Chapter 1 (of the side story)

Past of the Icy wizard

The Xeno family, despite being in the shadows, has great honor in their race and blood. They stood up tall and proud, determined to leave legacy and legends behind them. They were so prideful that even if one of them steps out of line, they would not hesitate to eliminate that one person. And that one person happened to be the younger brother of the head vampire, Reinard Xeno. He was married to a daughter of a well-known royal family of vampires, bearing an heir to take the head vampire in the future. That was the beginning of the white-haired Lord Knight we all know too well, Sir Roy Xeno.

However…

One cannot not true love from sprouting from a man's heart. Even if it was from an entire different race.

It has all started when he was paired up with a young female wizard in a mission to infiltrate the pyramid. He, at the time, was a knight who was a step away from earning the title of a lord knight and was more than ready to yet report another perfect success.

How wrong he was.

The wizard was causing more trouble than the monsters he could ever imagine. He almost had gotten himself ran over by a mob of Isis that the wizard had oh so conveniently brought. Casting ice when he asked for fire and casting wide range magic in the range where monsters were not in. She was nothing but trouble…

How did he ever fall in love with such clumsy woman? What did he see in her that he did not see in his wife?

Kourin Shan Fe…

A woman, who barely passed the academic exam, nearly burnt the school into flames, caused a butterfly invasion in Geffen and managed to cause electrical shocks to her teachers. A bundle of trouble, some even called her the Goddess of Misfortune. Yet, despite all of her bad luck she managed to smile and laugh cheerfully every day.

That smile and laugh enough for him to fall for her.

Their wedding was done in secret. They stood in front of the priest in an empty chapel as sunlight shone through the color glass art windows as the priest announced them husband and wife. He was positive that they would be able to overcome anything that came in their way.

Or so he believed

Despite how secretly he had done this relationship, nothing could be missed under the sharp eye of the Xeno family. The moment they had found out about his actions, a decision had been made. They ran for ten years, settling from town to town, hoping for them to give up. And just when they had thought they were safe, a tragedy occurred.

Their son, Xeonhart, was only ten back them. The three where happily living Louyang in a midsummer day. Xeonhart was lucky enough to be at the courtyard of Louyang castle, where he was playing Chinese checker with his friends. As soon as the sun went down, a signal for all of them to go home, he headed straight back to his home. Expecting his mother to be cooking and his father just coming back from patrolling.

Only to find the place raided and his parents slaughtered.

It caused a huge uproar in the small Chinese town. The emperor, who was a good friend of Reinard Xeno, was furious at his friend being mercilessly killed. And the poor boy that was left behind was taken under the emperor's wings, protecting him from any other attacks that may come. Surprisingly, the Xeno family was smart enough not to mess with the Louyang royals and ceased their attacks reluctantly.

Xeonhart, who use to be a cheerful child, became emotionless and quiet. This was not surprising. After all his parents were murdered by his own relatives, not a very happy thought.

2 years later, he has been accepted to the Geffen Magic Academy with a full scholarship and a promising future. 1 year later, he had become the top student of the academy outranking even the seniors. He even left his professors baffled at his quick mind and genius brain. 3 years later, he was known as the top high wizard in the history of Rune Midgard.

Needless to say, he had gotten a lot of fans and women after him. Mainly for his looks and reputation. But he would always ignore them with his cold stare and emotionless expression. Some even thought he was gay, until he froze them all to death. He had even won the award for the coldest man on the planet. (Which he ice bolted it into half and threw it into the lake nearby)

It wasn't very long till an invitation to Lion's Pride came to him. He was surprised to see that his step-brother was the leader of the guild. Though he was hesitant to join, why would he want to join a guild which a leader who came from a family that murdered his parents?

Sir Xeno knew that his younger brother wouldn't join the guild with him, so he struck a deal.

One: Xeonhart will be accepted into the Xeno family. (Making him eligible for the head position in the family, he didn't really want that though)

Two: Sir Xeno swore to his heart that as the head vampire, he would stop the pride madness to continue.

Three: To give him the freedom to do whatever he wants without worrying about being killed.

One, eh Xeonhart wasn't interested. Two, it sounded better but what was the benefit to him? The third deal immediately caught his attention and thirty seconds later his signature was on the guild application.

That was became of the Xeonhart we know today.

"How are things going at Prontera Xeonhart?"

The high wizard was in one of the rooms of the Louyang palace drinking tea with his childhood friend across the table. Enki Shousui, one of the court advisors that serve directly under the king.

"It's been going well, although time to time it's been annoying." Xeonhart replied as he brought the tea cup to his lips.

"So, who is it?" Enki had a wide smile as Xeonhart gave him a confusing look.

"?"

"You like someone in that guild don't you?"

Xeonhart choked on the tea and began to cough loudly. The burning liquid going down his throat unexpectedly and some of it spilled onto his robe. Enki roared in laughter as Xeonhart glared at him, his face flushed red.

"E-n-k-i!"

"You should have seen the look on your face. It was priceless."

His Chinese friend continued to laugh as he poured himself another cup of tea mumbling something about having an idiot as a friend.

"Xeonhart, I know you for years. This was your first time you answered without saying something among the lines of being a boring place or having idiots. It's obvious that something there is making your days better."

Enki smiled as he took out something from a bag beside him and laid it onto the table. To Xeonhart's surprise, it was a chess board. The wizard glanced at his friend and back at the chess board.

"Is that the one I sent you before? I think I gave it to you as a present for your birthday."

"Yes, and I have became quite good at it. Care for a match?"

Xeonhart smirked.

"I accept."

"Oh but wait." Enki put up a finger as he put his pieces onto the black and white squares. "It's boring to just have a normal chess match. How about this? For each piece one of us takes from each other the taker gets to ask a question. And you HAVE to answer it no matter what."

"Hmph, quite daring don't you say? I never lost a chess match in my life Enki."

Xeonhart said in full confidence as he finished setting up his pieces. "You first, I figure you're going to need a handicap. Consider it as a gift."

"Oh I do not know it that was a wise decision Xeonhart. Don't underestimate my skills. I have learned very much about this game."

"You still have a long way to go to beat this king Enki."

"We shall see."

"How was your trip back to Louyang Xeonhart?"

Griever stood up from the pile of crates he was sitting on and leaped down beside him as the high wizard got out of the boat, looking a bit on the green side. Xeonhart swayed a bit before grabbing a nearby light pole, steadying himself.

"……the trip itself was fine…the boat ride was…ugh…"

His voice faltered as he gripped tighter on the pole, now falling onto his knees. A navy haired assassin sweatdropped at the sight. Griever shuffled around his pockets until he pulled out a small vial filled with light violet liquid.

"Here take this. It's better than vomiting all over the place every five minutes. Honestly, why do you get such bad seasickness? Haven't you been on a boat long enough to get use to it?"

"Shut up." Xeonhart replied, nearly sounding as if he was dying. "I've been weak to seasickness since I was a child. It's something that can't be cured."

"What are you going to do when some random monsters attack the ship you're on?"

"I use you as bait and make a distraction."

"I hate you."

"I know."