The kingdom of Kilan was typically a calm place, where everything went according to plan day-by-day, and night-by-night. People got up in the morning and did their chores, and what they fell into habit of doing if they had free time, and (most) people went to sleep at night. That was how it had been since the first king, Celiphan. Since, and not always, because there was a time where the land had been dominated by rebels and savages. The brave Celiphan had been but a mere knight in those years, one of the Knights of Serimon, though he had quickly climbed the ranks. It was he who emerged the victorious hero of Kilan after the final battle that decided the beginning of the kingdom. Thus, the people decided to name him their king, and it was done.
He hadn't necessarily been a good ruler, having had no political experience whatsoever. Though, considering the circumstances, nobody really knew what to look for in a ruler. Overall, Celiphan had been as good a king he thought himself capable of, being kind, just, and fair to his people. He married a beautiful woman from the area, Kira, and together they had a child. A son, who they gave the name Acristo. He was a good child, and took after his father greatly. Strong, intelligent, and courageous. One child did not satisfy Queen Kira, however, and the royal couple had another child, another son. He was small and weak, which displeased Celiphan. He loved his children dearly and would have done anything for either of the two, but Acristo was obviously favored over Xutou. This became more and more noticeable to the youngest heir as the health of Celiphan's beloved Kira began to fail. Doctor after doctor was sent for, each coming to the conclusion that the birth of Xutou had caused some sort of upset to her system, and, in the end, it would most likely be the death of her.
Celiphan couldn't bear the thought of losing Kira. She had been his shining star, and at times the only thing that kept him going at all. Keeping Kilan under control was no easy task, and Queen Kira had always, always been there for the young ruler. He didn't know what to do as Kira's life faded, at an agonizingly slow speed. In a fit of despair, Celiphan began to take it out on his youngest son. He would wait outside the doorway when Xutou visited his sick mother, and when he would emerge from the room and the door was safely shut, Celiphan would sneer coldly at him, "See how she's dieing? She's dieing because she wanted you; if you hadn't come into the world then she would live to see her grandchildren, instead of die before Acristo's sixteenth birthday." Yes, there was indeed a darker side to Kilan's king, a darker side that showed almost daily to his own flesh and blood. Such a side did not play a good role in Xutou's outlook, and the boy grew to hate his father. He would conspire ways to end the torment the man would inflict on him through mind games and belittling him. Poisoning his wine, stabbing him in the dead of night (as Kira was ill, Celiphan took his sleep in a different chamber), and other things. He would draw pictures of his father -dead. The boy was smart and hid these drawings well, and nobody would've guessed the deep feelings of hate he felt toward his parent. Nobody except himself and Celiphan. The knowledge that Xutou may very well try to kill him kept Celiphan from ever being alone with him, if he could help it. If it was absolutely necessary, he made it a point to keep as far away from him as possible.
Xutou finally decided enough was enough, two years later. Kira's body had made a remarkable effort and she was still alive when Acristo married. She didn't see it, but she was brought dozens of flowers from the celebration. Xutou hadn't gone to the wedding. It certainly didn't help matters that Celiphan had arranged a marriage between Acristo and the lovely Miratte, who happened to be Xutou's love. The knowledge that his raven-haired beauty was to go to his brother was enough to break Xutou's spirit completely, and it seemed the impenetrable hatred he felt for his father was spreading to his brother as well. Instead of attending the marriage, as he feared that he would do something drastic and rash if he did, he stayed with his mother. The talk he had with her that day intrigued him. Although she was failing physically, she was still very much there, mentally. It was an enormous change in conversation, compared to the few words he would ever exchange with his father and brother. The young prince began to trust his mother more than ever, and it was to her that he shared his plan to join the rebels, who had moved underground to escape the persecution of the Kilan authorities, and to do away with Celiphan. Xutou had assumed that he was really the only one that bothered to listen to Kira; not even Celiphan would visit her anymore, and Xutou figured it was safe to say that the servants didn't pay her any attention if she tried to converse with them. Who would possibly take the delirious babbling of a dieing woman seriously? He was perfectly confident when he revealed his plan to her, though it took a turn for the worst when his mother was granted a surprise visit from none other than the second queen -Miratte.
Kira knew that Miratte had been the love of Xutou's life, and Miratte had loved him just as deeply. If anyone would take her seriously if she spoke about Xutou planning something, and if they knew about the daily visits, Miratte would, and when Kira pleadingly confessed everything to the woman, Miratte did. She swore to Kira that she would try her absolute hardest to sway Xutou, to do anything she possibly could to keep him from such a decision. As fast as she could she was off to find the fool. All the dieing queen and Miratte could do was hope that they weren't too late.
The rebels, however, had expected Xutou to tell someone. Someone very close to him, yet weak and pitiful. Someone like his sick mother. They were waiting for whoever Kira had spread the word to, and they were only more than happy when it was none other than the young queen who stumbled into their scheme. The breakers of the rules let her wander, hopelessly lost, until one of their kind grew bored and grabbed her.
Miratte was captured, and Kilan was in an overwhelming state of panic.

Acristo hurriedly sent out search parties for his missing wife. Xutou had poisoned the wine that Celiphan would drink at dinner, and dinner was all too conveniently when word reached the royal household of Miratte's abduction. Twitching uncontrollably and throat swelling, color drained from his face, Celiphan died before the first horse galloped through the gates to search for his daughter-in-law. Acristo had gone with his knights, and had no idea that his father, the one he had idolized most of his life, was dead.
Xutou and the rest of the rebel clan had expected the king to act so quickly. They knew he would come looking, and that he would have good men with him when he came. There had only been a few rebels above the ground, the several others waiting down below in the hidden tunnels underneath the streets of Kilan. They brought Miratte's peaceful, non-struggling form down to him, and, once she was set on her feet, the spell was lifted from her and she was conscious again. The desperate woman pleaded as she promised she would, tears in her eyes as Xutou repeatedly shook his head and spoke a single word: No. The clomping of hooves was heard louder and louder, and they could all tell that the knights were searching for the entrance to their underground home. It was then that Xutou declared his undying love for Miratte, as they waited for the inevitable.
It was a bloody battle that ensued in the tunnels that night. Miratte and Xutou barely escaped with their lives. Miratte was badly injured, bleeding profusely. Not even conformed sorcerers could come up with successful ways to sustain all the blood she lost on the journey to safe harbor. It was just a matter of time before Miratte's life began to leave her, and Xutou was at her side the whole time, with his true colors showing. His true colors weren't at all what most thought of him. They were warm, loving, and caring; not cruel and icy as he was to his direct male relatives. He held her close in an embrace of love, murmured sweet nothings to her, and told her how much he loved everything about her, until finally Miratte uttered her last goodbye to Xutou, and passed on -with Kira, all the way in a castle tower, leaving at the same time.
Ever since Xutou's declaration of rebellion, Kilan and the rebels have been at war with each other. The spirit of hatred each has for the other is impenetrable. Kilan hating the rebels, for the loss of its queen, and the rebels hating Kilan, for how horribly the first king could even consider treating his own son. For one thousand years the bloody battles have gone on, never ending, and never starting to end. Truly an ongoing struggle, no one can really be sure how anyone can be capable of such determined dislike for the other, yet it goes on regardless. Regardless of the pain it inflicts on innocent bystanders. Regardless of the destructing results of battles. Regardless of the absurdity of the whole thing.
Kilan's War, regardless.