March 2nd, 1810
Daybreak arrived, but instead of the usual tranquility, the Ivanovich household was in chaos.
"Where is Xavier?!"
The panic started early that morning when the maids, tasked with waking Xavier and cleaning his room alongside his personal maid, Anastasia, sensed something was wrong. Anastasia was nowhere to be found.
"Perhaps she went ahead to wake him earlier today?" they reasoned, trying to dismiss the unease creeping up their spines. But they were far from the truth.
They hurried to Xavier's room, pushing past the guards. The moment they entered—
Nothing. No one was there.
At first, they assumed Xavier had simply gone out early, but the realization struck hard. It was only seven in the morning. His lessons began in an hour and a half. Where could he have gone?
One of the maids, feeling a sense of dread settle over her, turned to the knights stationed outside Xavier's door. "Did the young master leave? Did you see him go anywhere?"
The knight, caught off guard, furrowed his brows. "Leave? Young Master didn't go anywhere. We've been standing guard all night. No one entered or exited this room."
The maids' blood ran cold. Their faces turned pale, hands trembling as they put the pieces together. Xavier had vanished. Anastasia was gone as well.
The knights couldn't be mistaken. They were trained from birth for this kind of vigilance. If they said no one had come or gone, then it meant Xavier and Anastasia had disappeared without a trace.
The panic spread like wildfire. The maids alerted the other staff, and within minutes, the entire estate was in an uproar, searching frantically for any sign of the missing prince.
The commotion stirred Violet from her sleep. Her drowsy voice carried through her chambers as she rubbed at her tired eyes. "What's going on? Why is it so loud this early...?"
Her personal maid, Irina Kuznetsova, hesitated before answering. "Young Lord Xavier is missing, My Lady."
Violet blinked, her exhaustion vanishing in an instant. "Xavier is what?!"
"Missing," Irina confirmed, panic evident in her voice. "The young lord has disappeared from the estate without a trace."
Violet's face lost all color. The air in the room suddenly felt thin, and a pit formed in her stomach. "No... he wouldn't... He wouldn't just leave like that." Her voice wavered as if saying it out loud made the fear settle deeper.
Meanwhile, in his study, Graviil Ivanovich was filling out state papers, with Viktor Mirovich, the head butler, standing beside him. A knock at the door disrupted the quiet moment.
"Come in," Graviil instructed, barely glancing up.
The doors burst open, revealing Aleksander, followed by several heavily armed royal knights and his butler, Nikolai Petrov. Their faces were drained of color, expressions grim.
Graviil's brows furrowed. "What's wrong, Aleksander?" There was an edge of concern in his voice, though he tried to remain composed.
Aleksander stepped forward, but the words stuck in his throat. He swallowed hard before finally speaking, voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. "Grandfather—Xavier is missing!"
Graviil and Viktor froze.
"What...?" Graviil's voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the force of a storm.
Viktor, usually calm and composed, immediately followed up. "What do you mean by that, Prince Aleksander?!"
Aleksander clenched his fists. His entire body trembled, and his crimson-red eyes, usually filled with pride, now flickered with something never seen—fear.
Real, unshaken fear.
Then, something else happened.
His eyes began to glow. The Eyes of Supreme Authority—a power deeply connected to the will of its wielder—reacted to his emotions, flaring to life with an ominous brilliance.
Graviil knew he had to act fast. "Aleksander, calm yourself. Those eyes have awakened in response to your emotions! If you lose control—"
But Aleksander wasn't listening. He was barely holding himself together.
"Please, Grandpa... we have to find Xavier!"
----
Hours passed, but there was no sign of Xavier or Anastasia anywhere in Moscow.
Anxiety twisted in everyone's chest like a vice. Where could he have gone? Had he been taken? But that was impossible. The royal guards were the best of the best. If anyone had even attempted to infiltrate, there would have been a fight, a trail—something.
Then, just as they were beginning to lose hope, a group of knights who had been stationed at the RealmHall the night before stepped forward. Their report sent a fresh wave of shock through the royal family.
"Last night, at midnight, Prince Xavier and Lady Anastasia approached us. They requested permission to enter the RealmHall portal alongside an unfamiliar companion."
The room fell silent.
Graviil's mind raced. He had been hesitant to use their family's sacred ability—The All-Seeing Eye—to locate Xavier. But now, he wasn't so sure.
Just then, before anyone could react, a maid came sprinting in, her face pale, breath ragged. "My Lord! My Lord!"
Graviil turned sharply toward her. "What is it?!"
"I... I found a letter... in Young Master Xavier's room!"
The tension in the air became suffocating.
With trembling hands, the maid extended the letter. Graviil took it and slowly, carefully, unfolded the parchment as all eyes locked onto him.
Violet and Aleksander moved closer, standing side by side, their hearts pounding in their chests.
The room stood still as Graviil began to read aloud the words left behind by the missing prince.
----
Dear Everyone,
By the time you read this letter, I will already be long gone. First, I want to sincerely apologize for any pain, stress, or worry I have caused you all. But please, don't worry—I'm fine. I don't intend to put myself in harm's way… at least, not deliberately. Haha…
I'm sorry. I know you're all searching for me, desperate to know where I am, but all I can say is… I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for leaving. I'm sorry for abandoning you all. I'm sorry for the suffering I have caused.
But I can't do this anymore.
I've tried for so long to move past Father's death, to push away this unbearable weight inside me. But no matter how much time passes, no matter how much I try to forget, I can't shake the feeling that it was my fault. That I am the reason he's gone. And maybe… maybe I am.
I know I was never truly one of you. Not really. Not by blood. But you still welcomed me as if I were. You accepted me despite my failures, my flaws, my weaknesses. You embraced me with open arms, and for that, I am grateful beyond words.
But I can't lie to myself anymore. I've spent years pretending I belonged, carrying a name that was never mine—Ivanovich, Ashford. I don't deserve it. I never did.
Big Sis… I know you're reading this. And I'm sorry—for being the worst little brother you could have ever asked for.
Big Brother… I'm sorry for being weak, for always crying, for never being strong enough to stand beside you.
And Grandpa… I'm sorry for abandoning the love and kindness you have given me. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me.
But I can't stay in your world any longer. I feel like a stranger, like a mistake that was never meant to exist here. Every night, I am haunted by the same nightmare—Father's death. And every day, I see the face that fills me with fear… Percival.
I thought if I trained hard enough, if I became strong enough, I could silence these thoughts. That if I became stronger, maybe I wouldn't feel this way anymore. Maybe I wouldn't be so weak and helpless, unable to protect the ones I love. Maybe… I would finally feel like I belonged.
But it was all futile. And this… this is the end of that road.
So before I go, I want to say thank you. Thank you for showing me love despite everything. Thank you for treating me as one of your own, even when I wasn't. Thank you for everything.
I love you all. And I'm sorry for what I have to do.
I have to find my truth—my world. I have to find out where I come from, who I really am. Who my parents were.
Please, don't come looking for me.
Maybe I am a coward, running from my fears, my regrets, my insecurities. But when the time comes, I hope… I will finally understand who I truly am.
—Xavier
----
Dear Everyone,
By the time you read this letter, I will already be long gone. First, I want to sincerely apologize for any pain, stress, or worry I have caused you all. But please, don't worry—I'm fine. I don't intend to put myself in harm's way… at least, not deliberately. Haha…
I'm sorry. I know you're all searching for me, desperate to know where I am, but all I can say is… I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for leaving. I'm sorry for abandoning you all. I'm sorry for the suffering I have caused.
But I can't do this anymore.
I've tried for so long to move past Father's death, to push away this unbearable weight inside me. But no matter how much time passes, no matter how much I try to forget, I can't shake the feeling that it was my fault. That I am the reason he's gone. And maybe… maybe I am.
I know I was never truly one of you. Not really. Not by blood. But you still welcomed me as if I were. You accepted me despite my failures, my flaws, my weaknesses. You embraced me with open arms, and for that, I am grateful beyond words.
But I can't lie to myself anymore. I've spent years pretending I belonged, carrying a name that was never mine—Ivanovich, Ashford. I don't deserve it. I never did.
Big Sis… I know you're reading this. And I'm sorry—for being the worst little brother you could have ever asked for.
Big Brother… I'm sorry for being weak, for always crying, for never being strong enough to stand beside you.
And Grandpa… I'm sorry for abandoning the love and kindness you have given me. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me.
But I can't stay in your world any longer. I feel like a stranger, like a mistake that was never meant to exist here. Every night, I am haunted by the same nightmare—Father's death. And every day, I see the face that fills me with fear… Percival.
I thought if I trained hard enough, if I became strong enough, I could silence these thoughts. That if I became stronger, maybe I wouldn't feel this way anymore. Maybe I wouldn't be so weak and helpless, unable to protect the ones I love. Maybe… I would finally feel like I belonged.
But it was all futile. And this… this is the end of that road.
So before I go, I want to say thank you. Thank you for showing me love despite everything. Thank you for treating me as one of your own, even when I wasn't. Thank you for everything.
I love you all. And I'm sorry for what I have to do.
I have to find my truth—my world. I have to find out where I come from, who I really am. Who my parents were.
Please, don't come looking for me.
Maybe I am a coward, running from my fears, my regrets, my insecurities. But when the time comes, I hope… I will finally understand who I truly am.
—Xavier
As Graviil's voice faded, the room was left in stunned silence, the weight of Xavier's words pressing down on them like an unbearable storm.
Violet was the first to break. Her body trembled as she clutched her chest, tears spilling freely down her cheeks. "Xavier…" she whispered, her voice breaking apart. Her little brother—her precious little brother—was gone. And she had never even realized how much pain he had been hiding behind that smile.
Aleksander, normally so composed, stood frozen. His hands clenched into tight fists as Xavier's words echoed in his mind. Train away my thoughts and emotions… He had done the same, drowning himself in battle and duty after their father's death, never allowing himself to feel. And yet… he had never once stopped to think that Xavier was doing the exact same thing.
Meanwhile, Graviil stood still, his face unreadable. But then, in an instant, a brilliant white light erupted from him, flooding the entire room with its sheer force. The air became suffocating, heavy with raw power, as an overwhelming presence pushed everyone back.
The All-Seeing Eye.
The sacred power of the Ivanovich bloodline, awakened once more after years of dormancy.
"I'm sorry, Svetlana," Graviil murmured, his voice barely audible over the pulsating energy surrounding him. His eyes glowed an intense white, sorrow evident even in their radiance. Then, he cast his gaze outward—not just at the palace, not just at the city, but at every inch of Russia itself.
He searched every street, every district, every building, every hidden corner. He scoured the land with his omniscient sight, desperate to find even the faintest trace of Xavier.
And then, it was gone.
Graviil collapsed onto his knees, gasping for breath. Sweat dripped from his brow as his body trembled from the strain.
"Your Majesty!" Viktor and the knights rushed forward in alarm.
But Graviil weakly raised a hand, stopping them in their tracks. "He's not here," he whispered.
Aleksander's head snapped toward him. "What?"
Graviil exhaled sharply, forcing himself to sit upright. "Xavier isn't in Russia. I searched everywhere… and I couldn't find him. Not even a trace of his presence."
The room fell deathly silent as the truth settled in. The All-Seeing Eye allowed its wielder to only perceive all that occurred within the borders of Russia. If Xavier wasn't detected…
It could only mean one thing.
Xavier had left the kingdom entirely.
And now… no one knew where he had gone.
-----
Just a day after Xavier's disappearance, news spread like wildfire. Even within the Pennsylvania Royal Academy, students and teachers whispered about it in hushed tones.
As Princess Jasmine walked through the hallways alone, her thoughts were consumed by the mystery surrounding Xavier's disappearance. Then, as she reached a two-way corridor, she overheard a group of female students discussing the topic.
"Did you hear? Xavier went missing yesterday," one girl whispered.
"Yeah," another replied. "Someone said he ran off in the middle of the night with his maid."
"They must be in some kind of secret romance!" a third girl added, giggling.
"Oh, come on!" her friend scoffed. "You and your weird romance fantasies."
Jasmine froze. Her heart pounded violently against her chest as her face flushed a deep red.
Xavier… in a forbidden romance? She shook her head, her thoughts a mess. No. That can't be the reason. There's no way he would just disappear for something like that!
She clenched her fists, trying to push down the strange, uneasy feeling tightening in her chest. No, wait—what am I even thinking? This isn't the time for something so ridiculous! She quickly slapped her cheeks, trying to shake off her spiraling emotions.
As she continued toward her class, Jasmine suddenly caught sight of Xavier's friends gathered nearby. Curiosity getting the best of her, she quietly stepped behind a nearby wall, eavesdropping on their conversation.
"Did you guys hear about Xavier's disappearance?" Emily asked, concern evident in her voice.
"Yeah," Jason responded, his expression unusually serious. "Apparently, he ran away from his family."
"Why would he do that?" Sophie questioned, crossing her arms.
"I don't know," Jason admitted, troubled. "It's completely unlike him. Even my parents are shocked. They look… stressed. Really stressed."
"This is so sad..." Elowen muttered. Her usual enthusiasm was gone, replaced by an uncharacteristic gloom.
A heavy silence fell over the group until Jupiter broke it. "We should look for Xavier."
His voice was firm, unwavering. Determined.
"That's a great idea!" Aria chimed in. "If we all work together, we might be able to track him down!"
"Yeah, I like that plan!" Elowen, Misaki, Emily, Jason, and Sophie all voiced their agreement.
Jack, however, remained unconvinced. "What?! And why are we suddenly doing this?" His tone was sharp, his expression uncharacteristically grim.
Jupiter met his gaze without hesitation. "Because Xavier is our friend."
Then, with conviction burning in his eyes, he continued, "No… he's more than that. He's my brother. And I can't stand by while my brother is out there, alone, possibly in danger. I refuse to do nothing."
Jack exhaled, rubbing his temples. "I never said I was against it. But charging in without a plan, without knowing what we're up against—that's just reckless."
Misaki, wrapping an arm around Jack's shoulder, grinned. "I get where you're coming from, but we don't exactly have time to sit around making plans. If Xavier's in danger, every second counts."
Jack frowned but remained silent, thinking over her words.
Then he turned to her. "Misaki, you're the strongest one here. The only one who could match you was Xavier, and he's not here. Do you really think we have what it takes to handle whatever situation he's in?"
Misaki chuckled, exuding confidence. "We'll be fine. We're all strong in our own ways. Plus, Jason, Jupiter, and Elowen are all near my strength. We're not going in blind. Almost..."
Jack sighed heavily. "Fine. But how the hell are we supposed to find him?"
Misaki lifted her hands, staring at them as if in deep thought. "That part's easy. For some reason, I can vaguely sense where they are."
"WHAT?!" Everyone shouted in unison.
"Since when?" Sophie demanded, her jaw practically hitting the floor.
Misaki smirked. "Remember when Xavier introduced us to his pet cat, Ark? And when I touched him, there was that weird spark? Ever since then, I've been able to vaguely sense Ark's presence."
Jaws dropped. No one had expected that.
From her hidden spot, Jasmine's thoughts raced. They're planning to search for Xavier in secret…
Her fingers tightened around the folds of her uniform as a memory resurfaced—her vision from the previous night. A vision of Xavier, bloodied and battle-worn, golden hair gleaming under a fractured night sky. He wielded a shining blade—Excalibur, though she did not yet know its name. A dragon fought by his side, facing a creature, no… a nightmare, radiating pure malice and chaos.
Then the sky itself split open. A blinding light. Three enormous ships descended from the heavens—otherworldly, terrifying.
Jasmine inhaled sharply. A deep unease settled in her chest, different from her usual worries. A dread that felt personal.
Xavier… Her mind wandered, her cheeks warming once again. But this time, the feeling that gripped her wasn't just concern or fear—it was something else. Something unfamiliar. Something she didn't yet have the words to describe.
Her hand pressed against her chest, where an unfamiliar ache lingered at the thought of him in danger.
She had to go. She had to find him. No matter what.