It's been three years since A.K.s rebirth into this new world. During this time period, he had learned a lot. From solidifying his grasp on the local languages and dialects. To changing his mannerisms and his way of speaking. Today was his third birthday and as his first advancement as a magi human, it was considered a special event. All of the vassals of the dukedom had sent their young scions to interact with A.K. even the first princess was supposed to appear. Three years had past and the System was finally ready to tell A.K. what his mission was and what was the purpose of the Harbingers.

During these three years A.K. not only learn new languages, he learned his local geography and its history. He learns who and what the Kan were and what they meant to the empire.

His family first came into being around 1000 years ago. His great-grandfather was the first of the Kan and had participated in what is known as the Extermination Years. When the Empire was still young only a few hundreds of years old at the time that time. The orcs, goblins, and a few other races decided to wipe out the human kingdoms and its only Empire. Although humans have existed for a long time period in this world they were denied the right to have their own land. Seen as lesser beings. For years they were a subservient race and until the Final Rebellion, the last rebellion it took for humans to gain enough status to take and establish territories of their own. They had failed numerous times before, and it wasn’t until the Kingdom now Empire royal family gain significant strength in this area of the world, that the humans were able to establish a foothold.

That foothold grew until the orcs, one of the human race's greatest oppressors felt their threat had grown too much. With the help of the goblin tribes, the Ironback Ogres, and a few of the more radical elven tribes, they decided to exterminate the Empire and fledgling kingdoms. That warring period where every village, town, and city were burned, even children were not spared from the massacre. That warring period was known as the Extermination Years. It was then that magi humans came about. Humans with a greater magical affinity able to better harness the power of elements. It also created a separate branch of the human race. The royal family was the first to go through the process, as magi humans were a product of science and magic in the beginning. Now they have the ability to be born more naturally and roughly makeup 25% of all human population in the Empire.

These three years after pouring through the history of the Empire were enough to know where humans stood in terms of technological advancements. He would roughly say the humans of this world were in the midst of its industrial revolution. A.K. studies had also revealed the fact that the dwarves and elves were much further along in terms of magical and technological advancements. They were already using things such as trains and flying crafts similar to airships. While the humans were still struggling to a breakthrough in their own technology. This didn’t mean that the humans were stupid or lessors, just that they didn’t get the opportunity to run when the race started. However, any notable family has their own private airship already. The dwarves and elves weren’t anything special, for it is said in the distant lands of the continent that the gnomes are much more advanced with cities of metal spiraling into the air.

A.K. then thought about his great-grandfather who was missing. A.K. was surprised when he even learned he had a great grandfather still alive. A.K. had come to learn that humans and magi humans live much longer than those of his planet. With the average civilian to live to 220s or so. Those are the ones who either don’t cultivate or don’t have the talent for it. Most magi humans' minimum life expectancy was 300 years for the ones who never cultivated their talent. It was a long period of time but nothing compared to the other races on the continent who could live for thousands of years as their natural life expectancy without cultivation. The only ones that were similar to the humans were the Orcs. The second youngest race on the continent.

As A.K. reviewed what he learned throughout the years. His mother entered his quarters, the bump on her stomach had grown since the last time he saw her. A.K. would soon be an older brother to either a younger sister or brother.

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“Look at my little shield,” Keala said as she gazed at Aegeus with warmth in her eyes. As she examined him she grew a little sad at how his cheeks, which use to be humongous things had grown smaller and less pronounced. Aegeus now resembled a young boy of about seven to eight years old. His skin was still the color of cocoa and his eyes still held the same starlight as hers. He was going to be a handsome man and was already a cute little boy. Observing him closely she could tell he would grow out cheekbones much like his father, yet he retained her features through his eyes and nose. His hair was now to his waist as for some unknown reason he refused to cut it.

He was staring at himself in the mirror seemingly entranced by his own image. He was dressed in an all-black tunic, which draped just an inch or two under his waits. His pants were of the same material but with golden swirls littered throughout. His shoes are black as night and laced to perfection.

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A.K. turned around, finally pulled from his thoughts by his mother, he had been reviewing everything he learns in the past three years and had barely registered her words. He hopped down from the stool and ran to her giving her a tight hug.

“After the celebration, will you finally hold to your promise mother, and teach me magic?” A.K. said with a hint of a pouting expression on his face.

Keala smiled down at him. Ever since A.K. saw her use of magic at three months old he had constantly hounded her to teach him, yet his mother remains adamant about holding it off until his third birthday.

“After all the celebrations are complete, we will start your lessons at the end of the week. Now enough of that, your father has returned and it is your duty to greet him.” Keala said with a teasing tone.

A.K. pouted but accompanied his mother to greet his lord father. His father was constantly around the border town. The orcs would invade at random sometimes small skirmishes and sometimes direct attacks. Always looking for a weakness to exploit. Someone of the Kan bloodline must always be present and Lord Vasu Kan, his father would trade places every ten years with his brother. Right now it was his brother's turn to watch the wall, but only for the third birthday as it was the first milestone in a young magi’s life. The closest kin must be present.

As they walked into the hall A.K. gazed in wonderment. The hall was basically a throne room for the duke. All official business and any statements of messages from the Empress would be presented here. There were paintings depicting battles between the Kan and their enemies. On the very top of the circular hall was a mural of his great-grandfather as he led his troops with fire and lightning. Striking down Orku, Supreme Commander and Horde Leader of the orc alliance. It was the battle that won the Kan the dukedom. A gift for such great service or a trap by the royal family in order to make sure the Kan didn’t grow any more powerful. His great-grandfather had two sons and after one died protecting the wall he disappeared. His grandfather also had eight sons and daughters, four each. Only two remain now. This was the curse of the Kan. Protectors of the Empire all doomed to die on the wall.

In A.K.s viewpoint at least. All his family had fought for the wall and fallen on it as well. A.K. looked to his father who sat on his throne and bowed.

“Greetings Duke Father, and congratulations on your triumph return from defending the Empire from the orc threat at The Wall,” A.K. said as he did a slight bow.

“Rise my son. Let me see how much you have grown” Vasu said warmly to his son. He looked him up and down and A.K. even felt a scan run through his body. A grin broke out onto his father's face. “Magnificent, your core has reached quarter size even without being used. Our bloodlines have mixed well my Keala.”

“My Vasu, I have done as instructed and have taught our son the basic mannerism of a noble. I would expect nothing less of one with the bloodline of Kan.” Keala spoke in a more formal tone, as she was no longer in the presence of her quarters, nor was she just Keala anymore as now in a public setting she would be Duchess Keala for those on more favorable speaking terms and Duchess Kan for those who aren’t.

A.K. had been taught well and now he had a switch for formal and informal settings. He wasn’t just A.K. anymore. He was now the young master of the Kan family. His every step and every word would not only hold the Kan as a shield in front of him but as a representation of their family. His father dismissed him and he returned to his quarters. Soon guests would be arriving. Usually, as the main star of the show, he would greet all notable figures who entered. However, his mother had given him a few precious minutes to fully prepare himself. This was not his first ball. His family took their own private airship to the capital when the first princess turned three herself.

Although he never got much of a look at the actual capital itself. He did meet the first princess and caught a glimpse of the Empress. Today it was her turn to attend his party and he was definitely going to pay her back for the torture he endured back then.

His personal maid Murnia had arrived and called for him. Once he received his own quarters at the age of two she was assigned to him and would follow any order given. She was a young girl who appears to be around fifteen to sixteen, yet she was probably younger as he could feel the familiar presence all magi humans felt when one of their kind was near. She had long black hair not as dark as his mother's but dark enough to still lose sight of her in the night. Her skin was the color of peanuts and she hovered around 173cm (5’7) and would only grow taller. She was definitely skilled and was some sort of protector, for A.K. could see how lean her muscles were whenever she bathe him.

If it wasn’t for his mother and her godly beauty he might have fallen for Murnia even though A.K. had yet to see someone truly ugly, he had only been surrounded by beauties his entire new life, and Murnia was quite the beauty.

Slowly A.K. rose from his desk and went to the door. As he took a step forth his entire demeanor changed. He was no longer A.K. now he was young master Kan.

“Young master Kan have you prepared everything?” Murnia asked a smile ever present on her face.

Young master Kan gave her a nod. Murnia quickly turned around and led her young master through the halls of the Kan Castle. Within a few minutes, they once again reach the great hall.

Young master Kan kept a stoic expression upon his face as he entered the hall as all eyes turned to him. As he went through the double doors internally he was anything but calm. Nobles had a lot of rules and regulations on their temperament and as the young scion of the dukedom and higher nobility, he was expected to represent that status. Young master Kan waltz in seemingly gliding as he was greeted by young scions from the vassal nobility underneath the Kan. A slight smile made it to his face as he saw her. The First Princess, firstborn of the Empress and if she can retain connections and increase her strength she would be the next Empress, but only after her mother term comes to an end.

As with the longevity of the magi humans those who cultivate themselves live much longer. In order to let new blood have a chance at leading the Empire came up with a law forbidding any family, including themselves, from letting one head of the house stay in power for too long. This lead most families to hold off on having children until the end of their term was appearing.

As young master Kan gazed at Princess Moriah a smirk appeared on her face before disappearing just as quickly. A large vein appeared on young master Kan's forehead as he gritted his teeth. The insufferable girl was the last person he wanted here. Their feud had started at the princess's very own first advancement. It was then that she belittled and played with him the entire time as back then his cheeks were still relatively plump. A minor matter to get upset over a little girl pulling and prodding his cheeks, however, the young master of the Kan family was a reincarnator who had already lived twenty years of one life.

To belittle and prodded like that by someone other than his mother? An enmity was formed that day and he promised to return the favor! He took his seat next to her at the table all the recognized scions sat at. Among him were some of the Kans closest vassals. Young master and young lady, Edgewind and Starluck. These two families also rose alongside the original Kan earring their families the position of marquis and count respectively. Young master Kan had met and played with them several times as they both were similar in age.

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Moriah stared as the young master of the Kan family waltz into the celebration. Not many had the honor of her presenting herself, yet the little runt was not only the son of Duke Kan who guarded the west and the capital itself from the orc threat but the son of Duchess Kan with eyes of starlight. The little runt didn’t even know how to count his blessings, yet when she first saw him and decided to grace him with her presence, he didn’t even look her way before dozing off.

The moment the adults disappear and it was just young masters and young ladies left, she bullied him! Pulling and prodding his cheeks until he begged her to stop. That showed him to not ignore her. That day their enmity was formed.

She gave him a smirk as he waltzes over to her table making sure he saw it before returning to her previous expression. The little runt looked like he wanted to pop a vein. This advancement celebration was definitely going to be fun.