For the first time in his life, Alexander Magnus walked among ordinary people.
No celestial palaces. No ancient battlefields. No divine bloodline pressures.
Just the simple life of mortals.
---
Azure Crest City – The Heart of the Empire
Azure Crest City was a thriving trade hub, filled with merchants, warriors, and travelers from across the continent.
Streets bustled with activity—street vendors calling out their wares, alchemists selling pills, blacksmiths hammering weapons.
For once, Alexander was just another face in the crowd.
He had concealed his aura, wearing a plain black robe. To others, he looked like a young noble traveling incognito.
And he liked it.
---
A Glimpse of Ordinary Life
He passed a small food stall and paused.
An old man, face wrinkled with age, stirred a pot of steaming broth. The smell was rich, filled with exotic spices.
Alexander had eaten divine ambrosia and celestial fruits, but… something about this simple dish intrigued him.
The old man saw him looking. "Young lord, would you like a bowl?"
Alexander nodded, taking a seat. "Yes."
A steaming bowl of noodles and broth was placed in front of him.
He took a bite.
And for a moment—he simply enjoyed it.
The old man chuckled. "Good, right? My wife's recipe."
Alexander nodded. "It's excellent."
Nearby, a small girl with dirt on her face watched him, eyes wide.
He looked at her. "Are you hungry?"
She nodded shyly.
Without a word, Alexander ordered another bowl and placed it in front of her.
Her eyes lit up.
As she ate, he noticed her aura was weak. A sickly constitution.
A casual pulse of purple-golden energy flowed from his fingers into her body.
She froze. Then, slowly, her pale cheeks gained color.
Alexander simply smiled and stood up.
Before the girl could speak, he had already disappeared into the crowd.
---
The Struggles of Mortals
Further down the street, shouting erupted.
Alexander turned.
A group of mercenaries was surrounding a poor merchant. The man had gray hair, a trembling posture, and a cart filled with medicinal herbs.
The lead mercenary, a scarred man with a hooked blade, sneered.
"This is our territory. Pay the toll."
The merchant bowed repeatedly. "Please, sirs, I barely made enough to feed my family—"
A mercenary kicked over his cart. Herbs spilled onto the dirt road.
The merchant fell to his knees, trembling.
People watched but did nothing. They had seen this happen before.
Alexander stepped forward.
"That's enough."
The scarred man turned. "Hah? Who the hell are you?"
Alexander simply picked up an herb from the ground, dusting it off.
The mercenary grabbed his shoulder.
Bad decision.
In an instant—
CRACK.
The mercenary's wrist snapped like a twig.
He howled. "AGHH—"
The entire street froze.
Alexander's voice was calm. "You are mercenaries, not bandits. Have some dignity."
The other mercenaries hesitated.
Alexander's presence was suffocating.
Even without releasing his aura, his golden eyes held something terrifying.
A commander among them, a bronze-ranked mercenary, stepped forward, sensing something off about this youth.
"Apologies, young lord. We were out of line."
The mercenaries backed off.
Alexander helped the merchant pick up his herbs.
The old man bowed deeply. "Thank you, young master. Truly, thank you."
Alexander simply nodded and walked away.
Unbeknownst to him, eyes were watching.
From a second-floor balcony, a young noble woman sipped her tea, amused.
She wore lavender robes, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders.
Her guard stood beside her. "Should we investigate him, Lady Lysara?"
Lysara Blackthorne smiled. "A hidden dragon walks among the ants… fascinating."
Elsewhere, within a private chamber of the Azure Crest Marquis, another noble youth was scowling.
Elias Greythorn, heir to the Greythorn Clan.
"Who does this bastard think he is?" He slammed his fist against the table.
His subordinate hesitated. "My lord, he might not be ordinary—"
"I don't care. I want him watched."
---
Even the Great Clans Begin to Move
Meanwhile, in a hidden chamber deep within the empire, an ancient elder opened his eyes.
An attendant knelt before him.
"Elder Stormbringer… we have identified him. The child who crushed a Celestial Prodigy. He walks among mortals."
The elder's weathered face remained unreadable.
Then, he whispered.
"Alexander Magnus… a name the world will remember."