A.K. looked at himself in the mirror. A boy looking around 12-13 years of age stared back at him. He had eyes that looked like the night sky, slightly high cheekbones, and full lips. Today was the start of his second ascension. In other words his 8th birthday. These last three years A.K. had trained increasingly harder yet his level seems to hit some type of cap. He was currently stuck at level 30. According to System, any more enhancements caused to his body could have drastic effects. So System froze his leveling

‘Status’

Aegeus Kan

Level 30(LOCKED)

Race: Magi Human

Bloodline: Stargazing Magma Drake

Health 300/300 Mana 780/780 Stamina 480/480 Vitality: 30 Intelligence: 78 Endurance: 48 Strength: 40 Dexterity: 45 Wisdom: 37 Will: 20 Attribute Points: 203 Titles: Harbinger - Harbingers received the gift of leveling from [ Beyond ]. Target gets 25% more experience until level 100. Additional effects include increased charisma and faster skill proficiency. Abilities:

Starlight Gazing Lvl 1 - Inborn bloodline ability that causes a single target of focus to fall into an illusion of host choosing. Influences psyche and turns them more favorable to you and your suggestions

Magma Carnage Lvl 1 - Inborn bloodline ability that causes the host to temporarily increase, speed, strength, defense, and perception. Small chance of the host falling into a rage state.

General Skills: Imperial Lvl 5(Max), Common Tongue Lvl 5(Max), Orcish Grunts Lvl 3-> Lvl 4, Dwarven Stone Lvl 2-> Lvl 4, Acting Lvl 12-> Lvl 20(LOCKED), Dancing Lvl 12-> Lvl 16, Calligraphy Lvl 16-> Lvl 17, Climbing Lvl 9-> Lvl 15, Charm Lvl 5-> Lvl 8, Drawing Lvl 6-> Lvl 9, Mathematics Lvl 14-> Lvl 20(LOCKED), Running Lvl 8-> Lvl 13 General Skills (NEW): Noble Aura Lvl 4, Swimming Lvl 12, Pain Resistance Lvl 2

Magic Spells

Tier 0 Magic Bullet/Variants Lvl 20(LOCKED), Magic Shield/Variants Lvl 18, Meditation Lvl 15, Cleanse Lvl 7, Mana Sense Lvl 14 Tier 1 Flame Spear Lvl 5, Fire Stream Lvl 3, Earth Spike Lvl 3, Earth Wall Lvl 6

A.K. had System completely reorganize his status screen. Now he received four different pages that allowed him a better overview of all his skills. He came to an agreement with System that the abilities he was born with should have their own section as they are not skills he's picked up over the years. A.K. also decided to organize his spell repertoire as to better categorize them. Currently, he was just an apprentice mage. When he opens all his magical nodes, and can successfully fire a tier 4 spell, A.K. would be recognized as a mage. It was also when he became a mage that his mother would send him off to the Empire's Advance Magical Academy for Higher Learning or EAMAL for short. She said he would most likely specialize in something different than her.

Continuing looking in the mirror, for his age, he was already taller than most magi humans in their second ascension. A.K.s body was already well defined and it didn’t suit his young face. A.K. continued to stare at himself. His second ascension, and 8th birthday. Around a year back, when he attended Moriah's second ascension celebration, was when he learned what Kan’s second ascension means. It was to be the beginning of his training. Hell on Gaia is what the nobles called it.

Apparently, after his second ascension birthday party, he would be going to a special training camp built entirely for Kan youths. They had been preparing the place since his birth and A.K. as well as his siblings would all go through this training camp. HOG in simple terms, from the bits and pieces Moriah knew, was to pit him against foes increasingly stronger than him. This would be fine and dandy for A.K. if it wasn’t for the fact that these trials last from now until his 3rd, and final free ascension.

That meant 5 straight years of fighting. A.K. didn’t even know all the details, yet from the looks of pity, other nobles gave A.K. whenever he brought it up. He came to understand that HOG was worse than just fighting mobs. So caught up in his thoughts A.K. didn’t hear someone enter the chamber.

“BOOO!” The sound startled A.K. awake from his thoughts. He turned around to find two small children who look around 5-6 behind him.

It was the twins, his little siblings Tara and Akash. Tara was the older sister even if it was by minutes and usually brought along Akash when she wanted to make trouble. The twins brought a smile to A.K.'s face. No matter what would happen his father wouldn’t put him in too much danger and let him die, right?

“What are the two of you doing here?” A.K. asked with that smile still present upon his face. He ruffled their hair a bit and received a glare from Tara.

“Mom told us to make sure you were ready. The event will be starting soon.” Tara spoke up as she was the one usually in charge of the twins.

“Big brother are you scared?” Akash asked in a small voice. He reached out his hand and grabbed onto A.K.s.

“Your big brother fears nothing on this planet” A.K. boasted.

A.K. turned back to the mirror to make sure his attire was straight before leaving the room with his siblings.

“Young master,” Murnia said as a greeting. She had grown these years and would soon be done with her third ascension phase. She was no longer a young girl and now she was a young woman. The young lady was definitely a killer in the looks and figure department. A.K. thought she looked similar to the Disney princess Moana, except she had straight hair instead of curly. She gave him a smile before turning and leading the way.

This time they would be having a smaller celebration as not all the nobles of the West came. Mainly the main subsidiary family’s to the Kan were present. Princess Moriah was here as well.

A.K. didn’t know how he felt about Moriah. After the whole incident they had definitely interacted more with each other, and even regularly contacted through the magical orbs to talk. Yet there was just something about the girl that A.K. couldn’t put a finger on. A.K. had gotten better at reading people and their general feelings towards him after interacting with all the scions and servants for the past 8 years. This feeling gave him a bit of insight if people were trying to use him for their own objectives, or genuinely wanted to be a friend. A.K. wasn’t sure if the ability was full proof, but he tended to lean on it a bit more to get a reading of people around him. That feeling told him that princess Moriah held no true feelings for him. The excitement she showed when they talk or met in person where fake.

A.K. didn’t understand if there were no real feelings between them, why did she continue to put up such a front. He decided he would confront her before his training began. If they could clear the air between them it was for the better. A.K. felt as if he’d done his part to take responsibility for his words and actions, yet they were being blocked and played with. His thoughts continue to wonder as he was led to the main hall.

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Princess Moriah watched as the young boy came into the room. His steps were equally measured and he walked with a confident gait. Their eyes met and she gave him a smile and blushed a little. Moriah had been working on A.K. since his first ascension. Everything was going well, the boy put in an effort to talk and get to know her and she always kept him within her grasp. Soon he would start his training before being sent on a journey of life and death. This thought filled her with excitement. Her thirst for battle only grew stronger every year. It was as if something within her bloodline called for war.

The duke and duchess both gave out a speech and Moriah paid little attention to it. Her eyes were on A.K. something seemed to have changed about him. He was taller, almost as tall as she was, while already being a year into her next ascension. It was like the boy never stopped growing for a year like the magi were supposed to. His mannerisms, the way he talks, eats, and even breathes all seem somewhat different.

He turned and looked at her, then flashed her a smile. Moriah felt it then and there, something had gone wrong. A.K. tried to mask it but she could see it deep down. Her smile disappeared and a coldness entered her eyes. His smile slowly turned into a frown and he held her gaze.

Look like the cats out of the bag Moriah thought to herself. Her act had been broken, a smile quickly returned to her face. This time it was genuine. The Kan young master was not to be underestimated anymore.

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A.K. slowly smiled back at the princess. They were still in the middle of the celebration, yet with only a few looks so much information had been exchanged between them. Whatever the princess was playing at was over now. They both knew it. A.K. wondered where their relationship would go next.

…

They had moved to the side hall once again and A.K. immediately grabbed Moriah’s hand and brought her to a corner. There was plenty of gasping and exclamations throughout the hall, yet A.K. bothered with none of it.

“Princess,” he said once they were a safe distance from all the guests. He knew he was being a bad host, but things needed to be clear between them now. If not now, then when?

“Aegeus,” she responded keeping steady eye contact and a leveled gaze.

“Why do you act like so?” It was a question that Moriah could respond to in so many ways. She chooses to tell the truth.

“I am bound. To this life, to the Empire. I have had my responsibilities drilled into me since I could first talk.”

“Where does that bring me. Why does it need to be me?” A.K. asked her, over the years of them spending time and talking A.K. was sure they built some sort of true connection between them.

“Originally, it could have been anyone really, however, the Kan have never been married into the royal family. The Angelo are the rulers for a reason. Our bloodline is weaker in our male members. Everyone in the Empire knows that. How do you think we remain so strong? Integrate.”

“That expands on your situation, yet you have not told me what I want to know. Why me?”

“Because you are currently my best option. I am watched all day, all night. The Kan have… particular training programs. I plan to sneak aboard once you depart.”

“Depart? My mother told me it would only be training from now until the end of my ascension period. She said this training is only for Kans. I do not believe they would allow you to join me.”

“You misunderstand me, and the Kan training regime is so, so much more than they let on to you. There is a reason the households get close, but never too close to you Aegeus. Have you never realized it?”

A.K. looked at her, the confusion was written all over his face. No matter how he thought about it, this was just the protagonist's first training arc. It happened every story and he expected no different in his. He took a moment to really think about his interaction with other noble families and children. He thought about Loria Starluck and Drake Edgewind. They were definitely close or at least as close as a high nobility and one directly beneath him could be. Could he truly call them friends, no, but that did not stop them from interacting with each other often?

“You don’t see the looks of pity they give you, do you?”

Pity? A.K. looked around the hall to the chatting scions who were trying to be subtle but clearly glancing their way. He never saw pity in their eyes. Some had reverence, others hope, and even jealousy from what he could pick up. Pity? No A.K. could see no traces of pity.

“No matter, you will soon learn. I will see you in five years, Aegeus Kan.” Was the last thing Moriah said before she walked away.

The rest of the event went by like a blur to A.K. he spent most of the time going over his conversation with Moriah. What did the Kan do to their young? It seemed everyone but him knew about it. A.K. thought about asking another young noble but decided against it. What would it look like, asking someone else what his family did? Time passed and eventually, A.K. retired for the night.

…

A.K. groggily woke up, his body was uncomfortable. He opened his eye and couldn’t see, that’s when full alertness hit him. Not only could he not see his body was bound. Both his legs and feet were in chains. Mana shackles, damn, how did he get in mana shackles. How did someone manage to take him away without waking him up or even alerting a guard?

A.K. quickly grew calm and struggled to listen to anything. His body was rattling so that meant they were still moving. Slight bumps here and there meant they were moving by carriage. A.K. took a deep breath and cleared his mind. His mother had him do drills in case he was ever kidnapped. Although the chances were low as a member of the Kan. His mother told him that their family has their fair share of enemies.

He recalled the last thing he remembered. The side hall ball and being escorted by Murnia to his bedroom. There he stayed up for another hour before going to sleep. A.K. quickly grew puzzled. There was no way someone could have poisoned him, hell there was no way someone could have sneaked into his roo- his thoughts were interrupted as they came to an abrupt halt. He strained his ears and could hear some men outside talking. Steps grew closer and he calmed his breathing, pretending to be asleep again. The carriage door was open and someone grabbed him out, not gently at all, and slug him across his shoulder. He gave out a grunt as his stomach hit the man's pauldron.

“It seems the runt is awake.”

“Soon he’ll wish he hadn’t.”

Both men let out a chuckle before only the sound of their steps where heard. He could hear the crunch of their boots on the dirt, they moved along for another 15 minutes until the sound of gravel was heard. A.K. kept all these details in his mind as they traveled. He could hear a waterfall in the distance that grew increasingly loud. A.K. then started to panic. He was inside a bag, mana shackled. If these men dumped him into the river death was certain.

‘System how long have these men captured me for?’

You have been captured by these men the moment you fell asleep A.K. System attempted to warn you however you were affected by a mind-alerting spell. System assumes it was some form of sleep inducement cast upon your person.

Well, that explained why he didn’t wake up. The question was how could they have taken him awake from his household in the middle of the city, in the middle of the dukedom. There was no way this was possible unless… these were men from his family.

“My father will come to know what guards have captured me,” A.K. said testing the waters. The men stopped and the one carrying him slung him from his shoulders to the ground.

“Oof!” A.K. let out a grunt as he hit the ground. If only he could run his mana. They stood him back up then slugged him in the stomach. If only he could see. A.K. let out a grown as he lay there. A man picked him back up and slung him over his shoulder again. They were getting really close to the waterfall. Maybe five minutes away and he was still bound and locked away in a sack. What could he do? How could he escape?

Minutes ticked by until the roar of the waterfall was loud. He could tell they were near the summit. Was he going to die again? Just as he started on his path to gain strength. A.K.'s heart sped up and the next thing he knew he was once again on his feet. The bag he was in was quickly soaked at the bottom the water coming to his mid shins.

“Jump,” one of the men said to A.K.

“Jump yourself or we’ll beat you then toss you.”

A.K.'s heart rate sped up. He started to hyperventilate. If onl- his thoughts were cut off as he felt a whack to his head. He fell into the water. A.K. struggled to get back up as he knew he was on the edge. The men picked him back up.

“Jump. Men of Kan do not fear. Jump,” One man said.

“Jump. Men of Kan do not hesitate. Jump,” the other stated.

A.K. heard a sword being unsheathed. By now he was breathing heavy and his body wasn’t just drenched from the water, but with sweat as well.

“Jump.” One man said as he put the tip of the sword against A.K.'s back.

A.K. took a deep breath and his heart suddenly calm and his mind became clear.

“If I somehow survive. I will show you fear.”

A.K. jumped.