Chapter 1

Born Wrong

All the children from the ages of seven to thirteen had gathered for the awakening ceremony. This was a tradition held every seven years to identify and mark the next greats of the Kingdom. This was but the first of many such tests the young children would undertake in their lives. There was this, the first, the understanding of mana. This test was essential for awakening the magical core within each person and identifying possible powerhouses before they could fall into bad magical habits.

There was a darker side of this ritual, the side that was to help prevent bad stock from maintaining its presence within a community. For a while, exceptional magicians were being identified all the time. There were also the cursed who would need to be culled by any means possible.

The next step would be before the fifteenth naming year when a Class would automatically be given to anyone who had their magical aptitude awakened. This was when one's early strifes and accomplishments would be measured by the unseen Gods and rewarded with a Class not only befitting their work ethic but what is expected of them in the future. This was why it was important to identify children of magical potential early so that they could be forced to improve and study, hopefully allowing them to have a higher tier Class.

During this first awakening, everyone was blessed with three blessings from the Gods. Everyone received exactly two Skills and a Magical Ability that could scale as the holder achieved accomplishments.

At the age of eleven, Lykan Vita was four the last time the testing group made their circuit to his small town. Yet he remembered staring at all the boys and girls wearing their ceremonial white gowns and wishing he could join them.

Now seven years later, he finally had his chance. He was standing in the line leading up. As the librarian's son, he had quite a few accomplishments under his belt. He was fluent in five languages, could read in seven, was training with spears and other martial forms with the guards. He worked out every day. Even when he was sick, he would force himself to do some form of exercise. And running, he loved running almost as much as he loved reading. From his understanding, these were the only things he could do to improve his standings before his awakening.

From all the text he read, this was the way to increase the chance of having a higher mana pool. Mana was an Attribute directly based on Intelligence, one of the key five Attributes.

To keep his mind busy and help him settle down, he went through his list of memorized materials. The base five Attributes are Intelligence, Strength, Awareness, Mobility, and, most importantly, Power.

There were, of course, breakdowns of each. Intelligence helped identify one's mana pool and mana Regeneration Ability. Strength was how much they could lift, but it also broke down into how well someone could recover from a wound or drive on through pain. Awareness was for being able to identify changes in a surrounding or notice the flow of events. Mobility was as it implied how well one moved and could react. The last one, Power, was one that could only be identified after one was initially awoken. Then from there, more texts spoke about the Attribute, but nothing about this Attribute made sense to Lykan.

When Lykan asked about Power and why it seemed to make no sense, his father would just laugh and run his hand through his dark sandy hair and say, “Boy, don’t worry about Power. It is the most important Attribute when you are older, but it means nothing if your foundation Attributes are too weak to support it.”

That was it, focus on what he could change, and the rest would eventually make sense. With those thoughts in mind, he made his way forward as the group started with the younger children first.

This was done so as not to embarrass them later on by the evolved Skills and powers that the older boys would likely get. In most cases, the children both young and small from the same region would often get the same exact Skills, but the older boys who had more accomplishments would have a more evolved version of the same Skill. Thus it made sense to let the younger boys go first, get their baseline Skills, and then get out of the way before boys with more experience came after and earned a more powerful version of the same Skill.

Lykan stood in line, waiting patiently.

“We have our first Mage!” the white-robed man with golden trim shouted out as Bennie Ghould was the first of those being tested to be confirmed to be a Mage. Now, this didn’t mean that he was, in fact, a Mage or that he would even be able to become a Mage. This just meant that if he pushed himself hard enough, he could, with enough accomplishments, become a Mage.

“Hurrah!” the crowd cried out in joy. This was the typical cheer given. Each ‘Mage’ identified in a small town like Abberty Village meant huge revenues from the empire to help ensure the people here continued to be prosperous. For prosperous people had multiple children to help with work. Given that the genes in the area didn’t move if there was plenty of money and food, the chances of that same town or village producing another Mage increased as time went on.

Still, time went on, and more and more children went through the awakening process. The process was simple, a Grand Mage held up a stone. You placed your hand on the stone then the Grand Mage created a circuit of energy that ran from the stone you both held into your body, then back to the stone to give out a reading. This initial loop of energy was what awakened your pathways. The reason why this task was given to a Grand Mage was due to the amount of control needed to make a complete circuit in a foreign body.

As he drew closer, he could now hear the Skills being called out for the other children. Marcy Kline was being tested now.

“Novice Linguist, Novice Literacy. Looks like you have the makings of a Scholar.” Marcy was one of the girls who was often in the Library. She would read, but Lykan always noticed that she often seemed distracted while she was there. He would feel an intense feeling as if he was being watched, only to turn to find Marcy looking flustered and quickly going back to the page she was on. He didn’t quite know why she was there half the time. Most of the time, he assumed she was there to just pester him, but apparently, she had the makings of a greater Class.

Lykan’s father was a Sage. They were people who could read and use magic. In fact, a Scholar was an initial tier Class that could eventually evolve into a Sage if enough accomplishments and time were spent on the Class. Lykan wished to become a Sage like his dad, though truth be told, he would be just as happy being a Scholar.

“And Novice Magical Control?” the examiner said questioningly.

A hush fell over the crowd, trying to understand what that meant. The Grand Mage shook himself, realizing that the poor girl now looked like she was about to panic. “We have a possible Grand Magus!” he shouted.

“Hurrah!” the crowd cried out loudly.

Marcy, for her part, jumped up with excitement. She ran to meet her family but stopped when she was by Lykan. She looked like she wanted to say something, but then a blush filled her cheeks, and she just ran.

Lykan shook his head, still not able to understand that girl. She always looked like she wanted to talk but never would. He had tried to talk to her a few times after being prodded by his father. But each time he went over to her, she would run off or claim to need to go somewhere. After the first few times, Lykan just avoided her and let her do her own thing.

That said, he did think she was cute if only a little weird. Now seeing that she was likely to be a Grand Mage, he concluded that most of her weird habits were likely those possessed by all Grand Mages. Though he was happy for her. With her success, he felt his chances of being a Grand Mage were likely even higher.

Finally, it was Lykan’s turn to be evaluated. With trembling legs, he stumbled forward, then stopped and placed his hands on the magical glowing stone that was warm to the touch but quickly went dark.

The Grand Mage looked at the stone for a second and then squinted in confusion. He placed his other hand on the stone and, with a force of effort, began channeling energy into the stone.

“Relax, boy,” the Grand Mage said.

Suddenly realizing that he had, in fact, been tensing up, he let out a long deep breath. He could feel a current of energy wishing to enter his body. His initial instinct was to fight back against the strand of energy, but knowing that this was what was being used to measure his future and awaken his potential, he let it in.

From there, the energy made a long slow loop around his body.

As he stood there, the Grand Mage began to tremble. Sweat was pouring down his head as he focused. Yet to the Grand Mage, the exercise felt like trying to force an electrical current to worm its way through dense sludge.

Finally, after what felt like an excessively long time, the current completed on the other arm and connected back to the stone.

Within seconds the stone showed a number of rare symbols that Lykan could suddenly understand and read.

“Name: Lykan Vita. Skills: Linguist and Literacy both at Beginner rank. A true Scholar already,” the Grand Mage shouted. With that, he took a breath as he was clearly exhausted. Then he scrolled the magical text up with a gesture. It was an odd move but one that the Grand Mage seemed to be accustomed to.

Then more text rolled up, and the Grand Mage continued to read out loud. “Beginner Magic…” he trailed off as he read the last word.

“Hurrah!” everyone yelled out.

“Another Mage.”

“What else would you expect from the Sage’s son?”

The crowd was getting excited. Suddenly flustered, the Grand Mage was now sweating again as he waved his hand in the air. Then looked down at the text as if in disbelief.

Lykan himself was looking at the text and couldn’t believe what was there either.

“Sorry. Beginner Magic Immunity,” he said while slumping his shoulders a bit.

With that, everyone in the crowd suddenly went quiet. As if all the energy that had been present was suddenly missing.

“We have a Null. Someone who by the crown…” he trailed off as the words came to him. The Grand Mage realized what he must do. The townspeople, too, knew what they must do as well.

“Lykan Vita. You are to be exiled from the King's lands. Until either you can gain enough achievements to remove the Null curse from your lineage or die trying,” the Grand Mage said, his face somber as he looked at the sandy-haired youth who looked both Intelligent and physically strong.

Sobbing could be heard. Lykan turned to look toward the sound only to find Marcy. Their eyes locked, and then, just like all the other times, she looked away as embarrassment overtook her.

It was a surreal feeling being led off by the armed guard.

Lykan looked around for his father only to see that he, too, was gone. In this one moment, he suddenly felt truly alone. He had gone from being near euphoric with his Skills, only to then be cursed by the Gods.

Magic Immunity was a forbidden talent in the Kingdom. Especially since most trials relied on magical truth-telling spells. Also, healing required one to be able to receive the healing magic intended. To be a Null meant that not even the greater magical items could be used.

For the country as a whole, having a Null meant that the greater aspects of their Kingdom would forever be denied. He stood at the far end of the platform. While those that had been identified as Mages or having the potential to become Mages were left to one side of the platform. Lykan was held at the other end with armed guards. This was customary. If he made a run for it, the guards would kill him and kill his family. If he stayed until the end, his father would be saved.

So he stood there, head hung low as the other boys and girls all got awakened. The crowd was silent for a while. Much of its original mirth had been taken away but the rapid change of events. It wasn’t until Gerald Moen was also confirmed to be a Mage candidate that the crowd grew lively once more.

Still, every once in a while, Lykan could see the odd villager who would glance him out of the corner of their eyes when they thought no one was looking.

Lykan, for his part, managed to stand and not cry, somehow. Had he thought about his inability to cry, then he might have done so, but at the moment, he was just too shocked to do anything other than stare down at the ground in disgrace. He had tried so hard, worked so hard for this. Seven years, seven years of training of pushing himself mentally and physically, and for what? To be cast out by some cruel joke of the Gods.

They said he could come back if he ever got the Status as Magical Immunity removed. They gave this option to all Nulls, but no one ever came back. The worst part is Lykan knew why Nulls weren’t allowed in the Kingdom. He had read the texts that said how the first rebellion that caused a massive civil war was led by Nulls who rose up against the Kingdom for being treated as inferiors or second-class citizens. There was a bloody war, but the King and his knights were able to stop the war before it spread too far. In order to avoid such conflicts in the future, Nulls, or those who were identified with characteristics that could make them Nulls like Magical Immunity, were to be exiled and given the Ability to come back once they removed the status of being a Null.

“You can sit if you want to,” one of the guards said amicably.

Lykan looked at the ground and realized that if he sat down now, then he likely wouldn’t be able to get back up. Shaking his head, Lykan continued to stand.

Finally, the ceremony ended. The crowd eventually broke away. Everyone gave a wide berth to Lykan and the two armed guards who were standing next to him.

Marcy was the last person to look at him, though as soon as their eyes met, she turned her head away as always.

“That one likes you,” the guard said. This was the same one who offered to let him sit.

Lykan shook his head. “No, she doesn’t. She can’t even stand to talk to me.”

The guard just shrugged. “Maybe she is just shy.”

“You ready to escort him?” The Grand Mage came over.

“We are, sir,” the talkative guard said while giving a salute.

“Good,” the Grand Mage said before turning his attention to Lykan. “Know that this is likely a test by the Gods. They likely see something great in you and wish for you to test yourself that you would not otherwise be able to test yourself if you stayed.”

Lykan nodded his head, not wanting to speak for fear that his voice would crack. For everything that was happening, the Grand Mage and guards were nice.

“Good, then you all begin. We will stay here for another day until you get back,” the Grand Mage said.

“Wait.” Israel, Lykan’s father, came forward, his arms filled with multiple things from a large backpack to a spear and more.

Everyone turned to see Israel come forward and prostrate himself before the Grand Mage and guards.

“If this is a test of the Gods. Then could you please allow my son to be seen off with these?” Israel said, tears pouring from his eyes, causing the dry ground beneath him to come alive with moisture.

The Grand Mage turned to the guards with an inquisitive eye.

The guard looked at Lykan. “Do you swear now before the Gods that if you are allowed to take these items with you that you will do so in good faith? That you will not try to strike at us or run back to Kingdom territory. That you will use this chance to get rid of your Null curse and only come back to the Kingdom should you amass enough accomplishments to forever be rid of this curse and come back a better man than you left?”

Lykan looked at the guards then at the pile of supplies his father had managed to quickly gather. A feeling of relief washed over him as he looked at the supplies, and he realized that his father hadn’t abandoned him. That he had, in fact, used what little time they could have had together to quite possibly save him.

“I so swear before the Gods that should I be allowed to take these items. I will not bear them nor any ill will toward the Kingdom. That I will take this exile as a chance to grow and thrive.”

With that, a golden glow fell around both the initial guard who made the request and around Lykan, forever linking their fates.

“It is done,” the Grand Mage cut in. “Know that you will be struck down by the Gods should you fall back on your words. Quickly take your stuff and be off.”

Lykan paused for a second before he shook himself and got to work. He grabbed the bag. It was Dad’s old traveling sac, the one he used when he began his career as a traveling Scholar. Just putting it on his shoulders, he could feel the memories and thrill of travel coming alive. His father helped him loop it in quickly.

“There is a knife in the pack that you will want to strap to your leg once you are outside the Kingdom. Remember there is a red dragon in the Fiery Plateau and a Psychic Dragon in the Jungle Basin, both just outside our Kingdom’s boundaries,” Father said, he was rambling, but he always got so when he was nervous.

For his part, Lykan just stood quietly, afraid he would say the wrong words. Or worse, that he would mess up in some way, shape, or form.

“I will do my best,” Lykan finally managed.

“No,” Israel said. Once their eyes met, he continued, “You will come back a true hero and tell me of how you did it so that I might record your journey for others to follow.”

Hearing that, Lykan could no longer control himself as tears began to roll down his cheeks.

Soon he found himself being pushed forward.

“We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”

Before Lykan could see clearly, he was already moving forward. Somehow the spear his father brought had been placed in his hand. He was grateful for the spear as he used it as a walking stick to help him get used to the large weight on his back.