I opened the door to my personal magic tutor, Mr. Altham. We each had a separate one to focus their attention solely on us and mine was an older man. He had fully white hair, and a beard that reached down to his chest. He looked somewhat skinny and frail, but had the knowledge aplenty.

“Good morning teacher.” I started. But he interrupted me.

“Today is the day you begin accumulation. I have prepared you, giving you the tools you would need to succeed. Luckily, you have some sense in you yet. Tell me what is accumulation?” He asked.

“Accumulation is building upon the base of mana we naturally possess to build mana circles. First, we need to-”

“Bah, don't quote my words boy. At least you were listening. Come sit, we begin now. If you are one of the lucky few, it should be quick.”

I followed his instruction and sat in front of him. He came behind me and put his hands on my back. I felt his mana flow through my body seeking my abundant mana to monitor my actions.

“Close your eyes boy, feel the mana. We have done this exercise a million times. Good now form the circle, engrave it carefully, good, good. Surround your heart, good. Now link. Link the circle to your heart and turn your heart into an organ that generates mana.”

As I followed the instructions, I felt something snap in place as a light burn overtook my heart.

‘Ah, it’s been so long.’

My heart began generating mana at an exponential rate. One that my body before the circle could never hope to match. I instinctively allowed the excess mana to overflow and circulate alongside my blood with each beat of my heart.

‘I’ve done it, I’ve created my first mana circle.’

“Good, boy. You succeeded, take some time to familiarise yourself with it.”

“Yes teacher.” And I did just that. I sat for a few minutes, getting used to how the magic flowed. I could get used to-

“Enough, boy! I don't have all day to accommodate you. We have much to do now that you’ve completed the circle.”

“Yes, teacher.”

We spent the rest of our time together attempting the most basic of spells to get myself acquainted with the sudden growth in my capacity. This was extremely familiar territory for me, but I played along. Mr. Altham had already gotten me used to casting cantrips to naturally grow my reserves and improve my control over magic.

It’s not that those without the circles are unable to do magic, it’s that their reserves are so much smaller, hence their capacity to do powerful magic is greatly limited. That limitation is now gone for me.

“Tomorrow, you start on real magic boy. So when you go to that blasted school you don’t embarrass me.” He’s talking of course about the Royal Academy, entry age 11. With that he left the estate.

I, on the other hand, had something to do. I had just reached the first circle and had to report to my father. I walked through the manor, passing servants and guards until I came upon the door leading to his office. I stood in front of it and knocked.

“Who is it?”

“It is Solis, Father.”

“Come in.”

I opened the door and walked into the room. The room was a dark beige, with floor to ceiling bookshelves lining the walls and occupied by what I'm sure are rare finds. The wood furnishings were made of a dark wood that had runes artistically carved into each surface, no doubt improving the durability of each piece. I looked up and spotted my father behind his massive desk, nary a change on his countenance from the years I've known him.

Standing in front of my father were my brothers, identical twins from his 2nd wife, Fabian and Gideon Whitefyre. Their mother was a somewhat famous adventurer hailing from a commoner background. She was known for her unusual beauty and had many nobles pursuing her while adventuring. She eventually settled with what is arguably the most powerful house in the empire, Barring the Imperial Family.

Fabian and Gideon were moderately tall for their age. They had blonde hair that just kissed the nape of their necks, and pink eyes, a trait inherited from their mother. And those eyes, it seemed, were looking at me curiously. It seems someone else had news.

“Well then, Fabian, Gideon, what is the update?”

They looked at each other, then Fabian spoke.

“We’ve advanced to tier two aura users, father.”

‘Hoh, aren’t they quite talented themselves?’

Father’s eyes bored into the two of them, as if looking for any slight weakness to exploit. But they remained steadfast.

“Good, I expect you to keep up the pace in your advancement. You’re dismissed.”

They left the room, not before glancing my way in inquiry.

“And you, what news do you have for me?”

“I’ve advanced to the first circle father.”

He paused, then looked deeper at me.

“Your mother was an elf.” He said, as he stood up and walked around the desk to his bar to pour himself a drink.

“Though weak and useless, she bore me one child before passing.” He sat on his large couch and took a sip of his spirit of choice.

“Elves have a higher propensity to magic, I'm sure you know. So I expected any child I had with her to be the same. You haven’t disappointed me in this area yet.”

He looks at me.

“Grow, Solis. Grow so the name that woman gave you meets its worth. If you tally, you will be left behind. I’ve told all your siblings this, and I tell you now. Succession is not for certain, so fight. Fight for this seat, then you might win.”

‘Yeah, I’d rather not.’