> "Blood does not make you family.
Power does. And those without power… are nothing."
—Crimson Family Motto
The 8 Great Families of the Empire.In the Empire of Aurora, eight transcendant families stand as pillars beneath the Emperor's throne.Each controls a domain of war, magic, or economy — and each holds more power than entire kingdoms.But among them, House Crimson is feared above all.Not because of its wealth.Not because of its influence.But because of its blades.Their name is whispered in war councils. Spoken with awe by generals. Cursed in the tongues of dead kingdoms.
> The Crimson Family does not rule.
It dominates.
Origins — The Dragon Pact
Centuries ago, the first patriarch, Adrien Crimson, was said to have climbed the Tower of Varnyx — a place where no human returned alive.There, he met something ancient.A beast born before the continents.
A creature of fire, eternity, and will.Fafnir, the Flame of the First Dawn.No records tell what passed between them. Only that Adrien returned carrying fire that wasn't flame, and a sword that couldn't break.He became the first and only Dragon God — the only 10-Star Swordmaster the world has ever known.And from him, the Crimson bloodline began.
The House Structure. The current Crimson estate is ruled by the 9-Star Demi-Dragon, Velkarth Crimson, a man feared even among the Empire's elites.He rules over a strict, hierarchical structure:
Direct Bloodline (Children)
Trained from the age of 3. Expected to reach 3-Star by 12, or be cast aside.Outer Bloodline (Cousins, Uncles) Used as knights, commanders, or fodder. They never inherit anything.
Ash-Wardens, Elite knights handpicked by Velkarth himself. All above 6-Star.
The Scorch Circle (Elders), Veterans and advisors. Only those above 7-Star are permitted in.
> Failure is punished with exile.
Shame is punished with death.
Among all this, Lucien — the tenth child — exists as a living contradiction.No rank.No talent.No acknowledgment.Not even scorn anymore — only silence.He's been left to grow like a weed in the garden of blades.
The Children of Crimson
The ten children of Velkarth Crimson are each born from different noble wives or concubines — strategic marriages designed to breed strength.There are five sons, five daughters, and only one rule: those who do not ascend, are erased.Each child is raised alone, and taught to see the others as rivals, not siblings.They do not dine together.They do not train together.The only place they meet... is the battlefield. But not all are rivals
The Forgotten Son
Lucien.The tenth.Born with no mana heart. No talent. No fire. No expectations.He was written off by the family before he could walk.Even the maids do not bow.Even the guards forget his name. But none of them knew the truth:
He is the only one who has inherited the true legacy of Adrien Crimson.Not just the blood.
Not just the flame. Chaos itself
> The Dragon's Heart itself now beats in his chest.And one day, the family that forgot him…
> Will either kneel.
Or burn.