Chapter 1 - Ahlis

The city of Kirchein was one of many that sat on the border between Sieglein, and the alliance. It wasn't a particularly large one, and, as such, mostly fell below the notice of people both foreign, and native to the kingdom. Though, this much allowed for its inhabitants to live a life mostly unworried about future attacks. For many of the other towns, the threat of war still prevailed, even at peacetime. That was not the case here, after all, the town was, ultimately, nothing special. A simple collection of homes built around a small castle. Allowing residents easy access to food markets, shops, and taverns. Not exactly luxurious living, nor poor. Just, average. Which suited its population fine.

That much included a young man who lived within this city. A boy of 15 years, who'd just received his Grimoire. Within a house, timber, constructed on a base of cobble. One situated just outside of the castle, empty, outside of one inhabitant. Within one of the rooms, sat a boy with a youthful appearance. Though, somewhat well-built for his age. A head of wild, flame-like red hair on his head. His fair skin is covered in a sleeveless black shirt, held together by straps. Over that, was worn loose trousers, made from cloth dyed black as well, and a pair of leather shoes.

This was Jormond Ahlis. A man who commonly made his living by hunting outside of the city. It was a simple living, but one that he enjoyed.

He had a good hunt the day before, and had a large amount of meat and leather alike to sell in the market. He would be well off for a bit with that much. Though, he'd have to decide what to do until then...

He only stopped pondering this as he heard a knock on his door.

"Who could that be?" Jormond questioned. The youth began making his way toward it, exiting his room,

Unlocking, and pulling it open, to see someone he knew well.

"Wilhel!" Jormond said, with a smile.

"Yo, Jor!" She yelled back.

Wilhelmine Blomgrens, a young woman who'd been friends with Jormond since they were both children. Though a bit rough around the edges, there were many who found her to be attractive. She was relatively tall, standing at 5'6. Her canary-yellow hair reached mid-back, though she usually wore it tied behind her neck because it annoyed her. With a pair of dark green eyes looking into Jormond's. The same color as the tunic she wore over her body. As the two reached each other, it did not take long for them to begin talking.

"So, I heard your hunt went well yesterday." Wilhelmine noted.

"You heard right, I had to end up fighting a Toanel to keep my quarry. Wasn't easy, but it gave me some more ideas."

The Toanel was a beast that commonly inhabited their realm, and a dangerous one at not nearly enough as the more legendary creatures, powerful enough that most wouldn't have thought of trying to battle it without some support, at least. The fact that he had done so, however, just went to show Jormond's skill. Something that the woman, having known him for quite a while, wasn't surprised with.

"That's good.. Are you going to the market?" She questioned, gaining a nod from Jormond. The man promptly exited the house, beginning to pull the wagon that lay in front of his door. As the two continued to go through the town, it looked as if it was business as usual, after all, it was rare that there was any change in Kirchein. Children playing, the adults working, and perhaps a structure or two being built. The market, however, had a notably higher level of activity. With some of the people from the surrounding settlements coming to sell their goods.

Jormond himself had his own stall set up, which the two promptly stopped at, as they began laying out their goods. As they did so, an aging man with a head of gray hair began to stroll up to his stall, who Willhemine noticed first.

"Ah, Old man Gerstleg!" As Jormond heard this, he looked over his shoulder to see the man walking toward them, and a smile came onto his face.

"Jormond, Wilhelmine, good to see you..." Aldwin Gerstleg, a local butcher, was one of his best customers, mostly, buying meat.

"Here to buy?" Jormond questioned, Gaining a nod. The deal did not take very long, and it was very soon that the old man had gotten the product he needed, and began to leave, saying but one last thing.

"You always have been a reliable hunter, Your father was truly just like you…" As Jormond heard this, he had very little to say, being that he didn't know the mentioned man well. Though, if he enjoyed hunting as he did, that was a point in his favor. As he scratched the back of his head, Willhelmine tapped his shoulder, making him turn his attention to her.

"I'm sure whatever the old man is saying about your dad is right. If it means anything, I'd want to meet him too… But, I gotta go practice my magic, I'll see you later!" With that, Wilhelmine ran off, waving back at him, with Jormond doing the very same. He eventually decided to push the subject aside from now, and continue doing his work. Morning turned to the afternoon, as he finally left his stall, and found himself encountering yet another friend of his as he walked down the street, as this friend typically did, running up to him.

A boy of green hair, who looked around Jormond's age, ran across the street. Wearing a tunic, and a rawhide cape, one he'd gotten from jormond as the boy began hunting.

"Andebert! How's it going!" Jormond said with excitement, gaining a smirk from the boy, Andebert Geisslurg.

"You know how it is, Jormond, just talking to the ladies, as usual… I'll say, I'm getting pretty close to them lately." As was common for Andebert, it seemed that his flirting had continued. But, in response, Jormond's usual distrust of his claims was made clear.

"Alright then, tell me… If these girls are all over you, then where are they? I haven't seen you with any." Jormond responded.

Andebert's mouth went agape, as Jormond stood there with a raised eyebrow, awaiting a response.

"Well, You know… I tend to travel around a lot, some are shy, some are from the other villages."

"Sure they are…"

However, their conversation was shortly interrupted, as they heard frightened screaming coming from their right. The two's gazes shot to their left, as they saw what took place. A man with a head of white hair, and a chiseled body, held a grimoire in his hand, which lacked an emblem.

"Fools, You should've just given me your money when you had the chance!" The baritone voice yelled out. Jormond and Andebert glanced at each other with smirks beginning to cover their face. From Jormond's belt, came a red grimoire, a lion stitched onto the front, the very same one that lay on Sieglein's flag. At his side, Andebert's came up as well, one of orange, with the very same emblem.

"OI. I don't know what you think you're doing, but you'd best stop that!" Jormond yelled. Something which caused their target's gaze to shoot over to them, only to see two kids… Just what were they going to do to him?

"And who are you supposed to be, the city guard?" He questioned. Jormond cracked his knuckles, as he began walking toward him.

"Nah… Just two guys, two guys about to stop whatever it is you're doing here." The young mage responded. Something that made the man frown, his eyebrows arching.

"We'll soon see about that… Perhaps I'll take your belongings as well."

A bandit, huh. Well, there was one question answered. The pages of his grimoire began flipping, as he shouted out the name of his next spell.

"Ice Magic: Winter Cleaver!"

The Ice mage began to push his magic outward. Something that was followed by the area around them beginning to grow colder, as particles of ice coalesced in front of the mage, forming a handle, and then, what looked to be the blade of a cleaver. With further molding from the spell's creator, the end became sharpened. Now, with his spell complete, he launched the over-sized cleaver forward, with a smirk on his face. There was no way these small-town boys would sto-

"Magma Magic: Molten Lance!"

No sooner than the attack was created, did a molten lance impact the cleaver, making the ice turn to water, and from there, steam… The mage's eyes widened as he took note, his confident demeanor faltering for a second. But, he was not exactly ready to give up just yet. As he saw that the red-haired one still approached. He decided to try to stop the attack in its tracks.

"Don't think you've won, Ice Magic: Sub-Zero Rain!" Above Jormond, a group of tiny, yet numerous icicles appeared. They came down fast, but the boy was faster. Weaving to the left, right, jumping back, and leaping forward. Continuing to use his ability to weave around the spell.

"That's my line, Buddy! Beast Magic: Toanel's Fist!" As this was yelled, a blue projection began to cover his hands, that being, the hammer-like fists that the Toanel used. Jormond's rapid movement was more than enough, Beginning to spin to increase the force of his punch. As he finally got close, the punch smashed into his opponent's right cheek, and he was promptly sent flying, crashing through a nearby wall, kicking up dust, and debris…

The constructs around Jormond's arm disappeared, as he began to walk over to the man to see the results of his spell, and, in the same way, Andebert did so. As the smoke finally cleared, and they sae that he was unconscious, the two smirked once more, and bumped fists.

A/N : Considering we lack information about what grimories are. Let me explain what I'm going for here, I'd say the Grimoires may not have always been a thing everyone had. And the emblems being Diamond wouldn't make sense, considering that the kingdom hasn't been founded yet. So I'm having it explained like this: Grimoires gain their emblems based on what Grimoire tower they come to inhabit, which are constructed by humans. Otherwise, spread out across the land going to someone who has the same magic as their creator.