Dawn arrived quietly.
Soft golden light spilled across the Winter Empire, touching its frost-covered towers and awakening the frozen streets. Snow reflected the sunrise like shattered crystal, and the city breathed back to life.
But far beyond the palace walls…
The Snow Forest still carried the scars of night.
Charred ash lay scattered beneath towering trees. Melted ice steamed faintly in the cold air. The ground bore deep marks of unnatural movement.
Lucilius Drakaryn stood alone at the Moon Temple.
His cloak fluttered gently in the morning breeze.
He stared at the blackened patch of earth where the possessed beast had vanished.
His right hand still tingled.
The flame mark on his forehead had faded, but the warmth lingered inside his chest.
He slowly closed his fingers.
What was that power? Lucilius asked himself in surprise.
He had cast countless spells before.
But this felt ancient, it was alive.
Lucilius exhaled and turned back towards the temple.
"Guess I should report this." Lucilius decided.
He stepped inside the sanctuary, rang the bell once, and began his journey back to the Winter Empire.
Then at sunrise, the palace guards discovered the remains, twenty snow lions.
The frozen silence broke.
The guards immediately called Albus Wulfric.
Albus quickly arrived, kneeling near the charred ground.
His fingers brushed the ashes, his eyes widened, he could feel it, the remaining dragon-fire magic, his jaw clenched.
Albus quietly said to himself, "…then it has begun."
He stopped abruptly.
Albus immediately said, "Call the Emperor."
Moments later, Emperor Edward Wulfric stood at the edge of the clearing, supported by his staff.
The ministers formed a silent circle around him.
Edward studied the damage.
The melted stone, the scorched trees, and the lingering warmth in the air.
Then his old eyes reflected both pride and fear.
Edward asked in a worried voice "He awakened it… didn't he?"
Albus nodded.
Albus calmly replied, "Yes, Father."
Edward closed his eyes briefly.
Edward said with emotion, "The Drakaryn fire."
A senior council elder stepped forward.
The elder said cautiously, "Your Majesty, this level of power should not exist in someone so young."
Edward opened his eyes, they burned with authority.
Edward said with pride, "It exists because destiny allows it."
The elder fell silent.
Edward turned to Albus.
Edward asked urgently, "Where is Lucilius?"
Lucilius arrived at the palace gates just as the sun cleared the horizon.
His clothes were dusted with ash and snow.
His expression was unusually serious.
Albus met him halfway.
Their eyes locked.
Albus stepped forward and grabbed Lucilius by the shoulders.
Albus asked in a concerned voice "Are you hurt?"
Lucilius blinked.
Lucilius calmly replied "no, just confused."
Albus released him slowly.
Albus asked "What happened last night?"
Lucilius hesitated.
Then told him everything, that shadow, possessed buffalo, and that fire.
Albus listened without interruption.
When Lucilius finished, Albus exhaled deeply.
Albus asked with a skeptical look, "You didn't cast that spell."
Lucilius nodded.
Lucilius replied, "It just… happened."
Albus turned him toward the palace.
Albus thought, "Then the Emperor must hear this."
Inside the council chamber, Lucilius stood before his grandfather.
Edward studied the flame mark faintly glowing beneath Lucilius's skin.
He motioned everyone else away.
Only Edward, Albus, and Lucilius remained.
Edward spoke slowly"My grandson… what you awakened is not ordinary sorcery."
Lucilius swallowed.
Lucilius asked in confusion"Then what is it?"
Edward walked closer.
He placed a hand over Lucilius's heart.
Edward replied in a deep voice, "It is the core of the Drakaryn bloodline."
Lucilius felt warmth pulse beneath Edward's palm.
Edward said a small truth, "Dragon-fire. Conqueror's essence, primordial balance magic."
Lucilius stared.
Lucilius asked urgently "So… I really am different."
Edward smiled sadly.
Edward replied"Yes."
He turned toward the tall windows.
Edward said importantly"and because of that, the world will eventually come for you."
Lucilius clenched his fists.
Now Lucilius bravely said"Let it."
Edward looked back.
Pride flickered in his ancient eyes.
The fire awakened, the shadow hidden.
But beyond the winter realm...
Ancient institutions stirred.
Wars that once tore the world apart whispered their arrival.
A sixteen-year-old boy who still loved mischief and laughter
had taken the first step towards becoming a conqueror.
Without informing anyone, Lucilius Drakkar quietly slipped through the palace gates.
No guards noticed then, no alarms sounded.
The prince walked alone through the snowy, dusty streets of the Winter Empire, his cloak lightly rubbing against the frozen stone.
For once, his expression was serious.
His silver-blue eyes reflected the lamplight, thoughts heavy in his mind.
I can't live like a fool, if I truly carry this power… I must change, Lucilius told himself.
He exhaled slowly.
He didn't like the feeling.
It felt heavy, restrained.
Then a slight disturbance struck his senses.
Someone was following him.
Lucilius stopped, his lips curling.
At that moment his intensity faded, his mischief returned.
In an instant, he leapt forward and disappeared into the next street.
A second later, he reappeared over a low wall and looked back.
There was nothing there.
He dropped to the ground and walked slowly, pretending not to notice anything.
Then something moved near his feet.
An insect crawled across the icy ground.
Lucilius crouched and studied it.
It was facing the wrong direction.
He smiled knowingly.
"I know it's you, Max," said Lucilius.
The insect froze.
Lucilius tapped the ground beside it.
Lucilius smiled and explained, "Your disappearance spell is terrible, and insects don't survive well in cold regions."
There was a soft shimmer.
Then the insect vanished.
In its place appeared a small boy about ten years old, thin, nervous, with wide admiring eyes.
His name was Max, Lucilius's biggest fan.
He copied Lucilius's spells whenever he could... though most of them failed.
Max scratched his head sheepishly.
Max smiled shyly and said, "You found me again…everyone says it's true, you're a unique and talented sorcerer."
Lucilius waved dismissively.
Lucilius said, "I don't need praise."
He stepped closer and lightly tapped Max's forehead.
Lucilius continued quietly, "But you don't focus your energy properly. That's why your spells always collapse."
Max blinked.
Max questioned "So… what's going to happen to me?"
Lucilius tilted his head.
Lucilius gave good advice, "You'll learn, but not by copying me."
Max looked confused.
Lucilius crouched to meet his eyes.
Lucilius explains "Everyone's learning method is different."
He paused.
Then he gently said, "And right now, you've lost your energy focus. If it stays that way… you won't become a sorcerer."
The next moment Max's face drained of color.
Max shouted "O-oh no… that's bad…"
Lucilius nodded dramatically.
Lucilius said sarcastically, "Very bad."
Max swallowed.
Max asked urgently, "So what should I do?"
Lucilius suddenly raised a finger.
Lucilius replied puzzlingly, "Be quiet."
Then Max froze.
The two walked together and soon reached a nearby park.
Unlike the frozen streets, this park was magically maintained—green grass, glowing flowers, and warm air created a peaceful sanctuary in the heart of the empire.
Max sat on a bench, his shoulders drooped.
Max said sadly, "I'm weak... I try so hard, but I always fail."
Lucilius leaned against a tree, his voice softened.
Lucilius quietly advised "Strength isn't about instant success, It's about refusing to quit when you fall."
Max looked up.
Lucilius smiled faintly.
Suddenly heavy footsteps approached.
A tall sorcerer in academy robes entered the park.
His face was filled with anger.
A basic trainer.
He scanned the area until his eyes locked onto Max.
Trainer said urgently, "I expected you to be here."
He stormed forward and grabbed Max's collar.
Trainer called angrily, "You skipped training again! Come with me now!"
Max struggled.
Max stubbornly refused, "I don't want to go back!"
The trainer tightened his grip.
Lucilius's silver-blue eyes flared softly.
He could see it.
The same dark negative energy swirling around the man's body.
Lucilius understood that the shadow was spreading through each life.
Lucilius stepped forward.
Lucilius calmly and coldly commanded, "Let him go."
The trainer turned to look at the scornful man, who was not really himself.
The trainer shouted, "And who are you to tell me what to do?"
Lucilius's eyes hardened.
Lucilius warned, "You are bringing trouble on yourself."
The trainer released Max and stepped toward Lucilius instead.
Dark magic pulsed around him.
The trainer arrogantly challenged, "I'm an elite academy trainer. Even if you're a prince, you're only a second-year student, you can't defeat me."
Lucilius smirked and said "Let's see."
With a sharp gesture he cast his signature spell.
Twenty identical Lucilius clones appeared around the park.
Max gasped.
Max said in awe, "Whoa…, you are amazing, Prince Lucilius."
The trainer rushed forward, slamming his hands into the ground.
Rocks erupted upward in a violent wave.
But Lucilius and his clones moved like wind.
Every stone missed.
Then, all twenty Lucilius attacked simultaneously.
A perfectly synchronized strike.
The trainer was overwhelmed instantly.
He slammed into the ground and lost consciousness.
Silence followed after Lucilius's clones disappeared
Lucilius walked forward slowly.
He saw dark energy seep from the trainer's body and dissolve into nothing.
Max couldn't see it, but Lucilius could.
Lucilius turned back to Max.
Lucilius said "We'll go to the academy tomorrow."
Max nodded eagerly.
Lucilius placed a hand on his shoulder.
Lucilius smiled and said, "Study hard, and don't forget to play sports too."
He started walking away.
Max stood straight and bowed.
Max said politely "Thank you, Prince Lucilius!"
Lucilius did not turn back.
But he simply raised one hand and waved.
Far away, inside his private chamber emperor Edward Wulfric sat quietly in a velvet chair.
Before him floated a glowing crystal sphere.
Within it, every moment of Lucilius's actions replayed silently.
Edward smiled.
Edward said softly"You've begun walking the right path."
His eyes shimmered with pride.
Edward continued with proud hope"You will become a powerful sorcerer, my grandson."
He closed his eyes.
Edward whispered to himself with some inner feeling"Let events unfold naturally… only then will destiny reveal itself."
The prince was changing, the shadows were spreading and the world had begun to move around Lucilius Drakaryn.