"Surely you didn't?" I groaned as Julius set me down with a grin. Just as described in the books about the Magic Knights, Julius was a tall man with short, messy blonde hair. The most notable features were his purple eyes and a blue star with six sides that was on the left side of his forehead.
Moving past him, I saw we were in a massive room, or maybe I was just too small. "So what did you do? How am I here?" Julius then brought over a mirror as I took in my new appearance.
I was a small child, first of all. My eyes were a shade of violet almost as dark as Julius' purple, but my hair was a dark blonde, whereas Julius' hair was much lighter.
"Am I your kid?" I asked as he nodded, "Legally, but no. I found a child and altered a few things to make you more similar to me, the Nobles will buy it better that way." I groaned again at the thought of dealing with petty Nobles as my body started feeling much heavier.
"Oh, seems like your magic isn't settling right with your new body just yet. I'll look over you until you wake." I barely heard him as I fought to stay awake, still wanting to yell at him, but I lost the fight as my body hit the ground.
ONE YEAR LATER . . .
After feeling like I'd been sleeping for eons, my eyelids fluttered as I awoke in a massive bed. As feeling slowly returned to my body, I moved my eyes around to observe my surroundings.
The room I was in was massive, with a high ceiling and decorations that screamed wealth. I spotted a few doors along the walls that likely lead to the rest of the mansion. I was no doubt in as I sent out a pulse of mana.
I sent out more pulses as I tried to slowly map out where I was. The worrying part was the mass of magic heading right towards me. I slammed my eyes shut as the door opened. "You don't have to pretend. I know you're awake."
I stuck my tongue out at Julius as he entered the room and walked towards me. "Don't just wave your mana around like that. You're lucky I was here to cover your mana since we haven't sealed it all just yet. How do you feel?"
I got out of bed and stretched my small body around. It felt so much slower and weaker than I was used to as a devil, but like all humans, there was plenty of room to improve.
"Other than being weak again, I can work with this. My mana also doesn't feel like it'll rip this body apart either, so that's good." I said as he nodded.
"Great, then let's get to work sealing your devil mana before I introduce you to everyone," I grumbled, but didn't fight it as I sat and let him work his magic.
Even with the disguise he had on, I could see past the two layers and see the devil underneath, but it didn't bother me since he looked the most human out of all of the ones he'd met.
"So, anything I should be aware of?" I asked as he finished, and I stood up. "Well, as you no doubt already know, I am the Wizard King and won't always be around to keep you safe or guide you.
I'm going to arrange for one of the Magic Knight Captains to train you so that you can defend yourself. You'll also have to receive teachings despite already knowing basically everything.
It's also worth noting that not all Nobles like me, so be on guard at all times when out and about, even when you're here at my residence."
I nodded and filed these things away as we entered a massive dining room where the staff of the mansion were waiting for us. As we ate in silence, I wondered how many other Nobles were in the Clover Kingdom other than the ones mentioned in the books I'd read. I also planned what kind of personality I would present as we finished our meal.
"Please call in all the staff, I have someone they need to meet," Julius said as a maid bowed and left. A few minutes later, the rest of the staff arrived as he introduced me, "This is my son, treat him as you would treat me. That is all, you may return to your duties."
He kept it short and simple, as I realized we HAD to figure out what my name would be as he led me to his study, where a glass window overlooked the Capitol. I walk over and stare outside, seeing the entirety of the Clover Kingdom from one spot is pretty cool.
I see the mountain that the Noble realm is built upon, and as it gets lower and lower, I see the class divide between the Common realm and, far in the distance, the Forsaken realm. I also spot what seems to be a massive skeleton way back on the horizon, but I ignore it as Julius sits.
"So, my assistant Marx is on the way to meet you since he'll be your teacher for now, but we have more pressing matters. Your name." I nod as I tell him the name I selected back in the Underworld after training with Adramalech for a few hours.
"Alucard. That will be my name." I said as Julius nodded. "A good play on words, since you are no son of a dragon, but a Wizard King. Fitting."
A few moments later, a knock on the door is heard as a man with a blue bowl but enters. "I got your call, Sir. It seems he has finally awoken." Marc bowed to Julius, then me as I glanced at Julius. 'What did you tell him about me?' Julius smiled as Marx gave a report.
"Well done, Marx. Now that Alucard has awoken, he can begin his schooling. Would you be able to teach him until a proper instructor has been found?" Julius asks, and Marx nods, "Yes, Sir, as long as you actually stay in here and do your work." Julius coughs but relents under Marx's glare.
"Oh, can you also ask Yami if he's able to train him? He's already showing signs of his mana awakening, so I'd like to get ahead with his training." Marx looked confused at the request, "You want Yami,Sir? Surely William or Fuegoleon would be better at teaching?" Julius nodded, "Yes, but they are occupied with their duties, Yami is still building his squad. I'm sure he doesn't have much to do with a Vice-Captain and no members."
I watch Marx make a face, but he relents and leaves to fulfill the request as I look at Julius. "So what did you tell the world about me?" "That you're my son, hidden away with your mother who died of disease. I have records to back it up, so you will be recognised as a member of the Noble, to house Novachrono."
"Anything I should know about Yami? I thought he didn't have a Vice-Captain, just a squad of misfits." Julius smiled, as if remembering a fond memory. "Yami is a bit rough around the edges, especially with Noble. Treat him with respect, and you'll be fine. As for his squad, those books you read combined the past, the future, and the present. Don't rely on them for everything."
I nodded and made a few adjustments in my plans as Julius did paperwork for the rest of the day. At times, Marx or other mages would come and report things, but I mostly stared out the window, watching the people below live their lives.
The next few days were more of the same, the only new thing being Marx teaching me when he had the time.
He was surprised when I quickly picked up reading and math, but had a headache when teaching me Noble etiquette. He still tried his best, as I didn't hold back much, hoping Marx would tell Julius that I didn't need other instructors since I was already smart enough.
It worked to a point, as Julius didn't call in anyone else to teach me advanced reading, letting me use self-study in the massive Royal Library. He did force me to get a real teacher for etiquette since I hated it, and he knew it. The only reason I didn't try and chase off that pretentious woman was that Julius had threatened to force me to socialize.
Finally, at the end of the week, one of the maids intercepted me on the way to Julius' office.
"Excuse me, Young Master, you have a visitor waiting for you at the training grounds." I nodded as she bowed and left. Making my way to the training yards, I wondered if it would be Yami or if he was too busy to make it. I got my answer when I entered the training grounds to find a tall, muscular man with dark hair.
He must have felt me enter as he turned and looked down at me, "So," He took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled, "You're the brat Julius hid all these years?"
I snorted, 'Yeah, right, hid.' I nodded as he sighed and stomped his cigarette out. "Well, Julius wants me to help you get stronger so you can defend yourself, so let's start. Start running around the grounds!"
I gave him a look and went to take off one of the robes Nobles are supposed to wear as I took off at a decent pace. I didn't bother going as fast as I could since he never said how many laps, just to keep running, so I stayed at a steady pace to not burn myself out too quickly.
Yami POV:
'This is so annoying, I get I don't have anything to do but babysitting? Really, Julius?!' Despite my reservations, I went to the Capitol and entered the residence of the Wizard King, announcing myself before waiting for the brat to show his face.
I didn't have to wait long, which was nice, but this kid was strange. His Ki was all over the place, so erratic as if the kid was unstable or something.
'Mana's not too bad either; this kid might actually be one of Julius's. Not likely, though, the nerd wouldn't know what to do if a woman threw herself at him.'
He grinned at the image before schooling his features and turning to face the brat. He looked plain, but with features that resembled Julius if you knew what you were looking for. 'Same eyes, almost the same hair.' He noticed before taking a drag and exhaling.
After giving the kid instructions, Yami watched as Alucard started making lap after lap. It was by no means a small training field, since there was enough space for low-ranked mages to have full-on battles if need be.
'Not bad, the kid hasn't burnt himself out yet. He might actually learn a thing or two if he doesn't have a stick up his ass like the rest of the Nobles.' "Alright, kid, stop."
Alucard stopped right in front of him and stared up at him, watching. 'Way too smart for a four-year-old. Julius might have actually gotten laid.' Yami thought incredulously before presenting his next task.
"Now do 100 push-ups, then run ten more laps before doing 100 squats." Let's see if the kid can go past his limits. As if hearing him, Alucard gave him a look, "My body won't make it doing all of that." Yami flared his mana and growled, "Surpass your limits, kid!"
That seemed to spur the brat on as Alucard got right to doing what was asked, all 100 push-ups, followed by another paced ten laps that gave him time to recover, before he finished things out with 100 squats.
Seeing the child who was barely old enough to walk and talk, panting and still standing, Yami mentally wondered if Julius had been jumped by a certain lioness. He was brought out of his thoughts by Alucard. "What's next?" Seeing the kid barely standing but ready for more, Yami grinned.
"You've already surpassed your limits today. I'll be back tomorrow. Tell your old man I said hi!" Yami waved before leaving, as Alucard wondered if he'd be killed by this lunatic long before the devils got their claws on him.