#grand duke of the north sylus

[eilaafterhours]

Grand Duke Sylus

Soooo someone made an edit of black haired Sylus, it was reposted to Bluesky (I believe, don’t quote me on that), I then quoted it and said this

And then I started cooking

Sylus is sent away by the Emperor because he’s a threat to the Crown Prince’s position, and he’s also a stain on the royal family.

The reason why he’s a stain to the royal family is because A) he’s a child of the Emperor’s Concubine who was of unknown origins. And B) because she was of Dragon-kin. She herself didn’t show any physical traits, but Sylus couldn’t hide it. He was born with white hair and his blood-crimson eyes. Blood-Crimson eyes proof of Dragon blood. His mother was sent away (see: murdered for deceiving the crown). Sylus was immediately glamoured to have his mother’s black hair and his father’s golden eyes as golden eyes are proof of one’s royal blood.

Things were fine until manifested his powers, and it became too difficult to cover the black stain. They didn’t try to outright kill him (poison/assassins), but they did send him to the battlefield multiple times as a teen, so that he could at least die an “honorable death”. However, he kept coming back, so as war with an opposing empire was on the horizon, the Emperor decided to send him there as the General. Either he’d die a man or die a beast, either way he’d be dead. But he didn’t die, and the Emperor kept getting reports that the war will end sooner rather than later, so he employs Plan B.

But before that, let’s discuss the origin of Sylus’ curse.

As for Sylus’ Curse takes from canon, and is called Goddess’s Wrath. Dragons were once Messengers of the Goddess and coexisted with humans. However, despite being Messengers, Dragons could not speak the language of humans, so the Goddess created a link, she awakened a devote follower allowing her to understand the Dragons. Thus, the title Saintess was created.

Things were harmonious for centuries until a Saintess was found dead beside a Dragon. With the only line of communication dead, the Temple produced a lie claiming that the Dragons had that murdered the Saintess and turned their backs on the Goddess.

What humans lead themselves to believe is far from the truth. Dragons and Saintesses are far more deeply connected than just being Messengers of the Goddess. Firstly, the Goddess loves the Dragons, her second creations so much, that she made them immortal. However, she is selfish and watching them from afar isn’t enough to quell her loneliness. Despite this, She cannot bear to end them herself, so she tasked their deaths to a human. Those humans are Guardians, not Saintesses. They are to watch over the Dragons while waiting for the Goddess’ word of summons. In this case, however, the Guardian chose to defy fate and end herself instead. Her blood becoming the unfortunate stain upon the Dragons' existence.

Centuries pass again, and the cycle continues until something completely unexpected occurs. A child is born. A child of a Guardian and Dragon. There is no denying it as the child has red eyes, and all Dragons have red eyes as the Goddess does. Now something new and unprecedented had been set into motion. Humans and Dragons could procreate. Humans could be of Dragon blood. Humans were a step closer to Godhood.

So, after a while, why would they even need the Dragons anymore?

A sinister plan is set into motion and once a few more human-dragon children are found, enough to continue the bloodline, the Saintess are given a task from the Temple.

Kill the Dragons.

The Guardians are conflicted, terrified for the Dragon-kin’s lives, when the Goddess speaks to them.

I am not angry, nor is there any need to fear them. Return my Children to me, and I will protect your children in turn.

And so, they listen and all the Dragons are returned to the Goddess. The Goddess despite her selfishness does not turn her back on the Guardians. She blesses the Dragon-kin bloodline with the same blessing she had given her Children. They can only be slain by their fated, and that their draconic traits would now lay dormant within them.

This does not fix everything, however. The Saintesses are cast aside the moment the last Dragon takes its breath. The Dragon-kin are forced to live in the Temple to be used as the stepping stone to Godhood. This angers the Dragons, and they beg the Goddess to do something. She gives the Dragon-kin powers to protect themselves, powers that reacted to anyone who wasn’t their fated.

Eventually the leash the Temple has placed on the Dragon-kin loosen enough for them to escape. They spread themselves far and wide across the globe. Some hid and hoarded while others mingled amongst their half kind living a fabricated life, knowing that the moment they were exposed it was over.

But they had to live in the moment before their Home Calling, you know?

Finally, we return time Plan B, also known as You.

Enter the Daughter of one of the two Dukedoms in the empire. Your family’s dukedom is considered the lesser (as talks the opposing duke’s daughter is already in discussion about becoming the Crown Princess). Regardless, you’re just competent enough to become Grand Duchess, but not enough to be Empress. Reality is that you and Sylus are just second rank people who will be sent to the boarders, far away from the capital and close to the monster laden boarders.

So, upon his return he is wed to you. The wedding is a silent affair, and you're shipped off to the Northern boards the day after.

Oh, well! Let us cheer for the ever fortunate couple, and may the Goddess smile upon them.