The side doors of the grand hall had barely closed behind the retainers when the full weight of the failed awakening crashed down upon the assembled nobles. Aelric Vael Thorn walked between two silent escorts, his small frame steady despite the storm of voices rising behind him. The massive mana surge that had flooded the Awakening Altar was now public knowledge. The complete absence of any Class imprint was also public. The anomaly had been revealed for all to see.
Duke Vael Thorn remained standing near the family dais, his face a mask of cold calculation. Lady Elowen had not returned to her seat. She stood with one hand gripping the back of her chair, her emerald gown suddenly appearing too bright against the somber mood that had overtaken the hall.
Kaelric Thorn pushed past a retainer and strode forward, his voice loud and triumphant. "Did you all see that? Massive mana, brighter than anything I produced at my own awakening, and still the gods gave him nothing. Not even a lowly Servant Class. The Altar rejected him outright."
Several retainers nodded in uneasy agreement. Scribes wrote furiously, their quills scratching loud in the tense atmosphere.
Lord Harlan, the portly uncle, wiped sweat from his brow. "This is unprecedented. The boy flooded the crystal with power that could have powered a dozen high mages, yet no imprint took hold. What does this mean for the bloodline?"
Master Thorne, the senior advisor, spoke carefully. "Your Grace, the mana was real and measurable. Perhaps the Altar simply could not classify something so unusual. A second ritual under stricter temple supervision might resolve the matter."
Duke Vael turned slowly, his storm gray eyes sweeping the hall. "The Altar does not require a second chance. It revealed the truth in one clear moment. Massive mana reserves, yet no Class granted. Aelric is an anomaly, not a noble. Keeping him here would signal weakness to every rival house. House Caldon would exploit it within weeks."
Lady Elowen's voice trembled but carried clearly. "Vael, he is still our son. The mana surge proves he carries power. Exile him to a remote estate if you must, but do not strip him of everything. Give him at least basic provisions and a small escort. He is only ten."
Kaelric laughed sharply. "Mother, you still defend him? The discarded child flooded the Altar with mana and received nothing in return. He is not a Thorn. He is a mistake. Send him to Eldridge Reach with nothing but the clothes on his back. Let the wilds decide if he is worth keeping."
Seraphine stepped closer to her father, her lavender gown brushing the marble. Her voice remained calm and analytical. "The mana did not behave normally. It poured in and then vanished completely, as if swallowed by the crystal itself. My Insight Weaver senses detected no curse and no blockage, only an overflow the Altar could not process. This is not simple failure. It is something the temple scholars should study."
The Duke raised a hand, silencing the growing debate. "Study can come later. Today we act. Aelric Vael Thorn has revealed massive mana but received no Class. He is therefore stripped of all noble titles, rights, and the name Thorn. At first light tomorrow he will be transported to the remote territory of Eldridge Reach. He will be left with minimal supplies and no formal guidance. The holding is his to manage or lose. If he somehow survives and proves useful, the duchy may take notice. Until then, he is no longer part of this family."
A heavy silence followed the declaration.
Lady Elowen's eyes filled with tears she refused to shed publicly. "At least let me speak with him before he leaves."
"Sentiment has no place in this decision," the Duke replied. "The boy already heard the judgment. Retainers will prepare his departure. He will take only what is provided. Nothing more."
Aelric stood just inside the corridor, the two escorts flanking him. He had heard every word. The massive mana that had surged so powerfully during the test now felt like a hidden ember inside him, quiet but alive. The rejection no longer crushed him. Instead, it sharpened his thoughts.
He realized in that moment that the system of Classes and noble hierarchy had never truly protected him. It had only defined limits. Now those limits were gone. The faint hum of mana in his veins seemed to pulse in quiet agreement, as if confirming that his path would be forged outside the rules everyone else obeyed.
One of the retainers cleared his throat. "Young master, we must prepare your things for the journey."
Aelric nodded once, his voice quiet but steady. "I understand. Lead the way."
As they walked deeper into the castle, away from the grand hall and the voices still arguing behind closed doors, Aelric carried with him the echo of the empty crystal. Massive mana had been revealed. No Class had been granted. The Duke had spoken.
Tomorrow the journey to Eldridge Reach would begin.
And with it, the true story of the discarded child would start.