Talent. Everyone is born with it—an innate mark, etched into their very soul from the moment they take their first breath. It's not just a gift, but a judgment, a divine whisper that speaks of one's worth and potential. In the world of Caelvaron, Talent determines everything. It shapes destinies, opens doors, and slams others shut with cruel finality. Whether you're meant to become a knight, a spellwright, a shadow-weaver, or a simple stonecutter—it's Talent that decides.
...
In a dark room of a small yet nice manor resides the Baron Family of the house of Duskwarden, a family confined to the town on the edge of the Empire. Though it's small, it's very successful due to them being the entrance of the Empire—meaning everything that is sent to the town goes past them first. The name of this small kingdom is Norcrest.
Suddenly, the door opened. A woman dressed in a maid uniform walked in as she approached the bed. She tapped the boy lying on the bed as he stirred awake.
" Please wake up, Young Master Travis, " she whispered.
Travis, the boy with dark hair, slowly woke up, yawning as he sat up, looking around his room, then glancing at the maid.
" Gloria, what time is it? " he asked.
" It is 12 p.m., Young Master. You're very late for your training with Master Hendrick, " she responded in a cold, carefree tone.
Hearing that, Travis's eyes widened in shock. He immediately got off his bed, pulling off his sheets and running into his bathroom.
Gloria fixed his bed for him, then got the clothes he'd wear for training. She waited for him to come out as he quickly got himself ready.
' Damn, I shouldn't have stayed up and read that book again, ' he thought as he hurried. He finished and ran out, finding his clothes already set for him. Without wasting time, he got dressed, Gloria helping him.
When done, he looked at himself in the mirror. ' Alright, I look good. Time to go. '
" Bye, Gloria! " he said before running out of his room.
Leaving Gloria, who began to clean his room.
Travis sprinted through the house's halls, running past knights and staff who stopped to bow as he ran. He got outside at the back and ran towards the training grounds.
When he got there, he found a man standing in the middle with his arms crossed together, his eyes closed as he stood there.
" Mr. Hendrick! " Travis shouted as he got to him, stopping a few meters before him, breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath.
Hendrick opened his eyes, a look of contempt on his face.
' Why do I have to be in charge of this talentless fool when I could be training his other siblings? ' he thought.
" Yes, late as always, Young Master, " he said as he glared at Travis, who laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
" Um, I was caught up with reading. Sorry, " he responded.
" Hmm, yes. No matter though. Let's continue with your sword training, " said Hendrick as his hand glowed, a crystal-clear blade forming in it.
Travis nodded and ran towards a barrel filled with weapons and pulled out a sword. Hendrick rolled his eyes.
' Talentless freak, ' he thought as he stared at Travis coldly, his eyes full of judgment.
The young boy Travis noticed, though he chose to ignore them. He was very used to being looked at like that—so much that he simply brushed it off as a normal look people gave him.
' Okay, remember what you learned, flow your mana and move, ' he thought to himself as he focused on Hendrick.
That very moment, the two moved fast.
Travis thrusting his sword in a stab, which Hendrick deflected away without trouble by slapping it from below. That revealed an opening for Hendrick, but he chose not to use it because it would end the fight too soon.
The boy got back into stance. As he watched Hendrick thrust slowly at him, he moved to the side quickly, then moved fast with his knees tucked and slashed at Hendrick's legs.
Without breaking a sweat, he spun his blade, deflecting Travis.
CLNK
Hendrick rolled his eyes. ' Weak, ' he thought, then kicked Travis, sending the boy back sliding on the ground.
SCHTCH
He got up, his face aching as he tried not to wince, holding his sword out in stance. Hendrick moved again, this time faster, his sword arcing down to Travis, who raised his blade to block. The blade was cut cleanly, and he was kicked in the chest.
BAM
Travis flew back, but he landed cleanly, staring at his sword, which was now cut. But before he could even react, Hendrick was now behind him with his blade on his throat.
" You've lost. Again! When are you going to learn that those old blades have no use in battle in today's world, Master Travis! " Hendrick said loudly.
" I just... I know I can make it work! " Travis said as he walked forward and turned.
" No, you can't. You need to cast a spellblade in order to fight. But you can't! Well, it'd be better to say you don't have the ability to do so. If you can't improve your skill in a month, I'm afraid I'll have to quit teaching you, Master Travis, " Hendrick declared sternly before walking away, his drapes fluttering in the wind as he left.
Travis sighed, looking down at his hands. ' Not my fault I don't have Magical Talent, ' he thought.
" Weak as ever, huh, big brother! "
A voice rang from the other side of the training ground, making him stop. Hendrick stopped, turning as he smiled.
" Young Master Raikzen. It has been a while, " Hendrick announced as he vanished, appearing in front of the boy.
Who smiled. " Fast as ever, but born with the Lightning Element, speed is like a breath to me. "
This was Raikzen Duskwarden, a 9-year-old boy, the fourth child of the family. Born with immense talent, many people are in a line waiting to tutor him. One of those people was Hendrick.
" You're as humble as ever, Young Master. Some take effort to breathe—your speed is a mere blink, " Hendrick exaggerated.
Raikzen laughed. " You flatter me. Now, back to you, big brother Travis, " he said, turning to Travis—who was gone.
" Huh? Where did he go? "
...
Travis ran off, knowing nothing but insults would follow. Travis was a 12-year-old boy, third child of the Duskwarden family, and titled: anomaly of the world. From the moment he was born, he was different—not in a good way, but in an alien way.
He was born without an Arcana Mark, a mark made to show what Element he would use. In history, nobody has ever been born without one—from the dusk of time when the Gods created the world.
From that moment, he was scorned by people. Born into a great family with a history filled with talented individuals, he was the black sheep of the family.
Currently, Travis sat on a hill behind his family's manor, staring down at the kingdom below. Norcrest wasn't big, but it was still a great kingdom.
Around them, tall white-bricked walls surrounded it. A belt of land continued beyond the kingdom, circling the entire Empire.
This was the beginning of the Empire. Though it was far—very far—from the capital, it was a very important part of it. Because it was right next to the ocean, everything sent to the Empire went through them first. Which is why, though it was a small kingdom, it was very prosperous.
From here, Travis could clearly see the beautiful blue sea. He sat there with his thoughts.
' I just wish I could at least cast spells. But without an Arcane Mark, I can't, ' he thought.
Suddenly, an image flashed in his mind—an image of a sword. He sighed. ' This again! ' he thought as he plopped back on the grass.
' I just wish I was normal. '
TO BE CONTINUED