Chapter 4: Chapter 1 - A unbelievable situation
A/N- people this novel has been rebooted by me, the link is in the novel description, if you want to feel free to read it, but i suggest you just read the reboot, i have done a much better job with that one.THIS NOVEL WILL PROBABLY BE HIDDEN IN A WEEK.
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[AUTHORS NOTE: Ah, by the way, in case you skipped the first two chapters of prologues, I suggest you read them. Otherwise, this won't make sense. They are, in essence, part of the main storyline... Just read them, you'll understand]
As John opened his eyes, a bright light flooded his vision, unlike the smoke-filled darkness that had filled the battlefield. Confused, he called out to Pallas and Costas, but there was no response.
"What the fuck is going on here? Pallas, Kostas? Where the fuck are you?" he shouted, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
"HOLY SHIT," he exclaimed as he saw the figure in the mirror – a young man, maybe 10 years old, with long sleek black hair and a face that resembled John's before the war.
"Did the dragons gain the ability to time travel?" John wondered, his mind racing as he tried to understand the situation.
As he considered the possibilities, a quote from Geoffrey came to mind: "When all other options are eliminated, the last remaining option, however unlikely it may seem, is often the right one."
"I mean, even if I died, this younger body of mine wouldn't make sense," John thought to himself. "And if this was an illusion, the same would apply. So those bastards did know how to change the flow of time."
"I'll have to get answers from Pallas and Kostas later," John said to himself as he slowly rose from his bed and sat on the edge, resting his chin in his hands. "From their conversation, it seemed like they won't be awake for a while after Pallas used that spell. So what do I do now?" he wondered, deep in thought.
"Hmmm," he hummed to himself, lost in thought when he heard a knock at the door. "Knock-knock-knock. My prince, it is time for you to wake up. His majesty wishes to have breakfast with you," a voice called out.
"Huh! Albert is that you?" John asked, recognizing the voice of his servant.
"Yes, your highness, it's me, Albert," the man replied. "And I suggest you get ready soon. It wouldn't be wise to make his majesty wait for you for too long."
"Ah, yes. I'll be out in a moment. Ask Merry to prepare my bath, I'd like to freshen up slightly before I see my father," John instructed.
"As you wish, your highness," Albert replied, bowing before taking his leave.
"Let's think about this later, after I talk with my father," John thought to himself as he looked at the calendar on his bedside table. The date read: 4th day of the month of the Phoenix, 1328 of the Holy Calendar.
"Shit, it just had to be today of all days," John sighed as he saw the star marking today's date and the note that read "My birthday."
"If it's 1328, then that means I'm 30 years in the past, and today is my 10th birthday. Which means... Ahhhhissshhhhhhh, this crazy family," John exclaimed, realizing the significance of the date.
"Your highness, your bath is ready. Please get refreshed quickly," Alfred called out, knocking John out of his thoughts.
"Yes, I'm coming," John replied, quickly donning his robe and heading out of the room. As he left, he saw a young man in his twenties holding a towel in his hands.
"Happy birthday, your highness. May the blessings of the great Solaris always shine upon you," Alfred said, bowing slightly toward John.
"Thank you, Alfred. Now if you could give me my towel, I'd like to go," John replied.
"Ah, yes, your highness," the butler replied, stoically handing over the towel with a slight bow.
About 10 minutes had passed since John went into his bath, after which he finally emerged, ready to meet his father. When he returned to his room, he saw a maid preparing his clothes.
"Good morning, Merry," John greeted the young maid with bobbed brown hair, who clumsily replied to him.
"Ah! Happy birthday, your highness. May the blessings of Solaris forever shine upon you," she said with a smile.
"Thank you, Merry. Now if you will," John said with a small laugh, gesturing towards his clothes.
"Ah, yes. We will get you dressed quickly," she replied, hurrying to dress John.
"Much appreciated," John said, grateful for her help.
As he was getting dressed, John's mind was racing, trying to come up with a way to prevent the catastrophes that had led to the decline of the empire and the apocalypse that came soon after.
'First order of business is to get rid of both my elder brothers. Last time, the civil war between them caused the empire to split between east and west. If we had stopped that from happening, the demons wouldn't have even dreamed of causing the Great Continental War,' he thought to himself.
"How does this look, your highness?" Merry asked John, pulling him out of his thoughts.
"I do look quite good," John said, turning to look at himself in the mirror. He was dressed in a long blue coat that complemented his long black hair.
"I know, right? I am quite proud of myself for this one," Merry replied with a smile.
"Haha, is that so? Well, you have my thanks. Now if you could please call Alfred, I'd like him to escort me to the family dining room," John instructed.
"I will call him at once," Merry replied before leaving the room.
"No need to do that, Merry. I'm already here, your highness," Alfred said as he entered the room.
"Umu, let's get moving then," John said, ready to go.
"As you say, your highness," Alfred replied, bowing slightly before leading John out of the room.
"Your majesty, his highness the third prince has left for the dining room," an old man with a long, well-groomed white beard in a black suit said as he took a 90-degree bow towards a golden-haired man in royal attire. The man, who had been busy signing paperwork, looked up at the clock on his table before speaking.
"Is it already time for breakfast? Then I suppose I should leave, too," he said, getting up from his chair.
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"Younger brother, it has been quite some time since we have seen each other. How is your training with the spear faring?" a young boy with short, golden hair around the age of 14 spoke with a condescending expression.
"I, too, am quite curious about your training. As you know, you have 10 days before the Test of the Gods, and we wouldn't want you to be harmed in any way," said a young boy, around two years older than John, as he laughed at his elder brother's words.
"I am doing great, my brothers Julius and Anthony. Thank you for asking. And as for my training, it is progressing swimmingly. There is no need for you to concern yourselves. I am capable enough to handle myself during the trial," John responded sarcastically.
"YOU BASTARD! Know your place! Have you lost your mind and manners to speak to us in this way?" Julius replied furiously.
"As our older brother said, you are but a bastard. Don't get too high and mighty just because Father is allowing you to take the test," Anthony followed.
"SILENCE!" a shout came from behind the gate as the emperor entered the room. "Father," the three boys said as they bowed towards their father, who proceeded to ignore them and slowly walked to his seat.
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"Mind telling me who is a bastard again? Have the two of you gained enough balls to ignore my decree? When I accepted John as an official child of mine, it meant everyone had to treat him that way, even the two of you," the emperor asked his eldest and middle sons as he took up his utensils and started to cut the piece of steak that was on the table with grace.
"But Father," Julius began to speak.
"NO BUTS. This topic ends here, and it better not be brought up ever again so long as I am sitting on my throne," the emperor said, coldly looking at his eldest
"Understood," Julius and Anthony replied in unison.
"And as for you, John, have you lost all your manners? I understand that their way of speaking was nothing less than demeaning, but that does not mean you are allowed to speak to your elders in this way," the emperor said to John, completely ignoring his other two sons' words.
"Yes, Father, I understand," John said as he nodded and proceeded to bow lightly to his brothers. "I am sorry, brothers. I believe I stepped out of line," he said. All the while, internally, John was holding a wide grin as he thought to himself, 'Haaah, as expected of the Iron Blood Emperor. He doesn't even make an expression as he scolds his children.'
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone