Alexander Mandulis - Silver Clansman, Strain

There have been many names that the man known as the Black Blade has held over the years, many titles that the Silver Knight has amassed through the decades of his immortal life.  He has served on the councils of foreign lords, commanded the armies of far-away kings, and been awarded honors for his services to the emperors of lands so far away that they appear to be another world.  A stalwart champion and silver-tongued spy he has been, and many other things besides.  And yet, every story must have a beginning, even that of this man who has lived the lives of what others perceive to be multiple men.  


The story of Alexander Di Mandulis begins as most stories do, with nine months of preparation, a sudden light, and copious amounts of blood, sweat, tears, and screaming from multiple sources.  Despite this chaotic-sounding beginning to life, the boy named Alexander was born without problems to the noble Mandulis family of Asimi.  A perfectly healthy boy, Alexander was the pride of his house, and was completely normal but for one 'problem': the boy was a Strain.  This was evidenced by his shadow, which freely and independently moved about regardless of the position of light or Alexander's form.  Due to this, his family kept the boy inside the bounds of their home for much of his childhood and preteen years.  

It would only be once Alexander could enforce some control over his errant manifestation that he would be allowed to leave the grounds of the Mandulis family estate, which did not occur until his early teenage years.  When this did occur however, it was swiftly discovered that he was quite a compassionate individual.  He freely and actively attempted to make the lives of those around him easier via any method within his power, and acted as an agent of peace by settling disputes wherever he could find them.  His lack of communication with others outside of his family during his earlier years caused him to be shy however, due to inexperience with social situations which resulted in his having only a few people that he truly considered friends.  This was only compounded by his own fear of his secret becoming leaked, a fear that saw him spending only limited amounts of time near others.  Like minds are often attracted to one another however, and the good Alexander met another good man towards the end of his teenage years.  This man would become known to Alexander as Arthur...

Meeting Arthur was one of the defining moments of Alexander's life, as it opened an entirely different world for the young noble.  From the central point that was the Silver King, he would meet others who would eventually become his fellow Silver clansmen.  Having never felt as a part of a group of friends, the experience was almost akin to that of a never-ending drug to the young man.  He soon spent most of his waking life in the presence of Arthur, Aurora his sister, and those peoples who lives were also improved by the man.  Tierney, Valere, Lucille, and others were among those touched by the Silver King's presence, and they along with Alexander would eventually become the Silver Clan who served under their beloved Silver King.  

It would be quite a happy few years for the ever young Alexander, spending every day he could with his Clansmen and King.  These were his friends, his family away from family whom he trusted with his life...as well as his ultimate secret...which only made the Clan laugh at how dramatic he had been when he told them of his Strain status.  Such unprecedented acceptance even as other Strains within Raduga suffered from hatred and disgust from others...it only strengthened Alexander's resolve to be the most diligent Silver Clansman, almost as though he could repay their kindness with his actions.  His diligence, the fervor with which he carried out the instruction of his King, and the manifestation of his Silver Strain ability earned Alexander the title of Silver Knight which he accepted with a wide grin and an elation deep within his soul. 


It should have been obvious to all involved that such an existence as what the Silver's shared could not have been eternal, despite the agelessness that was shared by each member of the Clan.  It all came crashing down in one fell stroke orchestrated by a jealous King.  During one of the few times that the Silver King was without his loyal Clansmen to protect him, he was betrayed by a fellow King and nearly slain in an ambush.  But this was not even the first of the pieces of bad news that Alexander would have to suffer, for he was on the Island of Asimi on the day that the Lucienta family was attacked.  On that day, Alexander was tested in a terrible way.  He had run towards the mansion of his beloved friends, knowing that the King was absent and unable to protect those inside.  On the way however, he was stopped by something tugging upon him: the shadow that was his Strain pulling him away and urging him silently to look between a copse of trees.  When he did so, he saw something terrible, a fellow Clansman spilling his lifeblood into the ground.  Even as the Mansion was being razed to the ground, Alexander was forced to choose between racing towards it or attending to a dying Lucille who had been a friend and companion of his ever since the red haired man entered the service of the Silver King.  

Alexander made his choice and knelt down to pick his fellow Clansman from the dirt.  With more speed than he thought possible, Alexander took the injured man to the home of the gardener of the Lucienta family as it was the closest location and the first place that he could think of.  After making sure that the man had the proper ability to ensure his Clansman's survival, Alexander left to return to the mansion and protect his King's people...but arrived too late.  The attack had been brutal and swift, and by the time Alexander had returned it had already been finished.  Devastated, the Silver Clansman was hardly in the proper condition to learn only shortly afterward of the death of his King.  Oddly, Alexander did not cry.  No, what happened was worse: his emotions simply turned off for a short time, though he reserved just enough for a few final things.  He stayed nearby the bedside of Lucille Augustus until he had been told that his friend's condition was truly stable and that he merely needed rest.  Afterwards, he searched the Island of Asimi with an almost feverish degree of purpose for something had occurred to him.  He had not seen the body of Aurora, sister to the Silver King and the obvious heir to her brother's throne.  


It did not take him long to think to search the shrine on the Island, and doing so brought hope and despair to his heart in equal measure.  The girl was alive and in the process of healing, under the guard of fellow Clansmen.  Alexander could not shake the feeling that it was his fault that she was in her comatose state however, even as the knowledge of his lack of choice provided a shallow comfort.  It was enough to know that she survived however, and that would be a source of hope for the noble in times to come.  For the moment, the Silver Clan was effectively wounded to its core and leaderless, having been scattered to the winds in a sense.  Life seemed almost empty for the Strain for a time...


One day, Alexander went to check up on Lucille only to find the man missing, which gave the Strain a sense of relief and another of a strange hope.  Yes, his Clan was beginning to come apart at the seams, but at least they seemed to still be alive, and someday they would even have a King again.  Until that day, Alexander himself would simply have to be patient and allow time to pass him by.  


Like his red-haired friend, Alexander would disappear from Asimi, finding that the place seemed to lack purpose for him without a united Silver Clan led by their King.  He would take to wandering the world, returning every few years to check on the status of his family and that of Aurora and her guard.  He accomplished much in his time, even managing to bury his past deep within himself as he passed from one identity to the next.  He was a champion, a master spy, a diplomat, a commander, a noble, and many other things besides, though he never did truly forget his origin and his Clan.  In his heart of hearts, accessed sparingly over the years that blended together did Alexander acknowledge the truth; that everything he did was simply a way for him to wait until a specific event occurred.  

And occur an event did.  The day will forever be etched into Alexander's memory that he walked into the shrine and discovered that no body laid within the crystalline waters.  A sudden rush of emotions brought the silver-haired man to his knees with tears streaming from his face.  The Silver King had risen, for what else could have caused her disappearance.  For Alexander, this meant that perhaps all those who were gone would return and that the Silver Clan could be as one again.  Vowing right there and then to see this dearest wish come true, Alexander shakily returned to his feet and sprinted away from the shrine with a cry upon his lips: "THE SILVER KING IS RISEN!  LONG LIVE THE SILVER KING!"

TIMELINE

Year Zero
Alexander is born a healthy baby boy, first son of the noble Mandulis family (Age 0). 

Early Childhood
The young noble is tutored at home due to his lack of control over his strain manifestation, rarely seeing others of his own age as it is said that he is sickly.


Teenage Years 
A modicum of control over his strain manifestation sees Alexander able to traverse his island home. (Age 13)  He proves to be a compassionate individual, if quite ambiverted.  Meets the man who would become his King toward the end of his teenage years and swiftly becomes friends with the man (Age 17).

Adult Years
Becomes a Silver Clansman, perhaps the most important and happiest day of Alexander's life (Age 21).  Forms varying levels of friendships with clan and especially with King and those close to him.  Devastated by loss of King and scattering of Silver Clan (Age 24), leaves the country to explore the world...with the promise to return with the awakening of the new Silver King (Age 24).

The Centuries Pass
Alexander wanders the world, exploring exotic locations and acquiring stories and skills over his several lifetimes.  Participates in various wars and other events, always returning home to Raduga every so often to check up on current events and the status of the Silver King.

The Knight Returns
The Silver King is risen!  Alexander feels joy that brings him to his knees before making his way to Raduga proper to search for her.  The Silver Knight once more had a King to serve (Age ?24).