Chapter One: It all began...

PART ONE

A thousand years ago...

The cold wind blew harshly over the arena. Two men were bare-chested, slowly going around the other, patiently waiting for one of them to strike. They were in a magical ring created by one of the well-respected masters in the realm. It was inescapable and so perfect for the sparring match. It would immediately disappear once there was a winner. Around the fighters were the onlookers, most of whom were the nobles and their servants. However, the most respected was the supreme lord, who was seated on the highest part of the arena to gain a better view of the fight. It was a match he couldn't miss because one of the fighters was his son.

Prince Luther.

The fighters suddenly leaped on each other. As the fight was to test their strength, a spell had been placed to prevent any of them from using their powers. They were both masters and so were capable of hiding their wings. Prince Luther grabbed his opponents by the shoulders, trying to draw him into a chokehold, but that was futile. He studied the person he fought with. His opponent was the son of the greatest master in the realm. Before their fight began, he introduced himself as Agar. He was a tall man who had a proud spring in his steps. Luther had heard that he was as powerful as his father and that he made sure to remind everyone of that fact. But as he looked at him, Luther couldn't find anything special about him. His hair had been scraped to the skin, whereas Luther wore his long shoulder-length hair as a short bun. They both circled each other, patiently waiting as they planned moves in their head.

Luther, tired of waiting, struck first. He feigned a repeat of his previous attack, causing Agar to go straight to defense, automatically giving leeway to his opponent. Luther saw it and quickly took his chance, striking Agar with a heavy blow to his side. Agar grunted in pain but didn't fall down.

Luther had to hand it to him; he was a strong fighter. He quickly went for another blow while his opponent was still recovering, striking him in the same place twice. At that, Agar grunted again, almost falling to his knees. Luther was a pretty good fighter, but he had more fun defeating someone the dirty way. He kicked at Agar's knees, forcing him to go down on one knee. As he tried to attack again, Agar held on to his feet, dragging him down painfully. Luther winced, pissed that he didn't see that move coming. Agar crawled on top of him and held him in a chokehold. For one to win the fight, he had to temporarily put out his opponent, causing him to lose consciousness. Agar was going straight for the kill. Since the prince wouldn't play honorably, he didn't have any reason either.

The audience around them watched on, their attention firmly on the fight happening.

Even though his face turned red from lack of air, Luther looked at his opponent and grinned. Confused, Agar wondered what he was smiling about when he shouted in pain, folding himself on the ground. In his quest to end the prince, he had left an opening for his opponent, causing Luther to hit him in the same spot he had attacked earlier. With Luther's heavy blows to that spot, Agar must have sustained several serious injuries. Luther thought of attacking his back to make Agar temporarily unable to use his wings. That would teach him that though they fought in the same ring, they were not of the same level. He slowly stood up, sauntering towards Agar's form. While Agar was still recovering, Luther bent over him and started to strike the injured spot. Over and over again till his blows tore through skin and muscles, causing the wound to bleed. Agar fought, but it proved futile. He could only stay in one spot, screaming in pain as he felt his bones slowly break under the continuous assault.

After a while, he became unconscious.

Luther stood straight, wiping his sweat with his blood-stained hands. He grinned at the crowd, breathing heavily as he took them all in. He looked at his father, who was staring proudly at him. His son had defeated the son of the greatest master in the realm, one rumored to be just as powerful as his father. He stood up and grinned widely.

"I announce Prince Luther as the winner!"

Horns of celebration sounded around the arena, but the air was somber despite the victory. No one in the audience seemed to like the victorious prince. The prince walked to his father proudly, grinning evilly as he faced the audience. Those who caught his gaze bowed their heads in fear. They had all heard of the deviousness of the prince. Tales were passed even to the lowest levels of the realm of the people he had killed secretly without his father's knowledge. Those who reported his deeds to his father also ended up suspiciously missing. Not that his father believed those tales anyway. To the supreme lord, his son was a saint. The most beautiful and powerful of all his sons. He would be the one to take over his throne once he departs from the world. His other sons couldn't compare to Luther. He had been blessed with the brains and looks of gods, skills enough to defeat several average men at once. His other sons just couldn't compare.

"Come over here." The supreme lord ordered. Luther walked towards his father's side of the arena, then, releasing his wings, flew to the highest point where his father was. Once he landed, he immediately fell to one knee.

"Bless me, oh great one." He said reverently. His father smiled.

"Hence forth, you are in charge of the supreme army. You are to be my sword, carrying out my vengeance on those who defy me."

To be placed in charge of the supreme army was the highest honor in the whole realm. Whoever had that position was just one level below the supreme lord. As far as everyone was concerned, Luther's word was synonymous with the Supreme lord's decree. The somber mood became worse, and the lining of fear passed across everyone. Things were surely bound to get worse in the realm.

The other sons of the supreme lord watched on, drowning in jealousy and anger. But despite their feelings, they knew there was nothing they could do and could only look on as their evil brother was given power over them all.

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The celebration planned for his victory had ended. Prince Luther walked down the lonely hall to his pavilion, grinning as he thought of how the day had ended. He would have to be a blind man if he didn't notice the stares people gave him. He couldn't blame them. After all the rumors about him, it would be strange if people didn't tremble before him.

Prince Luther had always known he was special. Even the great oracle had prophesied that he would be a man no one would contend with. His father was proud and had taken good care of his growth. That was why, no matter how fast prince Luther wanted to be supreme lord, he didn't give in to the growing urge he felt to get rid of his father. The man was already old and had made his decree for his favorite son to be crowned after his death. He just had to wait till then.

He thought of the looks on his brothers' faces. He had never liked any of them, and they were all weak to him. He had no problems with them since none of them tried to get in his way. At least they were smart to know that they couldn't defeat him. He continued his sauntering walk down the hall, passing the garden just before the entrance of his room when a sight caught him.

She was beautiful. With raven hair reaching up to the back of her knees, Prince Luther watched as the maid tended to the garden. He tried to remove his gaze from her, but it proved futile. As he was a prince, it was a taboo for him to get involved with someone from the lower class. But the more he looked at the girl, the more he reasoned that there were always loopholes in the rules. He just had to find the one that would benefit him.

Time went on, and Luther got used to seeing the girl tending to his garden every time the day ended. So far, he has had no reason to bump into her, and the more he watched her, the more his obsession for her grew.

He found the feeling annoying. He had thought that what he felt earlier would pass because he can't remember ever being affected by a woman. But the more he saw her, the more the nagging feeling to claim her pierced him. Currently, he was still studying her when he had a bold thought. He walked into the garden she was tending, startling her with his presence. She quickly turned around to look at him, and the prince nearly forgot how to breathe.

Heavens, she was beautiful. Her skin was golden, and her raven hair fell in wisps over her face, which she nervously tried to remove. Her eyes were copper brown, and the servant gown she adorned did nothing to hide the womanly curves that graced her body.

"Your highness," she greeted, quickly giving a bow. He nodded silently and watched as she stood with her gaze still on the ground.

"How may I help you?" she asked. He didn't like the way she looked at the ground. He wanted her eyes on him.

"Look at me." He commanded.

"M-My lord?" she asked, and even he could hear the fear in her voice. It wasn't customary for a lowly servant to look at the face of one in authority, not to talk of the royalty.

"You heard me." He answered, his voice warning her that he didn't like to repeat his orders twice. Slowly, she raised her head to look at him. Luther slowly smiled.

"What's your name?"

"G-Glovia, my lord." She answered.

"Glovia." He repeated, loving the way her name sounded on his lips.

"How long have you worked here?"

"For almost a year, my lord."

"Hmm, strange. I haven't seen you in this area."

"I-I recently got assigned to this part of the castle, my lord. I was told to tend to your gardens, as I am especially good with gardening."

Luther smiled, watching as she moved her gaze everywhere but at him. It irked him, but he didn't comment on it.

"What do you say, in becoming a personal servant of mine?"

"My lord?" she asked, her gaze snapping on him as her eyes widened in shock. Seeing his raised eyebrows, she swallowed, trying hard to bury the urge to look down.

"My lord, your wish is my command."

Luther grinned widely. "Good. You can start tomorrow. I would inform your head about this arrangement." He nudged his head towards the garden. "You can continue with your assignment." He said, then slowly turned around and left.

Glovia watched his leaving form as her heart hammered heavily in her heart. The last thing she ever wanted was for prince Luther to be interested in her. She was still shocked because there was no rumor of him ever personally selecting his servant. In fact, he didn't even have a personal one. She wondered why he would suddenly take an interest in her.

After the prince had disappeared, she turned back to the flowers she tended. She gently caressed the petals of the one in front of her, lost in her thoughts.

She could feel it deep in her bones that things would take a heavy turn for her.

If only she had known that it would be for the worst.