The Blood of the Forgotten

Chapter 1 — The Blood of the Forgotten

For centuries, the Aurelian Empire had been shaped by two forces.

The first was the Imperial Crown.

The second was magic.

In Aurelian, magic was not simply an ability possessed by individuals. It was a legacy passed through generations, a force that determined the rise of noble houses, the outcome of wars, and the balance between nations.

Every person possessed the potential to awaken magic, but only certain bloodlines carried abilities powerful enough to influence history.

Among those bloodlines, six powers stood above the rest.

The first belonged to the Imperial Family.

Solaria.

The Divine Flame.

A power said to represent creation, purification, and protection.

The Aurelius family, rulers of the Aurelian Empire for generations, carried this ability. Their golden hair and sapphire eyes became symbols of their connection to Solaria, and their magic was believed to be the reason the empire had survived countless conflicts.

The Emperor was not merely a ruler.

He was considered the guardian of Aurelian's balance.

Beneath the Imperial Family stood the five great houses.

The families who had protected the empire since its founding.

The most powerful among them was the Grand Duchy of Valemont.

Celestia.

The power of starlight.

The ability possessed by House Valemont.

Valemonts were known for their silver hair and violet eyes, traits that had remained unchanged throughout generations.

Their magic allowed them to create powerful barriers, strengthen weapons, purify corrupted energy, and reinforce their bodies beyond ordinary limits.

Because of this, they had always stood at the front lines of the empire's greatest conflicts.

They were called:

The Empire's Shield.

Where the Imperial Family represented authority, the Valemonts represented protection.

The second great house was House Everhart.

They possessed:

Chronos.

The power of memory.

Unlike other magical abilities, Chronos was not designed for battle.

The Everharts became scholars, historians, and keepers of knowledge.

Their magic allowed them to preserve memories, trace events of the past, and uncover secrets hidden by time.

Many of the empire's greatest discoveries existed because of their work.

The third was House Arclayne.

They carried Mareis.The power of tides.

Their magic controlled water, currents, and weather patterns.

As rulers of the empire's naval territories, they protected trade routes and defended Aurelian's seas.

The fourth was House Dravenhart.

They possessed Terraforge.The power of earth.

Their magic allowed them to shape stone, metal, and minerals.

The empire's greatest fortresses and cities were built through their abilities.

The fifth was House Ravencourt.

They carried Mirage.The power of illusion.

Unlike the other houses, Ravencourt rarely fought on battlefields.

Their strength lay in diplomacy, intelligence, and information.

They were masters of concealment and perception.

Together, these families represented the order of the empire.

Flame.

Starlight.

Memory.

Tides.

Earth.

Illusion.

Each power had a purpose.

Each had rules.

Each had limits.

Except for one.

Nocturne.

The Abyssal Power.

The power that had never belonged to any recognized noble house.Nocturne was different from all other abilities.It did not control an element.It did not create something physical.It influenced things that could not easily be measured.

Shadows.

Memories.

Emotions.

The connection between souls.

Because of this, Nocturne had always been difficult to understand.

A person with Celestia could be taught control.A person with Mareis could learn to command water.But Nocturne depended greatly on the person who wielded it.

Their emotions.

Their thoughts.

Their choices.

And that was what frightened people.

---

History remembered both sides of Nocturne.

There were records of Nocturne users who protected kingdoms, stopped disasters, and saved countless lives.

But there were also records of those who used it to manipulate minds, erase memories, and destroy the boundaries between reality and illusion.

The greatest tragedy connected to the power became known as:

The Eclipse Catastrophe.

Three hundred years ago, a Nocturne wielder attempted to change humanity itself.

They believed suffering was the greatest flaw of mankind.Their solution was to remove the emotions that caused pain.Instead, they damaged the very things that made people human.

The catastrophe changed the empire forever.

From that day forward, Nocturne was no longer viewed as merely dangerous.It became feared.

Years later, name of valemont was tainted by a person.

Lucian Valemont.The second son of the Valemont family.

Unlike his ancestors, Lucian had little interest in duty or responsibility.He wasted the privileges of his birth.He became known for scandals, reckless behaviour, and a lifestyle that brought shame to the Valemont name.

For years, his family attempted to correct his actions.But eventually, the previous Grand Duke made his decision.Lucian Valemont was removed from the family.His title was taken.His privileges were stripped.He was no longer permitted to represent House Valemont.The family moved forward without him.

Or so they believed.

Outside the protection of his name, Lucian lived a life far removed from the expectations of nobility.There, he met Seraphina Veyne.

Their relationship was never one spoken of among noble circles.

It was not built on affection.It was built on convenience.Years later, a child was born.

A daughter.

The moment the child entered the world, the room became silent.The midwife looked at the newborn and froze.Not because the child was weak.Not because she was unusual.Because of her appearance.

Black hair

Crimson eyes.

Traits that had not been seen in generations.

Traits associated with a power the empire feared.

Nocturne.

The child was named:

Evelyn Veyne.

She carried her mother's surname.Not Valemont.Because Lucian never claimed her.The daughter of a disgraced noble.A child born with a feared power.A person whose existence disappeared from the records of House Valemont.

For eighteen years, the Grand Duchy knew nothing.

Until a report reached the Valemont estate.Inside the Grand Duke's study, Adrian Valemont looked over the document placed before him.

Beside him stood Sebastian Crowell, his most trusted aide.

"The investigation has been completed, Your Grace."

Adrian's eyes remained on the paper.

A name.A birth record.A connection that should have been impossible to miss.

"Evelyn Veyne."

Sebastian nodded.

"Lucian Valemont's daughter."

Silence followed.Not anger.Not fear.Simply consideration.

A member of the Valemont bloodline had existed for eighteen years without their knowledge.

"Is it confirmed."

"Yes, she posses nocturne"

Sebastian answered carefully.

Silence followed.

Because of her appearance.Because of her power.Because of history.Adrian understood.

After a long silence, he placed the report down.

"We will invite her to Valemont."

Sebastian nodded.

"Immediately?"

"No."

Adrian looked toward the window.

"Not a summons."

A pause.

"An invitation."

The difference mattered.A summons was an order.An invitation was a choice.

Far away from the Grand Duchy, Evelyn Veyne received a letter bearing the crest of House Valemont.

A name she had never used.A family she had never known.An invitation into a world that had existed beyond her reach.She looked at the seal for a long moment.Then quietly folded the letter.

Because whatever awaited her beyond those gates...

it would be a life she had never.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***