Mom... what is Nightveil? Who is he?
My words came out slowly, but the weight they carried filled the entire room with silence. My mother paused mid-motion, her hands still clutching a neatly folded cloth. Her shoulders dropped, and a tired sigh escaped her lips. She didn't look at me immediately. Instead, she turned away, as if gathering the strength to speak.
"It's your title," she finally said, her voice trembling. "And... it's our curse."
I frowned. "Title? Curse? What do you mean?"
She turned toward me. The firelight flickered across her face, revealing eyes full of sorrow and pain.
"Sit down, Ryan. There are truths I've kept hidden from you—not out of fear, but for your protection. But now, I see you deserve to know everything."
I sat down quietly. Her voice lowered to a near whisper.
"Thirteen years ago, before you were born, the human realm was caught in a great conflict known as the War of the Century. Back then, the human kingdom had three major noble bloodlines: the Diamond, Portuguese, and Nightveil. These weren't just family names. They were titles—symbols of power, responsibility, and legacy."
She paused to collect her thoughts, then continued.
"At the heart of the kingdom was the ruler, the Great Emperor T. Kaiser. He was a legend. Not only did he unify the human continent, but he also fought against the Dwarves and the Shear-traited races. Forty years ago, he crushed their armies in battle, forcing both races to kneel. Even the Elven King, known for his arrogance, dared not defy him. If the elves hadn't stepped in to negotiate peace, the Emperor would have wiped out both the Dwarves and Shear. A treaty was signed—a vow of non-aggression to preserve what little balance remained."
I sat speechless, trying to absorb the magnitude of what she was telling me.
"Emperor T. Kaiser had three sons and one daughter," she went on. "The eldest was Nightveil. The second was Diamond. The third was Portuguese. All three were brilliant, strong, and gifted—each raised to lead. They were born only a year apart, practically raised like triplets, and admired across the realm."
"And the daughter?" I asked.
"Lia," she said softly. "She was different—half-human, half-elf. Unlike her brothers, she was born of a political marriage between the Emperor and an elven noblewoman. She left the kingdom at a young age to walk her own path, seeking a place where she belonged."
She stopped. Her gaze fell to the floor.
"I never saw the three brothers fight. No one really did. Their power levels were rumored, but not confirmed. Yet everyone agreed that Nightveil—the eldest—was unmatched. He was calm, ambitious, just. At the age of nineteen, I married him. Not out of duty... but love. He was everything a king should be."
Her voice wavered now, thick with emotion.
"Things changed after the Emperor died. It was sudden. No illness. No warning. The palace claimed it was natural, but everyone suspected otherwise. Still, the council agreed that Nightveil should be king. He was the eldest, the wisest, the most beloved. But Diamond and Portuguese disagreed. Diamond in particular was furious. He believed he deserved the throne. And slowly... he twisted Portuguese's heart."
"Manipulated him?"
She nodded. "They turned on Nightveil. Raised armies. Started a civil war. The kingdom was split between loyalty and ambition. The War of the Century had begun."
I clenched my fists.
"Nightveil led his forces with discipline and honor. I watched as he rallied men and women, nobles and commoners alike. He didn't want war, but he refused to abandon justice. And in the end... he won. Both Diamond and Portuguese were defeated."
"So peace returned?"
"For a while," she said. "Nightveil forgave them. He pardoned their treason, offered them land, and even appointed them to advisory positions. People called him foolish, but he believed in redemption. That... was the man I married."
Tears were streaming down her cheeks now. She made no effort to wipe them away.
"Three months later, I became pregnant. The entire capital celebrated. Our house was full of laughter, music, and hope. Then... eight months into the pregnancy... everything shattered."
She looked me in the eyes.
"Diamond killed him. He stabbed Nightveil through the heart during a banquet. Portuguese was there, too, but he didn't act. They claimed it was a misunderstanding. A heated argument gone too far. But I knew better. It was murder. Cold, planned murder."
My breath caught.
"They didn't stop there. They hunted everyone connected to Nightveil. My parents. Our trusted friends. Servants. Guards. Loyal nobles. One by one, they were wiped out. The bloodline was meant to be erased."
I sat frozen, unable to speak.
"I barely escaped. Hidden by a loyal maid, I fled the capital in the dead of night. I had no strength, no resources, but I carried you. And I swore that I would protect you with everything I had."
Tears blurred my vision now. I reached forward and held her tightly.
"I'm sorry, Mom... I had no idea."
"You weren't supposed to," she whispered. "That's why I changed your name. That's why I hid the truth. But now\... you're old enough to decide who you want to be."
I pulled back, locking eyes with her. "Then it's true. My real name is—"
She nodded. "Nightveil. T. Ryan."
I swallowed hard.
"And Diamond? Where is he now?"
Her face hardened.
"He rules. After the chaos, he crowned himself King of the Human Realm. He sits on a stolen throne. He has two sons and one daughter—Den, Dark, and Wia. They're around your age. And they will all be attending Zenon Academy."
My heart beat faster.
"Then I'll see them soon."
She looked worried. "Ryan—"
"I'm ready, Mom. I'm not just going to Zenon to study. I'm going to reclaim what was taken from us. To make them remember who Nightveil was. And who he will be again."
She reached for my hand. "Then go. But remember—this path is not about revenge. It's about justice."
I nodded slowly.
"I understand."
---
That night, I stood before the mirror in my room. I stared at my reflection—the boy who had trained alone for three years, who had fought to become strong, who carried a title and a legacy he never asked for.
But I wasn't afraid.
My name is Nightveil. T. Ryan.
And my story is just beginning.