Chapter 4

𝚂𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎

Katsuki's POV

It was my first trip to the Midoriya Empire and so far it was proving to be nothing but a headache. I was accustomed to a quiet and structured life. King Kirishima provided well for his warriors and mages. Those of us who were gifted with magic in our blood were praised and offered leadership among other warriors. 

Eye color was an indicator if a child would be gifted with such blood. Red stood for fire magic, blue was water, and green was elemental magic. Of course, there were the few humans born with blue or green eyes that did not possess magic. That was why red eyes were so treasured. We were rare and powerful.

I knew from a ripe age what I wanted in life. I wanted to fight -- to protect. My magic was going to be used for good instead of destruction. Most fire magic was dangerous and destructive, a rare and collateral power that few held. Mine was no different.

I trained from a young age for the Kirishima's, and when I was sixteen years of age, I enlisted to be a warrior. It was my calling. Never in a million years would I have imagined my talent, hard work, and magic being shipped off to be some warprize to a weak Emperor.

However, my King was fond of the Midoriyan Empire and I was the best of his warriors. At only twenty years I have seen both war and peace. I have fought and kept my King safe. Yet, he repaid me with this.

The carriage ride to the new Empire took two days, and by the time we reached the lands I was ready to blow up the next man who dared look at me wrong. King Kirishima was in high spirits -- per usual -- and I was tasked with keeping the other warriors in line. I knew not how the King was to survive without me. I wanted nothing more than to combust his entire office when he broke the news.

Evidently, Emperor Midoriya's personal guard was retiring after 30 years of serving and wishes for only the best as his replacement. His requirements were that the replacement is focused, unattached, strong, and born to magic. King Kirishima chose me out of hundreds -- I was a worthy offering for the job and could not refuse my King when he offered my service to the young Emperor. 

The closer we got to the palace the more unease I felt. I was unsure of this change but knew nothing of fear. I was not afraid of the situation I had found myself in. My capabilities were great and there would be none better than myself for such a task. However, my gut twisted as we stepped from the carriage and I laid eyes on my new home.

"Come, Katsuki. We must hurry. His majesty is waiting for us," King Kirishima rushed us long.

Only the Emperor was not waiting for our arrival. He was late.  Although being late was nothing new for a King or Emperor. They had duties to attend to that were important. I stood post behind my King and scanned the room. The hall was stone with a large wooden table in the center of the room. We all had a place at the table as we waited the arrival of Emperor Midoriya. 

I was informed about the young Emperor before our travel. King Kirishima had spoken briefly that the Emperor was orphaned at a young age. His mother was killed by an assassin. He was left alone and to take his place as his people's ruler at the young age of fourteen.

He had recently turned eighteen, the legal age to take full control of his Empire, and during the months of his coronation threats had begun pouring in. The Midoriya Empire had a history of peace and sovereignty, left behind by the late Empress -- a legacy that her son had wished to uphold. 

However, they lacked warriors. That was where our Kingdom would step in to aid in the case of war or attacks on his Empire. 

"Thank you for being here. I hope you can forgive my tardiness," A soft voice made me jump and focus back to my surroundings. I must be sleep deprived to let my guard down in a new area. I felt something stir to life within me as my gaze shifted to the young man entering the room.

He owned a small frame with thin arms. A lithe body wore pale alabaster skin and dark Veridian curls atop his head. What drew my attention above all else was his large emerald-green eyes. I sensed magic in his blood. Yet something was holding him back. His magic was muted -- tamed as if not there at all.

"Your majesty," My King greeted and the Emperor moved closer with graceful steps. His dressing was different from ours. We wore pants and tunics while the wore dress robes and traditional Japanese garments. 

"Lovely to meet you, your majesty," He spoke again and something in me burned as his voice carried through the hall. As my King spoke, I stared intensely at the man in which I was to serve until the threat has been terminated. 

Something lightened inside my chest and I grimaced. My magic stirred within my core as my vision blurred until I was forced to blink and wet my eyes. Was my magic reacting to the Emperor's? His magic was muted but still there. I had been taught that there has been certain people with magic that was incompatible with each others.

However, this felt different.

My body tensed as I imagined working for a man who clashes with my magic. Nevertheless, it was my job - my duty to serve my King, and this was serving my King -- by serving this man.

The Emperor's gaze shifted to me now and I froze when we locked eyes. The Emperor tensed as well and my eyes narrowed. He looked young and delicate -- as if his hands had never known a day of hard work and labor. His skin was dusted with sun marks as if he had spent too many days in the sun. Before I could asses him more, he flicked his eyes back to King Kirishima who was smiling brightly as always. 

They went back to their discussion while mt magic bristled within, buzzing as if a hundred bees were trapped in my head. I glared at the Emperor as he spoke. There was something strange about him that I was unable to point out. 

He spoke nervously. To others, it may have seemed a perfect speech, but I was trained by the best to look for cues and patterns in a person's voice. This man was nervous. His voice was too smooth, too practiced. His hands were clasped tightly under the table, yet his wrists and forearms were twisting and flexing, telling me that he was picking or fiddling with his fingers as he spoke. 

My magic buzzed still and was becoming painful. closing my eyes, I relaxed and let my body access my energy. I wanted to see what was happening and understand why I felt so off-balanced. It did not take long to discover the issue.

My eyes had been closed mere seconds before my magic stilled and the buzzing faded. My breath hitched as I saw the energy swirling within my body become clearer until a single line of red was left.

A line of red that I had not paid much mind over the past few years. Fate's line. My red string of fate that ties me to the other half of my soul. It was pulled tight instead of the loose or tangled waves that I normally noticed it to be in. My brows pinched together in confusion. I had not expected, nor paid attention to my red string of fate for many reasons.

One, I was busy. Two, fate was complicated and tricky. I did not require distractions in my line of work. 

However, my magic bristled once more and I flinched. I focused on my energy and noticed the string buzzing within me. The line was taught and vibrating, beckoning me to follow its path and connect with my soulmate. My fate. 

I knew it unwise to fight fate. Fate was something that would happen whether it was wanted or not. I relaxed and let my mind follow the line, opening my eyes to follow a soft red glow that leads my eyes across the room. My face scrunched in confusion as my gaze landed on Emperor Midoriya. The red glow cast around him and the magic within me buzzed wildly for a split second before fading again along with the glow.

I relaxed and blinked back to reality. My fate string has lead me straight to the young Emperor. Part of me was confused while another part of me relaxed and welcomed the conclusion. I have found the other half of my soul -- the other half of my magic. I have found the person I had been made for -- to love and to protect.

However, my mind had yet to wrap itself around this new discovery. My heart was already soaring, my magic buzzing warmly, and my body relaxing as I watched the man speaking with my King.

I heard my name and forced myself to focus on the conversation to the best of my current ability. Time was moving too fast and my eyes were glued to the man attached to my fate string. I was perplexed but not angered at all. Fate had a way of working out and showing up when least expected but most needed. Fate had chosen this man for me. Fate had decided him to be my other half. I would not fight what fate had proclaimed as good. 

King Kirishima gestured to me and I forced my feet to move forward and around the table that separated me and the Emperor. I am most certain that King Kirishima had just introduced me and broke the news that I would be staying as his personal guard until the war ends or the threat had vanished. 

His gaze was starstruck and pale as if he had seen a ghost or received bad news. My heart clenched for him, knowing that something was bothering my other half. I stopped once I reached him and carefully saluted my new master. My Emperor. My fate.

"Katsuki Bakugou, your majesty. I pledge my unflagging loyalty to your protection, safety, and survival," I spoke strictly and passionately. His gaze flickered with some emotion I did not catch before a faint blush took his cheeks. Emperor Midoriya stammered for a moment before a look of confusion took over. I knew that expression. 

My soulmate turned away with a quick bite to his lip when his current guard entered the room. He looked away from me as his face took a sorrowful expression. Did he not also feel the pull of our fate line? Was he one of those who refused their fate line? My other half was troubled by something, and as I stepped back and signed the document that tied my Kingdom to his in an alliance, I kept my gaze on my Emperor. 

I had a feeling that this was going to be more than I had prepared for.