Chapter 1 — A Life Worth Protecting

The morning sun filtered weakly through the dusty window panes of a modest second-floor apartment in Sector 12 of Daehan's outer ring. The air carried the scent of rice porridge and a hint of factory smoke, two constants in the life of the Seo family. Despite the cracks in the wall and the overworked mana conduits humming under the floor, warmth radiated from this home—not from any spell, but from the people inside it.

"Jin-Ho! Breakfast, or you'll be late again!" his mother's voice called from the kitchen, the clatter of ceramic bowls following right after.

Seated on the floor in a faded uniform jacket, Seo Jin-Ho, fifteen years old, brushed a strand of hair from his eyes and adjusted the clasps on his mana suppressor ring. The ring was old, the kind given to children to keep their magic from leaking. It hummed faintly with a dull blue glow, struggling to contain what was inside him.

"Coming!" he replied, slinging his worn-out bag over his shoulder. It rattled faintly—inside were notepads filled with complex core diagrams, spell optimization matrices, and crumpled exam schedules.

The apartment was small—just three rooms—but it overflowed with life.

At the table sat his father, Seo Dae-Won, still in his worn security uniform. A small plate of kimchi and boiled eggs sat before him. His eyes, tired but proud, glanced at Jin-Ho.

"You're pushing yourself too hard, son," he said as Jin-Ho sat down.

"I have to. Everyone else in the academy is from awakened families," Jin-Ho replied, pouring himself a bowl of soup. "I'm the only 'middle-class miracle' they haven't broken yet."

His mother placed more rice into his bowl with a gentle smile. "Because you're strong where it matters."

Dae-Won chuckled. "Strong enough to blow up the kitchen last week."

Jin-Ho grinned sheepishly. "That was... an accident. I didn't think my core would spike like that from a meditation cycle."

"You're already at Level 5, Jin-Ho," his father said softly. "That's more than most mages achieve in twenty years."

"But it's not enough," Jin-Ho muttered. His gaze darkened for just a moment.

In this world, power wasn't a gift. It was a currency. And without a noble name or a family legacy, even power came at a price.

His father saw the look and sighed. "Don't let this world steal your heart, son. You're stronger than they'll ever understand—but don't forget why you fight."

Jin-Ho looked at his family—their worn clothes, their tired faces, and the quiet pride in their eyes.

He nodded.

"I won't forget. I'll protect this life we've built."

Outside the window, the city of Daehan stirred. Mana trains shrieked past overhead, and skyships from the Inner Districts floated like arrogant titans above the smog. And not far away, in a glittering tower carved from obsidian and gold, the Dongjin Clan raised their glasses over another silenced scandal.

They didn't know it yet—but they had made a mistake. A fatal one.

Because the boy they thought powerless…

Was already too strong to control.