The day of the Age Ceremony arrived with a grandeur unseen in decades.
From early morning, Solum, the capital of the Blackthorne Dukedom, overflowed with carriages, banners, and people. Noble crests fluttered proudly in the air, lining the wide stone roads that led toward the Blackthorne estate.
All nobles of the dukedom had arrived.
And not only them.
Countless outsider nobles came as well—many bringing their entire families. Fathers walked with pride, mothers with curiosity, and children with eyes full of excitement and envy.
"They all came for the Blackthorne heir."
"I heard even the Magic Towers sent representatives."
"Of course they did. How could they miss him?"
---
The Magic Towers of Arcanor
Among the arriving dignitaries, the presence of the Magic Towers stood out the most.
In the entire continent of Arcanor, there existed ten Magic Towers, each acting as the highest authority of magic for their respective regions.
They were not merely schools.
They were powers equal to kingdoms.
Human Empire (Astra) possessed three towers:
White Tower – focused on healing, support, and divine-aligned magic.
Silver Tower – known for spatial magic, barriers, and advanced theory.
Red Tower – specialized in offensive and destructive magic.
Elven Kingdom (Greenveil) held three towers, deeply connected to nature, mana harmony, and ancient spellcraft.
Dwarven Kingdom (Khazdur) had two towers, famous for rune magic, enchantments, and artifact creation.
Fairy Kingdom (Faeloria) and Demi-Human Kingdom (Velmora) each possessed one tower, highly specialized and secretive.
And finally—
Abyssar, the Demon Continent, had only one Magic Tower.
The Black Magic Tower.
The most dangerous.
The most feared.
The most powerful.
Even its name made nobles uneasy.
The arrival of representatives from the White, Red, and Silver Towers alone was enough to prove how significant today's ceremony was.
"They're watching him closely."
"Once he awakens his affinity… the competition will begin."
---
The Arrival of Two Great Dukedoms
Among the noble arrivals, two presences commanded absolute respect.
Lionheart Dukedom.
And Solvaris Dukedom.
When their banners appeared, the chatter in the streets grew louder.
---
Lionheart Dukedom – Shield of the Empire
The Lionheart Dukedom lay in the southern region of the Astra Empire.
Its borders directly touched the Demon Continent, Abyssar.
For generations, they stood as the first line of defense against demonic invasions.
"They are the shield of the empire."
"Without Lionheart, the south would've fallen long ago."
Lionheart specialized in spears and formations.
Their soldiers fought in unbreakable ranks, shields locked, spears extended—turning battlefields into walls of death.
Their flag depicted a mighty shield, engraved with the image of a roaring lion.
Simple.
Powerful.
Symbolic.
"They stopped three demon tides in the last century."
"Every Lionheart soldier is trained from childhood."
"They don't retreat."
Their presence alone made the capital's knights straighten their backs.
---
Solvaris Dukedom – Eye of Wisdom
To the east lay the Solvaris Dukedom, bordering the Demi-Human Kingdom of Velmora.
Unlike Lionheart's martial dominance, Solvaris was known for magic and intelligence.
They specialized in mages, researchers, and strategists.
Their flag bore an open book, with a single eye at its center.
The meaning was clear.
Knowledge sees all.
"Solvaris produces the best mages in the empire."
"They contributed half the spell frameworks used in imperial defenses."
"They don't conquer with swords… they conquer with minds."
Together, Lionheart and Solvaris formed two pillars of the Astra Empire.
And today—
Both had come to witness Aurelian von Blackthorne.
---
The Capital in Festival
Solum no longer felt like a capital.
It felt like a festival city.
Music echoed from plazas. Food stalls filled the air with rich aromas. Merchants shouted enthusiastically.
"Fresh mana fruit!"
"Protective charms—limited stock!"
Children ran through the streets, laughing.
Nobles chatted openly, their curiosity undisguised.
"I heard he killed over thirty bandits at nine."
"That can't be exaggerated?"
"It's Blackthorne. Of course it's real."
Everywhere—
His name was spoken.
---
Solvaris Mansion – A Genius's Boredom
Within a grand mansion prepared exclusively for the Solvaris family, silence reigned.
Elena von Solvaris sat across from her father, resting her chin on her palm.
Golden hair flowed smoothly down her shoulders. Her blue eyes, clear like still water, held unmistakable intelligence.
She sighed.
"…Father, I'm bored."
Chris von Solvaris looked up from his document, amused.
"Already?"
"Yes," she replied bluntly. "This city is noisy, and everyone keeps staring."
Chris chuckled softly.
Elena was a genius.
At her age ceremony, she had awakened with SS+ potential—a level most mages could only dream of.
Shortly after, she formed her third magic circle, shocking even the Silver Tower.
The empire called her—
A prodigy.
"Do you know why we're here?" Chris asked calmly.
"To attend a ceremony," Elena replied. "But why travel this far?"
Chris leaned back.
"To see an old friend."
"Elaborate."
"…And to see his son."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"The Blackthorne heir?"
"Yes."
"The one people call a monster?"
Chris smiled faintly.
"People fear what they don't understand."
Elena tilted her head. "Is he really that impressive?"
Chris's gaze grew thoughtful.
"When Alaric and I were young… even then, he was different."
He paused.
"He surpassed us all."
Elena's eyes sharpened.
"So his son inherited it?"
"Perhaps," Chris said. "Perhaps more."
Elena leaned forward.
"Then I want to meet him."
Chris laughed. "Impatient."
"I don't like empty rumors," she said calmly. "If he's special, I'll know."
'If he disappoints me…' she thought, 'then the empire's expectations are exaggerated.'
But deep inside—
Curiosity stirred.
---
As evening approached, lights illuminated Solum.
The Blackthorne estate stood at the city's heart, towering and imposing.
Black banners fluttered proudly.
Knights stood in flawless formation.
Mages reinforced barriers silently.
Everything was prepared.
In countless minds—
One thought echoed.
'What will he awaken?'
The ceremony had not yet begun.
Yet already—
The empire watched.
And fate moved quietly toward the moment when a single child would step forward—
And show the world what he truly was.