Raelis had always enjoyed the glint of moonlight. After all, it reminded him of his mother's beautiful white hair.
Yet, when he looked up, he barely caught a glimpse of the moon as the ring of swordsmen surrounding him blocked most of it from view, their blades pointed at his throat.
"Raelis Varekan," one of the swordsmen muttered. "You've been accused of treason. Do you have a defense?"
He couldn't retaliate. He couldn't even utter a word for that matter. His brothers and sisters made sure of that by petrifying his vocal cords.
Of course I do, Raelis thought with a sigh, glancing at the swordsman. But I can't really tell you my side of the story now, can I?
"Your gaze tells me you don't," the swordsman added. "I guess that is to be expected from someone whose bloodline is at 0% purity. How you don't have even a single percent is beyond me."
As his words faded, all the swordsmen burst out into laughter, their swords inching ever so closer to Raelis's skin, slightly cutting it.
Blood was drawn, trickling down his neck, and dyeing his previously white jacket in red.
Raelis couldn't care less. This wasn't the first time he was mistreated, but it looked like it would be the last.
His grandfather, Emperor Kaelith was standing in front of him. His regal figure was illuminated by a single streak of moonlight, causing the nobles gathered around to watch in awe.
One of the officials stepped up, holding a long decree as he began reading it aloud.
"Raelis Varekan, the bastard, and a stain to the royal bloodline. You've been found guilty of treason against the crown. Your attempt to poison your siblings had not gone unnoticed. Since this is a repeat offense, you left us no choice but to take action into our own hands."
The official's eyes left the decree and landed on Raelis who wore a pokerface.
"Your sentence, as confirmed by the emperor, is death."
The moment his words fell, silence descended onto the royal courtyard. No one could utter even a single word. This was the first time in centuries where the emperor had to step in and bestow the death penalty upon one of his own.
And it just so happened that certain someone, was Raelis. A child born between a concubine, and a prince who was killed in disgrace.
I have no choice but to accept this outcome... I couldn't even summon an ember, let alone a flame. I'm—
"Raelis." Emperor Kaelith called out, his tone cold. "I offered you the name Varekan, though you were never worthy of it. What you've done today is unspeakable, and your name will forever be removed from our family's register. Even in death, your disgrace shall be confined to these walls, unworthy of remembrance."
Raelis shuddered, staring at the menacing golden eyes of his grandfather and the emperor of the Varekan Empire.
Those very same eyes once stared at him with affection. Even if Raelis was a bastard, he still had his blood.
But once Raelis turned twelve and underwent his bloodline purity test, that all changed.
The more blood of the founder one had, the higher their purity. In Raelis's case, he measured a whopping 0%.
And now... I'm paying the price of my own fate...
Emperor Kaelith turned to one of the royal attendants. "Have you prepared the furnace?"
"Yes your majesty... Everything is in order."
"Very well then," Emperor Kaelith's gaze locked back onto Raelis. "Do it."
The moment those cold words came out of the emperor's mouth, Raelis closed his eyes, feeling the encroaching swords on his neck.
It felt like the entire world had slowed down, replaying his best memories. There weren't many, only two.
The memory of his mother embracing him as they walked through a crimson flowerfield. And the second... the first, and only time the emperor had praised him.
Raelis clung onto that praise as a source of motivation to continue. But then again, whatever choices he had made, had all led up to this moment.
The man he aspired to be. The man who was like a shining beacon in his grim world after his mother was murdered.
That very same man just gave the order to kill him.
If only I had what it took... if only my bloodline purity was higher... maybe I wouldn't have ended up in this mess... Raelis thought, momentarily reopening his eyes, witnessing his body below him.
He felt the brush of wind on his cheeks as his decapitated head rose high into the sky, and finally landed right before the emperor's feet.
The bright moonlight illuminated Raelis's handsome face, covered by now shoulder-length white hair.
If only I had another chance... Raelis thought, his consciousness rapidly fading, replaced by pure rage. Then I wouldn't bow down like a dog to any of these imbeciles. I'd rule over them, rise to power, and make their lives a living hell, just as they had done to my mother and I...
Absolute silence engulfed him as his vision faded.
Raelis couldn't feel a thing after that. Only float in silence and wait god knew how long.
Yet instead of the darkness he was slowly growing accustomed to, a faint glimmer of light appeared in his vision, dyeing it completely white.
What's happening? Raelis pondered, his unease growing. Am I not really dead...? Did they hire a necromancer to keep me alive?
That single possibility made his heart beat much faster.
Yet as those thoughts struck him, he realized one crucial detail. He was dead, how could he have a heartbeat?
That wasn't the only thing that came back. A few moments later, he could hear a high-pitched noise, followed by a tingle in his hands.
Soon, the tingle spread out to his remaining limbs.
And before he knew it, his vision once again faded to black. Yet this time, he had control.
Raelis began attempting to move his limbs. It was a success.
Then, he tried getting up, which also worked. And in the end, he decided to finally open his eyes.
Immediately, that irritating chandelier greeted his sight. It had dozens of little angels. He hated it.
But that was not what he focused on. Instead, he realized he was standing on his bed, feeling much shorter than usual.
What is happening? Am I dreaming? Raelis thought as he jumped off the bed, and approached the mirror.
The moment he arrived, he froze, looking at the sight ahead.
He saw himself, obviously. But he was much younger.
Raelis pinched a couple dozen times, making sure what he was seeing was real, and only then, did he pace around his room, looking for any sort of clue.
Then, he found it. There was a single piece of parchment hidden in his bedsheets.
He picked it up, and quickly read it. Yet when he finished, he simply stared at the parchment, holding it with trembling hands.
'You're being summoned to test your bloodline purity. Be ready in 5 minutes.'
I'm back... before the bloodline purity test?