1. The First Vow

The day began not with the songs of birds, but with a son being sent to war.

Droplets of rain hammered against the glass planes. In the old room on the second floor of the ancient mansion was Lord Corvus Silverlight, a man with ashen hair and a coarse beard. Unlike his usual attire, the Lord of Silverlight wore an all black suit from head to toe. He sat in his red velvet chair behind his polished oak desk, staring at an envelope held by a crimson seal of the Royal Family of the Everheart Kingdom.

The symbol of four stars surrounding a crown laid before him, looking more like a wound than anything else. And he could do nothing. For it was a summon, a call to arms where he must send one of his own to the war against the Avalon Empire.

A soft creak of the wooden boards echoed in the Lord’s ears as a figure stepped closer.

“Father… with all due respect, you must let me go.”

The voice came from his son, Alrick Silverlight. A man in his early twenties with silver hair and blue eyes, just like Corvus. He wore a bright yellow coat over his white shirt and pants.

“There is no one else who is capable enough to survive this, and you know that if Nathanial or Lucas ventures out, then they will die.”

Corvus brushed the worn envelope with his fingertips before gazing out the window. The storm raged on, and with it, his turmoil. “At times like these, I wonder if there exists a better option. An alternative where I could be the one to leave instead.”

Alrick paled. “Father… you know that cannot be done. If you leave, the Elders of the council will become vultures. They’ll tear the family apart limb by limb.”

“And what do you suppose I do?” Corvus leaned back in his chair, resting his eyes. “Do I sacrifice one of my own? Much less the heir to the Silverlight family?”

Alrick didn’t say a word.

“The Royal family is asking for a tithe in blood, but they do not require it to be my eldest.” Corvus slowly opened his eyes with regret. “It will not be you I send. That much is certain.”

“Father… please… You can’t be rash in your decision. You know they aren’t ready.”

“But it must be done.”

“No!” Alrick slammed his hand on the polished oak desk. “No! It does not have to be like this! They are my brothers, and I am begging you, for once in my life, to send me. Send me to the front lines and let me take their place… it’s what I have to do as the eldest.”

“The next head of the family cannot leave. That is the one ironclad rule I will not break unless absolutely necessary.”

“And what more of a reason do you need than to protect your sons?”

Corvus took a deep breath and stared at him. Not with a gaze filled with anger, but one of remorse. “You forget, Alrick, but you are also my son.” He rose and walked toward the window. “I have already decided who to send after careful consideration.”

“Who?”

“Nathanial.”

“Nathanial? He’s never been in a skirmish, let alone a campaign! You’re sending him to his death!”

“I know, and he does too.”

Alrick’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What…”

“We are at war with the Avalon Empire, and there may be a second summon in the near future,” Corvus said firmly. “If I send you, then I risk the foundation of our household. It is not a matter of pride, but of survival.”

The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the room. Yet Corvus didn’t turn, he continued to gaze out the window as Alrick glanced over at the figure who entered. It was Nathanial, his brother—already wearing a set of iron armor with a sword fastened to his belt.

“You…” Alrick stared into his brother’s deep azure eyes that were like the ocean. Then, at his unkept strands of white hair that were usually perfectly combed back.

“Why? Why are you wearing that?”

Nathanial smiled. “Because I’m heading off to war.”

Alrick’s hands trembled. “No, just tell me you want to live. Say the words and I will take your place.”

“That would be against the family’s wishes.”

“To hell with his wishes!” Alrick’s voice erupted outward in a fit of rage as thundered roared in the distance. He grabbed the white collar of Nathanial’s shirt. “I am saying this as your brother. If you are scared, if you are hesitant, then stay, and I will go in your place. I’m a fourth-star aura user on the cusp of unlocking my own world. I can protect myself from the horrors of war. But you?”

His voice broke. “You haven’t even unlocked the second star. How will you manifest your aura from your soul? How… how will you be able to survive? Just because you can sense aura now, that doesn’t mean you’ll survive. I’ve seen what happens to people at your level.”

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“I’ll figure it out—”

“Bullshit,” Alrick interrupted. “We all know that not being able to manifest aura means you’re nothing more than cannon fodder. Even those who manifest their third or fourth aura stars can easily cut through iron!”

“Goddammit Alrick, don’t you dare make this harder than it already is!” Nathanial broke free from Alrick’s trembling hold and stared at his father, who couldn’t bring himself to raise his head. “Now please… I want to speak to our old man.”

He watched as Alrick stepped aside but then added, “in private.”

The Eldest stood still while clenching his fists. Guilt washed over him, and a feeling of helplessness punched him in the gut. His gaze swept over the two, then settled upon the youngest. “Can I really not convince you otherwise?”

“Not this time.”

Alrick slowly nodded. Not a word followed, only the floorboards creaking once more. Only Nathanial and Corvus remained in the dimly lit room. The rain continued to patter against the closed windows, with a flicker of lightning occasionally striking, followed by the distant rumble of thunder.

The oak door closed with a gentle thud. Nathanial stared at the empty chair before his father’s desk. “Do you mind if I sit?”

Corvus didn’t say a word and instead nodded. Seeing this, Nathanial quietly sat down before staring at his father.