Chapter 1: Il Trovatore

January 7th, X811

The stomping of iron-clad feet, the sounding of horns, the cheers of crowds. Those were the sounds that echoed throughout Trovatore City as the military parade that celebrated the beginning of the new school year at Il Trovatore Magic Academy. But it was just more of the same to Headmaster Elias Falkenrath. Nothing special, nothing to be celebrated, but the nobles thought otherwise as always.

The Headmaster let out a sigh as his narrow, gray eyes watched the parade march on by, saluting him and those of the nobility that surrounded him as they hoisted the flags of the four most prestigious noble houses of Minstrel aloft into the air. Though a fifth and sixth flag were held far above them, the flags of Il Trovatore Magic Academy and that of the Noble Alliance of Minstrel respectively.

"Why, dear Headmaster, one might think you were quite bored with that scowl on your face," Elias heard a nobleman quip from beside him. Elias turned his aged, bearded face to look at the nobleman, his scowl disappearing from his face to be replaced with a polite smile.

"Duke Koenig," Elias began, "I mean no disrespect, but I grew weary of watching the school year begin with military parades many years ago, despite how impressive they may be."

"Ah yes," Duke Koenig remarked as he reached a hand up to his own, short and well-trimmed, dark blue beard, "I do recall you briefly mentioning a possibility of opening up the school year with something different at the last council session, but Duke von Rosenberg shut it down quite quickly, yammering about tradition and the like if I remember correctly."

"You and he were in agreement, actually. A rare occurrence that I feared would signal the beginning of the end of the world," Elias sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose before looking back up at the Duke. "You were quite insistent at this being a very important opportunity to display the military might of your noble house."

"While I don't recall agreeing with my rival on any subject, that does sound like something I would say," the Duke remarked, a mischievous glint in his eyes that signaled to Elias that he knew exactly what he was talking about, but wouldn't dare admit to doing. "Regardless, I wished to speak to you about my eldest son, Gerulf. He is going to be House Leader this year, correct?"

"As is tradition," Elias stated, "As Gerulf is the heir apparent of your noble family, he will be leading the students of Koenig House in his final year at Il Trovatore. It will make for an interesting year as Duke von Rosenberg's daughter, Lissandra, will also be House Leader for Rosenberg House."

"Of course. Regardless of Lissandra leading Rosenberg House, I'm certain that Gerulf will be able to lead Koenig House to glory over them at every opportunity," Duke Koenig said proudly, "I have been personally tutoring him in both magic and with a lance. But on that, note, we should return to watching the parade." he said in conclusion, gesturing to the parade continuing on the streets below them.

Elias would let out another sigh, fully exasperated with the man, but certainly glad that the other two houses, Morgenstern House and Mangold House, did not have any sort of rivalry between them like the others. Though he would then turn his attention back to the parade, just in time for the new students to come marching in, led by each of their House Leaders. He watched proudly as Morgenstern House passed, but then Koenig House came marching through, being led by their young lord, Gerulf Koenig, his dark blue hair and gallant figure being quite striking as he held the flag of his noble house proudly above his head. But then, one of the students met eyes with him. A young man with dark tan skin, bluish-black hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to look right through him as his mouth set into a smirk. But only for a moment as his gaze returned to face forward to focus on marching with his fellow classmates in Koenig House as if nothing had happened.

Only one thought remained in the Headmaster's mind after that… "Who was that young man?"

A/N: And there we have it. Hope you enjoyed the opening of my new story.

The idea's been in my head for a few months now and I had to get it out. But anyways, this is an SYOC story set in at a magic academy in Minstrel if you couldn't tell. Characters can be submitted to a variety of different categories. Ranging from students as members of one of four houses to faculty members that teach at the academy.

The OC Form, as well as rules about submissions and more information about the setting of the story will be available on my profile. Also, if you have any questions after going over the information, feel free to ask me.

Thanks for reading.

Your host,

Dreadburner94.