Other POV
In the 20 odds years of life, he could vastly recall ever witnessing such a grandiose castle. You couldn't imagine how prestigious the inside looked from its hostile outward appearance. From the outside, the Castle Black, better known as the Umbra Estate, occupied almost 2/3rds of the northern-eastern provinces. The Black Castle was only a small ribbon, expensively woven around the swollen gut of the imperious ancient beast. An ancient family of Shadow Weavers. Masters of stealth and arts of darkness. During the last two decades, these venerable masters have morphed into one of the most fearsome entities.
A Family of Wizards.
The young man could only scarcely imagine what life might've looked like if he somehow ended up beneath the thumb of one of the other many factions of the family. Gods, how dreadful would that be. Standing on the 7th staircase, part of a very wide and polished black wooden stairwell. Literal glowing emerald shards were hanging from the tall ceiling above.
He scratched the back of his neck and tilted his head slightly backwards before exhaling a loudening yawn. "Gods, give me a break. This has been going on for hours now!" His half-opened gaze busied around the exquisitely decorated lower hall. The ground was a peculiar sight of slightly polished black marble, the same colour as the walls. The pillars were fashioned out of sturdy ivory with peculiar emerald veins wrapped within the rare stone.
He twisted his sore neck around, looking slightly dismayed at the rows of empty staircases. He was the only one still waiting, diligently like a trained dog. He might've liked to believe that thought. However, lifting his head slightly, a cold light fell over his eyes. He could make out at least half a dozen bodies perched on the thick beams, almost melded with the thick shadows falling away from the ceiling.
They would be part of the formless guard unit deployed by one or two clan heads of the family present today.
His brows knitted together, recalling the brutal stories he heard about them.
A groaning sneer filled his ears.
He moved his lowered gaze ahead, where the towering twin doors began to slowly push open. The two grotesquely drawn shadow fiends, each holding its place against one-half of the towering doors, pulled away from one another, allowing a slither of warm light to crawl free.
A figure dressed in the common black and grey hunter's uniform stood at the small gap between the doors.
He walked forward towards the towering stairwell. Where they both finally caught each other's eye.
Rei's dark eyes searched the spacious hall, finally falling against the young man on the stairs. The impassive pale face, usually etched into a natural mask of coldness, seemed to melt and soften. He chuckled, seeing his senior pull the closest thing he could manage of a smile.
Standing half a foot taller than him, the coolly dressed man awaited his arrival with aplomb.
"That felt like an age. Lord Rei." He said, bowing to the slenderly tall fellow who had groomed his sleek dark hair backwards per his usual style choice. His slender frame sat in the traditional greyish black attire of the family. He was a quiet and stern man by nature. Seldom seen busying himself with anything other than the matters of the clan. The young man recalled hearing about Lord Rei's fame and how he had probably accumulated a vast sum of money over the years of service he provided to the family. He had a veiled and silent past, not so surprising when he considered the nature of the men lurking within these walls.
In the midst of his daydreams, Rei folded his arms and glared at the young man with a strange glare.
"You've gotten restless. You forget that wolves lurk across every corner of this castle." Said Rai in a tone as stern as his eyes
The young man shuffled his feet unintentionally. He found the eyes of his dearest mentor again and creased a wry smile.
"Oh, I can see them clearly, even hear them. You can't hope to survive working this long for the family without meditating in danger." Replied the young man
He waited silently while Rei regarded him for a few tense moments before raising his chin towards the tall ceiling covered in shadows.
"Indeed, this castle only recognises the strong." He said in a slight tone of misery
"Strong! Th-that reminds me." The young man scratched his head before steadying his next choice of words carefully.
"The young master's fate? H-have they"
Rei cleared his throat harshly before slowly twisting his head from side to side. "It's what you expected it to be. The elders favour the will of the patriarch."
His dark eagle-shaped eyes opened, and he slowly fell against the young man again. Unexpectedly, he could only inwardly shriek in horror as the ugliest smiles creased against Rei's face.
"Young Master is free to do what he desires, but he'll return in 3 years to undergo the ascension ceremony…sigh, then we'll see what the Gods will."
That thought made him feel a little more at ease, and he exhaled a deep sigh of relief. The news went just as he had hoped. The young master's freedom buys him another bountiful splendour of peace for a while longer. He could almost kiss the young, aloof lords' feet.
Even when he was around, the young master wasn't exactly a nuisance. On the contrary, he always considered himself a gifted, sharp young man who chose to spend his time improving the vast talents he inherited; unlike his sisters and the revered Lady of the family, his mother, you seldom heard any troubles surrounding his name.
"Well, that's…a relief." He breathed out loud.
His main objective was avoiding any type of feud that may transpire over the young lord's reluctance to serve under his mother's side of the family. As things grimly turned out, it was the side of an ancient family of killers.
"And, if I may enquire. W-what was The High Ladys response to the news?" He imagined it wasn't anything short of fury, given the rumours.
Rei loosened his collar before running his hand through his neatly combed black hair. A look of exhaustion claimed his expression, which was usually one of a reserved, stoic man anyway. He made a wry smile and said bitterly.
"Well, given the almost desperate pleas from her entourage. I imagine The High Lady will be very much displeased."
The young man could barely contain his elation. The young master's departure would practically seal his safety. No one was silly enough to evoke a war in a castle filled with this many experts. So, in the likely and somewhat unfortunate case.
"They will probably…look for him." He said absentmindedly in regret, suddenly remembering the nature of the beast that remains in the shadows of the glorious mages birthed out of these walls.
"Thankfully… the young master had already left a week ago. And may all the best fortunes run alongside him. Hell, he's going to need it. Although there is another problem I should bring to your attention." Said Rei, again with an uncomfortable glare affixed across his chiselled face.
"There was a second matter to discuss with everyone. A matter regarding a certain Lady's imprisoned brother."
And suddenly, the young fellow felt all the happiness drain away from his bones. Rei glanced into the tall ceiling, where figures stirred within the shadows. "There has been an urgent call for action from the Celestial Court in Arcadia."
"Regarding..."
A deep sigh escaped through Reis's lips.
"It's finally been decided. The disastrous Black Dragon has been sentenced to die. That is, Her Ladys little brother. Utano Noche has been sentenced to die."
Zephyr POV
The sun stroked across a vast carpet of meadow. Framed with tall, slender trees grouped in pockets across the stone hills. There was a rich splendour of bloom against these horizons. A land where over 1000 summers had blossomed. Unlike its kindred northern isles. Where Zephyr was used to the cold black rocky hills and misshapen foggy ridges. On the edges, the faintest black road sleeked through icy carpets, infused with the unnatural black earth growing from beneath. This place was like night and day to that cruel place he called home.
As such, his cold, glassed expression creased into a soft, gentle smile. He beheld the winding golden road and exhaled a cooling breath.
A shrill whistle sang between his perched pink lips. And a gentle heel against the side of his black-coated horse. A mare named robin. Spurned his mount into action. Hoofs ate the ground as the pair, both dressed in black, swept through the winding road like a gust of shadows. Zephyr wanted to reach the outpost before the sun reached its highest peak. He deduced he could practically full speed the rest of the way without any breaks. But on the one hand, he was still trying to perfect the ability of the shadow Mantra. He wouldn't want people outside his clan to see him perform those stances.
He flipped his palm over while riding, and a golden badge materialised into life.
Name: Utano Zephyr
Rank: A
Age: 17
Affinity: Shadow/Fire
Ability: Tri-Coloured Foxes Pact; Shadow Hybrid.
Skills: Dual Wielder, triple Slash, Canary Dance, shadow step, Black Turtle Style, Silver Fox hair, Fire spit, Cut, Black Flamingo Stance.
Shadow Shards. 13/70
"Tsk, only 13. I still need so many shadows before I reach that goal. This poxy school better be worth all this hassle." Zephyr muttered to himself
He still felt some way despite how many months had passed. But killing his own clansmen was never a good feeling. His mother's family were as ruthless to their enemies and just as unkind to those they deemed weak. The more he thought about it, the more Zephyr was eternally grateful that his father and grandfather had become such a revered family of Wizards over the years. That reputation was the only thing keeping him out of a stone-walled tower, fighting for his life against kids his age.
'I vow to honour this grace afforded to me.'
A rouge wind whipped past his face. His black hair danced in the air behind him. He partially shielded his gaze from the debris blowing. Zephyr held his ride at the top of a hill. He felt a strange serenity in the peaceful air. As though the very air itself filled his bones with life. His stead galloped down a thin golden dirt trail. The tall trees flanked either side of the road. Zephyr's gaze slightly narrowed as he noticed a near-distant silhouette slowly unearthing into his clear view.