Calradian Chronicles: Coming Darkness

Chapter 1: Warning

Argoron: Capital of the Calradian Empire

In the vast city of Argoron, capital city of the Calradian Empire, citizens went about trading their goods, tending to their animals, even fighting in the tournaments. In the palace, a young man, no older than nineteen, with chin-length black hair and light skin, Prince Pethos Nebranos, third child and second son of the emperor, slept as dawn rose on the city. A loud bang awoke the prince from his slumber, startled at the sound.

???:
Pethos! Wake up!

Coming back to his senses, Pethos looked to see a young woman in a deep purple dress, with long, raven black hair, sapphire-blue eyes, and light skin, all matching the shade of his own. The woman he recognized as Princess Alea Nebranos, his younger sister.

Pethos:
What in God's name Alea!? Haven't you heard of knocking?

Alea:
Sorry about that. I just came to tell you that father wants us all in the throne room. Come on, Vadrios and Presciana are already over there, and Sora's out training with Destorion.

Alea turned on her heel, leaving Pethos utterly annoyed with her. Regardless, the young prince rose from his bed, and made himself look presentable. Pulling on his dark purple coat, he walked through the halls of the massive palace, each decorated with royal purple banners with the insignia of a golden, two-headed eagle on it. Stepping outside, Pethos saw two people training with wooden swords, one a woman with the same characteristic as him and Alea, who he recognized as Princess Sora Nebranos, his older sister, and the other a man with scruffy brown hair and a thick beard, who he recognized as Destorian, one of the empire's greatest soldiers. Sora then knocked Destorian's mock sword from his hand and knocked him to the ground.

Sora:
I can't believe you, Galdores is a way better instructor.

Destorian:
I will have you know, I am just as good a fighter as he is!

Sora:
Maybe, but your an awful teacher.

Sora then helped Destorian back to his feet, though the man was still irritated with her. Pethos then stepped up to his sister and the instructor.

Pethos:
You did great, but you may of to cut your training short. Father wants us in the throne room.

Sora:
Alright, I guess I'll just get ready right quick.

Sora also took a moment to make herself presentable for the court, though when she finished, she follow Pethos towards the throne room. When arriving in the throne room, the two met with Alea, as well as two others, one a man and the other a woman, both with the same characteristics and purple regalia as the other three. The man was Prince Vadrios Nebranos, the oldest of the five siblings and heir to the throne, the other was his sister, Princess Presciana Nebranos, who has been born between Pethos and Alea. The five siblings all stood and looked as two muddled aged people stepped in, one a man, the other a woman, both with slightly wrinkled skin and greying hair, but otherwise with the same features as the five siblings. The man wore long purple and gold robe, a golden wreath around his head and a darker purple toga over his body, while the woman wore a gown that matched the man's robes. The two were recognized as Emperor Drosios Nebranos and Empress Rhegaea Nebranos, the parents of the five siblings. The emperor and empress sat on their respective thrones of the red and golden room, as their children stepped up in front of them.

Vadrios:
Mother, Father.

Vadrios was the first to speak, as the five of them bowed before their parents. The emperor then held up his hand as his children stood back up. The door then opened as Galdores, one of the empire's oldest soldiers stepped into the throne room and lowered himself onto one knee. Pethos could unconsciously looked to the shocking cut on Galdores' shoulder, and how something had cut through his armor.