I felt like I was falling as I slept.

Many images and feelings swirled around within my dreams.

Finally...I hit something soft. I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling in my toom.

It seems like I overslept again. I could swear I had the strangest dream...

Usually, my father would wake me up in time for morning exercises.

It had become a routine to train for the two of us ever since I was young.

My father was actually a Duke.

However...that was his official title and status in another country.

Here in Albatross, I was just another commoner...

Well, worse than that, actually.

I was part of a noble family called the 'Iratus' family.

We were supposedly a clan of warriors blessed with martial superiority. Our trademark was in our eyes.

They were the color of emeralds. Different from green, as well. They gleamed like gemstones and radiated a very faint light. Even in the darkness, one could usually see the fierce gaze of an Iratus...

...as I was told, anyway. I never met any of my other family members back in our home country.

Because unfortunately...I was born in Albatross. A country neighboring The Kalsan Empire. Our home.

And since they hated the Iratus family, we were treated like commoners. Sometimes even worse than commoners.

Just thinking about that made me angry...but I'd never known anything else. Even the other kids would bully me for my heritage while growing up here.

I never had any friends, much less a girlfriend or anything like that.

Regardless, I got out of bed and started straightening my the sheets.

As I made my bed, I thought about the dream I had.

It was quickly fading from my memory, but...I felt like I might have forgotten something important.

There were strange buildings...people that I knew...no. I had never seen those people before. I didn't know that place, I was sure of it.

What was I thinking about, again?

Suddenly, I felt myself overcome with rage. For a split second, I felt an anger that could swallow the world.

My status menu flickered on front of my face. It turned red for a split second as a phrase appeared over and over before my eyes.

{Kill them all.

      Burn it down.}

I heard the words echo in my head just as it disappeared.

There was a ringing sensation followed by a static sound and screaming. And then...nothing.

My mind went blank.

"What was I doing...?" I said aloud.

I couldn't remember a damn thing. I looked down at the bed and remembered.

"Ah, my bed..."

I finished making my bed and just sighed to myself.

Lately, it seemed like my father had been depressed again.

My mother died after giving birth to me. She was apparently a wonderful and kindhearted woman.

After arriving in the town of Lorelei within Albatross, my father met a woman named Karia and fell in love with her. They had a few years together before getting married and having me.

And my mother, who had always been of low vitality...passed away as a result.

I decided to get dressed and did a bit of cleaning in my room.

The house we lived in was fairly large. It was a comfortable wooden and cobblestone home, fit for a low-ranking political official.

Despite this, it wasn't nearly as big as the family estate in Noir. Our family's territory in Kalsa.

But I wouldn't know...

Sir Ulysses Iratus, my father, came to this country to provoke good relations with the Duke of Lorelei.

At least, that's what he claimed.

I knew something was always off about about our situation...

It didn't make any damn sense.

Why would a Duke be sent to live in a foreign land with little to no money?

Why would he then take it upon himself to settle down and have a child in such a situation?

We lived in a nice house, sure, but we didnt have much money.

Yeah...the Iratus family occasionally sent money, but it was only a little more than enough to live on. My father had to pay a ridiculous price just to even buy our house. The reat of the mkney he had on-hand was slowly drained away by Duke Oswald and his policies against 'invaders'.

Because this country hated us so much...

Regardless, I made my way down to the living room where I found my father polishing his helmet.

"Hey Dad, good morning."

"Good morning, Mizik. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah. I was wondering if everything was okay. Usually, you wake me up to train with you."

"For the last time, Mizik, don't worry about it. I've just been thinking a lot lately is all."

"About mom?"

"...Yes. But mainly about the family. And don't give me that look. You know I promised to tell you the full story once you're older," he said sternly.

"Fine... Anyways, have you heard anything else about the strange activity in the mines?" I asked.

"Only that there have been reports of unusual sights and some miners have heard growling. Pretty weird, if you ask me."

"Maybe a magical bear got trapped or something?" I joked.

"Hopefully it suffocates then," my father laughed.

Lately, there were reports of strange activity in the mines. Tunnels opening and closing in random locations, tools going missing, and at least ten miners had disappeared. On top of that, word on the street was that in remote places of the world, they say the landscape is...warping somehow.

I didn't know much about the world but even I could recognize that something wasn't right.

That just didn't happen naturally.

"Are you going to investigate? You didn't find anything last time," I said.

"I have no choice. My instructions were to stay here and help out until the Duke decides to ally himself with Kalsa."

"You know...it's been fifteen years since you arrived here. You got married and had a son. You aren't telling me everything."

"Of course I'm not. I just don't want you to be in danger. They send enough money to live on and we get to exist quietly while I do as I'm told."

"But you're the Duke of Noir! The Duke! Why-"

"Stop. You simply don't understand the situation. Duke Oswald of Lorelei has a vast wealth of information and resources at his disposal. If he allied himself with Kalsa, Albatross would be less likely to instigate another war...or something... Unfortunatelyy, he hates our family. So they sent me here, hoping that I could-

"Why do we need his help!? Can't the Iratus family deal with its own interests? Can't Kalsa negotiate peace on its own? Why do we have to live like this if our family is rich?"

At that moment I noticed a somewhat pained look in my father's eyes.

"Mizik, I truly wish I could tell you everything. But I'm not sure you could comprehend the gravity of the situation in Kalsa. It's better this way. You just need to trust me... I promise that I'll tell you everything when you're older," He said sadly.

"I'm sorry. I just hate it here..."

"I understand. But you need to stop poking your nose into things that don't concern you. Forget about our status, okay? In Albatross, we aren't considered nobility."

"Yes sir... But uh...by the way, where did your bodyguards go?" I asked.

My father had two bodyguards that were always around him in public. They followed him wherever. I was under the impression that they were friends.

I hadn't seen them in quite a while, so I was wondering.

"I sent them out for a while. Kalsa hasn't sent us any funding lately. I was curious as to why, so I instructed the two of them to convince the current...er...the guy I left in charge to send more money. It should be nearly time for their return. Probably another week, or so," my father said.

"Okay then. Is there anything you want me to do today?" I asked.

"Yes, actually. Since I'm going down to the mines later, I want you to come with me. I doubt there will be anything interesting if it's like last time, but it'll be a good experience for you. You may even get to see some action. Hopefully, you'll learn something important about duty and battle."

My father said these words with a stern tone.

I wanted to be like him some day, so I had to learn all I could.

Still...

"Can we please just stay home...? I don't think going to the mines is a good idea..." I said.

"I won't hear any of that. Mizik, one day I plan to have you take my place. At that time, you'll have to make difficult decisions that will mean the difference between life and death. Whether that is for you or other people, I cannot say. But you have a duty you must fulfill...just like me."

"Yes... The Iratus household is one of honor and integrity. I won't let you down."

"Thank you, Mizik. Say...you're getting really mature, aren't you? Almost fourteen, now. You'll be an adult, soon!"

I just smiled.

"All thanks to your teaching. You've done a lot for me, Dad."

"Well, it might be time to find you a wife then. Any girls you've had your eye on? Maybe you could put some of that maturity to use! You know, be manly!"

"Eh...the girls here aren't really interested..." I said sadly.

People didn't like the fact that I was an Iratus.

Girls would usually avoid talking to me, for the most part...

It was kind of depressing, but I tried not to let it bother me. Even if I would become an adult, soon, there would still be plenty of time to get married later down the line.

I wasn't in a huge hurry, either. I could wait.

"Bah! They don't know what they're missing! My son is a great guy! Really!"

"Thanks, Dad, but I don't think you'll be able to convince them. They hate me because of my eyes, not my personality."

"The emerald eyes of an Iratus are beautiful and fearsome. They will grow to respect you some day. Now then, you should get ready to go to the mines with me. Why don't you go get something to eat? There should be leftover food in the refrigerator."

"It's nice to have one, but do we need to replace the ice crystals soon? The dwarves sell replacements all over the country, right?

"Eventually, yes. They sell replacements at the dwarven shop down in the market. But for now, they should be fine. And if it breaks down, we can just ask the dwarves to repair it. They invented the damn things, after all..."

I nodded walked down the hall towards the kitchen.

For some reason, today felt different.

Foreboding, even. The skies outside were overcast and the air felt heavy.

I made myself a sandwich using leftover meat from last night and some slightly stale bread.

As I ate, I considered the thought of actually finding something in the mines.

Whatever happens, happens.