Chapter Text
Legends are always different as they are in reality. How does the legend of Elysium's Demon of Salvation differ? Well... shall we find out?
Coming of Age
Dokja hesitates to confront the highly likely outcome awaiting him if he opens the door before him. An ominous premonition stirs within, signaling an impending adversity once he steps into the room where a rather absurd banquet is underway to commemorate his coming-of-age ceremony.
He knows that being the son of Sookyung Lee, a distinguished Five Star Archmage, will warrant attention. It’s all attention he does not want, especially when he is acutely aware of the amount of magical talent he has…or lack thereof, that is.
Dokja must have stood in front of the door for so long that he didn't realize one of his aides had approached him from the side. The polite cough almost makes him jump in fright, but recognizing who it is makes him somewhat calm down. He sighs and then takes heavy breaths to try and calm himself.
“Haaah…” he ends up letting out a sigh and Dokja nods to his aide and faces forward as he is announced to enter the hall.
Immediately, everyone inside pays him attention as he strides forward. It’s an unnerving thing for Dokja, considering he is only the son of a mere Baron. He doesn’t want or need any of this fanfare. He just wants to curl up in bed or stay in the library with his books.
Baron Kim, his father, welcomes him proudly—at least, that’s what anyone who doesn’t really know the man would think. Dokja stiffens at the hand placed on his shoulder, dreading the punishment he’s going to receive for the inevitable disgrace he’s going to be in a moment.
“Thank you all for coming to my son’s coming of age ceremony,” the man bellows out to the hall, catching the attention of every participant within. “Let us proceed with the magic aptitude test, shall we?”
Dokja nods stiffly, trying to hide his nervousness as he walks over to the crystal ball placed in the front tables. He breathes deeply and places a trembling hand over to the ball, injecting his mana into it, hoping without real hope that some miracle will happen.
Sadly, hopes are dashed, as the device shows he merely has enough magic power to be a One Star—the lowest rank—mage, if he pursues it.
Immediately, the crowd of nobles around the hall burst into whispers and Dokja can hear the derision all aimed at him and his father about his pitiful talent.
Dokja can do nothing but lower his head and accept all the ridicule—for it is the truth. Compared to his mother who is a Five Star Archmage and his father who has the aptitude to reach Three Star, he is nothing in comparison.
It’s unsurprising that after the gathering is dismissed, Dokja receives punishment for his bad showing. He doesn’t leave his room for a week after, scared to incur more wrath and also to heal from his injuries. Only his dedicated maid was allowed to come inside, despite all the raging demands from Dokja’s assailant.
Dokja is forced to leave the safety of his room when he receives a letter with the insignia of the royal family etched on its wax seal. He sighs after reading the request (demand) for all noble heirs to come to the capital’s palace for the Second Prince’s coming of age ceremony. If the rumor is to be believed, he’s also to be announced as the Crown Prince instead of the older First Prince.
He supposes he can use the chance to leave the territory and get away from his still-angry father. Dokja should also use the chance to look at the next King-to-be so he knows who to dodge or hide from in the future.
Joonghyuk receives a Five Star aptitude for magic when he is tested. It’s to be expected of the Yoo family (royalty and extended alike) all have high magical abilities inherited from their ancestors. He lets the applause and considering looks most of the nobles and heirs around give him continue for a moment, before addressing the crowd.
“Thank you for coming,” he says with a well-practiced princely smile. “Your Majesty the King has an announcement to impart upon the noble families gathered here today. We thank you for your adherence to the request.”
With that, Joonghyuk steps back to let the King stand on a small podium in the hall. As expected, he is announced as the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Elysium. A lot of the nobles who are reportedly supporting the First Prince (his older brother Jonghyun) let out surprised gasps and starts whispering with their allies.
Joonghyuk doesn’t mind as his abilities haven’t really been broadcasted to the rest of the nobility. Only the royal family knows he’s bested his brother dozens of times in several tests done by their father and tutors. He’ll just have to show off later on and all doubts will hopefully be resolved.
After the expected mingling for nobles, Joonghyuk steps away from the crowd and starts for the balcony doors. He doesn't really like noble gatherings. It's full of hidden messages that will either help or hinder oneself. Talking to any noble always makes him exhausted by the end, even if he doesn't show it.
When he gets out on the balcony, he notices a boy, who looks to be the same age as him but smaller in stature, sitting by the balustrade staring at the sky with a soft smile and glittering eyes. Joonghyuk should've left him alone, but instead, he joins him in observing the skies above.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" It seems the boy isn't as unobservant as Joonghyuk thought.
"Is it really? The stars have always looked the same way to me."
"To me, they show me how I’m just a mere pebble in this vast universe of ours…” the boy chuckles, hand reaching out to the night sky. “Knowing that, it leads me to believe I should live my life how I want to.”
“... you’re strange, for a noble.”
The young noble chuckles again, looking at the prince with a small smile. “I’ve heard that quite a lot, Your Royal Highness.”
Intrigued, Joonghyuk asks the boy for his name, but they are interrupted before he can receive a reply.
They do not meet again until a few years later.
Inheritance
Unexpectedly, the Kim Barony ends up with a dead Baron when Dokja hits the age of seventeen. It happens on a particularly cold winter day—the Baron lies on his bed but never wakes up again. The doctors and healers all say it was due to hypothermia, vasoconstriction, and a weak heart that wasn’t known until the man was already dead.
How the Baron slept with an unheated room is a mystery, as the man does have a fireplace in his bedroom. It’s suspected to be foul play, but no one really steps up to accept the blame for it. Most of the territory is more interested in the succession of the so-called weak Young Master Dokja and how he’ll manage the Barony in place of his inept father.
With the help of his family’s loyal vassals, Dokja is able to figure out a way to keep the relative peace of the territory once he accepts the title of Baron. Thankfully, the citizens largely preferred Dokja over his father, and he vows to do his best to keep his people happy.
His decision to do his best for the territory leads him to accept the invitation to join the Royal Academy for better education in regards to his duties and his interest in history. The Royal Academy within the capital is a prestigious school which only the most brilliant students attend. Even among the nobility, it makes a huge difference in one’s future whether one graduated from there or not.
And so, with a resigned heart, Dokja leaves the administration of the Barony to his vassals until his return.