath, waiting for his response, unsure of what he would say.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke. “Very well,” he said, his voice heavy with reluctance. “But choose wisely - the artifacts in my vault are not to be taken lightly.”