Ancient Imperial Calendar Year 1809
A week had passed since his first and last birthday; Ricardo was now ready for school life.
His school uniform was thin and flexible, making it easier to move and fight. These clothes made Ricardo's chest and arm muscles more visible; the servants thought Ricardo looked more handsome and sexy in his school uniform.
Seliarnevre gave the ice dagger Silvarist, which she had inherited from her ancestors, to her son Ricardo, who was now 14 years old. Seliarnevre gave him all the information on how to use the dagger and went over it one last time to review the information about Silvarist with Ricardo before school.
"Listen carefully, Ricardo. When you infuse Silvarist with your mana, it turns an ice blue color and freezes everything it touches, shattering it into pieces. Furthermore, even if you run out of mana, Silvarist can cut even the strongest iron like paper. If you are not careful, you can hurt yourself."
Seliarnevre had taught Ricardo many lessons in dagger arts since he was 5 years old. Ricardo could use his dagger skillfully like a professional assassin.
When the vehicle tasked with taking Ricardo to the academy arrived in front of the Mansion, it was time for Ricardo to leave his house and go to the Blood Academy, where he would fight for the throne with his brothers. Seliarnevre knew that the moment had finally come. She was worried, she was afraid, but she had full confidence in her son's power, intelligence, and abilities. Just as Ricardo was about to leave the door, Seliarnevre wanted to hold him and give him one last piece of advice.
"I have never been to the Blood Academy, Ricardo, but for the last year, I have been going to the Academy and talking to some dynasty members who took part in the War of the Heirs, hoping it would be useful to you. They gave me a lot of information. Don't forget what I will say. Don't worry about your safety in the first year at the Academy, because the war will start when one of the heirs passes to the fifth year, which is the final year. There will be many duels and tests at the Academy. Get the highest scores in these, prove yourself, and make strong allies. Your brothers will try to get information or kill you by sending their own men to you. Be suspicious of everyone, but don't be paranoid and alienate those who trust you. Take care of yourself for the next five years. The moment you enter this academy, you will either die or become the heir."
After Seliarnevre told him everything she knew, Ricardo hugged his mother and tried to comfort her. He held her shoulders with his hands and said with a confident expression:
"Mother, don't worry. I will win the war. I will slaughter all my brothers and become the 66th Lord of the Kislavein Dynasty."
Seliarnevre had calmed down, impressed by her son's confident attitude. She was proud of her son, but at the same time, she was ashamed of her own insecurity when her son was so confident. She said determinedly:
"I trust you, Ricardo. I am sure you will win this war."
Ricardo hugged his mother one last time and said a long goodbye to the mansion where he had spent the last 14 years. He saw his childhood friends Marco and Marilin waiting for him outside. Marco greeted respectfully:
"We greet the Young Lord."
Marilin, on the other hand, was about to faint when she saw her young lord in his academy uniform. Marco, who saw his sister's rudeness, lightly hit his sister with his left hand and warned her; then Marilin greeted her Young Lord.
"We greet the Young Lord."
Ricardo raised his hand for them to raise their heads. Just like him, Marco looked more handsome and had prominent muscles in his academy uniform, while Marilin's body lines and breasts were even more prominent and much more beautiful than her normal state. Even Ricardo could not help but be impressed.
"Very beautiful. After all, she is from my lineage; if she weren't like this, I would question her bloodline," Ricardo thought to himself, responding to the two siblings' greeting.
"Let's go, my friends. The academy awaits us."
The two siblings would follow Ricardo from that day until the end of their lives. After a while, the trio arrived at the Kislavein Blood Academy, where they would spend five years of their lives. What they saw was a huge 15-story, 750 thousand square meter area, from duel arenas to training fields, decorated and built with the most valuable and expensive jewels and metals. When Ricardo was about to enter the Academy, the guards waiting at the entrance stopped Ricardo and bowed before him.
"Welcome to the Blood Academy. You have brought us joy, our Young Lord. Let us accompany you."
Ricardo had been informed by his mother about the protocol at the Academy. As a Heir Candidate, he had to stand at the front of the line and lead the students in line. This had a symbolic meaning. Since he was a candidate for the Lord who would lead the Dynasty in the future, he would stand in front of the other Dynasty members and show them who their future leader was.
Ricardo looked at the guards and nodded for them to accompany him. Although she secretly wanted to go with the Young Lord, Marilin was aware of the procedure like everyone else. She followed her twin brother Marco and went to the line where her Young Lord was leading. There were 10 lines in total, one for each Heir Candidate. When Ricardo got to the front of the line accompanied by the guards, he saw his rivals for the Throne and his older brothers, who would be his enemies from that day on.
First in line: Hermes Kislavein, son of the Dynasty Lord by his first wife, Helgeya Yorvig. He was 17 years old, and when he became a senior next year, the War of the Heirs would begin.
Second in line: Seth Kislavein, son of the Dynasty Lord by his second wife, Tristina Thermonissos. He was the same age as Hermes.
Third in line: Thermonis Kislavein, son of the Dynasty Lord by his fourth wife, Malefis Bercly, aged 16.
Fourth in line: Arlous Kislavein, son of the Dynasty Lord by his second concubine, Kierra Kislavein, aged 16.
Fifth in line: Talonis Kislavein, son of the Dynasty Lord by his sixth concubine, Tomris Costin, aged 16.
Sixth in line: Xanros Kislavein, son of the Dynasty Lord by his fourth concubine, Victoria Kislavein, aged 15.
Seventh in line: Jarvin Kislavein, son of the Dynasty Lord by his sixth concubine, Josephine Napoly, aged 15.
Eighth in line: Ferlas Kislavein, son of the Dynasty Lord by his seventh concubine, Denys Dondorria, aged 14.
Ninth in line: Karlmen Kislavein, son of the Dynasty Lord by his eighth concubine, Leila Cervin, aged 14.
And tenth in line: Ricardo Kislavein, son of the Dynasty Lord by his seventh wife, Seliarnevre Payrist, aged 14.
Everyone gathered here would witness the bloody wars of the 10 Heirs, all from different mothers but the same father, over the next five years — unimaginable assassinations and espionage activities, betrayals, and various intrigues.
The Academy's doors opened, and a man came out with all his glory and majesty, accompanied by his Blood Hawks. A guard shouted at the top of his lungs:
"THE 65TH LORD OF THE DESTUR KISLAVEIN DYNASTY, IV ORSMAN KISLAVEIN, HAS COME!"
Thousands of students, hundreds of warriors and teachers all fell to their knees, placed their hands on their knees, and bowed their heads. The aura emitted by the Dynasty Lord was suffocating them all; they did not even dare to raise their heads. This was the Might of the Monarch of the West. His aura alone was enough to make thousands of people kneel and bow their heads.
Orsman looked at the Dynasty members and their sons kneeling before him — his children who had spent the past years under the shadow of assassins. Now they were taking care of themselves and standing on their own two feet. His son Ricardo caught his attention the most.
"If he continues at this rate, once he reaches his full potential from now on, by the time he turns 18, he could have power similar to mine. Hah, I am probably looking at my own reaper right now. They always say history repeats itself; I suppose it really does."
Orsman had killed his father in the past. When he looked at his son Ricardo, he was sure that Ricardo would kill him one day. But he was not afraid. In fact, he was proud and happy inside. The new generation would not be overshadowed by the old; they would become even stronger, and the Kislavein Blood would maintain its power. Orsman began his speech.
"Raise your heads. When I saw you, the new generation of the Kislavein Dynasty, I became certain that my generation's end is near. You, the new generation, are already very close to taking our place. In these five years, add strength to your power and wisdom to your wisdom."
The crowd shouted in unison: "YES, DYNASTY LORD!" Orsman turned around and left the Platform. Then the Academy Masters divided the students into classes. This division was made according to age, and all of them, including the Heir candidates, were taken to different floors. And thus, the throne war of the 66th Generation of the Kislavein Dynasty began.