Magnus Sekai

Chapter 1.1 - "Unknown"

2018-08-28

Ishikuro Palace, located in Black Hope.

"Empress...?" A voice echoed, in the early morning of the artificial island, sacred earth, and battleground: Black Hope. Lifted just a few kilometers away from Japan, such land so noble general population wouldn't dare set foot in. There lived the richest of the survivors, surrounded by what seemed to be endless beauty, with enormous, utopian cities that circled the center of that man-made landscape, one that has its skyscrapers engineered along the nature's titans and guardians, that is, the trees and mountains that shielded and divided the territory into parts. Such contrasting strokes of civilization turned it into what could be described as a medieval neo-tokian country, for the culture there was ever so present, with shrines and smaller villages residing in corners and hills, for the most sacred of the still breathing monks. This, without mentioning the manpower scattered around the island, from swordsmen and mages to gunmen and mechs. That was the result of rebuilding a planet: the traces of a traditional society become lost in such a radical shift in focus. Survival was key.

"Hey, you can tone down on the formalities, silly. Call me by name." She replied, and "She" was none other than Cecilia. The empress of the Royal Union, a noble society that rose from the sea to prestige during the Chaos Era. Some of the bravest were born from it, and some of the bravest died for it, but little was that price for the promise of paradise.

Cecilia's characteristics are of a chameleon, for those who came across her all born a different gaze which few ever had the chance. Some said she's somber, ghostly with white eyes and dark hair, like a cemetery, and some said she's pure, with green eyes that reflected only peace and forgiveness.

However, the ones who were gifted the privilege to live by her side believed she had eyes blue like the deep ocean and hair like gentle, golden brown sun rays. Despite the contrast on perspectives, her beauty was unquestionable, and her purity challenged the maidens of the Holy Grounds, as the freckles in her cheeks and nose accentuated the youthful innocence of her delicate smile and painted her white skin, like the canvas of the most beautifully crafted art. Her black gown with red stripes and her similarly colored bowtie, her wooden sandals and golden Royal Union badge on the left side of her chest, all dainty and rich.

"Formality isn't the topic for us to debate right now! Listen..." And obviously, there was also a boy who spoke, standing on the other edge the sacred hall, sheltered under the beautiful Ishikuro palace. That boy was Murakami Ranmaru, dressed in his usual battle attire, a general. While also young, he was much less mysterious, he had courageous red eyes and blonde voluminous hair. His gear looked as noble as Cecilia's: he had golden and silver shoulder plates, a black coat and a plate armor uniform that extends down to his hips, where it is covered by a red cape that slightly hangs over the exterior sides of his legs. His outfit is completed by rugged, yet immaculate black shoes and pants.

He also had the same royal badge on the same side of his chest, the infamous white and red striped shield, where a black diamond was etched in the center. To finish, two diagonally angled katanas could be seen on the sides of his hip, one larger than the other, sheathed by very simple, black sayas with golden outlines.

The palace was a large building suspended by metallic pillars and covered with red concrete and black stripes, positioned in the middle of the island as if it was a holy temple, greeting all of Black Hope's like a beam of light.

The front hall in which they stood on resembled a mixture of a church and a mansion, with large stairways, big pillars and richness in the glitter on the walls and the red carpet. Chandeliers with diamond gems were their decoration, and beautiful, large, mosaic lancet windows brought a tone of yellow to the white, stainless walls of the palace. Again, diamonds, this time on the huge symbol whose appearance was identical to the badge, hanging above the entrance like a structural gatekeeper.