Sorry for being late again! My computer broke down for a few weeks and I was having Internet access problem at home and let's not forget windows updates (well procrastination too). I am trying to pick up the pace and here's the first arc of the fic from last year with minor 'bugs' fixed. I will try to have the rest done as soon as possible. Thanks for being patient (or not) with me!

Chapter1

Long ago in a small kingdom named Erebos, a little kid was born. He seemed to be7 innocent to be aware of his future. I would like to tell you that he actually grew up happily just like other kids, but no. After all, a hero's fate is never anything but tragic.

"Come on!" he begged. "Just this one last time I promise." Today was his best friend, Will's 16th birthday. He didn't want to miss it but his 'mum' was forcing him to do some stupid sword fighting practice for the whole day. He had to spend this special day with the special birthday boy. He was Nico di Angelo, prince of Erebos. No one could ever order him around!

"No," answered Queen Persephone. "I have already let you 'escape' from the last training. You have to go this time. Also, stop being that friendly to that 'friend'. Nico, you are a prince. He would never deserve your time."

"Then why can Bianca hang out with her friends and I can't?!" screamed Nico out of rage to this woman who called herself 'his mum'. To Nico, she would always be a stepmother because that was what she was. She would never replace his actual mother even if she was gone for long.

"'cannot', see, your friend I affecting you with commoner speech. Her friends are all from royal families and she is a girl. She doesn't need to have this kind of practice. Go to your training so you can protect your sister when you two grow up and she becomes the queen. Don't make me repeat myself again."

Nico fled out the room and went back to his room to form a plan. Hmmmmm…I should sneak out to Will's house instead of going to practice…or should I obey stepmother? Although Queen Persephone seemed to be nice but Nico was still a little bit afraid of this woman. Last time he fought back... Things turned ugly at the end. But no one could stop him once he had made up his mind. He decided that Will is way more important than sword fighting. (and family issue)

Nico slowly sneaked out the castle through the main door since the guards there were never awake and headed to Will's home. It wasn't far, but the route would at least spend him half an hour. Will's father was a loyal soldier, and his mum was a talented singer. They had a pretty decent life.

When he arrived, Will was at his garden, looking at some plants that can be served as medicine. He had always wanted to be a doctor but that dream was too far for him to reach. Nico knocked lightly on the Solaces' door. Mrs. Solace opened the door for him with a warm welcoming smile. "Nico! How glad I am to see you here!" greeted Mrs. Solace." Will! Your little royal friend is at our front door! Would you mind to come over really quick?" One of the cool thing about the Solace family was that they didn't really care much about Nico's place in society, sometimes they even joke about it.

Will was shocked when he heard what his mother said. Surly that he and Nico were best friends but he didn't except for him to come over at his birthday at all. His appearance was already the best gift he had ever received. "Coming!" he shouted as he rushed back to the front door.

"Mrs. Solace, would you mind if I borrow your son for a few hours?"

"Sure, I don't see why I should oppose."

Soon after, hey were walking at a forest nearby. "Aren't you supposed be doing something else rather than hanging out with me?" Will eyes Nico with suspicion.

"How can you tell?" Nico asked him back.

"You looked worried. Did you violate your mum's order again?!"

"Stepmother," Nico corrected. "And yes. You are correct. But whatever. I can't return now anyways. I am already late for training."

Will stared at him with a grave expression and gave him no response. Then suddenly he cracked into laughter. Nico laughed too and was very glad to had Will by his side. They spent the whole afternoon together until Nico noticed the time.

"Sorry Will, but I have to go now. Stepmother must had found out already. Happy Birthday." Nico said before dashing back to the castle. Why and how did he manage to spend that much time without knowing?! He was getting in a huge trouble. Of course, when he reached the castle gate, Queen Persephone was already there waiting for him. Nico tried to explain but he still got grounded in his own room.

Nico lied on his bed and closed his eyes. He hoped that he could sleep with no dream haunting him. He had always hated dreaming because of no actual reason. He just hated it. To his fortune, he slept without a single sight of dream.

"HELP!"

Nico woke up because of the scream. What happened?! He ran out the room, or at least he tried to but he was being locked in there from the outside. He grabbed his black iron sword and chopped off the handle. He managed to get out just to hear a maid screaming from the garden.

Nico rushed to the garden and asked the maid what was going on.

"Princess Bianca…" the maid looked at a corpse lying at the corner that Nico didn't noticed at first and he felt a pain in his chest as he took a detailed look of its face. It was Bianca. This realization hit Nico like an anvil to his head and he cried blankly. Last thing he heard was the maid's cry for help and some people rushing towards them. Bianca was died. The one family member that actually cared him as they grew up. Now that she was dead, she would live in his head, and haunt his life.