Oh, everyone knows about Sator Mert Group. Born from the Luminus Kingdom, this behemoth of erce had its roots dug deep in the soil of ambition and ing.
A flicker of fate had set the stage forty winters ago when a humble mert family, the Sators, dared to dream big in a world where only the ruthless thrived.
With shrewd deals and silk-tongued iations, they climbed the dder of success until their name rang through the nds like a symphony of wealth. Some years ago, they had mao bee the sed rgest and richest mert group in the whole ti.
But oh, nothing sts forever in the realm of porestige. Five or six turns of the moon ago, the former mastermind behind the Sator Mert Group, Gabriel di Sator, took his final breath, leaving behind a legacy as murky as a s at dusk. He had birthed only one heir, a son shrouded in more mystery than a cat in the night.
Legends whispered of this elusive figure, whose identity and face remained as elusive as a ghost in the fog. Tales spun by drunken bards cimed even the all-seeing eye of the King of Inkia had never glimpsed this phantom heir.
Some said he wore a mask of silver; others swore he danced with shadows uhe pale light of the moon.
As the diabolical maations of the Sator Mert Group tinued unabated, whispers grew louder and wilder about the lost s of the Sator bloodline. Had he vanished into thin air, or perhaps melted into the golden coffers of his father's empire?
Well, no matter where he was, he existed. Sometimes his people would pop up unceremoniously, walking around town, visiting both legal and illegal aus. His st recorded activity was his purchase of two high mastery ons a year ago in an au.
And so, in the heart of the Inkia Kingdom, where secrets tangled like ivy on a walls, the legacy of the enigmatic Sator Mert Group thrived, its shadow stretg far and wide over nds both near and far… until—
“Are you sure? You’re not imagining it?”
“What do you mean by imagining it? I heard it clearly! They called him Sator! That Sator!”
“What’s his name?”
“Uh… what was it? Something… something di Sator!”
“Ugh! Why are you so unreliable at times like this?”
In the bustling crowd awaiting the Saint Lucia Academy entraest, Lo Inkor found himself engulfed in the surrounding otions.
"Oh dear, looks like we've got a tender for the spotlight, Brother. Seems like your charm isn't the only ourning heads today," Bir remarked, squeezing Lo's hand just a tad tighter.
Lo swiveled to face his beaming younger sister, all of 11 years old and ready to step into the academy.
Lucky her, basking in the favor of her dear older brother who happeo be the illustrious first prince of Inkia. Without him, she might as well kiss the idea of education goodbye, let alouring beyond the pace walls.
Despite his mother, a favored queen in the king's court, ly warming up to Bir, she graciously permitted Lo to offer his support to the young ss, one of the many illegitimate princesses poputing Inkia.
Ah, but Bir possessed a certain wit and innate uanding of where she belonged in the grand scheme of things. It didn't hurt that she could potentially be used as a pawn in some high-stakes political marriage down the road.
After all, nothing says "family alliance" quite like a forced union packaged with a shiny bow of coer, agreement, status elevation, and a dash of good old-fashioned bribery.
Well, that’s for the future.
"It's surprising. There is no new information about the Sator family as of te. Did Mother miss something? That's impossible," Lo muttered under his breath, his brow furrowed ihought.
Such a signifit development would undoubtedly spark rumors and intrigue, spreading like wildfire through the political circles and beyond, even with the smallest, most discreet hint.
"Should I iigate for you, Brother? After all, it seems this Sator boy is also taking the entrance exam," Bir asked.
Lo ughed, tapping Bir’s head affeately. “Why you? There’s plenty of other people we ask for the details ter. You just focus on your test.”
“Lo!”
From quite a distance, Lo saw someone he knew, waving her hand at him. “Oh, Naha!”
Nahwu sprioward them, their guards parting to allow her to e closer. She said, “I don’t know what happens, but apparently the mysterious heir of a rich mert or something is joining the exam. Hi Bir!”
Bir bowed respectfully at her, “Hello, Princess Nahwu.”
“That ’t be. Gabriel di Sator’s son ’t be that young. Could it be… his grandson?” Lo specuted.
Bir and Nahwu tilted their heads.
"What about it? What one kid's presence ge anyway? I'm sure Bir will still e out as the best,” Nahwu said, oozing fidence.
“You think this is just about the entraest?” Lo groaned. Dealing with the elf princess's y sometimes felt like a burden. “The sudden appearance of someone from a very iial family that reviously untouchable ge a lot of people’s lives, you know?”
“Why? Are they bad people?” Nahwu asked, her curiosity shining through.
“Who cares if they're good or bad people. Most people here are just fog on what they get from them. Whether they had good or bad iions, people will still seek them out and curry favor with them,” Lo’s sarcasm dripped more than usual that day.
Nahwu shot Lo a disapproving look. “That’s such a twisted way of judging people around you, Lo. You should stop doing that. You’re a Prince!”
Lo fought the urge to roll his eyes. This recisely why discussing politics with Nahwu was like walking on eggshells. Sure, she had brains and brawn, but her surface level uanding of things made her an easy target for coer and manipution.
"Ah, the entraest is about to begin. I've got to go!" Nahwu said.
Lo raised his eyebrows. "Wait, what are you doioday anyway?"
"I'm helping the academy for the test, of course!" Nahwu left as she excimed, answering his question.
"I have to go too, Brother. Please pray for my success," Bir said.
Seeing how excited his sister was, Lo could only smile. "Of course. You are the best Vision art user in yeion. You will e out as the best. Even Princess Nahwu said the same thing, right?"
"No, Brother, you're wrong. I'm not the best Vision art user in my geion," Bir shook her head.
"What?" Lo blinked. "Who else is…"
"Did you fet that there's still the little Merlin?" Bir recalled with a smile.
Lo sighed helplessly. "Are you still saying that? Didn't I tell you not to believe every rumor and information out there? Yvain Edensworn is a literal king, and his master, Man Le Fay, is famously Edensor Royal Family's friend. His ability could have been exaggerated for political purposes."
"Well, you also said that there's some truth to rumors, right?" Bir said.
Yes, Yvain Edensworn’s achievements could be exaggerated. After all, he was a young king seeking all the support he could get, whether through lies or truths.
Must be tough ruling a kingdom at such a tender age. And being the one and only pupil of the legendary witch, Man Le Fay, well, that was some -level achievement.
Every Vision user out there probably had fantasized about being uhe tutege of the Infich at some points in their lives. But hey, there was o lose sleep over Yvain Edensworn's aplishments.
This entraest should be a walk in the park for Bir. Of course one day, she would get every opportunity to face him, but now, getting into the academy was more important.
And there was o worry about beied by the little Merlin now—
BUMP!
“Ah!”
Bir was a small girl. irls around her age had started puberty and grown taller.
But Bir was an illegitimate princess, living in a er of the pace. She had experienced malnutrition at some points in her life thanks to the queens and their people’s iional as well. That was the reason she had a smaller build and thin, underdeveloped body.
For one, she was a bit gd that was the case. She could stall time and not be sold for a political marriage too soon because she hadn’t gotten her period yet, and thanks to her pitiful, sickly appearance, she even got the favor from the first prince.
She was finally able to get a ce to ehe academy thanks to that too.
But the s sometimes outweighed the pros.
Her body was so weak she got easily shoved around in this crowd—
GRASP!
A blonde-haired boy caught her body.
“Careful there.”
Bir had never seen such a beautif—handsome boy. But she immediately widened her eyes when she saw the familiar emblem of the Sator Mert Group—
"Too many people are trying to ehe gate now. Let’s wait a bit,” the boy said as he pulled her away from the crowds.
“Ah… thank you,” Bir said. “My name is Bir Inkor.”
“Oh,” the boy raised his eyebrows. “I’m sorry for nnizing you, Yhness.”
Politely, the boy bowed to her, an illegitimate princess with no power over her own blood, and said, “My name is Evan di Sator, son of Mante and Bunny Fay di Sator.”
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From this point on, Yvain might be so different than we're used to. Iart, he's a boy king, cold, guarded and full of authority, and as the story progressed, he became more like a child. Now, he'll be a mix of both.
