The Rise of Leywin: A Magician’s Journey

In the grand halls of the House of Phoenix, where magic thrived like a roaring fire, a boy was born with a legacy heavier than mountains. Leywin, the son of the youngest daughter of Elvin, was expected to rise as a prodigy. His grandfather, Elvin, was one of the strongest magicians in the world, the Master of the House of Phoenix, and a legend among archmages. Yet, the boy who carried such a bloodline was an enigma—his magical power was weak, but his control over mana was unparalleled.

Meanwhile, in the rival yet allied Dukedom of Do, another prodigy was born. Lee Min Hee, daughter of Duke Hyun Suk, was the exact opposite of Leywin. She was overflowing with magical power, gifted with talent beyond her years, and destined to become the strongest magician of her generation.

Their families were allies, bound not just by politics but by history. Elvin had raised Hyun Suk as a child, after the tragic deaths of Leywin's parents. The mystery surrounding their deaths was something no one spoke of, a shadow hanging over Leywin's fate. Naturally, the children of these two powerful houses—Leywin and Min Hee—grew up together, training and playing as inseparable friends.

From the age of four, Leywin and Min Hee trained together, side by side. Min Hee always pushed forward, striving to perfect her spells, while Leywin, despite his lack of raw magical power, fascinated their instructors with his precise control.

There was a time when Min Hee looked up to Leywin. Whenever she struggled to cast a spell, he would explain the flow of mana in a way no one else could. Whenever she succeeded, he would smile and say, "You'll be the strongest one day, Min Hee. But that doesn't mean I'll let you surpass me so easily."

But as the years passed, something changed.

At age ten, Min Hee became the youngest 2nd-circle magician in history. Her achievements brought her admiration, while Leywin, still stuck at the 1st-circle, was left in the shadows.

To celebrate Min Hee's success, the House of Phoenix announced a magic tournament for children under ten. It was an event meant to showcase young talents, and Min Hee was the favorite to win.

For the first time in years, Leywin and Min Hee met again.

The moment she saw him, her eyes widened with pure joy, and before she knew it, she had thrown herself into his arms.

"Leywin! You're here!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.

Leywin, surprised by the sudden hug, laughed. "Of course, I wouldn't miss it. I wanted to see how strong you've become."

Min Hee's expression softened. Despite the years apart, their bond had not faded. They had written letters, but this moment felt more real than all the words they had exchanged.

Then, the competition began.

Min Hee effortlessly crushed her opponents, casting Icicle Spears and Gale Blades with ease. The crowd marveled at her talent, whispering that she would surely take the crown.

But something unexpected happened.

Leywin, despite being a mere 1st-circle magician, reached the finals.

Everyone had expected him to fail early, but match after match, he won—not with raw power, but with flawless control.

He manipulated fire to cancel water spells, twisted wind to disrupt lightning, and weaved the earth into traps his opponents never saw coming.

The elders murmured in disbelief. "If only he had more magical power... He could have become an archmage."

Min Hee, watching his fights, clenched her fists. She knew Leywin had excellent control, but she never imagined he could defeat even 2nd-circle magicians.

Now, the final match was set: Leywin vs. Min Hee.

As they stood across from each other in the arena, Min Hee smiled. "I won't hold back, Leywin."

Leywin grinned. "You never do."

The match began.

Min Hee raised her hand. Icicle Spear! A 2nd-circle spell formed instantly. She aimed carefully—she didn't want to hurt him, just end the match quickly.

The moment the ice spear launched—Leywin countered.

With a mere 1st-circle Fireball, he melted the spear before it could reach him.

Min Hee's eyes widened. "What?"

The crowd fell silent.

Leywin smirked. "You underestimated me."

Min Hee gritted her teeth and cast again. This time, a more advanced Wind Blade.

Leywin raised his hand. Earth Mud! A precise burst of mana softened the ground beneath Min Hee's feet, trapping her in place.

The next moment, the match was over.

Leywin had won.

Min Hee, for the first time in her life, had lost.

She sat in stunned silence before breaking into a smile. Instead of feeling bitter, she felt exhilarated.

"You…" she whispered. "You're the first person to ever defeat me."

Leywin offered his hand, and she took it. As he pulled her up, she grinned.

"Next time," she said, "I'll be stronger."

"I'll be stronger too," he replied.

The elders sighed. "If only Leywin had more magical power."

One of them predicted, "Min Hee will reach the pinnacle of magicians. But Leywin… at most, he can reach the 5th circle in his lifetime."

Leywin clenched his fists.

This was the beginning of his journey.

A journey not just to prove himself… but to defy fate itself.

To be continued....