Long ago, humans and elves lived together in peace. However, that peace was shattered when humans discovered a new continent. This discovery also led to the awakening of new monsters from that newly found land.
Those monsters were dragons.
Because of the overwhelming power of the dragons, humans struggled greatly to fight them. As a result, humans formed an alliance with the elves to oppose the dragons. However, even with the combined strength of both races, they were still not enough to drive the dragons back.
Because of this, humans and elves established an academy to train warriors who would become dragon slayers in the future.
The academy was called Alkyd.
Alaric was the most famous and strongest dragon slayer in the entire Kingdom of Eryndor. He had already slain over 500 dragons, and this record only made him even more renowned throughout the kingdom.
Meanwhile, his son, Kael, was known as a genius who would enter the academy once he turned eighteen. Kael was believed to possess great potential, especially because he was Alaric's son.
However, at present, Kael was just an ordinary young man.
What the world did not know was that Kael originally came from Earth. In his past life, he was a soldier—a general who commanded armies. He died due to an assassination, and after his death, he was reborn into another world.
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Kael continued to train his body relentlessly while also reading history books and studying the abilities of humans. One day, he came across the word "mana."
"Hmm… mana?" Kael thought.
According to the book, every human body possessed a mana core, where mana absorbed from the surroundings was stored. Mana originated from nature and was originally knowledge exclusive to the elves. However, due to the war against the dragons, the elves were forced to teach humans how to use mana.
The elves never expected the potential humans possessed, as the strongest mana users in the present era now belonged to the human race.
Mana could be absorbed only if the body had mana pathways running through its veins. However, Kael noticed that his body had no such pathways at all.
"Damn it… why doesn't my body have mana pathways?!"
Despite this, Kael tried to absorb mana anyway, but no matter how much he tried, nothing happened.
"Damn it…"
Unable to absorb mana, Kael let out a deep sigh.
At that moment, he heard a knock on his door. Someone spoke from outside.
"Young Master Kael, Her Majesty is calling for you," said the servant.
Kael sighed. "Alright… please tell Mother I'll be there shortly."
As he stood up, Kael thought about the difference between his parents.
His mother was the queen of the kingdom, and the Kingdom of Eryndor was known to be a matriarchal kingdom. No matter how famous his father was as a dragon slayer, Kael knew that his mother was even stronger.
She possessed a Phoenix—an ancient and immensely powerful being.
A few minutes later, Kael stood in front of the dining room door. He sighed before opening it and saw his mother, Elara, along with his only sibling, his older sister Liyara.
Upon entering the dining room, Kael immediately sat down beside his sister.
After sitting down, Kael noticed that his father was absent.
"Mom, why isn't Dad here?" he asked.
Elara answered calmly, "Your father is currently in the elven kingdom, requesting their assistance to reclaim a human kingdom that has been occupied by dragons."
"So it's really this serious…" Kael thought. "The war between humans, elves, and dragons has become this intense."
Elara then spoke again. "Liyara, I am granting you permission to enter the academy. Your ability to control even a fraction of the Phoenix's power is already sufficient."
Upon hearing this, Liyara beamed with joy.
"Thank you very much, Mother. I will raise my reputation at the academy, become one of its recognized geniuses, and prove myself as the rightful heir to the throne of Eryndor."
Elara smiled in satisfaction. "Good. This will be your first trial as my successor. You must surpass the other students in the academy."
Suddenly, Kael spoke up.
"But Mom! What about me? When will you allow me to enter the academy?!"
Silence filled the room.
After a few moments, Elara sighed.
"Kael, I understand your desire to enter the academy. However, your abilities are still insufficient, and I cannot sense any mana within your body."
Hearing this, Kael sighed deeply.
"If that's the case, then there was no point in calling me to the dining room. I'll just leave."
Liyara immediately grew angry. She grabbed Kael by the shoulder.
"KAEL! What right do you have to disrespect our mother?!"
Kael felt the pressure of Liyara's mana, but as a former soldier, this level of intimidation meant nothing to him.
He looked at her seriously.
"Do you really think I'm afraid of you, Sister?!"
Both Elara and Liyara were shocked. Most people without mana would tremble before the presence of someone who wielded it.
Elara immediately intervened.
"Liyara, that's enough."
Liyara sighed and released Kael.
"Do not ever speak to Mother like that again. If you do, I will punish you myself."
Kael was annoyed.
"Tch... how arrogant"
Elara spoke again.
"Calm down, liyara, you too kael. The reason I called you here, Kael, is to remind you that the elven princess, Nyssara, will soon visit our kingdom."
Elara looked at him seriously.
"She is the one you are destined to marry, so you must treat her properly."
Kael felt irritation rise within him.
"But Mom! A human marrying an elf—?!"
He stopped mid-sentence when Liyara glared at him. Kael could only sigh.
"Damn it… what a worthless life," he thought.
After the discussion ended, Kael walked back to his room in frustration.
"DAMN IT! What a meaningless life…"
Once inside his room, Kael tried once more to sense mana within his body, but no matter what he did, he felt nothing.
"DAMN IT! How am I supposed to become strong if I can't absorb mana?!"
Frustrated, Kael threw himself onto his bed.
"Just wait until I become strong… I'll leave this family and live independently!"
He looked out the window and noticed that it was already night. Approaching the window, he saw the townspeople below, living their lives freely.
"I was a soldier once… it's only natural that I hate this kind of life,"
As he watched the darkness outside, a thought crossed his mind.
"Hmmm… it's already dark. Should I escape now?"
Kael smiled.
He quietly approached his door and slowly opened it. Seeing no guards outside, Kael felt relieved and slipped out.
As he walked through the corridors, he carefully checked for soldiers.
"Good… no guards tonight."
Upon reaching the mansion's library, Kael quickly hid when he noticed a woman reading a book.
He sensed an overwhelming amount of mana coming from her body.
"Hmm… is she a mage?" he thought.
Seeing that she was only reading, Kael quietly moved while staying hidden, intending to leave the library.
The woman remained silent, but she could clearly sense Kael's presence.
"Hmmm… what is the prince doing here?"
Several hours later, Kael finally escaped the palace and arrived in the town.
He looked around at the countless people bustling about.
"Sigh… I finally got out of the palace. I'm free now. I can finally do whatever I want," Kael said.
He looked at his hand.
"For now, I need to find a way to become stronger."