A Noble's Resolve

"In a distant realm, within the confines of a grand castle, a mischievous child once roamed its halls, wreaking havoc wherever he went. His actions were so vile that even his parents despised him. But one fateful day, as the young troublemaker prepared for yet another escapade, a dreadful demon god emerged from the hearth fire!"

"Then what next grandfather?"

"The demon god warned him, 'If you continue down this wicked path, I shall devour you!"

"So... did the child find redemption?"

"The tale took a turn for the better; the child ceased his mischievous ways, blessed by the demon god and bestowed with intelligence! Do you grasp the moral now?"

"That's incredible! Joseph will be good henceforth." Five-year-old Joseph blinked at his Grandfather, his promise devoid of emotion.

'This story lacks finesse...' This sentiment echoed not only in the young child but also in Isaac, who had overheard the tale outside the door. Especially after witnessing Joseph's unconvincing pledge, he found the narrative lacking even more.

A wry smile tugged at Isaac's lips as he observed the mysterious old man, Lord Jasper, donned in purple robes and a towering wizard hat, his features mostly concealed, with only a hint of his pale chin visible beneath the hat.

"Lord Jasper, are you certain this story will establish my identity as a sorcerer? It feels rather unreliable. Why not use my tale of the Snow Prince and the Seven Dragon Balls, where the villainous king possessed a wizard's staff? It seems more credible, coming from a bard," Isaac hesitated.

After all, it was a magically altered version, and he couldn't be certain if it would suffice.

Lord Jasper regarded Isaac with a blank expression, though his eyes were hidden, his scepticism evident.

"Why concern yourself? The key to becoming a wizard lies not in the depth of the legend, but in whether enough people recognize the story and associate it with you! Your exploits are well-known in the barony; they provide a fertile ground. Your story isn't bad, but can you be certain people will identify you as the wizard who advised the king in that tale?"

"Well... that does make sense!" Isaac nodded thoughtfully. "But will they believe such an outlandish story?"

"Belief matters not; the crucial aspect is for them to know the story and perceive the child within it as you! After all, you were remarkably clever as a child~" Lord Jasper remarked meaningfully.

"Very well, then we shall await the outcome."

"Yes, you've fulfilled most prerequisites to become a wizard; only the final step remains – for a thousand people to be aware of the story."

"Alright, I appreciate your assistance, Lord Jasper." Isaac smiled reassuringly and turned towards the castle, with Jenny trailing behind him.

As Isaac walked ahead, Jasper's deep purple eyes fixated on his form, the longing gaze momentarily overshadowing his true intentions. But soon, he banished these thoughts; there was a secret she hadn't disclosed to Isaac.

A sorcerer achieved through such a mediocre story would likely have limited potential!

The kingdom required only one sorcerer.

Jasper's eyelids narrowed slightly, concealing his true thoughts. After all, his Highness was excessively fond of his brother; revealing the plan would surely anger him.

Meanwhile, Isaac, immersed in the anticipation of becoming a sorcerer, had few concerns. In his previous life, he had been a social creature who unexpectedly met his end one night, only to awaken here. He had settled the remaining $100,000 mortgage for his family and had a few seeds left to his name.

In this life, he bore the name Isaac Solomon, the son of a baron. Despite his noble birth, he lacked any inheritance rights due to his talented older brother. While other noble families might offer a small territory for him to manage, the baron's holdings were insufficient. So, he would at most receive a modest estate to live out his days peacefully once he reached adulthood.

Yet, Isaac was content. His previous struggles had not entirely secured a home, but in this life, he could lie flat without worry, delving into the pursuit of sorcery.

"Boom!"

The resounding roar halted Isaac in his tracks. His awe-struck gaze fixed upon the martial arts field, where two figures clashed vehemently. One, in black, was Edward Lion, leader of the Solomon family's knight group, wielding the typical knight's martial arts devoid of Ki or transcendental energy, relying solely on physical prowess. The other figure, in blue, was Iris Solomon, the family's pride, a natural-born Grand Knight and a master of thunder.

Iris was not only a talented knight but also the embodiment of a protagonist template, complete with a Mysterious sorcerer at his side – Jasper.

This situation only reaffirmed Isaac's decision to lie low; battling for power with such a remarkable sibling was simply too arduous. He preferred to lead a peaceful life as a dutiful younger brother, conducting research in sorcery.

"Bang~"

After another fierce exchange, Edward conceded defeat, his face etched with bitter resignation. "No more, no more, Young Master Aeris, you're incredibly strong. Is this the might of a Grand Knight? Truly awe-inspiring."

Aeris halted, smiling at the defeated Edward. Not even breaking a sweat, he turned his attention to Isaac and Jasper, who approached them leisurely. "Judging by your expressions, it seems to be going well, doesn't it?"

"It appears so," Isaac nodded, although his knowledge of wizardry was limited. If not for Aeris being his brother, he might have struggled to find a suitable mentor among the magical arts.

"Isaac shows promising talent; he might achieve a breakthrough tonight," Jasper affirmed. he spoke the truth: Isaac's potential was significant, which is why he devised the intentionally lacklustre initiation ceremony.

"That's quite... impressive."

"Phew~"

Before Aeris could finish his sentence, a green-glowing blade suddenly loomed perilously close to Isaac's neck!

Isaac's heart raced; his pupils contracted. In an instant, he shouted, "Harmon!"

At Isaac's cry, the world around them dulled in colour; time froze, and everyone, from the terrified Isaac to the poised assassin, became statuesque figures. Silence enveloped them, broken only by the sound of tearing flesh from Isaac's neck. A monstrous, hideous claw extended, its grotesque purple appendages weaving like vines.

The claw, with sharp nails and sinewy muscles, grasped Isaac, saving him from the assassin's blade. It roared silently, a demonstration of its fury, yet it remained bound by Isaac's will, its role confined to safeguarding his life, not engaging in combat.

Having expressed its silent protest, the demonic claw released Isaac from its grip.

In an instant, the world regained its vibrant hues, and time resumed its relentless flow.

"Move!" Just as the assassin's poison-coated blade closed in on Isaac, the demonic claw that had shielded him disappeared, teleporting Isaac ten meters away to safety.

Witnessing this extraordinary event, Aeris was astonished, yet a surge of anger coursed through him. His brother, nearly assassinated, ignited a fierce fire within him.

"In front of me, my brother, almost assassinated," Aeris seethed, his right fist clenching, silver armour crackling with thunder. He struck out, unleashing a devastating blow that transformed the ground before him into scorched earth.

"Wow" Isaac and Edward stared at the aftermath, a scorched path that stretched for hundreds of meters, both astonished and intimidated. They had never witnessed the power of a Grand Knight firsthand, and this display far surpassed their expectations.

However, to their surprise, both men furrowed their brows in unison. This incident meant trouble for the Solomon family. An assassination attempt on the second son within the family's grounds, thwarted by the first son's raw power, was bound to attract unwanted attention. It was a stain on the family's reputation.

Though the assassin had been a disposable pawn, and whether he lived or died made little difference, the outside world wouldn't see it that way. The incident was a potential scandal, and it cast a shadow on Aeris and the Solomon family.

Aeris, still seething with anger, was oblivious to these complications. His focus was solely on protecting Isaac. However, he soon shifted his attention back to his younger brother, his concern etched on his face. "Are you hurt? That blade was poisoned."

"I'm fine; Harmon was quick," Isaac replied, patting the invisible magical claw that had shielded him, a sigh of relief escaping his lips.

Seeing Isaac's reaction, Aeris raised an eyebrow. A single thought lingered in the minds of those present: Demon God's Blessing.

However, Aeris refrained from further questions. He understood that this was Isaac's story, his journey, and his secrets. If Isaac chose to share them, it would be of his own accord. Besides, from the current perspective, there seemed to be no immediate danger. Even if there were, Aeris wasn't powerful enough to confront a legendary Demon God.

Suppressing his anger, Aeris turned his attention to the assassin, who had been rendered motionless by the magical claw. "Capture his soul; I need information. I won't tolerate such an incident occurring again."

"Yes, Your Highness," Jasper replied, though his allegiance seemed more to Aeris than to his command. The needs of his beloved prince always took precedence.

Aeris looked at Jasper, aware that her loyalty lay primarily with him, yet he couldn't deny his effectiveness. Soon, he would officially inherit his father's knighthood, and Isaac would celebrate his bar mitzvah, marking a period of stability for the family.

"Uncle Edward, please fetch Father; there are matters we need to discuss," Aeris instructed, his voice firm.

"Ah, yes, Young Master Iris!" Edward hurried back to the castle, eager to carry out his orders.

Once Edward was out of earshot, Aeris turned to Isaac, his concern evident. "Do you need to rest? Let Father and me handle this matter."

Isaac shook his head, indicating he was fine. Though he desired a peaceful life, he didn't want to be so passive that he remained indifferent even when his life was threatened.

"I'll face this with you all; after all, I'll be an adult in a few days," Isaac said with determination.

Aeris considered his brother's words before nodding approvingly. "Very well. Let's discuss this in the parlour."

With that decision made, they headed toward the living room. As they walked, Aeris addressed Jasper without looking back. "Lord Jasper join us in the living room once you have the information."

"Yes, Your Highness."

'Your Highness?' Isaac furrowed his brow. He sensed that there was more to this situation than met the eye.