CHAPTER 2

The moment he opened his eyes, he was welcomed with the starry night skies.

His throat was dry, he feels weak and exhausted as well. What the hell happened?

He vaguely remembers the shadows that devoured him whole. He gasped upon remembering all of it. The late emperor, Ashborn appeared yet disappeared the next minute.

In two years, there would be a magical war that will destroy the kingdom. According to Ashborn, he was the only one who can save the kingdom's future.

"Was it a dream?" He mutters. His numbness starts to go away and he shivers upon the cold wind hitting on his bare skin.

He sat up and stared blankly at the open fields. He wonders what time it is already. It was already so dark that the only light present was the moon shine. The maids didn't even bother looking for him, as expected. Everyone wanted him as good as dead.

But he won't let that happen. The kingdom that Ashborn worked hard for will vanish if he dies.

Or maybe Ashborn is nothing but his imaginations. He was stuck between dreams and reality. Which one was which? What is real and not real?

He stood up, a bit dazed before he headed towards the palace.

Everyone was asleep and no one was present in the palace halls. He entered his room and closer the door with a soft thud.

He sighs, before lying on his comfy bed to go to sleep.

He was too exhausted to think properly.

The following day, streaks of warm sunlight passed by his window. He groans upon the light hitting his eyes, it was disturbing.

He slowly opened his eyelids and was welcomed with a major headache. What was happening to him?

Maybe a cold show could fix him up. He stood up and headed towards the bathroom. He relaxed when the droplets of water touched his bare skin. He looked too skinny though. He didn't like his body at all. He could rival a girl from the size of his waist. His bones were poking out of his flesh, telling the whole world how neglected he was.

He sighs, "How can I save the kingdom in this state? In fact, why should I even do it? I don't even belong here."

But something in Ashborn's words just kept telling him that he should fight. For the sake of the real Prince Jinwoo and Ashborn's kingdom.

He wraps the robe around his body and proceeded to see his reflection on the mirror.

"Holy shit..." Jinwoo cursed upon seeing his reflection.

"What happened to my eyes?! Damn." He stared intently at his own reflection. His eyes were the shade of light blue. Unlike his previous black eyes, this was like a miracle.

"Ahhhh! Ashborn bring me back my eyes!" He yelled to no one in particular. He looked like a madman.

He sat on his bed, his hair dripping from cool water droplets.

"What should I do?"

He decided to start his day by warming up again. He silently exercised in his room, he was glad no one was bothering him.

He was drenched in sweat after his 50th push up. He felt pathetic, the old him could do 300 push ups in ease.

After his exercise, he went down to grab something to eat. The maids didn't even bother bowing when they saw him and just do their jobs.

Jinwoo sat on the dining chair and waited for his food to be served.

The maids was slow in their jobs, it was annoying him a lot.

If only he could replace these servants with someone who actually cares for him. He was served the food after a while of waiting. He devoured his food in an instant.

While enjoying his time eating, his ears caught up sounds of soldiers marching.

The doors opened and revealed the royal troops with the messenger in front.

'What do they want?'

Jinwoo wiped his lips with the table napkin and placed it down on the table.

"Greetings Prince Sung Jinwoo," the messenger greeted him, "The empress demands to see you now, whether you are willing or not."

He clenched his fists under the table, "Then I shall humbly obey." He answered calmly, but something in his tone was odd.

The messenger nodded, "Then the royal knights and I will escort you to the main palace."

He had to eventually face the royal family soon, so he just quietly obliged with their orders. What does the Empress need to desperately seek for his audience?

They entered a magic-powered car, which had golden designs with the royal family's insignia. It was a while, the last time he rode this car was when he was 4 or something.

It was Jinwoo's first time to visit the capital and he was strucked with awe upon seeing the unique buildings he had never seen before.

"Why does the Empress want to see me?"

"The empress will tell you then."

Jinwoo just hated the aura this messenger guy was giving off. It was obvious that this guy doesn't favor him.

The big gates of the main palace of Skia Kingdom opened via magic when it sensed their presence. Jinwoo internally jaw drops upon seeing how tall and massively big the palace was.

In his simple attire, he walked out of the car and the royal troops escorted him on his way. His feet led him on his own. This body seems to memorize the palace already.

"Your Highness, Prince Sung Jinwoo is here to have your audience."

"Let him in." The Empress, Jinhyuk's mother, said cold-heartedly.

Jinwoo wore his emotionless face when he encountered the Empress face to face. A lot of bad memories about her came compiling in his head.

"I have a request for you, Prince Jinwoo."

The empress? Asking him a request? Unbelievable!

"Soon, my son will leave for war in the north front of our kingdom. Besides that, the west front is threatened by the major forces of the kingdom of destruction. You are well aware of the Kingdom of Destruction, aren't you not?"

"I am well aware, Your Highness."

"You will be in charge to lead the front in the west. Since you are a prince, it is your duty to protect the kingdom and its people."

It was obvious. The empress knows how weak the second prince is, yet they request for Prince Jinwoo to take lead.

It was almost as if they're telling him to die already. If this was the old Jinwoo, he couldn't possibly survive this war. This was instant death.

"When will the war take place?"

"Two weeks from now. You shall be prepared and take leave, it takes two days to arrive at the west region."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Jinwoo bowed before the empress as etiquette.

"Dismissed." The empress curtly ends the conversation, allowing Jinwoo to leave the room.

When Jinwoo stepped out, a nasty smile appeared on the Empress's face, "I should have said my final wishes to him."

Jinwoo didn't go home just yet. He looked for the royal library, only the royal family had the access to read these books. The guards recognized him and let him inside.

This was the library the old Prince would often visit when he was in the royal palace. He searched for the book and his eyes lightened up upon seeing what he was looking for.

He sat on the red sofa and flipped the book open.

The Kingdom of Destruction belonged to the 8 kingdoms of the country. They are well known for their powerful attack and defense. What makes them unique is that they breed monsters to be one of their troops in war. Monsters such as dragons, insects, and demons led their victories in war. The Skia Kingdom only contained of human mages that are fully skilled in both direct attacks and assasinations. Rare skills such as the mastery of long swords and manipulation of space and objects were their advantages in war.

The first prince had the skill to manipulate objects at his will. It was a skill that is only possessed by the royal blood. No other kingdoms can possess the same skills.

Other than the 8 kingdoms, there is a kingdom where the people are believed to be gods and goddesses. It was the only kingdom that went astray and led their own life. They didn't negotiate with others and prefer to hide themselves. No one actually knows what magic they use or what they look like. They were named by the people as the Rulers. Legends has it that they could wipe out all the 8 kingdoms with ease.

Jinwoo has to face a war for the first time in his life. He was always doing assassinations in his past life, this was entirely a new thing for him. He had to know the strengths and weaknesses of the kingdom of Destruction. He has to prove the world that he isn't some lowly prince rotting in the corner.

Two weeks were the time given to him to prepare. How heartless of the Empress, but regardless, he should train with all he got.

He chose a training ground near his palace and meditated on the grass fields. He took a deep breathe, concentrating on his magic power.

"I still don't understand what kind of power was given to me." He sighs and decided to rest for a bit. His body was sore from all the kicking and punching.

"I want a weapon."

He managed to find some weapons in the palace but all are long swords. He scrunches his nose at disappointment, wasn't there any shortswords here?

If he wanted to a buy a new one, it was going to cost him lots.

He noticed a cool sword being protected by a barrier. It was a blue and black longsword with dragon designs.

"Wow." Maybe he should give longswords a try. He reached for it and was amused at the beauty of the craft he's holding.

When he held the sword, it suddenly glowed a blinding blue color. Jinwoo closed his eyes from the immense light, when it disappeared, he looked at it again.

"What the?!"

The longswords became more shorter but it had the same features like before.

"A longsword became a shortsword?" Jinwoo was amazed. This world filled with magic is awesome.

He returned to the training grounds with a satisfied smile, he was ready to train and become stronger.

"You sensed it, didn't you?" a deep voice echoed in the dark cave. His voice was full of authority that all monsters bowed their heads in submission.

"Yes, our Lord."

An elder appeared by the side, "We have guessed that it is similar to first emperor of Skia Kingdom."

"So someone had already inherited is powers? Impossible! How may centuries has it been?"

"Our Lord, it is just an assumption. We are not sure that if Ashborn came back after being missing for so long. Besides, the Skia Kingdom already declared him as good as dead."

"I don't believe that!" The Sovereign of Destruction growled, causing a mild earthquake in the cave.

"How can the King of the Dead die?! THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE! Ashborn is bound to interfere with out plans!"

"Rest still, Our Lord." the elder removed his cloak to reveal a face of a dragon, "We will make sure that he doesn't."