The morning mist still blanketed Drakenhall Castle, the magnificent fortress standing atop a white stone hill in the heart of the Kingdom of Arkanor. Tall towers rose through the clouds, while flags bearing a black dragon snapped in the wind.
In the castle's main courtyard, the clang of steel rang out again and again. Dozens of young knights were training under the watchful eyes of the kingdom's finest instructors.
That day was no ordinary day.
The Crown Festival would be held tomorrow, an annual celebration attended by envoys from the five races to commemorate the Eterna Oath.
All eyes were fixed on Prince Cedric Drakenhart, heir to the throne of Arkanor. With a single slash, his sword cleaved a training stone in two. Cheers filled the courtyard.
"Incredible! Prince Cedric will surely become the strongest king after King Magnus!"
Yet far off in a corner of the courtyard, another teenager was trying to lift a training sword.
His hands trembled.
The sword felt far heavier than it should have.
Before he could even swing it, the sword slipped from his grip and struck the ground.
CLANG!
Laughter immediately erupted.
"That mana-less prince fell again."
"Why does he still keep training?"
"If I were King Magnus, I'd have banished him long ago."
The teenager did not answer. He simply took a deep breath and picked up his sword.
His name was Kael Drakenhart.
The third son of King Magnus.
Yet in the eyes of the nobles, the surname "Drakenhart" did not belong to him.
Since birth, Kael had possessed no mana core, something almost impossible in the world of Aetherion. Without a mana core, a person could neither use magic nor reinforce their body with magical energy.
To a royal family renowned as the descendants of great knights and mages, Kael's birth was considered a disgrace.
There were even rumors that his mother had died giving birth to him because of a curse.
Kael had never known whether that was true.
All he knew was this: every gaze turned toward him was filled with disappointment.
As the sun climbed higher, the sound of the royal trumpets echoed from the main gate.
Everyone immediately knelt.
King Magnus Drakenhart entered the courtyard with steady strides. A dark red cloak embroidered with gold thread hung behind him, while a black crown set with red jewels adorned his head.
His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's.
"Rise," he commanded.
Everyone stood.
King Magnus's eyes quickly found Kael, who was still clutching his training sword and breathing heavily.
"Still trying to become a knight?"
The king's voice was flat, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
Kael lowered his head.
"I only want to become someone useful to the kingdom, Fa—"
"Don't call me that."
The atmosphere suddenly froze.
Magnus stepped closer until he stood only an arm's length from Kael.
"Father is what you call someone who acknowledges you as his child."
The words struck Kael harder than any blow.
Among the crowd, several nobles smirked. Some covered their mouths to hold back their laughter.
Only Princess Seraphina Drakenhart clenched her fists, her face grim, but she did not dare interrupt.
Magnus continued, "Tomorrow, the leaders of the five races will come to the Crown Festival. I don't want them to see the Drakenhart family's failure."
He turned to the Guard Commander.
"Starting today, Kael is forbidden from entering the royal hall."
The commander bowed his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
King Magnus turned and walked away without looking back.
Kael remained standing there, frozen. The morning wind felt far colder than before.
In the sky, a black crow flew over Drakenhall Castle, letting out a harsh, rasping cry.
No one realized that the humiliation Kael suffered that day was not his end.
It was the beginning of a destiny that had been waiting for a thousand years.
Far beyond the Forbidden Vareth Forest, something that had long lain dormant began to pulse faintly.
A silver ring set with a sapphire, buried beneath the roots of an ancient tree, emitted a dim light for the first time since the era of Caelan Veyrion.
As if...
It had just sensed the presence of someone destined to become its heir.