Chapter 216 - All About Alexander Octavius IX (Noah) -- Skippable

WARNING: Skippable chapter, just the author's thoughts and a recap of Noah from childhood to a.d.u.l.thood.

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01: Childhood

"This is where my grandfather got the name for my father; his name is Dietrich—meaning: 'ruler of the people,'… so my father got the name Sietrich. Dietrich, the fifth king, is the one to start the name 'Ruler' and now ends with my father." Says young Noah, his index finger positioned into an ill.u.s.tration of a young man, with distinct platinum-blond locks, eyes of sapphire blue, with a smile evident on his face, unlike the other seven who looked exactly like him.

Sheila stared in awe at the pictures, her eyes wide and sparkling in astonishment.

"They look the same," Sheila says, "are you certain that they are, in fact, different people? It's like one person with only two to three different haircuts. I can't even tell which is which if the name in the bottom part is removed."

"Well I guess you're right." Noah answers. "I mean, they're the ones who can use the Opus, meaning they're great, great, great, great grandpa's reincarnation."

"You used 'great' too much, Prince!" Sheila says, pouting.

Noah tilted his head. "You can call me Noah, if you like."

"Well, Mommy says that we shall respect royalty, even if they're family friends!"

Noah chuckles, and grins. "Are you happy you can visit me often now?"

Sheila, with her chubby cheeks, blushed in response. "Well, it's not like that. I'm here just because Daddy is a high magician with a huuuuge responsibility." Sheila exclaims, reenacting a 'huge' gesture with her arms. "Besides, I'll be attending Magierstadt soon. I was there with Mommy the other day—and then I saw this girl with a boy, being sweet and all!"

Noah tilted his head, and then shifted his gaze at the book laid before the grass. "Is that so?"

"Yes. Mommy said it was Yu…yuleya? Yula…le? And Jonden? I forgot."

"It's Eulalia Fortunatorum and Jonathan Unsterblich." Noah mumbles. "Light and darkness."

Sheila shrugged it off, and then proceeded to read the book Noah stole from the Royal Library. In that book were elaborative descriptions of the Eight Kings of Feuersturm, the ones who can use Opus. First noticeable feature about them is that they all had the same characteristics as the first king—almost like a direct copy. In the descriptions were the capacity and the magic that they were capable to conjure—which are all remarkable, because during this time was the Great War between the second continent, Zweite, and the kings who can use the Opus was considered a blessing.

The Great War lasted for 300 years, meaning the three kings, namely: Octavius, Julius, and Sirius, who used the Opus, are the ones who got to conjure the most magic for the benefit of winning the war and was recorded in the books as the Great Three, the founding fathers of the "Knighthood of the Firehawk," the chosen knights in servitude of the Feuersturm Empire. In the year 589 was the year that the next king with the Opus was born, the fourth king Heinrich, year 764 was the fifth king, Dietrich, the sixth king Friedrich, year 876; the seventh king Erich, year 954; and the eight king Roderich, the year 1035—Noah's grandfather.

"Hold on. If your grandpa's name is Roderich, then your father's name is Sietrich… why is there no 'rich' in your name? Why are you called Noah?"

Noah grinned. "I love being asked. My father wanted to end the Ruler line and start with 'Rest'; The one to end all the war and hostility with Zweite—Noah! It all starts with me, says my father—and he says I must name my future baby with a name equivalent to mine, as well." Says Noah with bright, shining blue eyes.

Sheila blushed, "babies? You are already thinking about that?" She says, fidgeting a little. "Do you have someone particular in mind… you know… to make babies with? I mean - to make a queen! You need a queen first before children, you know. Silly prince."

Noah tilted his head, and then flashed his cheeky smile.

"A girl with a black hair, perhaps!"

02: Ascension

The twelve-year-old king smiled as he peered from above. The roaring cheers from his people deafened his ears, but he could hear nothing but the voice of Octavius on his head. The laws, the history, the economy. Things he must fix.

What his duty is.

He saw a silver haired woman along with Sheila, his childhood friend. He smiled, and slowly walked towards them—his steps calculated and a time ticking behind his mind.

Maria Unsterblich. Her uncanny resemblance to his mother.

He did not mind her much, and headed straight to the Hall. As the gigantic doors opened, he again peered from above. Below him were people celebrating his ascension. Nobility. All of them were rejoicing his glory, yet he felt empty.

Calculated. Everything must fall to his plans. He smiled warmly.

"I thank you all for coming today." He says, his voice sounding different to him. "Glory upon the Feuersturm Empire."

"Glory upon the Feuersturm Empire!"

"Glory upon the King!"

03: Fateful night

A man with a platinum-blond hair; pale moonlight was lighting the hair's individual strand. The man was wearing something closely different to the High Knight armor—appearance and air so different from the rest. He has the air of someone that spoke of a higher race, perchance. His eyes were the color of bright blue, like sapphire jewels. Their gazes met—and locked. Both of them stared at each other for a brief moment, before he shifted his gaze to the warlock with a glowering gaze.

"Lady, can you stand up?" Asks a man with a brown, rust-colored hair. His locks were curled and tousled like a bird's nest. Amidst the dark of the night, he looked like a warm, scorching flame. Faustina felt dizzy—nauseous, even. All these people were confusing her. She felt fickle, which may be because of the trickle of chemical to her bloodstream, or just because her body felt too numb and weak.

"Goodness, Eula... what do we have here." Jonathan said through the mayhem as he turned to the man with the platinum-blond hair, "such a pleasant interruption, King Alexander!"

King Alexander? Faustina wanted to say aloud. She turned to the man Jonathan called 'King.'

"Jonathan." Says the man silently. It was so odd. Even in the silence of his voice, Faustina could hear him clearly—like a calm stream of a river flowing gently. Faustina never saw someone who seemed so calm over such chaos.

"Jonathan, one of the High Warlock of the Seven Seas." He says calmly. "Return to the Court and atone for your sins."

"Myyy. King Alexander," Jonathan said in a sing-song manner. "You still speak of monotonous words. It does not fit you, Your Majesty."

King Alexander drew his sword. The sword has a golden finial with intricate patterns that were embedded and glistening from the moonlight. Its hilt is a l.u.s.trous silver marked with ancient languages. The blade is a peculiar transparent diamond. A crystal-clear weapon. Faustina never seen anything like it before.

"Oh... the Sword of Feuersturm." Jonathan said, even he looked surprise. "I must congratulate you, My King. You acquired such treasure your ancestors have long desired. You—and you alone!" He laughed maniacally, like a lunatic. Jonathan embraced Eula, so tightly he was shaking.

"I can't believe it. A Heilen blood, the king himself, the Sword of Feuersturm." He said as he cried, "oh! The prophecies, the prophecies... Eula, Eula... Eula!"

"Jonathan of the High Warlocks. Return to the court and atone." King Alexander says as he turned the point of his blade to Jonathan.

The smile of Jonathan slowly turned into a vicious scowl.

"Can you not see, Your Majesty, how grand this moment is?"

Alexander gave no reply. "I will spare you no mercy."

"I will not shed blood. For my dear Eula." He says, as his gaze drifted to Faustina. "For my dear Faustina as well."

Faustina shivered with his words—and then suddenly, with the spark of a second, a loud thunderbolt seized the entirety of the ground. Rain poured heavily from the skies as the sound of rainwater plummeting through the chest plates of the knights and soldiers echoed against the silence.

"On the count of three. I will permit you to run."

King Alexander tightened his grip to his sword, "Take the maiden away from here!" he commands. And the dutiful men that they were, cavalries and soldiers marched to carry Faustina away while the two High Knights and soldiers stood by the king's side.

**

Chain:

Noah, my very first male lead. His name is inspired by TRWREADM's Noah, and a mix of Claude de Alger Obelia for his sapphire eyes and blond hair. I always regard Noah as a person who knows what he wants and needs so he measures his emotions, his abilities, and everything else so that he could take the most appropriate action possible. 

Looking back, Noah had mastered his emotions over the years as he grew. From a naive child, he became the youngest king in Feuersturm--and he had a resolve, unlike his predecessors.

To obliterate Nightmare once and for all.