Before the first sword was drawn, the stars trembled, not from fear, but from prophecy.
The death toll, incalculable
The collateral damage, immeasurable
His message and the legend left behind, Fucking spectacular.
Professor Florex walked into his classroom, late from a meeting with the principal about a fight caused by a student of his, his eyes tired and dark, his blonde hair messy and unkempt, the student in question had knocked out a noble child during the orientation ceremony. The student came in after him and went towards the back of the class to take a seat.
"Oh no the fuck you don't, sit your ass at the front, (can't believe this lil shit got me yelled at for almost an hour, my first day on the job, now that old man is gonna be up my ass the rest of the year)." he inwardly sighed.
The elven boy awkwardly made his way up to the front of the class sitting down at the direct front.
With a dry tone giving off the vibe that he had been forced to say these lines, the professor began to speak.
"Good afternoon new students of Glorybell Academy, I am your homeroom professor Wolfgang Athenos Florex and I will be your instructor on magic history, theory and combat. First I will be teaching you a lesson in magic history but first a few class rules."
1.Follow my instructions to the letter.
2.Shut up and pay attention during class.
3.Stay out of my office.
"Now as much as I would love to have you all talk about who your parents had to jack off to get you enrolled here, I quite honestly don't give a fuck, so we're jumping straight into the lesson."
Some of the more prideful noble children were not used to being spoken to in this manner but regardless they knew they could not object to anything he said as for most of them the name Florex was one that commanded respect especially this particular one.
Known as the Thunder God of House Florex he had built a reputation for himself during his times as an adventurer, becoming an S class magic swordsman, however brash and disrespectful he seemed he had real power but was also one of the best teachers in the academy.
"So, jumping right into it, our first lesson is history," pointing to the young elf in front of him, he started. "Alright kid, open the book and start reading".
The young man nonchalantly picked up the book and turned to the first page.
"Long ago a man dared to defy fate, he came to us as someone seeking to save his wife and free her from her torment. He shared their story, telling others to use this message as a catalyst, to fight back, to stand up and protect their families.
He then proceeded to insult a goddess, the strongest in the known universe no less exposing her as a murderous tyrant who enjoys the pain of others by calling her names that cannot be repeated in writing and telling her to come get him, a move that all who saw it wondered if it was brilliant or suicidal. With that the man went to war, for his family, for himself, for revenge."
Yohan looked down at the soldiers, the development was unexpected but still in his favor, he originally had planned on fighting the entire army and fighting Ventris to the death, figuring out how to rebuild after dethroning her, but now things had changed, his daughter turned out to be alive, and he now had followers and an audience, he had to do this properly.
He figured he might as well let the men rest a bit, soon they'd be fighting for their lives, whatever reason they actually chose to fight for him, they were now his responsibility, so he would make sure they survived.
"Relax guys, I'm not gonna kill you, (unless you give me a reason) after all we're in this together." With a flick of his wrist transformed the earth beneath them into stone tables and chairs, surprisingly comfortable being made out of rock.
"Hey general, how long do you think before reinforcements get here?"
"I would estimate we have the better part of two hours my lord, I imagine Lady Ventris to be quite shaken, now with almost 40% of her army gone, it would take her a while to mobilize the other generals, especially without sir Zervas or me present."
Yohan eyed Zervas for a bit then returned his gaze to the army, placing two fingers to his neck and channeling energy there he began to speak, loud enough where all the men could hear him.
"You are all about to fight for your lives, placing yourselves in a position that you didn't need to, for whatever reason you decided to fight with me, I shall honor your decision and look to you as I would my own…..brothers, your lives do not end here, not as long as I stand, so anyone hungry?"
The men looked at each other and nodded their heads in agreement. With that Yohan got up from his throne and told the men to stay put, putting a forcefield around the castle warning them not to go near it and with a snap of his finger the tables were piled with food.
"Go ahead, you'll need your strength."
Yohan sat at another table and immediately started sharing plates, signaling the rest of the men to do the same, the tables soon erupted to life with the men stuffing down food and drink like no tomorrow.
"Hey Ben, you should have proposed to Maria before you left." A soldier said looking at his friend.
"Ha, good one Tor, but we both know she doesn't see me like that."
"Damn bro you really are clueless huh?"
"You mean?"
"Yup, four years now."
The soldier's face and ears turned cherry red as he sat there in disbelief.
"Don't worry kid, you'll make it back to her, I'll see to it myself." said Yohan resting his hand on the young man's shoulder, passing him a small glowing object, a ring made from a dazzling blue gem.
"Keep it safe and use this when you finally ask her."
"Y-Yes sir!" exclaimed the soldier, his friends gathering around him to see the ring and cheer him on.
"Grevos, I'm going back to the castle for a bit, make sure to prepare the men and have a meal yourself."
"Yes Lord."
In a flash he ran to the castle, heading straight for the room where he had left the recording device along with his wife and daughter, tears welling in his eyes the closer he got to them, when he reached the door he hesitated for a moment but after calming his shaking hand, opened the door.
For a moment he paused to look at Gladius, he remembered back to when he first sensed that Solaria was pregnant, she never told him, which he surmised she must have wanted to surprise him, so he never mentioned it either, deep down he was ecstatic and terrified at the same time but nonetheless knew he would be a good father.
He thought he had lost that chance long ago but now looking at her he couldn't help but break down in tears, as he fell to his knees Solaria and Gladius catch him before he hit the ground, the three knelt at the doorway crying their hearts out, the universe watching and crying with them, even a few gods couldn't help shedding a tear.
Yohan rose to his feet, hugged the two tightly and started carrying them down the stairs with a smile bright as can be, with him disappearing from the eyes of the audience, the camera turns back towards the window of the tower.
"Papa, where are we going?", "Don't worry about it love, he has something for you." Solaria smiled sweetly at her child, pinching her face.
Gladius, face pressed into her fathers chest, resigned herself to her fate, almost immediately she realized something else as well, her dad was huge, big enough to cradle two grown adults almost like children.
She rested in his arms, nestled between him and her mother.
After millennia apart, her father was finally here, real, warm, and holding them both like he never wanted to let go.
His energy shimmered softly around them, like starlight; cool, calm, and gentle. It wrapped her in a peace she had never known, quiet and steady, like the night sky itself was cradling her.
He reminded her of a great frost bear; massive, silent, and strong, yet radiating a quiet warmth only felt by those he trusted.
Solaria leaned into him, her head on his chest, eyes closed, content.
None of them spoke.
After all the war, the silence, the centuries lost, this moment was enough.
Together again at last.
Yohan feeling his child snuggle into his chest blushes and smiles, his footsteps now hurried.
Upon reaching the huge doors of the dining hall he poured a bit of his energy into the lock that flashed golden before opening
The castle's great dining hall shimmered with soft golden light. Soldiers outside feasted and sharpened blades, their laughter dulled beneath the coming weight of battle. Inside, Yohan stood between his daughter and Solaria.
He raised a hand, fingers tipped in white light, as a portal opened midair above the table. A soft hum filled the room as a perfectly preserved cake descended from the rift, landing gently before them.
"Happy birthday," Solaria said softly, brushing a lock of starlit hair behind her ear. Her voice carried warmth, but there was a tremor beneath it, regret for lost years.
The girl's sapphire eyes widened as she saw the name etched in elegant icing across the top of the cake. "Valenrya…" she whispered, puzzled. Solaria and Yohan exchanged a look.
"That's the name we gave you before...." Solaria said gently. "It was my mother's. A name meaning blades and brilliance."
She traced her name with awe, the moment tender, even with the low thrum of tension pressing against the castle walls. The universe was watching, literally.
The small orb floating in the corner of the room, continued to stream every moment across stars and systems. Billions watched in silence.
Then, a flicker.
Yohan's sapphire eyes snapped red. The air around him crackled like breaking glass. Without a word, he vanished in a blink of black smoke.
Outside, Ben, the young soldier Yohan had gifted the ring was moments from death. A crimson-tipped arrow whistled through the air.
Yohan reappeared between him and the missile. Bare feet kissed the stone courtyard as he caught the arrow mid-flight, fingers curled tight around its shaft.
His hair flowed with streaks of violet and white, horns casting a shadow across his brow. His arms covered in faintly glowing gauntlets tensed as a wicked grin twisted across his face.
"Finally…" he murmured, voice thick with anticipation. "The real boss shows up."
The ground quaked.
Across the horizon, portals tore into the sky like bleeding stars. From them marched an army, vast and merciless, half a million strong. Clad in gleaming white armor now tainted with strange crimson ichor, their appearance sent a hush across the Order of Ash. Alien creatures stomped forward, massive pale beasts resembling rhinos, but with too many eyes and bone-plated hides like obsidian glaciers. Their breath steamed in the air, eyes glowing with unnatural fire.
The cavalry rode beasts that looked stitched together from nightmares, sleek, towering mounts that didn't move so much as glide over the battlefield.
Yet Yohan stood unmoved, cloak flaring behind him, dark energy pouring from his body like a storm uncoiling. It crawled along the ground like shadows made solid.
Beside him, General Grevos stepped forward, once a loyal hound of Ventris, now the sharpest blade of the Order of Ash. His voice was gravel and grit.
"Order of Ash!" he roared, facing their ten thousand warriors.
"You are few but every one of you has crawled through fire to stand here. You have seen lies twisted into thrones. You've watched truth buried beneath banners of the damned. And now, now you fight beside the man they couldn't break."
He pointed toward Yohan, who now hovered inches off the ground, eyes burning, horns catching the twilight.
"They called him dead. They called her forgotten. And they called us fools."
Grevos raised his blade.
"So let the universe watch. Let them see what fools look like when they fight for something real."
The army roared back in unison, the ground trembling.
Grevos turned, nodding to Yohan.
"This is your war, my Lord. Lead us."
Above them, the stream continued to broadcast uninterrupted, Every soldier, every god, every world tuned in would witness what came next.
A legend reborn. A god unchained. A war that would burn its truth into the stars.
With the enemy on the march and the skies torn with war-born portals, Yohan turned his gaze back to the castle. Through the crack in time he had left open, he saw his daughter still at the table, the remnants of the birthday cake untouched.
She stood, fists clenched at her sides, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"I want to fight," she said, voice trembling. "Let me fight beside him…"
But Solaria caught her by the wrist, gently pulling her back. Her celestial hair glowed faintly under the soft lights, eyes locked on the man outside, the one she had waited eons for.
"He doesn't want us in this war," she whispered, holding her child close. "Not yet."
"But why?"
"Because he's your father," Solaria said. "Because he's our shield." She looked toward the portal, her voice steady. "He's waited lifetimes to protect us with his own hands. This battle, this moment....is his."
Outside, Yohan hovered above the ground, dark energy rolling off his form like waves of smoke and starlight. His cloak snapped in the wind, black fading to white. The gauntlets on his arms glowed faintly with violet light, and his dreadlocks shifted like ribbons of dusk, tipped in pale luminescence.
He raised a hand toward the sky, and the shadows behind him surged forward.
The Order of Ash.
This was no longer the time for reunions. Now was the time for reckoning.