Joseph learned very early that power was not something to flaunt.
This world respected strength, yes—but it also feared it.
After discovering the truth about magic, bloodlines, and his father's sealed past, Joseph understood one thing clearly: if the nobility had been willing to cripple a Grand Duke for being too powerful, then a child carrying dragon blood would be crushed without hesitation.
So he chose silence.
Secrecy.
And patience.
Joseph began his training not with spells or flames—but with his mind.
At night, when the estate fell quiet and only the soft glow of moonlight filtered through his window, Joseph sat cross-legged on his bed. His breathing slowed naturally as he focused inward, just as he had learned in his previous life through meditation guides and mental discipline techniques.
But this time, it was different.
This time, he could feel something responding.
The warmth inside his chest stirred.
[Skill Acquired: Basic Mana Perception]
Joseph's eyes snapped open briefly before he forced himself to calm down.
So that's how it starts.
Mana wasn't just an abstract concept here—it was a tangible energy that flowed through the world, through living beings, through him. At first, it felt like tiny sparks drifting in darkness. Hard to grasp. Harder to control.
But night after night, Joseph practiced.
He focused on his breathing.
Inhale slowly.Hold.Exhale.
With every cycle, he imagined drawing those faint sparks inward—not forcefully, but gently, like guiding embers into a hearth.
The system responded.
[Mana Pool Increased: +1][Mana Control Improved]
The gains were small.
Insignificant to most.
But Joseph smiled quietly in the darkness.
He wasn't in a hurry.
Days passed.
Weeks turned into months.
Joseph remained a normal child in everyone's eyes—playing in the gardens, attending basic lessons, laughing at appropriate moments. His parents never suspected a thing.
Elena only noticed that her son was unusually calm for his age.
"He's so thoughtful," she once said fondly. "Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that little head of his."
Marcus merely nodded.
"He watches," his father replied. "That's not a bad trait."
If only they knew.
Joseph expanded his training gradually.
Once his mana pool reached a stable threshold, the system unlocked another function.
[Skill Unlocked: Mana Circulation (Passive)]Description: Allows mana to flow through the body in controlled paths.Effect: Increases mana efficiency and reduces leakage.
This was where the real progress began.
By circulating mana through his body, Joseph felt subtle changes. His muscles strengthened slightly. His senses sharpened. Heat no longer bothered him as much as before—summer days felt comfortable, almost pleasant.
And beneath it all, something deeper stirred.
Something dark.
Not evil.
Just… cold.
Heavy.
Like a shadow waiting patiently behind a flame.
Joseph didn't panic.
He observed it.
He adapted.
[Hidden Affinity Detected: Dark]Compatibility: HighStatus: Dormant
Joseph exhaled slowly.
Fire and Dark.
An unusual combination.
Fire was destructive, dominant, explosive.
Dark was subtle, consuming, controlling.
Opposites.
Yet within him, they didn't clash.
They coexisted.
Years passed.
Joseph grew taller. Stronger. Smarter.
His mana pool expanded steadily, far beyond what was normal for a child his age.
But he was careful.
He never released mana openly.
Never practiced spells.
Never lost control.
Until the day the Elemental Affinity Orb was brought out.
It happened on his seventh birthday.
Marcus had arranged a small gathering—nothing extravagant. Just family, a few trusted knights, and an elderly man dressed in mage robes.
The orb sat on a pedestal in the center of the room.
A crystal sphere, clear as glass, faintly glowing from within.
Joseph knew exactly what it was.
Elemental Selection Artifact.
Used to determine a child's elemental affinity.
Normally, a person had one.
Two was rare.
More than that?
Almost unheard of.
"Place your hand on the orb," the mage said kindly.
Joseph hesitated.
Not because he was afraid—
But because he knew this moment would change everything.
Still, avoiding it would raise suspicion.
So he stepped forward.
He placed his hand on the orb.
The room fell silent.
The orb glowed.
First—
Red.
Flames swirled inside the crystal, vibrant and fierce. Heat radiated outward, causing several knights to take a step back.
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
Fire, he thought. As expected.
Then—
The red didn't fade.
It darkened.
Shadows crept into the flames, twisting around them like living smoke. The orb pulsed violently as black streaks wrapped around the fire, stabilizing it rather than extinguishing it.
Gasps echoed through the room.
The mage stumbled backward.
"T-two elements…?"
Fire.
And Dark.
Perfectly balanced.
Marcus stared.
Not at the orb—
But at his son.
His expression was unreadable. Shock. Pride. Fear. All tangled together.
"This…" the mage whispered. "This should not be possible."
The orb cracked slightly, unable to fully handle the output.
Joseph withdrew his hand.
The glow faded.
Silence followed.
Marcus knelt in front of Joseph slowly, gripping his shoulders.
"Did you feel anything strange?" his father asked quietly.
Joseph met his gaze and shook his head.
"It felt warm," he said honestly. "And… calm."
Marcus released a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
Just like me, he thought.
But deeper.
Stronger.
And far more dangerous.
Elena rushed forward, pulling Joseph into a hug.
"He's just a child," she said protectively. "Whatever this means, he's still our son."
Marcus nodded.
"Yes," he said firmly. "And we will protect him."
Joseph felt warmth—not from mana, but from something far rarer.
Family.
But deep inside, the system pulsed once more.
[Milestone Achieved: Dual Element Awakening]Rewards:
Mana Pool +20
Mana Control +10%
Bloodline Stability Increased
Warning:
Growth rate exceeds normal parameters
External attention probability increased
Joseph closed his eyes.
So it begins.
He had taken his first real step into this world's power structure.
And from now on—
There would be no turning back.