Mages Requiem

Luna Franklin stood at the entrance of The Founding Fathers Academy, her sharp blue eyes scanning the cobblestone paths winding through ancient oak trees, bustling students, and elaborate magical artifacts embedded into the very walls of the grand campus. This was the beginning of a new chapter—not just for her, but for the long-dormant legacy of the Franklin family.

The world she found herself in was not her own but that of "Mages Requiem," a novel she knew intimately. Set in 1940, it was a world where magic and technology coexisted, often clashing as nations and organizations sought dominance. She wasn't just another student here—she was a reincarnated woman carrying memories from her old life and the full knowledge of the novel's plotlines.

Luna knew that her family's recent success wasn't an accident. Thanks to Origin: Projection, an ability that allowed her to recreate inventions from her past world, the Franklins had sidestepped the disasters that had devastated so many others during the Great Depression. They had once been a laughingstock—fallen aristocrats living off faded glory. Now, they were climbing their way back, fueled by Luna's gift and her father Benjen's trust in her "visions."

To him, she was more than just a daughter—she was a Seer, and every prediction she made was treated as gospel. The weight of that responsibility rested on her young shoulders. She was only a teenager by appearance, but in her mind, she was far older, having lived a full life before her reincarnation. And now she was here, walking through a story she knew would shape the world.

Luna remembered the stakes all too well. Founding Fathers Academy was more than just a place for privileged children to learn—it was a crucible where the future leaders of both magical and technological societies were forged. The alliances and rivalries formed here would determine the outcomes of wars, revolutions, and, ultimately, the fate of humanity itself.

In the original tale, pivotal events revolved around the nine Relics of the Demon King. Each Dark Lord began with possession of one Relic, setting off a chain of events that determined the destiny of the Union Colonies. The narrative was rife with assassinations, betrayals, and power struggles among various magical factions. Luna's task was to steer through these perils, securing her family's ascendancy.

But more pressingly, she needed to avoid the traps that the plot laid out. Students with extraordinary talents—like Adrian and others—would rise as major players. In the book, the Franklin family had been minor characters, but now, with her knowledge and abilities, Luna intended to rewrite their role in the story.

Her plan was clear. Network and form alliances early—powerful connections would be essential. Protect the family's interests by securing a foothold in the academy's growing technological arms race. And avoid unnecessary attention, at least until she was strong enough to stand her ground.

And most of all, she needed to stay ahead of the plot. The Noah family parents to the hero Adrian. The shadowy antagonists who had orchestrated the story's major conflicts, wouldn't wait. They operated from the background, sowing chaos and bending the system to their will. She could sense their influence everywhere, pulling strings behind the scenes.

Luna adjusted the crimson scarf tied loosely around her neck—a subtle symbol of the Franklin family colors—and smoothed the pleats of her tailored outfit. The crest on her blazer gleamed: a kite struck by lightning, a nod to Benjamin Franklin's famous experiment. It was a quiet reminder that, despite their decline, the Franklins had always understood the intersection of invention and risk.

As she took a seat on a bench near the school fountain, Luna became engrossed in her book, "Applications of Thaumaturgy in Artificial Systems," a gift from her father. The leather-bound volume exuded an aura of age and significance. Luna felt at ease, knowing her twin older brothers, tasked by their mother Mary to look after her, were nearby. 

They were poised to intervene with a boy who was nonchalantly leaning against a nearby tree, feigning interest in his smartphone, a creation of her family. Luna shot her brothers a glance, signaling them not to interfere; she was curious to see where this would lead. After a moment, the boy stole a glance at her, and with a subtle change in demeanor, he made his move.

"That's a heavy read for orientation day."

He said lightly, just loud enough to cut through the rustling pages.

Luna glanced up, her eyes flickering with mild annoyance before settling into cautious curiosity.

"What's it to you?"

He offered a disarming smile.

"Nothing, really. Just caught my eye. Thaumaturgy and tech, right? I didn't think anyone else was into that kind of thing."

Luna blinked, surprised.

"You know about it?"

"Enough to be dangerous."

He replied smoothly.

"But I'm more curious about your angle. What's got you so hooked on it?"

Her gaze sharpened, suspicion flickering briefly before curiosity won out.

"You don't strike me as the type to care about magical theory."

"I'm not."

He shrugged.

"But I care about people who know things others don't."

Luna studied him for a moment longer, then—against her better judgment—snapped her book shut.

"It's not just theory. There's a lot of untapped potential in merging spells with artificial constructs—machines, golems, you name it. Imagine automating what only mages could do before."

As Luna engaged in conversation with the boy, their exchange came to an end when he departed to mingle with another student. She realized too late that she hadn't asked for his name, despite his familiar appearance.

"What's this, what's this?" 

Her brother Christopher said with a smirk.

"Say it isn't so my dear twin Chris. But me thinks our baby sister has finally found a boy she's interested in."

Said her other brother Benjamin hugging her.

"But my just as fair-looking twin Ben, I thought our dear Luna only had her eyes on Adrian Noah, the chosen hero of the era."

"My equally impressive brother Chris, could you remind me what he is renowned for being the hero of?"

"My oh my. looks like I'm the brains of this pair, Ben. Alright, then my less intelligent twin. Adrian Noah was prophesied to stop the Demon Kings resurrection."

Eventually, her brothers got on her nerves, and like an angry cat, she wriggled out of their hugs and scratched them back in retaliation.

She eventually strode confidently into the central courtyard, where first-year students gathered in clusters, talking excitedly about their class selections and schedules.

Her mind raced as she considered the courses and electives she could take. In her past life, she'd been an avid learner, and now, armed with knowledge from two worlds, she could bend the rules to her advantage.

As Luna finalized her schedule, she noticed the same boy she forgot to ask his name. He was standing in the courtyard, conversing and giving money and other items for what seemed to be promises. As he talked with them, he was quietly observing the other students, he seemed detached from the rest, his eyes sharp and calculating, as if weighing everything he saw. Then he said his name, Liam Noah, she realized instantly and panicked.

Liam Noah, the hidden boss of the Novel, who actually kills the Demon King and anyone that stands against him. He was dangerous, in the novel, Liam's thirst for revenge made him a pivotal figure—a wild card who disrupted every plan laid by both heroes and villains. The United Colonies didn't oppose him as they instated him as their third EX Rank Mage.

Luna debated approaching him. In the story, Liam's tragedy isolated him, setting him on a dark path. But if she could align her interests with his, even temporarily, it might give her an edge. However, she needed to tread carefully. Liam was not someone to be controlled. He was a force to be reckoned with—and unpredictable at best.

With a sly smile, she decided she'd keep an eye on him. Allies were valuable, but knowledge was priceless. She'd study Liam, learn what drove him, and ensure that when the time came, she'd be one step ahead.

Luna Franklin walked deeper into the heart of the academy, her mind teeming with plans and contingencies. The pieces of the game were in motion. The academy might believe it was molding the next generation of leaders, but Luna had her own agenda—one that would ensure the Franklins' legacy never faltered again.

And woe to anyone, Noah or otherwise, who dared to stand in her way.

---------

Liam, after arriving at the nearest bus stop to his house, reached home within minutes. He sat in the wreckage of his home, heart pounding but his face eerily calm.

The chaos outside—the blue-and-red lights flashing, murmurs of police chatter, and the shuffle of council agents—felt distant, like background noise to the sharp clarity of his thoughts. His mind churned, not with grief but with cold, calculated rage.

The Noah's.

Council agents suggested it was likely a Klan attack but would record it as a botched robbery.

There was no doubt in Liam's mind. This wasn't a random robbery or a hate-fueled attack by some bigoted group. The timing was too perfect. His first day at the Founding Fathers Academy, a chance to spread his wings, was marred by a tragedy engineered to crush him. But they had failed.

They had no idea who they were dealing with.

A social worker arrived, inquiring about relatives and explaining that Liam could choose where to live. He clarified that although he wasn't their biological child, they were his real parents in his heart. After extensive discussions, she concurred that staying put was best for him and departed. Exhausted, Liam slept.

When the lawyer informed him that his parents' wealth now belonged to him, Liam felt only an empty, detached sense of irony. His father's inventions and patents had created a fortune, and now that fortune was his to wield. But it was meaningless without them—the two people who had made life worth living.

He wasn't a fool, though. This windfall wasn't just a gift. It was fuel—fuel for his vengeance. His parents were gone, but Liam had one thing left: the unrelenting certainty that he would destroy everything the Noahs cared about. Not as a helpless boy mourning his loss, but as someone who understood the long game—someone with patience, cunning, and the tools to make them suffer.

Sitting in his parents' now-silent home, Liam mapped out his first steps. He would go to school as if nothing had happened, blend into the background, and grow stronger. MSP flowed through his system, and he would continue trading with the other students, slowly accumulating power in secret.

But he needed more. The kind of revenge Liam sought required patience and resources far beyond what he currently had. Connections, knowledge, and leverage—those would be his weapons. The Academy was just a starting point. Every trade, every seemingly meaningless favor exchanged, would be another brick laid in the foundation of his revenge.

Liam understood that vengeance wasn't something you rushed. Rage clouds judgment. He couldn't afford that. Instead, his revenge would be methodical.

He wouldn't just destroy the Noahs—he would take everything from them, piece by piece. Their wealth, their allies, their hopes and dreams, everything that gave them power—he'd leave them broken and empty, just like they had left him.

And when the time came for them to realize who had orchestrated their downfall, he'd be there to watch them crumble.

Liam smirked to himself, the first genuine emotion he'd felt since discovering the bodies of his parents. His classmates would see him as just another student at the Academy. But beneath the surface, he was a predator, slowly sharpening his claws.

He wouldn't rush.

He wouldn't make mistakes.

He wouldn't stop until they begged for mercy—and he would give them none.

"You took everything from me."

Liam thought to himself, clenching his fists.

"Now I'll take everything from you."

And the best part?

They'd never see him coming.