Velmoria was always busy, always moving. Merchants yelled over each other, nobles strolled around like they owned the streets, and guards stood at every corner, watching. The laws were strict, the punishments even worse, but that never stopped him. For the past ten years, the masked, hooded bandit slipped through the city like he owned the place. A fresh loaf of bread was gone; the baker didn't even notice. A noblewoman's jewelled brooch snatched right off her cloak and somehow pinned to a beggar's rag a few minutes later.
Velmoria may be a place of order, but that did not stop the masked, hooded bandit from slipping through its streets like a shadow. Beneath the nation's rigid laws and watchful guards, there were always cracks—small enough for those daring enough to exploit them. Wanted posters, old and new, were plastered all across Velmoria, from the castle gates of Velgallion to the beaches of Frescin—each bearing his name, each declaring him an enemy of the land.
The village of Shezhai colony, his primary hunting ground, was led by the daughter of the Shenzhai Emperor and her husband. Funny enough, their seventeen-year-old son, Saiko, moved there when he was just seven years old. He was the perfect child, he spoke multiple languages, mastered many fighting disciplines, an Exceptional S.T.E.A.M. student, oh and is to be married off to princess Claire.
The bandit walked from the back room of a small merchant's shop, pulling his hood down and discarding his mask on one of the many display shelves. He went up to the merchant, playing with a small emerald rock in his hands.
"Tony", he greeted the woman with a smile.
"Guess what I got," he added, flashing the rock between his index and middle fingers.
"Is it real?" she asks, grabbing it from his hand.
"It sure is; I stole it from the vault of Shenzhai Colony ."
The merchant's eyes widened as she examined the emerald. Her fingers brushed over the smooth, cold surface. "Your family vault." she mused, her voice tinged with scepticism. "I don't know; it seems a bit... too clean, don't you think? Not a scratch on it, no sign of age or wear."
The bandit leaned in and his smirk widened as he lowered his voice. "You just have to know the right people." He glanced around the shop, ensuring the walls had no ears. "Tell me, Tony, do you not want the crystal?"
Tony, a young woman with sharp eyes and a quicker wit, raised an eyebrow. "Of course I do," she paused. "Are you sure you don't want anything in return?"
"Naah", The bandit chuckled slightly as he draped a cape that boasted the seal of Shenzhai Empire over his shoulders. He turned to leave, but Tony's voice stopped him. "Wait, Saiko." She pulled out a small pouch from beneath the counter. "I've got something for you, too."
He raised an eyebrow, stepping back toward her. "What's this?"
Tony slid the pouch across the counter, but her expression was unreadable. "Something you might need more than the emerald."
The bandit looked down at the pouch, sensing a change in the air. "A map to a ring, huh?" He was cautious but curious. The bandit studied it for a long moment before tucking the parchment into his cloak. "I'll let you know what happened the next time I see you, but for now I have ballet class, which I would ditch, but I do not wish to face the qwrath—emphasis on the 'q'—of that man." he said, going out the door.
The Academy of Arcane and Innovation is a prestigious institution that blends Renaissance-era architecture with magic-powered technology. The school featured grand stone buildings adorned with ancient carvings and modern magical inventions like hover carriages, enchanted gadgets, and floating holograms. Some students wore traditional Renaissance clothing while utilising magic-infused technology, such as spellbooks with glowing pages and others wore futuristic cadet uniforms and communication wristbands. The atmosphere combined old-world elegance with futuristic innovation that made it a unique place where magic and technology coexist seamlessly.
You could hear the classical music coming from a boombox in one of the dance studios on the west wing of Velmoria's university.
"NO—NO—NO—YOU—ARE ALL—DOING IT—QWRONG." That was the hoarse voice of the ballet master, scolding the group of young noble Velmorian men. "Its demi plié on five, followed by a temps levé on six and a cabriole on seven," he paused.
"Understood?"
"Yes, sir," the group replied.
"And qwhere the hell is Mr Xolin?" He yelled as the door to the studio flew open.
"I'm here," Saiko yelled as he entered the room in his black tights and white fitted shirt.
The ballet master resumed his class after hoarsely correcting Saiko's tardiness. His eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything further as he gestured for the students to fall into pairs.
"Groups of two", he barked. "Move quickly, before I decide to make you all do it again." The students shuffled around as they were eager to avoid another scolding. Saiko, unbothered by the tension in the air, rolled his shoulders and moved toward a brunette lad standing by himself. Liam stood stiffly with his arms crossed and looked as though he'd rather be anywhere but there. The prince's royal posture stood out against the other noblemen; they were all either relaxed or simply trying to avoid the master's gaze.
"Looks like you're stuck with me, Your Highness," Saiko said with a sly grin, his voice teasing but also oddly respectful.
"Like always, Saiko," he said, his name rolling off his tongue with much ease and familiarity.
Liam was the prince of Velmoria, but he never felt like one. Born into a world of gilded halls, ceremonial feasts, and whispered court politics, he had spent his entire life being suffocated under the weight of expectations. From the moment he could walk, his future had been dictated—lessons in diplomacy, strategy, ethics, and the sacred history of Velmoria. These things were drilled into him until they became second nature.
His parents, the king and queen, had rules for everything: how to speak, how to sit, how to address foreign dignitaries, and how to wield magic in a way that "befitted a royal". Even his thoughts, it seemed, were not entirely his own.
But Liam never wanted the throne, and for once, fate had been kind. His Gemini, Claire – younger by only a second – had been named heir instead. She was everything they wanted—composed, regal, and unwavering in her duty. Liam, on the other hand, had been given the illusion of freedom; he was the prince in name only, allowed to drift just far enough from the throne, so long as he didn't disgrace it.
"Where are the ladies?" Saiko asked with a mischievous grin, scanning the room. "Why are there only males here?"
Liam shook his head, shifting his hand effortlessly from the fifth position to the third. "It's Invitation Day, remember?"
Saiko blinked. "Oh, really?"
Liam arched an eyebrow. "Why are you so surprised? Don't you have a copy of Claire's schedule?"
"Yeah, but I don't read it." Saiko shrugged.
Liam scoffed. "Why not?"
Saiko flashed him a lazy smile. "Because practice makes perfect, and when we eventually get married, I don't want to be the husband who keeps tabs on his wife's life."
Liam rolled his eyes. "You sound incredibly stupid, my friend."
The ballet master gave a vague wave of dismissal that signalled the end of class. The other students filed out, stretching their sore muscles and muttering complaints, but Saiko remained rooted in place as an impish grin stretched across his face.
"Speaking of your sister," he said, running to dig through his gym bag. "I've got an adventure for us."
Liam arched a brow as Saiko pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment and held it up for him to see. "A ring?" Liam asked, scanning the sketch.
"Yeah." Saiko's eyes gleamed with excitement. "I was thinking I could give it to Claire as a wedding band."
Liam exhaled sharply, folding his arms across his chest. "I don't know about this…"
"Oh, come on, pretty boy," Saiko teased, nudging him with an elbow. "It won't even take an hour to find. It's just a few furlongs away in the Velagallion Forest."
Liam's expression darkened. "See, that's where you lost me. You mentioned the Velagallion Forest—a forbidden forest." He emphasised
Saiko scoffed. "Relax; I'll get Carl and JJ to come with us. I'll even invite your little warrior. Where is he by the way?"
Liam fought back a smile. "He's not 'my' little warrior." He shook his head, adjusting his sleeves. "Besides, he has a coven gathering today."
"Ahh, that explains why you were so focused in class today." Saiko wiggled his brows and grabbed onto Liam's jaw. "Not busy trying to stop your cheeks from getting red?"
Liam let out a soft chuckle, brushing off Saiko's hand. "That and the complete lack of muscles; something only the boys of the Genesis Coven have to offer."
Saiko snorted. "Yeah, sure, 'cos that's what you been looking at."
Liam's posture shifted; his head tilted slightly as if anticipating something unseen. The air around him shimmered with a sudden heat. The room's temperature spiked for just a moment before pulling a piece of parchment from the air—its edges were blackened and curled as if burnt by flames. He exhaled sharply. "Well, I guess your little adventure is going to have to wait. We're being summoned by the Circle."
Saiko groaned, throwing his hands up. "We are literally insignificant when it comes to those meetings. Why the hell do we have to respond to their summons?"
Liam unfolded the parchment, scanning its contents with a deep frown. "I have no fucking idea."