Chapter Fourteen: "Genius"

Inside the dimly lit room, an intricate magical circle emerged on the floor. Its white lines gleamed against the surface, exuding a mysterious aura that filled the air.

The circle was enclosed by two overlapping rings, each composed of finely etched lines that glowed intensely at their intersections, creating a strange brilliance in the darkness. The inner patterns were so meticulously woven that they appeared to shift and flow, as if caught in a perpetual motion. Every crossing point within the design pulsed with an unseen energy, as though it were channeling power from an unknown source.

Within the circle, a network of scattered magical symbols was intricately connected, forming a complex structure. Some symbols seemed to rise above the surface, while others were embedded deep within it, their dimensions shifting depending on the angle of view. Each symbol varied in size and shape—some were simple geometric figures like triangles and circles, while others resembled ancient inscriptions, carrying an air of forgotten knowledge.

At the very center of the circle, an elaborate set of lines intersected to form a five-pointed star, surrounded by smaller, irregularly arranged circles. Inside the star, parallel lines intertwined like a web, as if designed to connect with forces beyond the physical realm.

Despite its simplicity in color, the circle held an astonishing level of detail. Every angle and intersection revealed new layers of complexity, as though hiding deep secrets meant only for those who truly understood magic.

The intricacy of the design was not limited to its outward appearance—it extended into its very core. Every section of the formation was intricately woven into the flow of an unseen magic, drawing the eyes and igniting curiosity.

The three children stood frozen, staring in awe. They had no idea what this magical circle was or its purpose, but just looking at it filled them with a sense of grandeur and reverence. Yet, among them, the one most shaken was the old man, Elias. Unlike the children, he understood exactly what he was looking at—and he knew how impossibly difficult it was to create such a thing. The mental strain required to even attempt drawing such a formation was immense. After all, this was something mages of the current era had only managed to replicate from the ancient sorcerers. But even then, not just anyone could recreate it.

Elias turned to Nivalis, his expression changed—no longer skeptical but filled with a newfound respect. He muttered in disbelief, "How did you do this?"

Nivalis simply smiled and replied, "Why wouldn't I be able to? After all, I wasn't called the 'First Genius of Magic' for nothing."

Elias's eyes widened in shock. Only one person in the entire kingdom had ever been given that title—the son of the Olivier family. The Oliviers were the only family of counts in the kingdom to ever hold such a distinction. This young man wasn't from a family of mages, nor was he a member of the renowned Crayvan Duchy, the kingdom's most prestigious magical lineage. Yet, despite that, he had risen to fame at an unprecedented speed.

A genius in mathematics, a prodigy in engineering, and the greatest magical talent of his era—those were just a few of the titles bestowed upon him. However, the one that stood out the most was The Kingdom's First Bookworm. He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, collecting books from every corner of the kingdom and reading them all. There wasn't a single book within the realm that he hadn't devoured, and because of that, the Olivier family's library became legendary.

Elias could hardly believe that such a figure was standing before him, even more so given how young he was. But even for someone like him, creating a magical circle of this caliber should have been impossible.

Elias asked once more, "How did you manage it?"

Raising an eyebrow, Nivalis smirked and said, "You ask too many questions, old man. The important thing is that it's done."

But deep down, Nivalis reflected on his own achievement. Even for him, constructing such a formation had been an arduous challenge. He hadn't been entirely sure he could complete it, but somehow, he had pulled it off. A small, proud smile formed on his lips as he thought to himself, If only Adrian were here to praise me like always.

His thoughts were interrupted when Ivan suddenly spoke, "Grandfather, what exactly is this circle for?"

Elias glanced at Nivalis, who gave him a nod to proceed with the explanation. The old man then turned back to the children and said, "This formation is used to determine whether someone has the potential to become a mage."

The three children gasped. Mages were beings they had only ever heard about in stories. A single question formed in each of their minds: Could I become one?

But before they could dwell on the thought for too long, Nivalis interrupted, "Not just that." The proud expression on his face deepened as he continued, "It also reveals your primary magic affinity."

Elias was stunned yet again. Identifying one's affinity required an entirely different magical formation. He turned his gaze back to the intricate design on the floor, carefully examining it once more. It was only then that he noticed the subtle variations, the additional complexity woven into its structure. A realization struck him like lightning, and he muttered in complete shock, "A combined formation…?"

Nivalis smirked. "So, who wants to go first?"

Ivan hesitated only for a moment before stepping forward. He would be lying if he said he wasn't curious.

A mage—he had never seen one in person, only heard stories of their power. If he could become one, if he could wield that strength, he could protect his siblings. He could finally take revenge on that noble scum. Unconsciously, his resolve had already been set. He would seize this opportunity no matter what.

But just as he was about to step into the circle, Elias quickly stopped him, his mind racing. "Wait! Stepping into that formation means we're agreeing to the madness you spoke of earlier. Do you really believe that finding a handful of mages—if they even exist—will be enough to stand against the armies of noble families? That's pure nonsense!"

At that moment, Nivalis simply tapped his finger against his temple and said, "Don't worry, old man. Everything is already planned out."

Then, without another word, he gestured for them to follow him downstairs.