Journal Entry, 1
Date: 01/22/7500
Author Name: Blake Justinian Margrave
When we are born our paths have already began. Or rather that is what some say. In reality, it starts before that even. It starts, with who are parent's were Their DNA making up what we are. Our eye color, hair and even our height and how easily we gain muscle. Even now it's being found that it affects our minds just like it would our immune system. It's in our parents that we are created. Yet we strive to be different and yet the same as them. Sometimes it's like this without knowing. Because we try to escape what we fear so much we become it.
It was like when I was born. Born into the family of high blood house. The blood of a Solrein. The people who had mastered the idea of magic so much that our DNA was made of it. I wish true magic was real. Yet even in this world it was not meant to be. Instead it was called Spellblood. A type of crystal when melted became a different color with the texture of blood, the smell of sweet sugar and yet this liquid was what allowed us to be.
Spellblood was slowly added to the human body long ago. Many died from this due to their bodies rejecting it. But eventually it worked. Even now we cannot replicate such things. Truly luck played a role. But I write this so you understand why it's so important for you to know. Spellblood meant we aged slowly. Meant someone who was a hundred would look barley 20. Meant we had people who lived to be a thousand years old. We could not get sick. And when we bleed it's spellblood that is mixed within us that allows for magic. Or what we primitive people would call magic.
When the blood is placed in certain ways and symbols it has effects. A flame that explodes from the blood that burns all around without smoke. A lake freeze or a orb of light floats into the darkness. All very good but very risky. In reality. Spellblood was used to power our grav ships, our astral swords. Heck without it we be back in the stone age. And when Spellblood dries it returns to being a crystal. These crystals actually grow endlessly. So the Empire controls the trade very strictly. But it seems this is all I have time to write. Journal Entry of 01/22/7500, Name-Blake Justinian Margrave.
I stood up closing the leather journal as the knocking at my door grew more insistent. The lightbulb on the law within it's glass case glowed dimly in the room over the wooden desk I sat at. The red high back velvet chair was worn from the years of usage. I yawned my black hair a mess as I walked towards my bedroom door which was a thick wood ebony door that held the swirls of the wood patterns on it. But before I reached the door a voice from the other side came.
"Open the door my lordship. Your father has requested your presence for breakfast this morning." The voice sounded through the thick wooden door that of a man.
"One minute monsieur." I said as pulled my white button up shirt on. Clicking each metal button into place before moving to fix the collar around the neck which stood weirdly as I saw it in the mirror of the corner of my room. Just as taught by my older brother, I should fix the collar of the neck before the sleeves to avoid the sleeves riding up again. The shirt was straight white with heavy black metal buttons.
Turning the lock of the door with a click and then taking the chain of the door off as well letting the golden hook of the chain hang there by the wall, pulling the door open.
"I am ready now. So dearly sorry for the wait monsieur." I said with no true kindness. This man was after all just one of many house guards that served my family. Even if he was a Solrein as well he was no were near our standing. My father was after a Praetor. Controlling the whole region with the rights to trade Spellblood and having a standing army.
"There was no wait at all my lordship. Just the waiting of the Praetor, your father Lazinus Justinian Margrave." He said with the tilt of his flat cap. A heavy black wool which matched his metallic overcoat.
As he walked leading the way the light shined off the metallic strings of the coat. We had moved far away from the ancient ideas of bullet proof vests or plated armor. No no. We simply made metal into string and sewed them into our clothes. Heavy sure but lighter then plate armor and a great deal easier to move in while looking fashionable. Able to stop most bullet rounded. However still enough shots will eventually break and chip enough at it that it's not invincible. But it was that of the most bare Minimum standard.
Following him down the black and swirling white granite floorings were long black and gold rugs. Paintings and photos lined the walls showing past family members of my bloodline. Other of simple flowers and extinct animals like the cheetah and Eagle. The sword at the guards waist caught my attention from behind as it's scabbard poked through from below. The sword was that of a gladius. Something the old ones used. The ones the ancients called the Romans had used this sword greatly. We adopted it since when in a fight sometimes you ran out of ammo especially within halls of a building. The sword was short enough it was very usable unlike a longsword. And these swords metal could break through the metallic greatcoats easier then a bullet.
Passing by as we walked down the stairs was a butler who was replacing some flowers in the vases. Or at least it would seem so from the red roses within his hands.
"Morning young lordship. I expect your heading for breakfast to our Praetor?" The butler said stepping aside on the stairs as my guard led me past him. But of course I could not be as so impolite as not to reply.
"Indeed I am. Have any idea of what the cooked have prepared?" I said slowing my steps as the stairs not fully turning to him but rather just my head.
"I believe it was a stew of sorts. Beef perhaps? But with some wonderful thick toast and strawberries." He replied with what seemed was a genuine smile. Perhaps he simply had not expected a reply from me?
"Well thank you for letting me know. Have a good rest of day sir." I gave a gentle smile. But one that did not reach my eyes as I continued down the stairs reaching the main hall as the guards steps echoed off the granite floors. The smooth dark grey walls with gold trimming led to many doors. But the one he stopped at was a set of two heavy wooden doors with gold handles.
"Breakfast has already been served I believe lordship." He said as he opened the doors stepping through as I followed him.
Large glass windows lined both sides of the long room. The ceiling at high above had chandeliers of diamond and glass. But the large ornate dark walnut table. Grey velvet seats lined both sides. 25 seats as always were present. Twelve upon each side with only one at the head of the table at the far end. And within that one seat. The one very end looked at me with eyes of my own. Where my genes that made me up came from. Where my eyes came from. My father with those ruby red eyes. Not the red of blood. The red of a glass like ruby. The eyes of Royalty.
"I am here as requested father." I said plainly as I moved along the seats on the left. For on the right of my father in the two seats was my brother. The older of the two of us sat nearest to my father. My brother being 22 and I myself only 17. My brother stood to inherit just about everting. I would at best get a manor on a spot of useless land in the corner of the territory with no true titles. The second seat sat my older sister who was of the age twenty one.
My brother and sister had both inherited the genes of my mother. Blue eyes like diamonds. And hair of a golden blonde. However my brother took my father physique more than I. With wide shoulders and well balanced body. My sister was the smallest of us all yet the way she sat always made her seem like she should be seven feet instead of the five foot, six inches she was.
"You will address me as Praetor or by name boy," His eyes glared at me as my father spoke to me from upon his seat. My brother and sister both ignored him as they ate their food.
It seemed as the butler was right about the beef stew. And the toast was indeed think. About a inch. But had gone cold and the stew by now was just starting to be luke warm.
"Of course my Praetor. I forget myself is all as being your son should not stop oneself from calling you by your titles." I said as I held back a smirk.
That was one thing I did not get from my father. And that was my tongue. He spoke in the language of facts and politics as if the idea of a personality never existed. No that I got from my mother and the wonderful maids I grew up around. Often times I had learned one could get away with insult if only they knew it was a insult. After all how could one ignore facts when nothing rude was truly said. But unfortunately I think it mostly came from the maids. After I was born my mother began becoming sick. As Solrein we never get sick. Or at least except for two things. Spellblood crystallization. A rare thing where a injury does not heal right and the spellblood cools just enough to become a crystal again. As I wrote in my journal spellblood becomes a crystal when cooled. And it grows endlessly.
A spellblood crystallization was rare. It meant that with these tiny crystals within that would grow slowly within would damage the veins. The organs. And yes even the heart. Yet as solrein the spellblood healed this tiny wounds easily and quickly. But over time it would exhaust the body. Ruin blood flow. And the worst was the sudden pain that could come from anywhere as the crystals grow they would do more damage until eventually internal bleeding could not heal in time from would kill.
"As you should boy. Remember it is always important to remind rank to everyone. Even family." He said gesturing to the seat on his left for me to sit. Taking my seat it was clear while my eye and hair color came from my father. I was far more lean like my mother. Never filling in. My brother had always teased saying I would when I was older.
But for now we ate. The large windows on both sides overlooking a ocean that was below the very room we sat in. The whole building was built upon a cliffside. And part extended over the raging dark water below. There and yet unheard. And morning sunlight streamed in casting my shadow onto the table. Slowly eating the luke warm beef stew.