Chapter 5: Prologue Chapter 5: Face Reality

My emotions swelled up I couldn't believe what had just happened.

"He sacrificed himself for you," Deadman says softly as he retracts all his undeads. “Let me tell you, something boy. Your father was an amazing mage he honestly could've beat me easily. But it was the wound I gave him earlier that started his downfall. You see the wound I gave him allowed me to sap away at his mana slowly. I could feel his breathing and also see his movements go a little slower. Basically, your father's death was your fault"

"What? It was my fault?" I contemplated in my head.

Vincent rushes over to my side "Do not listen to his words Sir Valerus."

"You killed your father. AHAHAHA" Deadman insults me I stay there frozen.

Again I remember my past life "It's your fault. You were supposed to watch your brother. You’re so stupid" a woman's voice says. "Am sorry. Am sorry.Am"

"AGH"

"Interesting I guess breaking you down will be easier than I thought," Deadman says to himself. "Oh how about this?"

A purple magic circle gets placed around Markos' body.

I watched as his corpse rose up from the ground.

His eyes turn a purple hue his limp body hangs in the air like puppet on strings."Dont worry Valerus am fine. Bahhahahaha" Deadman mimics Marko’s voice.

SLASH SLASH

"Look at me a great scythe user" Deadman continues.

I look Marko’s lifeless body as Deadman toys with it.

Deadman points in Vincent's direction "Go."

The corpse begins to halt and stutter in place.

"It still holds some resistance hmph no matter,I’ll enjoy breaking it down later on" Deadman says.

Deadman summons his book as another magic circle appears shocking the body.

"There we go now advance!" Deadman commands Marko to attack us.

WHOOOSH

Suddenly a burst of flames appeared within those flames stood a man with broad shoulders, shoulder boards, around 7 feet, with short white hair, a beard, and a black coat, with red writing on it.

“The federation’s Captain it truly is an honor”

“Heacaptain Honorson” Vincent says.

“Take the boy and get out of here.” Honorson says with a deep and commanding voice.

I could feel the scorching hot flames increase as I lost consciousness and passed out. The last image I saw was Deadman using my fathers corpse as a weapon againist the Federations Headcaptain.

….

I awoke too a familiar setting. That i remembered from long ago.

I was back in my old world.

I rose up from my bed "So all of that was just a dream" as I place my hand on my head.

"Max. Max." a voice called out to a name I never heard in a while.

"Who's calling me?"

SWHOOSH

The sound of a river flowing and water disoriented the voice as it becomes muffled.

"Help me-"

"AGH"

I wake up back in my room in Kubridge.

HUFF HUFF HUFF

"Dammit that memory again," I said softly to myself. I noticed all the sweat from my body. The morning sun barely touched the sky.

I scouted my room. I realized a figure sitting in the corner of my room. Just as the first morning light hit the room I can now see the figure clearly. It's Vincent sitting straight up on a chair in the corner of my room sleeping with his legs crossed and hands folded.His eyes begin to open.

"Sir Valerus? Your awake!" he immediately stands from his sitting position.

"Elise! He's awake" as he rushes to my side with an overjoyed and relieved expression as he gives me a hug.

"Ho-How long was I out," I said weakly.

“Roughly a week.”

"A week?" That long? Ah" I thought to mysel as my body still is a little sore. "Where father where is he"

Vincent's expression saddens as he pauses for a couple of moments.

"Sir Valerus. Sir Marko has died."

Reality set in Marko Marina my father is dead.

"We couldn't retrieve the body. The damn mage got away with it" Vincent says in an angered voice as he clutches his fist together.

The room gets filled with silence.

WHOSH

My bedroom door swings open.

"Val!" Eriko comes rushing in.

She gives me a hug that griped tightly. "I thought you were gone." her eyes filled with tears, under her eyes red.

I patted her head "am alright Eri." i said with a smile that i could barely muster up. A fake smile that I had to muster up. "How can I be okay? Marko just died? There's an evil organization that tried to kill me? I almost died? Is it possible that this world will be worse than the other?" I silently thought to myself.

Vincent brings me a mirror "Sir Valerus it appears you received a scar from the battle"

I examine my face as I see a small scar above my right eyebrow. "When did I receive this? Oh, when I got hit with Deadman's attack." It's not that noticable from a far but up close.

"If you wish too remove it I can have-”

"Vincent it is fine. I shall use this as a way to remember the pain I felt that night"

Vincent, Elise, and Eriko both give me a concerning look.

"Speaking of him where is he? What happened to the mage who killed my father?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Vincent gives me look "We learn he belongs to a guild called the Phantom Order. Deadman is what they called him he escaped and got away. What remained was this." He reached for something out of his pocket it was pin made of gold engraved with the Roman Numeral 10.

It was Markos Captain pin.

Vincent places the pin in my hand as I hold it too my head.

CREAK

My door slowly opens its Lila.

"Valerus your okay”

She heads over and she touches my face. She gives me a big hug a much-needed one. I looked at her face it looked the same but I could see the red marks under her eyes. She must have been crying this whole time. It was probably a difficult time to find out her husband had died and her son bedridden for a week. But am glad that she is here with me. "It's okay Mother am alright."

As I continue to embrace Lila my mind wont stop thinking about Deadman. I grasp and grip onto Markos' pin.

“What’s going to happen now mother?”

“Am now too be in charge of this home. You and Eriko will continue your training. Put please don’t worry about I got it. Me and your father always discussed a plan if this were to ever happen. Okay.” She says with a smile. A smile that I once made as well. A broken smile.

A couple days went by the mood of the house is still down after the passing of Marko. Lila kept a strong face as she lead the household with Vincent and Elise by her side. I looked out in the courtyard and saw the training dummy Marko would use. I had myself readied to train.

“You ready to train?” a voice says from behind me.

Eriko stands ready with her rapier.

“Yeah”

“Okay don’t be surprised Valerus I have a couple tricks up my sleeve now” Eriko taunts me.

“Bring it”

FLASH

ZOOM

Within a matter of seconds Eriko appears beside me as she attempts to kick me.

“What was that?!” I said with a surprised expression.

“Being the Twelve Star Mage Virgo I gained light magic. Pretty cool huh”

“That is cool. Imagine the kind of things you can muster up with your imagination.”

“Yeah you can help me out with some moves”

“Sure lets get our training started.”

Months pass by Lila is appointed the Head of the Marina household. She works very hard to keep the mansion running and safe. She gets assisted by both Vincent and Elise by her side. I continue to train nonstop every day. I feel the gazes of all the maids, Mother, Vincent, and Eriko as they watch us. With every passing day Eriko and Myself grow stronger as Eriko finds out more and more about her abilities. Vincent attempts to train with me although it is difficult as he isnt a scythe user like Marko was regardless I still trained hard.

One day when we were training the clouds were grey as a little speck fell from the sky.

“Snowflakes?”I said.

“Its snowing! I heard it snows like this everyday in the Falos region” Eriko says with excitement.

“I wonder what there summer is like” I asked.

“Most likely like this as well.” Eriko says as she watches the snow fall.

“Alright you two you guys can halt your training for days like this have a little fun make sure too wear something warm out there” Lila says watching us from the Balcony.

“Okay”

Just like that winter time came. It's time for Markos' funeral.

Everyone dawned all black. They were pretty much like how funerals were in the real world. Many unfamiliar faces appeared at the funeral. However I did recongize The Federation Captains at least five of them showed up in an all-black attire with their long coats. A female with pink hair, a male with jet black spikey hair, a girl with glasses, a young man who appears to be my age, and the man who I saw that night.

The man came to me afterward and introduced himself. "Hello there boy am Allister Honorson head captain of The Federation" he spoke with a deep and commanding voice. "Am sorry about your father. He was a good man. One of our best. If you need help you know where to find us. Everything is going to be alright. We'll find the people who did this to your father." As he pats my head.

Allister takes his leave. As soon as he left another member of The Federation wished to speak with me.

"Are you Markos son?" He wore a similar outfit to Allister but this time he wore a hat and katana on his side. "Sorry about your pops. But dont let that stop you from doing what you wanna do. If he wanna take action. Take action" he also wished the best for me in my future.

He moves along as the young man who looked to be the same age as me comes up to me next. “Your father was a great mentor too me. I always took his words for granted. Don’t be sad use this to fuel yourself and join The Federation down the line”

BUMP

“Am sorry Jack your just so small I didnt see you there.” a young women with pink coral hair and beauty mark under her left eye wearing a all black dress with a long coat over her shoulders.

“Okina what the heck.” the young man says. “That’s your excuse everytime.”

“Hmm what was that?” she leans over to him as she towers over him.

She turns back to me. “Anyways you’ll be fine sweetie if you need any help just let one of us know. Heres a lady bug” she pulls out a tiny lady bug from one of her pockets in her jacket over her dress and places it in my hand.

“T-thank you” am reluctant to take it as a stare at it.

“Make sure too keep it safe. Its a very special bug. See you later Valerus. Were going to speak with your mother now. ” she says with a smile as she walks away and waves.

“Okina did you just give him one of your lady bugs?” I overhear the girl with glasses ask.

“Yeah a little gift for him.”

“So unnecessary” the young Captain says.

“AWW Jack’s a little jealous that he didnt get one.” Okina teases him as he pats his head.

“Lemme give him something better.” the girl with glasses runs over “Open your hand.”

I open my other hand as a white stone that shined with many rays of light its was transparent as it oddly had this unique aura too it. I just couldnt figure it out. A crystal.

“Hold on too that and shatter it when you need it most” as she hurries back too the other two.

“Estella did you give him one of your crystals?” Okina asks.

“Yes I did.”

“Hopefully he uses them well.”

“Why didnt you give him anything Jack?”

“Well I didnt know that we were supposed to give anything Okina!”

“Such attitude learn how to speak too your superiors.”

“Were the same rank. Plus Percival didn’t give anything either. We gave him words of encouragement.”

“Can you two refram from causing a commintion we are at a funeral.”

The voices start too fade as they continue to walk farther and farther away.

“So those how Marko’s co workers acted.”

I look down at the lady bug as continues to crawl up my arm as ti flies back in to my hand. “If I recall lady bugs are a sign of good luck. Might be different here.I stare at the crystal on my other hand. I gotta keep both of these save. Nonetheless after facing this I now realized my goal.Join the Federation. Destroy the dark guild known as the Phantom Order. Kill the Deadman.

-----------------------------------------------------

The snowy mountains.

DRIP DRIP DRIP

STEP STEP STEP

Footsteps can be heard in the cold dark cave. A hooded man continues to walk deeper into the cave.

He extends his arm and creates a magic circle. "DEADMAN" he speaks.

A secret space opens between the edges of the cave and this room.

WARP

A door appears as Deadman walks through.

A single dining table is in the center of the room. A chandelier emits light. A row of stairs going on the second floor.

"El Phantasmo I have returned," Deadman says as he removes his mask.

"Augustine we dont have to use codenames in here how many times have I told you" a young woman speaks up with pink hair, twin pigtails, short, red eyes, and a ball gown dress.

"Well am always out and about so it gets kinda confusing. Bloody Queen."

"What have you returned with Augustine?" A voice speaks up. From the second floor, both look up. "Yes my lord " he summons Markos' dead corpse. "You see I can use this corpse to strengthen my arsenal."

"Ugh you drained it of all its blood ," Bloody queen says with discomfort as she motions it too go away.

"My apologize Miss Alice the Bloody Queen I didnt save you some blood" Augustine fires back.

“A pint would’ve been nice but its over with” she comments.

"Must you two always bicker? You are the oldest ones here you guys should get along by now." Phantom says.

“They say the more we bicker and fight the stronger our bond is since were familiar with each other.” Bloody Queen responds.

"Where are the others?" Deadman asks.

"They'll be making their way soon. So how's the Valerus?"

"He looks promising give him a couple of years he may be of use. I know he's growing a strong hatred for me as I used the corpse of his dead father to attack him." Augustine reports as he takes a seat at the dining table.

“For Virgo?” Phantom asks.

“Couldn’t even get a look at her the Federation came in.”

“You probably just toy with them and do one of your theatrics again. I would’ve been well suited for this one.” Bloody Queen remarks.

“As for you?” Deadman asks.

“I believe I left a mark on my target as well.”

"Well, we'll give them some time. In the meantime find the location of the Twelve Star Mages" Phantom says.