Chapter 18: The High Mage

High Mage, Julius Novachrono was born into a middle ranked noble family from the kingdom of Neolandia. From a young age he displayed a tremendous admiration and curiosity towards practical and theoretical magic, as well as a desire to learn about all the different types that existed in the world.

However, as many of those types were used by the elves of Xadia, and contact between humans and elves was forbidden under pain of immolation by dragon fire, the young Julius was content to simply read about and observe as much interesting magic as he could. All the time wishing for the time when he would be old enough to actually go out into the field to learn for himself.

And at the age of seventeen, after passing the Knight entrance exams he joined the Aqua Deer, or as it was then called the Grey Deer, knights squad. Rising through the ranks of his squad to become the Captain in eight years, Julius caught the attention of Katolis's Crown Prince, who shared Julius's desire to reform the Pentarchy into a fairer and just confederation of kingdoms that could better serve and protect its constituent citizens.

It was predominantly down to Prince Harrow's persuasive arguments, that allowed Julius to be nominated and accepted as the Pentarchy's High Mage following the death of the predecessor. And given that each kingdom wanted one of its mage citizenry to hold the top mage spot, getting them all to agree to the ideas of one nations Crown Prince, as a stretch of the imagination. The animosity of the other kings and their respective heirs to towards Harrow had originally been nil, but as when Neolandia, Julius's birth nation, was informed that the High Mage would be setting up permanently in Katolis the other king and their heirs were royally pissed off.

And that was before they even knew that he was a middle ranked noble. "Jumped up little shit!" Was one such sentiment that high nobles whispered about him. But to the ordinary citizens, of all the five kingdoms, Julius Novachrono was beloved.

His magic attribute, time, was a formidable weapon as well as being a huge boon for humanities increased security and prosperity. Julius became High Mage at the age of twenty four, and was beloved by the people of the ordinary citizens of the Pentarchy's five kingdoms.

A reformer and an idealist at heart, Julius was determined to improve the living standards and welfare of the people, as well as the diplomatic status between east and west; humans and elves. And with the help of his best friend, Katolis's Crown Prince Harrow, he had made great progress in getting kings and queens to agree on improving their reigns.

However, his greatest failure was the Amari Purge, an event that he had been unable to prevent. Despite going to Katolis and using his magic to go against the kings and queens, to try and save the last Primal Magic human family. Unfortunately, they had predicted him and had guards present to subdue him whilst the slaughter occurred, afterwards Julius had fallen into despair and angrily lashed out at all those who sought him out. 'The boy...' he continually mused about the missing, presumed drowned youngest Amari child.

However, it was the final dying words of Lord Sion Amari that still made him well up with tears... "You are the moon, unaware of the dawn... may your purpose be fulfilled. And cast two shadows down upon the ground of tomorrow, and you will know the brilliance of dawn's penance".

Countless elven High Lords ordered his assassination, as a means of weakening the human realm but every attempt was met with failure. The elven assailants were captured and given over to the Mage Association; which would later, after the Amari purge, would be commanded by the Rogues, for enhanced interrogation followed by magic draining. The bodies were returned to Xadia, as the Association and then the Rogues wanted to send a message back to the Elf Lords; to not take humanity lightly.

Suddenly being elbowed in the side, High Mage, Julius Novachrono was brought out of his daydreaming about magic by his principle advisor, Marx. Turning back to the present throne room situation, he noticed a slight eye roll from Prince Harrow, as the Ambassador readdressed the King again. "Your grace, I beg you to reconsider", the envoy from the Kingdom of Duren begged the Katolis ruler, His Majesty; King Svengauld, for Katolis troops to help put down a rebellion against the anointed and rightful heir to Duren's throne.

Eyeing the Duren ambassador who was now being flanked by his own guards, all of whom seemed ready to protect their charge, the High Mage hurriedly interceded. Clicking his fingers, Julius created an small minor ice wall between the ambassadorial guards and the approaching royal castle knights. "Please let us refrain from any unnecessary ill intended actions", briefly turning his head to face his chief advisor, Marx, and smiled.

Julius then walked down the steps of the dais towards the ambassador, "Lord Flevence, Katolis understands the mood that is simmering in Duren, during the aftermath of the late King and Queens death. And as much as we support the rightful line of succession but we cannot send troops to bolster Princess Annika's reign".

The High Mage spoke with a soft tone but with strong determination behind his words, "King Svengauld supports Princess Annika and her Princess-Consort, Neha, but we need our troops to be here..." He was interrupted by Ambassador Flevence who shook angrily, rounding on the Pentarchy's mightiest mage. "And what pray tell, is more important than supporting the rule of Duren's rightful Queen against her traitorous uncle?"

Julius didn't need to turn around to know that King Svengauld was sighing, and that Marx Ahmad just slapped a hand over his face. 'Great... that was supposed to be written in letters to each of the kingdoms royal families...' he internally scolded himself. "Tell him Julius", King Svengauld muttered, "the letters were already sent out. It's not my fault that the others rulers didn't inform their court about this new situation". Immediately, the look of anger vanished from the Ambassador's face, and was replaced by perplexed exasperation.

"A couple of days ago," Julius began, "Katolis knights at the Breach were confronted by a group of Sunfire elves, specifically the a small number of Lux Aurean Golden Knights. As per instruction, as well as defaulted self defence, our forces were prepared to fight but instead of a battle they were faced by the elves handing over to them a captured prisoner. A human boy".

The Ambassador was silent, contemplating the words he'd just heard, as his guards lowered their weapons and withdraw from their defensive ranks. "The elves took a human prisoner... and returned him alive? This has to be a Xadian plot! They hates us and they want to destroy humanity! They turned a human against us and sent him home as an agent of theirs..."

Ambassador Flevence's outburst illicidid a nod from King Svengauld, who privately believed the same thought, and that the boy should die. Yet, he ultimately decided, after yielding to his sons advice, to 'test' the boy's loyalty to humanity with membership of one of the Knight Squads; and afterwards the boy would become part of the Crown Princes retinue as a further test of loyalty. Directly overseen by the royal family, and High Mage. "Ambassador", Marx; advisor to the High Mage, spoke up. "From first observation of the boy, he looked undernourished and scared. That being said, the Court has already initiated a plan to determine his true loyalty..."

Turning away from the assembled lords, Julius bowed his head to the king and bid his leave. 'The boy...' he thought, 'there are too many questions about the coincidental appearance in Xadia and the disappearance of the Amari boy...' Leaving the throne room, with Marx in tow, Julius Novachrono made a mental note to visit the headquarters of the Golden Dawn under the ruse to see William.

He and William were old friends, and not even King Svengauld would begrudge their meeting. The High Mage and the captain of the strongest knight squad meeting to discuss matters of humanities security and survival. 'I need to know if the Amari bloodline survived...'