The Great One

The Night Family (1)

Inside his room. 

When Cygne opened his eyes, he was on his bed and the room was dark. Maybe because the interior was not that bright and literally have the contrasting color of black and red, it gives off a gloomy atmosphere but somewhat quiet and peaceful. Cygne or rather Lysander not find it scary as he had dealt his fair share of 'fear' when he was young. 

For a couple of minutes, he stared at the ceiling while contemplating what he had just talk with the God of Eternal Night, Hades. 

It really was unavoidable even if he doesn't want to get involve but, if the world's peace and order will depend on his involvement then, he have no choice but to do what he must. 

Cygne was not an idiot to blatantly expose himself as an antagonist to invite enemies before him.

He wanted to enjoy his life as much as possible so he was carefully concocting a plan for the future. That is where his life depends anyway so he has to make it thoroughly. 

'But what is exactly my role? It's vague if it's just called being a villain hero in disguise.' Cygne, who is racking his brain to the vague explanation Hades given him didn't notice Tien who welcomed himself in after three knocks that didn't reach Cygne. 

Golden eyes glowed as it focuses towards Cygne. Tien, as someone who entrusted the young master with was brimming with worries but as expected to someone serving the most influential family in the kingdom of Helius, there's no emotion can be read from his face. 

Through the years he has been serving the family, he accumulated perfection and served two generations but still at his peaks. 

He'd gained a lot of respect and trust from the head of the family. But no one knows his origin. 

A few more minutes, Cygne finally gathered his thoughts and looked at Tien who's still watching him in silence. 

"How many hours am I unconscious Tien? "

"Approximately 16 hours. Are you hungry young master?"

"Just quite. Same menu?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

Then silence succumbed them again. It's like the normal occurrence between the real Cygne and Tien but the difference was the current Cygne is not afraid of Tien. 

Cygne slipped into a simple sleeves after a quick bath to wash the disgusting sweats. 

After being helped to dressed by Tien, they walked down the same corridor when Cygne stop to his footsteps. 

"Tien is it possible to bring my meal at the studies?"

"If that is what you wishes."

"Thank you."

They turned at the corner and a big oakwood door was pushed open by Tien. Inside, shelves of books was aligned neatly, sheltering the vast selections from history to politics and even magic. Everything you could think about the world was neatly arranged inside those shelves. 

Cygne who was deeply amazed, couldn't stop his mouth from widening from the things before his eyes. 

The smell of ink and old pages was filling the studies and the red interior with black floors making it comfortable to the eyes. He felt strangely familiar and tears are threatening to form on the side of his eyes. But he just swallowed the emotion building up inside him. 

At the center was a table made from the sturdiest tree, Igg. Cygne has no idea that the table can withstood a strength of a specially trained knight and go on to check the details of it. In there he could see it was designed with something that looks like the symbol of the family etched. A sycthe encompassing a crimson spider lily. It was beautiful yet emits a strong affinity to death. 

'Hades didn't lie about him favoring the ones serving him.' Cygne thought as he sits at the chair. Behind him was a large window to where the sunlight passes through in the morning but right now, countless stars are watching his back as the faint light of the moon are giving him light to see the room barely. 

Two colors stand out the most. Black and red. Like the distinguishing features of someone born at the Night family. But Cygne has no idea about it. He just thought that the one designed the house like the color black and red. 

"Young master, this is the studies that the grand duke of the Night personally designed for you. I'm afraid this is the second time you visited it after six years ago."

'So this is mine? Woah.' To hide his awe, Cygne fake a cough and replied to Tien who have a benign smile towards him. He totally ignore the fact Tien gave him about his family. To be honest the smile, it gives Cygne the creeps. 

"I may spend most of my time here starting tomorrow. Tien. The food please."

Cygne looked at Tien in the eye hurrying him to bring that not so delicious food but can suffice for now food. But to his surprise, three knocks meets the door and a servant push a cart inside the studies. He bowed respectfully and left after delivering the meal. Cygne scratched his cheeks and blurted out his thoughts. 

"Am I scary for them to leave immediately  while trying so hard to hide their fear?"

"Should I make them strike a conversation with you the next time young master?"

"No! No! It's alright. I don't want to force them if they are scared of me."

"You are not scary."

"I bet it's just you who are not scared Tien."

Cygne smiled weakly that made Tien surprise but returned to his benign smile the second. 

It's the second emotion he have seen at the young master after he recovered from the minorus attack. Tien was thinking that maybe his young master was finally growing into something of a predator. 

Of course if this thought reach Cygne, he'll freak out on how commando the people around him are. 

The same half raw chunk of steak was laid in front of him and a glass of blood that he doesnt know to whom it comes from was waving at him. 

After a soft clank of the fork and knife placed by Tien, Cygne gulped. 

"This isn't from humans right?"

"Do you wish to taste some young master?"

With widened eyes Cygne looked at Tien and shook his head strongly. 

Afterwards he could see the shoulder of his butler was shaking while he is facing the other side, seems supressing his laughters. 

With a gruntle, Cygne started to eat while cheering himself that he ate raw monster meat in the past so this should be a piece of cake to him. But what really bothers him was the fishy smell of the blood as his drinks. He just couldn't come to like this drink and to think that the original Cygne drink this through the years, filled him with admiration. 

"Young master about what you told yesterday morning, is it true you lost your memory?"

"Ah. About that. I seem to lost pretty much everything but it's alright. It'll definitely come back through time."

Cygne was blabbering things to divert his attention from the curse drink he chugged empty which Tien filled up again after it was place at the table. He sighed from that attentiveness but just continued eating. 

First of, he needed knowledge about this world and what kind of laws was binding this place. Then he needs to know the family he was in, the people he needs to be aware of, the things he should maintain and the power he should acquire. 

He have a lot to learn but for now, filling his stomach come first. 

He was happy enough to just eat since he always have to be in his edge that he couldn't enjoy the food before. But right now he could hear symphonies in his ear in every bite. He might come to love this kind of cooking. .

"What are your plans? Are you going back to sleep after your meal?"

"No I'll stay here until sleep visits me."

"Understood."

Then silence again. Cygne preferred it this way too. He doesn't know how the original Cygne communicate with others so to lessen suspicions, he wanted less contact to others as possible until he learn how he should act. 

Tien tidied the plates and Cygne told him it's alright to call it the day since it was already dawn. 

After minutes of convincing, Tien finally given up and left. 

Cygne busied himself to the books that he can reach. 

'My World, Skyscraper.' 

That was the title of the book and as Cygne open the front cover, a dazzling image of the universe was printed inside. All the stars, constellations, worlds, nebulas and solar system was laid completely inside. It was reflected in a holographic representation on how the things revolve in the vast expanse. As he scans the book, pages by pages, Cygne learned that the world has multiple dimensions and spaces  in which he happened to unravel right now. 

'If that is true then.. '

Cygne shook his head to remove what he had just thought and continue his reading. 

After a few more books, Cygne learned that the Kingdom he was in is Lumine, one of the richest kingdom located at the South of the Luminus Empire.  It was famous for its magic stones as the lands of Lumine have multiple ore veins which supplied the whole kingdom with what they call mana. Most of the citizen also wields magic and proficient in incantations and circles that use in their daily lives. The kingdom was known to be the greatest offensive arsenal that have a Magic Tower located at the heart of it which the royal palace was located.

It has three dukes and one grand duke that located in each direction and was also called as the 'watch dogs'. They were chosen to be gate keepers of the four dimensional path that may bring chaos and disaster. 

The Thorns of Tracy.

「 ➢ The family which responsible on guarding the West doorway, Tracy which composes promising and outstanding women leaders that often lead the battlefield. They are the first recognized family with a duchess. Elleny Tracy, the current duchess and head is a woman with virtues and strict bearings. Blessed with two sons and a daughter.... 」

The Fangs of Michealis. 

「 ➢ Known as the cruelest and blood loving family, Michealis which famous for their brutal but elegant way of executing enemies are from an ancient ancestor that said to have guarded the kingdom of Lumine. They are the watchdog responsible for the East. They said to have arrogant and rough personalities that almost resulting as the catalyst of any kind of fight or arguments. The current duke, Luke Michealis said to have short fuses and strong intimidating aura. He is bless with two daughters and three sons.... 」

The Claws of Florence.

「 ➢ Existed almost the same time with the royal family and the establishment of the kingdom was the Florence which guarded the North doorway that also the direction to which the sealed entrance of the Luminus Empire located. They are known to their vast superiority in knowledge and proficiency in magic. They produce excellent scholars and inventors that have made various useful devices that leads the modernization of the kingdom in a brighter future. Zoroast Florence, known for being quiet and having scholastic vibe was blessed with three sons... 」

and the most powerful watchdog through so many generations. 

The Scythe of Night.