Episode 1: Lumière, the Light

"You're turning 18 tomorrow! Aren't you excited?" My cousin, Leana asked.

"I was excited." I answered as i looked up, above the sky. The sun is about to set, only few hours left before the 21st of August falls.

"What do you mean by was?" She asked for some clarifications. I heaved a sigh and watched the entire town from here. We are currently sitting on the castle's veranda, from here you can notice every house of the succeeding towns, regardless of their sizes.

"It feels nostalgic yet, i am afraid. I am afraid to face any possible consequence after i receive my mantore." I whispered. I stood up and felt the gentle breeze of the wind. A mantore is a book-like object wherein several enchantments was written. The better amount of energy you have, the bigger the book, the larger your potential, the thicker the pages.

"Aren't you supposed to be excited? When you finally received your mantore, you will be able to know about your manipulation capability." She stated.

"You can say those things becaudw you are just fifteen. I felt the same way." I answered as i start to walk my way inside the castle.

"Still, would you consider joining the Manipulantes?" She asked. Even though we have a large amount of distance, i can still hear her voice.

"I guess so. That's the only option i have to divert my life and to not work with those corrupt politicians." I answered as i step inside my room.

I layed my body on my white bed, with my comforter covering half of my body. I am just staring at the gold ceilling of my room while playing with my hands.

Tomorrow, at exact time of twelve in the morning, the day i have been waiting for will arrive. I will finally reach my legal and independent age and i will be able to receive my mantore. I will be able to know my Manipulation Capability. When i was young, i dreamt about this but now that i am aware of my surroundings further, i do not anymore.

I started disliking myself. My bloodline. Of which family i belong with. My gold precious hair brought terror, fear, and phobia to this kingdom's citizens. The triangular system our parliament has started. Everything is unforgivable.

I wanted to take a move but how? How can i execute a move when they are far stronger than me? Well, that's as of now.

That's the reason why i want to join the Manipulantes, so i will be able to hone my skill at its extent. So when the time has come, i will be able to implore equity in this Kingdom and to improve every mistake. The monarchy system wherein the citizens have no rights to decide for thei for next leader. I will change it. I will change everything so i will be able to erase the horror and terror of this country that my own family did.

The Eterno Family. We are well and wonderfully written in every textbooks and history books of this country, however, truth won't be spoken unless someone will stand up. But, in this kingdom, the royals' words are absolute. They are irrefutable. Well, they are refutable, however, once you raised your hand to fight them, you will be annhilated without even you finishing your speech.

I glanced towards the large window pane. The moon is shining its way, covering the entire kingdom. If the moon can talk, it will probably speak out every injustice deeds of the country's politician. The moon is the witness. It witnessed every death of several innocent people. The hardship and poverty of those who are not lucky and privileged.

"Lumière," My mom scouted from the wooden door of my room that was followed by three consecutive knocks.

"Get in." I answered as i get up from my bed. The door created some creaking noise before my Mother entered my room. "I'm about to fall asleep yet you interefered." I told her in monotone.

"I'm about to greet you an advanced happy birthday. Tomorrow is August 21st right?" She smiled. If i wasn't aware of her underhanded tactics and underground businesses, i will regard those smiles as sincere ones. Apparently, she's a wolf in a sheep's clothing. She's a beast dressed as a gentle cute cat.

"Advanced greeting my ***." I rolled my eyes. "You want me to join your fvcking politics as soon as possible right?" I told her. I love her as my mother, but her, as a politician and as the Queen of this kingdom, i dislike her to the moon and back.

"Lumière, you might be eighteen anytime soon but you should use your words properly and award me some respect, as your mother and the highest-ranking woman in this kingdom." She stared at me.

"Hey, first thing's first, I am using my words properly. I can actually say more since I am a foul mouthed person especially in front of you, I can curse you and the whole political squad for a whole year without me stopping. I am actually being respectful here. And second, respect is not an easy thing to give, especially to the likes of you." I told her. You can call me a bad and a disrespectful son, but if you were on my shoe you will probably feel the same.

The same amount of wrath. The same amount of anger.

"Leave my room." I told her authoritatively.

"Lumi-" I cut her off.

"Shut the **** up, just leave my room." I heaved a sigh as i pointed the wooden door of my room, she couldn't do a thing but to leave my room.

When i felt that her presence was gone, i closed my eyes and forced myself to fall a sleep.

Especially, tomorrow is a big day.

I woke up earlier than i expected. It is still seven in the morning, the designated time for me to receive my mantore is nine. If i will prepare myself right now, i will be finished preparing myself at eight which means i will be an hour earlier.

I cannot decide what to do.

"Prince Lumière, the royal committee will be meeting you an hour later. Queen Lauzian ordered you to prepare yourself now." Sigaw ng isang royal servants sa labas. I didn't bothered answering.

The royal committee.

They think that they can recruit me in their fucking group like that? I will never follow their lead.

If they think so then they are nothing but indeed clowns. Corrupt clowns.

When i was done preparing myself, i wore the outfit my Mother gave me an hour earlier.

It is a double breasted white longsleeves, a black blaiser with fur and puffy trims in its final layer and a white pants with gold lines. The blaiser extends up to my waist and is enclosed with a gold and white belt, revealing the upper chest part. A black leather boots was also given to me.

I left my hair into a ponytail and let it hanging while leaving some bangs to cover some part of my forehead.

When i am finally satisfied with my look, i decided to leave my room and to face those clowns.

It seems that every person i will walk with will bow their heads, or they will kneel in front of me as if i was a God. I am not a God. And i will never be a God. Because God forgives, and i do not.

The golden floor of our castle is shining brightly, especially right now that it is reflecting the harsh sunlight. You can even see your reflection just by looking at it. The red carpet i am walking with is as clean as hell, you won't be able to see any germs or bacteria. The white bricks that serves as this castle's wall is astoundingly done with our family's crest carved on it.

You will be seeing lots and lots of doors, even I who's living here for years haven't toured all throughout the castle. There are restricted rooms or something that no one can enter. Maybe there are some secrets in there.

I am now walking into the castle's balcony, in here you will be able to see a very wide and spacious farm with an artificial lake positioned few meters from it, and also, a waterfall is gracefully providing the lake with water.

But, i stopped when i've seen my brother's figure. "Brother Sunbrè," I whispered as i bowed my head lightly. He is wearint a white double breasted longsleeves and a red cape with a golden crown statued on top of his head. He also matched it with a gray colored pants and a black leather boots. His mantore is positioned on his left waist. His gold, long wavy hair is getting blown by the wind.

"Today is your day right?" He smirked.

"Yes. Any problem with that?" I raised my left eyebrow.

"Tch. How insolent. The royal committee is waiting for you downstairs." He frowned.

"Do not worry. I won't choose the wrong direction like what you did." I told him as my final remarks. Brother Sunbrè, he is a 23-year-old Man. Highly respected by the whole kingdom. He's a good politician. Well, that's as of now. I am sure he will be a corrupt one soon, it seems that it runs in our blood. The corruptness. Good thing that i won't follow their rusty footsteps.

"Prince Lumière, has arrived." The Head Castle Knights shouted as his co-soldiers raised their swords in a queue. Castle Knights, they are those who failed upon taking the Manipulantes Exam, they are mixing their manipulation capability with their swords to enhance it.

I walked few meters away until i faced this black, oak door with some golden scribbles. I took a deep breath as i clicked the gold doorknob, i was welcomed with a long set of tables and chairs which are occupied by some famous persons in our country and some of my family members.

"Lumière," My Mother greeted me as she escorted my way to her friends. I sat in the gold-colored wooden chair in the center of the table and wandered the whole area silently.

"Everyone, this is my third son, Lumière." My mother introduced me to her friends. Some of the royal committees are our family members, although, most of them are nobilities.

"He seems to be formidable. He's just an eighteen year old boy but look at the amount of energy he possesses!" One of the nobleman seating with us praised me. Energy. That's the phenomena that gives us power, the larger your amount of energy, the stronger your attacks and you fan be.

"That's a good thing to hear, sir." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Apparently, being the King is not my goal." I faked a smile.

"Hm. Why is that?" A noblewoman asked.

"After receiving my mantore, i will train and try to join the Manipulantes. I'll take the exam." I told them as i started tapping my fingers on the table.

"But the exam is two months from now! You won't be able to get strong within two months." My Father exclaimed. Well, he is my step father. The King of this Kingdom.

"Do not limit my capabilities. Especially, i am a pure royal. Unlike you, who was a nobleman until my Mother asked for some meat when my Father died and took you inside our Castle." I stated in monotone, leaving everyone in the room in a shocked state. "Pure royals has higher potentials unlike nobilities." I continued.

"Do not disrespect the royal committee, Lumière." My Mother warned me.

"I think that i am the one that they should respect. Especially you, King." I stood up. "You don't even have the talent or qualities to be a King. You're nothing but a mere substitute." I walked outside of the room after i gave my remarks, "A King who's a substitute at the same time a puppet. I can't believe that i am seeing a powerless King right now." I told them as i forcefully closed the door creating a huge thug sound.

I felt the gentle breeze of the surrounding as i have my way unto the castle. We will be gling to the Mantoria, it is a castle that's filled with mantores. It is kilometer away from our castle.

What the King said is true, you won't be able to pass the examination with your two months of training. But, exclude me from that. I'll do everything in my capacity to fight and pass the examination.

"Butler Skiviem. I need your Cloth Manipulation to create a carpet where we could ride on." I told my butler.

"Right away, Prince Lumière." He smiled as he opened his mantore. "Cloth Manipulation: Carpet of Transportation." He enchanted as a large carpet appeared in front of us. "Queen Lauzian ordered us to escort you." He continued, i just nodded my head and followed his lead as i sat on the carpet.

When i managed to settle in, he started moving the carpet. Natural wind kept on blowing my hair off, good thing that i am wearing a ponytail.

After few minutes of travel, we landed in front of a giant tower with several castle knights guarding it.

When i entered the tower, an old man with a white long hair approached me. He is wearing a green cloak that covers his entire body. His mantore is flowing beside him.

"I am Father Winosco Tio. Pleased to meet you, Prince Lumière." The Priest introduced himself. "Just stand on top of the mark that is in the center of the tower and wait for your mantore." He explained.

I followed his instructions and stood on the mark in the center of the tower. I can feel my own energy swelling up.

"Portal Manipulation, Portal of Truth." The Father behind me enchanted, and i was awed when a portal emerged in front of me and a book was sent out from it.

"Open it, and cast the incantation the first page states. With that, your Manipulation Capability will be awaken." He instructed.

I opened my mantore, it is kinda thick but everything is in blank except for the first page. The first page indicates this:

J'invoque par la présente l'énergie de la lumière

"J'invoque par la présente l'énergie de la lumière," I recited what the first page states, few seconds passed and a blinding ray of light was released from my mantore. Most of the pages of my mantore was filled with attacks.

"I-it can't b-be." The Priest panicked.

"W-what's wrong?" I asked with my forehead creased.

"The ability to manipulate Light." He whispered. "After five hundred years," He continued. "Prince Lumière, you are indeed lucky, to be chosen by the power of light."

The legendary ability to manipulate Light?!

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