Ancestral Lineage

In a lavishly furnished chamber deep within the Brimestone Estate, seven figures gathered around a low obsidian table carved with ancestral runes. The heavy curtains danced with the occasional breeze, as if stirred by the tension coiling through the room. This wasn't a council—it was a storm of legacies and power, held together by bloodlines older than some nations.

On one of the elegant leather sofas, a man with short, dark-grey hair and piercing, deep-blue eyes sat upright. His frame was tall and muscular, exuding discipline. A neatly trimmed beard framed his firm jaw, and square glasses perched calmly on his face. Though quiet, his presence was as immovable as a mountain. He was Davies Branlock, or rather Brimestone, father of Vorden and Lith, and once a name that sent shudders through enemy ranks.

Seated beside him was a woman of radiant beauty. Her long, dirty blonde hair flowed down her back in waves, and her golden-brown eyes shimmered with intelligence and quiet ferocity. Gamora Brimestone, his wife. Her aura was a perfect balance of serenity and edge—like a blade sheathed in silk.

To their right, in a stark white military uniform trimmed with gold, sat a striking man with grey hair slicked back and pale blue eyes—burning with restrained fire. His resemblance to Davies was undeniable, from the bone structure to the calculated calm in his bearing. He was none other than Harry Brimestone, the White King, Headmaster of Alpa Academy, and Davies' younger brother.

Next to him reclined a dark-skinned man, his long black hair tied into a flowing ponytail. His blue eyes sparkled with sharp calculation. Clad in tailored black armor that pulsed faintly with runes of command, he looked every bit the warlord he was. Godric Benson Brimestone, Commander-in-Chief of Gassendi's global military forces and Davies' most trusted ally—and butler. His laughter once shook empires. Now, he spoke in commands that shaped continents.

And yet, all four deferred—whether subtly or openly—to the two individuals seated across from them.

On a regal sofa lined with phoenix feathers sat a man and woman whose very presence warped the air around them. Behind them stood a silent sentinel: a bald-headed man with deep violet eyes, unblinking and eerily composed. He was Lawrence Brimestone, chief butler of the Brimestone Clan and personal advisor to the man seated in front of him.

That man was Leopold Brimestone.

With his winter-grey hair cascading like mist over his shoulders and his expression unreadable, he sat with his eyes closed. Some might mistake it for sleep. It wasn't. It was control. Leopold Brimestone, the Clan Patriarch, was the strongest known being in the world. To meet his eyes was to feel one's soul laid bare. He did not speak unless the world needed direction.

Beside him sat a woman of breathtaking beauty. Her long, raven-black hair shimmered with streaks of blue under the chandelier light. Her eyes, a striking near-violet, assessed everyone in the room with cold precision. Yet, when she looked toward Davies and Harry, there was something softer—a maternal light, flickering beneath the frost. Veronica Brimestone, first matriarch of the clan, known as the Silent Queen.

And despite the layers of nobility, authority, and power wrapped around every soul in the room, there was only one subject on their minds:

Vorden Brimestone.

The son. The storm. The one who had finally stepped forward.

A silence settled again. Not out of awkwardness. But reverence.

Then Leopold finally spoke.

The entire room froze.

A light shimmered faintly behind his gaze—an ancestral power older than the continent they ruled.

"…So, he has accepted his inheritance," Leopold said, his voice quiet… yet it struck like thunder through their bones.

A nod from Davies confirmed it.

Harry leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "The Academy's whispers are already spreading. If we don't act with precision, we will lose control of the narrative."

Godric folded his arms. "Then perhaps… it's time we stopped hiding our bloodline's true supremacy."

"Let the world know," Veronica said coldly, "that the Brimestone Clan is no longer resting." The age of pretense… is over."

Leopold's gaze swept the room once more.

"Then prepare. Our heir has begun his ascent. Let none stand in his way."

...

The Brimestone Clan stood tall as one of the Twelve Great Clans of Gassendi—powerful, ancient bloodlines whose influence stretched across continents and centuries. Among these twelve, the Brimestones were ranked fourth, not due to a lack of power, but because of their neutral stance in politics, warfare, and imperial expansion. Their detachment from courtly games, inter-clan conflicts, and many international affairs had led to a perception of passivity, though anyone who knew their history understood just how deliberate—and dangerous—that neutrality was.

At the heart of the Brimestone Clan was the Head Family, the bloodline of Leopold Brimestone, the strongest man alive. Members of this family—Vorden, Lith, Davies, Gamora, and others—possessed blood that ran rich with divine fire and the rare potential to wield multiple god-arts, an ability that separated them from all but the most monstrous of beings.

The Brimestones were known predominantly for their Fire God art affinity, but the truth was far more complex. Their bloodline bore traces of ancient power beyond comprehension. Some members, like Vorden, awakened other arts such as Shadow or even Transfiguration, a divine-tier god-art previously believed to be lost.

Still, neutrality and discretion kept their standing modest.

But change loomed on the horizon.

The Twelve Great Clans of Gassendi:

The Blaze Clan—Rank 1

Known as the shining beacon of Gassendi, the Blaze Clan possessed mastery over Wind and Light god-arts. Their members were swift, elegant, and fiercely loyal to the empire's political machine. Their influence stretched deep into the government, military, and academia. The Blaze Clan was considered the most "noble" of the clans—public darlings and flawless strategists. Many of the current Empire's councilors hailed from their lineage.

The Blackburn Clan—Rank 2

Mysterious and shrouded in darkness, the Blackburns specialized in the dark god-arts—Shadow, Curse, Puppeteering, and Decay. Feared and often misunderstood, their strength was second only to the Blaze Clan, and some whispered that their power in secret far exceeded the rest. Their patriarch, known only as the Master of Strings, hadn't been seen in public for nearly fifty years. Some believed he was no longer alive. Others claimed he was eternal.

The Rode Clan—Rank 3

A proud and ancient vampiric clan, as old as the Brimstones themselves. The Rode Clan was steeped in tradition, mysticism, and terrifying martial prowess. They practiced blood magic, necromancy, and sometimes curse arts. They lived long lives, their nobility reinforced by selective breeding and forbidden rituals. The twins, Kira and Keira, were heirs to this fearsome lineage—nobles born of night and legacy but strangely drawn to the Brimstones. The Rode viewed the Brimestone Clan with equal parts caution and respect, knowing full well that their dormant neutrality could become catastrophic if provoked.

The Brimstone Clan—Rank 4

Keepers of the flame and wielders of destruction, the Brimestones had long stayed out of world politics, but their strength was undeniable. Their core was Fire, but powerful members had been known to awaken other god-arts. Their neutrality stemmed from Leopold Brimestone's decree after a long-ago war nearly broke the world. However, with Vorden stepping forward, that neutrality might soon come to an end—changing the world's balance of power forever.

The Birro Clan—Rank 5

Specialists in metal and earth god-arts, the Birro were builders, engineers, and frontline warriors. Known for their towering strength, they were the weaponsmiths and fortress-makers of the Empire. Though not as flashy as the Blaze or Blackburn clans, their discipline and resilience made them one of the most respected forces on the continent.

The Damaris Clan—Rank 6

Practitioners of the water and ice god-arts, the Damaris clan were mercurial and elusive. Their reach extended into the navy and foreign diplomacy sectors of the empire. Their unique style of elemental combat, using steam pressure, mist illusions, and absolute zero ice constructs, made them terrifying in water-based regions.

The Ryven Clan—Rank 7

A clan of Beastkin, known for their close connection with nature and the Beast god-art—a primal art that allowed them to partially transform or summon powerful beast forms. Their physicality was off the charts, and their animal instincts often helped them outwit more "refined" combatants.

The Sael Clan—Rank 8

Wielders of the Lightning and Energy god-arts, the Sael were the innovators of Gassendi. Known for rapid movement and devastating area control in combat, they produced the majority of the empire's battlefield tacticians and mobility specialists.

The Velmora Clan—Rank 9

Known for their Sound and Psychic god-arts, the Velmora were intellectuals, spies, and analysts. Most mind-mages in Gassendi came from their lineage. While not known for physical strength, they controlled intelligence networks across the empires and had political leverage like few others.

The Herak Clan—Rank 10

The Monk clan. Physical augmentation, internal energy cultivation, and martial arts were their core. They were devoted to balance and the pursuit of absolute control over one's body and will. They were often hired as elite guards and instructors.

The Merros Clan—Rank 11

Masters of the plant and poison god-arts, they were healers, assassins, and forest lords. Their secrecy and mistrust of outsiders earned them a low rank, but their lethality in silent warfare made them untouchable in their home territories.

The Tharos Clan—Rank 12

Practitioners of illusion, transmutation, and dream god-arts, the Tharos were enigmatic at best. They operated in strange, surreal ways, and their loyalty to the Empire was questionable. Many believed they were connected to the Old Dreamers, a mythical race said to have created the god-arts.