While in some worlds those are but fantasy, in the world of Manvalchan they are reality.

Magic, Aura, Spirits, and Divine power rule those lands with equal respect. All religions, no matter the god, goddess, or entity you worship, point to that very known saying, "power is power".

And power rules, sometimes in blood, sometimes in peace.

Well, today's leaders aren't necessarily archmages, swordmasters, or demi-gods for one good reason : most found their own way to tame "power".

For instance, "Soul Vow", as the name suggests, binds one's soul to a vow that cannot be broken. 

Though the concept of souls existing is unsure, Soul Vow would be better off named "Heart Vow" as it in fact ties up one's heart with godly chains that will choke said muscle until death. 

And no, most leaders aren't favoured by the gods, not the least. That powerful weapon had to be casted by the one wanting to take an important vow.

And those special people couldn't be forced to use such a spell through the influence of mind control nor drugs.

While incantations and charms could not force a Soul Vow, humanity found a loophole, exploiting a person’s greatest weakness : family.

It is but a natural instinct to protect what’s bound to you by blood and flesh.

Children, wives, mothers, siblings, fathers, burnt, beheaded, tortured… until the chains bind powerful beings. It effectively forced the now-subordinates to be loyal to their masters and their offspring. 

But such sacrifices, no matter how inhumane they were, became important to the founding of most societies. As a world ruled only by the strongest always resulted in oceans of blood and neverending wars.

 Explaining why the supposed creator of Soul Bound, Elric De Lys, is revered as a saint and messenger of all gods for allowing an end to the dark times. Even to this day, one thousand years after, he is still celebrated in most countries.

The Beginning 

Valramy, the vastest empire in the land of Roscitan, the central continent, is known for its calm nights, great cuisine and its over-the-top talent Academia.

Valramy was said to be founded by Valramy the Golden, rumoured to be a giant dragon that survived through the dark ages protecting his vassals with all his power.

The descendants of the legendary being inherited his golden mane and blue eyes, though with time the traits eventually began to fade until the birth of the current emperor, Ludwig Von Drachen.

He ascended to the throne through winning the noble faction’s favour and being the last male heir alive.

A muscular hand was running through the pages of what seemed to be a newly written book. Its ornaments, gold and jewels, screamed how wealthy one must have been to order such handcraft.

This is what the historian wrote,” The blond haired man said as he turned to the female diligently waiting at his side, “What are your thoughts on all of this, dear Elene?”

“I don’t have an opinion on the matter, respectfully, your Highness.” Elene flatly said, her face stone cold as she stared at him.

“Come on!” He whined, letting out his frustration, “And stop calling me by my title when we’re alone.”

She remained still. “I wish I wasn’t mentioned in any book, Ludwig.”

The emperor sighed in defeat, he knew he wouldn’t get the answer he wanted. He sipped on his glass of red wine as he looked upon the cold yellow eyes in front of him. That sorceress was mesmerising in a strange way, it was like her appearance itself could melt any hardened heart, maybe even Ludwig’s. 

As time passed, the blonde eventually began to feel annoyed that he was the only one drinking. He was in fact so displeased with how things were going that his teeths were clenched and his jaw tightened. Until reality hit him, it was time to move on.

“Are you going to leave me to drink alone as well? Must I order you to sit down and relax?” He groaned in a much more displeased voice.

"I'm sorry, I shall sit."

As the emperor's eyes gazed towards the witch's orbs, firm hands were dancing on the counter pouring two cups of the crimson brewage.

“Truth is, Elene. If I called you here, it's because I needed to talk to you about your latest mission…” His words trailed off as if he was lost in thought but quickly snapped back to reality. “And we will definitely need to drink."

The witch bowed as she sat with the glass of alcohol, she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the last sentence. Never had she failed a mission in over a decade, not even once.

“I successfully killed the last invaders this morning, quietly as requested.” She stated calmly as if she was doing a report in the royal army.

“Of course, you are the only one I can trust, Elene. The problem lies elsewhere. There have been sights of a new rebellion forming, probably his believers...”

The succession war; which led Ludwig to the throne ended with the death of all the members of the Von Drachen family, leaving only the current emperor as the sole heir. Fortunately, people recognized his strength and didn’t try to challenge him, with a few exceptions.

Duke Lucretius Ceglar who had conspired against the throne and been thrown to the most secure jail ever since, hundreds of feet under the emperor's palace. The only reason he had not been executed and only imprisoned was being close to the emperor’s blessed bloodline.

“Your Highness, I vowed to protect you. I will never let that usurper nor his lackeys even breathe the same air as you." Elene answered firmly, it was a fact after all.

“Ludwig.” He exhaled, almost bored. “And yes, I know."

Seeing that both cups of wine were already empty, the emperor took the expensive bottle of liquor in his hands and filled them up again.

“Tomorrow will be a harsh day, drink!”

“Yes.”

It was on the fifth cup, or maybe the seventh—Elene couldn't remember—that something weird happened. Her nose began to bleed, at first it was slow, until it flowed like a river. She started to panic and tried to stand up and find a cloth to stop the bleeding.

“Stay here.” A firm voice said, he ordered with a death stare.

Her body froze, she was bound to her spot by a magic even more powerful than her existence.

Placing a hand in his pocket, the muscular figure took out a magnificent necklace, with its middle stone missing. He admired it for a moment, caressing its empty socket with his slim fingers then looked at the disoriented Elene.

“What do you know about Sirens?"

"The mermen? That, that they are extinct?" she muttered, blood streaming down her lips.

"Yes, but their secret! Don't tell me, you, of all people, don't know it?"

Her panicked gaze looked into the void trying, for her own sake, to remember such old information. Her thoughts were interrupted by the seemingly bored voice in front of her.

"Come on, you are the one who told me… Oh yeah you might not remember, my bad! I totally forgot that I erased those memories!" Answered the sole dragon of the Valramy Empire, giggling slowly.

"So you see, sirens' charming voice tales were but a hoax to hide the real truth. Ages ago, they were hunted until extinction because of their tears. A single mermaid's tear could kill a giant orc."

"Wh..why…"

"Why did they not die in the sea? Of course it's…"

"WHY ME, AFTER EVERYTHING I'VE DONE!"

"Don't speak until I'm done."

Her lips were now bound as well, only her eyes could be open right now. Elene's body shivered, she could feel it, she could feel the magic binding her whole self. Right now, the archmage was a statue to this man's mercy.

"So, I was saying. A mermaid's tear when diluted in lots of water is harmless, but a drop in a cup of wine is something else." Ludwig explained in awe. His muscular hands danced with the necklace's golden chain until they lifted it up towards the female's face. His expression suddenly dropped when he saw her—his voice sounding more and more like growls. "Though for you I had to use five drops, do you know how many kingdoms I could buy with that wasted money? Couldn't you just DIE? Oh, yes, you can answer now."

Finally, she could breathe and cough up the blood stuck in her lungs. The witch's eyes glared at her attacker but there was nothing she could do, she had been a naïve girl and it backfired. Elene fell into the hands of someone whose ambitions meant that any sacrifice —children, elders, siblings, parents— anything was worth it.

"Why me, why now ?" she only whispered, her voice rough from all the coughing.

"I've had a report that you contacted my dear cousin. And you know how much I hate him!" he replied with a gentle smile.

"I n-never did?" Or at least she couldn't recall it.

"Oh yeah, he tried talking to you, same thing." Calculating eyes were mocking the mage and taunting her."Do you know the real reason I wanted him imprisoned?"

No answer, again. Elene's mind was only filled with scattered thoughts. Wasn't he imprisoned because he tried to usurp the throne? There were countless proofs leading to his arrest afterall. She didn't think so anymore. If he asked it surely meant that there was another reason, one she did not know. Was everything she ever fought for a lie? Her face cringed at the thought. It could not be possible, there had to be a misunderstanding somewhere, Ludwig would never do that! Would he?

"You see, Duke Ceglar…" the blonde stopped for a moment trying to find a way to explain the whole situation without fuming. "Had a better claim to the throne than I, or any member of my late family for a fact. Apparently his bitch mother was a half dragon, a fucking direct daughter of Valramy. Yes, that's crazy! I know! I couldn't. Believe it. Myself!" Ludwig finally got off the deep end on that one, as he smashed an innocent porcelain vase that was too close to his raging fists.

The emperor poured himself another glass of wine in an attempt to calm himself then threw the necklace that used to home the poison he used into the chimney's blazing fire. He admired one last time the pretty white face stained with blood, her eyes finally showing an emotion, not fear but sadness. It had a certain charm to it, like a master's painting and her anguish was truly delectable.

"Nonetheless, I… I still never plotted with him…"

"Oh yeah, no. I was just bored of you. And I couldn't release you. It's too dangerous to keep you alive, Elene. Too dangerous to me, to the empire, to the world. You've only known bloodshed for the last twenty years, you're a mad old dog you see?" He leaned in and whispered "Now can you die, pretty please?"

A half-hearted shrug ended the discussion, the witch's knees finally gave in, but she was still breathing. Still ignoring the final request her master made. Ludwig's eyes narrowed as he grasped Elene’s hair and poured wine on her face, the red liquid danced with her blood on the white marble floor.

"Come on Elene, die already, don't make me repeat myself…" Murmured the poisoner with a demonic growl.

Everything went silent again, followed by a thud. 

A wicked smile appeared on Ludwig’s lips, he finally killed the most powerful person the Earth would ever know but he was also left unscathed. As a final gesture, he reached out to her cheeks stroking them as if she was but an animal. Ludwig then turned to his window whistling in order to summon his servants lying in the shadows waiting to clean up the mess.

A surge of power escaped the woman’s body as she muttered to herself "Die… Die… Die…" again and again and again. Until a sharp blade went through her heart. closing those golden eyes for good. Elene Floecia died by the hands of her employer, by the hands of the man she sacrificed everything for. In her last breath, she hoped the mana she released from her body killed her betrayer. Even if it made her rot in hell, even if it cursed her next life, even if it killed everyone in this world. She prayed, prayed that he died, but in vain. Gods don't answer prayers, they never do. Her mana didn't even have the effect she would hope for, but it did reach someone.