Chapter 1 originally published on ScribbleHub on [June 9]. Cross-posted here with permission.

Chapter 1: A Boy With No Mana

[Scene: The Sacred Grounds of Caelmir Estate, Post-Blessing, ]

The wind brushed through the ancient oaks that circled the Caelmir estate like sentinels. Lanterns burned low with bluish mana-flame, casting a cold glow over the polished marble courtyard.

Inside the grand hall, a hush fell as the midwife’s trembling voice cracked the silence.

“H-He has… no mana.”

Lord Kael Caelmir’s sharp features tightened. His silver cloak barely shifted as he turned his back.

“Dispose of the results. We will not acknowledge a failure.”

In the arms of the servant, a newborn boy—silent, unmoving—blinked slowly with strange, unfocused eyes. He did not cry. He only stared.

His name would be Aizen Caelmir. But to the family, he never truly existed.

[ Training Yard, 9 Years Later]

CLANG. THWACK. HUFF.

Aizen, now nine, dragged a wooden training blade across the gravel. Sweat plastered his dark blue shirt to his back. The moon cast harsh shadows across the solitary yard.

Again.

His grip tightened as he swung. One. Two. Three.

The blade cracked against the dummy, and a jolt of pain shot through his arm.

“Tch…”

Blood dripped from his palm, but he didn’t stop.

Again.

Lucien, his older brother, trained inside under golden chandeliers with four masters.

Aizen trained with rust, sweat, and silence.

He collapsed, gasping. The night air turned heavy.

Suddenly, his chest burned.

Something snapped.

From the center of his body, a pulse spread like ripples through water. The world shimmered for a brief second. His wounds stopped bleeding. His muscles flexed with unnatural lightness.

His eyes flashed violet for a moment.

“What… the hell was that?”

He reached out his hand. A faint black mist danced around his fingers.

It was not mana.

It was older. Colder. Hungrier.

Noirvein: [Awakened].

[ Library, Zenrai Institute Archives, Present Day]

Books were stacked in unstable towers around Aizen, now fifteen. He flipped through mana theory, casting diagrams, and combat scrolls.

“Tensile flux… elemental convergence…”

He muttered formulas under his breath while sketching diagrams in the dirt. A low buzz vibrated beneath his fingertips—Noirvein reacting to the proximity of knowledge.

Aizen whispered, “So it’s like that. The domain isn’t an illusion. It’s a fracture in dimensional balance…”

He closed his eyes.

“Gravefield.”

The scrolls fluttered as a ripple passed through the room. Space bent—just a little. Just enough.

Then it snapped back.

“Still not stable,” he muttered.

A voice interrupted. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

Aizen turned. A tall figure stood at the entrance.

White hair. Cold eyes. Black uniform with the gold crest of House Vaelheart.

Kaien.

“Didn’t expect the ‘dead boy’ to be snooping in Tier-3 scrolls.”

Aizen stood slowly. “Didn’t expect the golden boy to notice someone like me.”

Kaien smirked. “Fair point.”

They locked eyes.

Silence.

Then Kaien stepped forward.

“Your stance is trash.”

Aizen raised an eyebrow. “Your arrogance is showing.”

Kaien tossed him a steel practice sword.

“Prove me wrong.”

[Few minutes later at Sparring Room]

CLANG! CRACK!

Aizen’s blade met Kaien’s like thunder crashing. Sparks flew as Kaien pressed forward with sharp precision. Aizen dodged, letting his instincts guide him.

Ping! Aizen spun low, slicing the air behind Kaien’s shoulder.

Kaien turned, eyes wide.

He’s fast.

Aizen grinned. “Still trash?”

Kaien pushed him back with a sharp elbow.

“Still improving.”

They clashed again. Blade against blade. Sweat dripped. Breaths shortened. For a moment, the world faded. Only the duel existed.

Then—BOOM.

A shockwave tore from Aizen’s blade. Kaien skidded back.

Silence fell.

Kaien stared. “…That wasn’t mana.”

Aizen sheathed the sword.

“No. It wasn’t.”

Kaien grinned.

“I hope you survive this academy, Caelmir. Because I’m not letting anyone else defeat you but me.”

[End of Chapter 1]