Beginning of the Mage

Charles lived the next two years doing nothing but eating, sleeping, chatting with Jennette and some of the other maids, running from his powerful siblings.

All those were in the day time, but in the silence of the night, when the moon rose up from it's slumber, watching over the world and shining it's tender glow, when the stars twinkle brightly, Charles increased his control over mana, he increased the volume of mana in his body and learnt skills, making use of the knowledge of science that he had.

The third birthday of every child in the Flameworth household was a memorable one, it marked the start of their journey to become capable mages.

It was a day when the children of all the branch families of the Flameworth and even the children of the duchy that Flameworth governs that are three years old came to check their affinity.

The Flameworth's valued those with affinity to fire as they had potential to be flame mages, they recruited those with high fire affinity and trained them as mages of Flameworth from young untill they grew into adulthood. It was a place where talent was highly valued.

It was the day for the affinity evaluation, where childreb from all over the duchy, some poor, some nobles from nearby territories, children from poor families, they awere all brought by their parents in an effort to change the lives of their families.

Most nobles just wanted to check the affinity of their children.

Charles was dressed in fancy, childish clothes that day. He hated it, he told Jennette many times that he wasn't a child and he wanted a finely sewed suit and trousers but she called him silly and forced him to wear the fancy cloth.

Rumours about the young master of the Flameworth's attending the affinity evaluation for this year was already widespread among the crowd of people gathered in the area used as a training ground for the Mages of Flameworth, an area that Charles avoided going to at all costs, he hated bumping into his brothers.

It was a very large area, large enough to contain thousands of people, fit for an occasion like the Affinity evaluation.

Charles walked into the crowd of people.

Every where was noisy, people were hustling and bustling, waiting for the announcer to come with the mana crystal. Noble families brought their children with butlers or representatives and commoners could be identified easily, as most were women with their children.

"Tsk, this damn nobles, always trying to look good in everything." One mother said, her tone was that of annoyance, she hated the arrogance of nobles, she also hated the fact that they were born into a life knowing nothing about suffering but she has to suffer everyday to make ends meet.

"I know right, always acting like their the rulers of everything, I mean why do they have to come with fancy carriages like that just for an affinity evaluation?" Another Mother supported.

"It's the Flameworth's that I blame, allowing those arrogant f**ks in here." The woman said as she rollled here eyes.

"Speaking of the Flameworth's, I hear that the youngest master of the Flameworth's is having his affinity evaluated today." The first woman said excitedly, looking for gossip.

"It's another Flameworth, he's definitely going to be another flame mage."

"You think so? He could surprise us."

"You're right after all there was once a Flameworth who's Affinity was..."

""Hey you could get burnt to death for saying that you know?"

"..." The woman went silent.

"Hey, say something, what is it?" The other woman was worried about her sudden silence.

"Didn't you feel that just now?" The woman asked.

"Feel what?"

"That sudden ominous feeling, I got goosebumps on my body just now." The woman chimed, a visible expression of fear plastered on her face.

"I didn't feel anything, maybe it's because we've been standing for so long."

"Yeah, I guess you're right, it can't be anything bad."

Charles stepped into the training ground.

It was an area were sand filled the ground, people were gathered, he walked past the crowd of people, looking at them all, some where Servants of nobles with the children they came with, others were commoners with their children.

He massaged the back of his neck as he paced through the crowd.

"It's nice to be taller, I remember when I was still a year old. At least now I can reach Alex's waist, unlike before were I could barely reach his knee." He spoke under his breath with a hint of caution as he didn't want to attract the attention of anybody that recognized him.

"I'm just gonna stand here and wait, the announcer should start. And where is Alex?" He said as he stood at a spot he considered the best for viewing the newborn talents that were gonna showcase themselves, focusing his gaze at the chairs reserved for the Patriarch and the Matriarch which were empty.

'of course it's empty, what did I expect, he hasn't even showed up one day since I turned two... Saying that I turned two sounds so weird so I'll just say I turned thirty seven.' He thought to himself, Alex had barely ever showed himself to Charles since he turned two/thirty seven. He always had excuses like heeding to the Emperor's request or going on a mission that only him can go.

Charles had formed a bond with Alex over time, he thought of Alex as his elder brother, one who gave him insights about things of the Empire, he gave him knowledge the name of the planet he was born into, the Empire he was born into, the three Dukedoms that rivaled Flameworth and information about Ludia that he was looking for, although he manipulated the discussions with Alex to his benefit, everybody in the household couldn't stop talking about how close they were, Untill Alex completely stopped coming home.

"Well, forgetting all that, let's see how the Evaluation is going to be, shall we?" He said with a smug grin tugging at his lips as the Announcer came in, supported by men that carried a giant crystal dial with them.

A figure looming among the crown focused their ominous glare on Charles, their eyes glistening with pure malice.

END OF CHAPTER