In a library with countless books and candles strategically arranged to provide perfect visibility and avoid fires, there was a 9-year-old boy sitting in one of the armchairs, reading a book. The black cover of the book read "Complexities of Magic". With a sigh, the boy finished the page and placed the book on a small table beside him.
Finishing this book, there are still countless other books in this library to read. Magic is a path of endless knowledge-seeking. It's still three years until the magical talent test and the awakening of my own magic, and I will finally begin my journey as a magician. I sigh. I have been in this world for nine years and can only thank the universe for the opportunity to come to such an interesting world.
Through my studies in this library, I have discovered that there are three levels of magical talent: Lower Level, Intermediate Level, and Higher Level. Additionally, there are divisions within each level - Low, Medium, and High - so that someone with the same level of Higher Level Magical Talent can have significant differences in ability. There are also those with special bodies among humans, but let's leave that topic for another time.
Magical talents influence the speed of absorption of magical energy in the magic core in the heart and also the ease or difficulty in constructing the magic core ring. Magicians are divided into eight rings that represent the rings around the core. Someone becomes a level 1 magician by condensing a core in the heart and forming a ring around it. The ring itself serves as a low-consumption innate spell for instant use.
The function of the magic core is to store mana, and theoretically everyone needs to absorb the same amount of mana to rise in the power scale. However, some people need only one year to become a ring magician while others need four years, due to differences in talent. Regardless of talent, all individuals need to absorb enough mana to condense the magic core and form the first ring. From there, they can continue to absorb mana and form additional rings, increasing their power.
The first step to becoming a mage is to absorb mana throughout the body. Once the apprentice mage feels that their entire body is filled with mana, it's time to gather it all in the heart to form a spherical mana core. However, to stabilize the mana in the core, it's necessary to expel the purest mana possible and condense it into a ring around the core. This stabilizes the mana and allows the apprentice to become a ring mage, where the true path of a mage begins.
Of course, becoming a mage entails a drastic change in status. Commoners must know their place and never cross paths with a mage, as their best outcome would be immediate death. In general, anyone has the opportunity to become a mage, even commoners, but it depends on their luck in the magic talent test. If their talent is not very good, they still have a chance to go to a magic tower to study, but they will receive fewer resources. Nobles from wealthy families will be funded by their families and are more preferred by magic towers.
Interrupting his thoughts, a knock on the door was heard and a voice came, "Master, it's dinner time."
I got up and opened the door of the library. My personal maid was there and I nodded at her as we made our way to the dining room. As we walked through the corridors, I thought about my family. We are nobles in the kingdom of Caerlot, our family name is Iritriz, and my name is Daeran Iritriz. We own the city of Alcatro in a somewhat isolated region to the south of the kingdom, where we are the supreme lords of this place. We are a medium-level family in a 300km region and even with all this power, it is not possible to separate and form an independent kingdom. The power of the king is too great, it is not worth trying such a clear suicide.
Entering the dining room with my personal servant, I saw my father, a man of 1.90 meters with short gray beard, short black hair combed back, wearing a blue mage's robe. His deep blue eyes looked at me, and I saw illusions of lightning walking in his eyes. He said in a deep voice, "Sit down." I made my way to the table and responded with a slight nod. My mother was also there, and she gave me a small smile. She had long hair, a sweet look, and a beautiful face. My two younger brothers, one aged 6 and the other 5, were eating their food quietly.
As I sat down, my father continued the conversation, "Daeran, how are your studies going at the library? Any interesting discoveries?" I replied, "Yes, I am learning a lot about the formation of magic rings and the role of the magic core. I think I will need a few more days to finish my research." My father nodded, and my mother intervened, "Daeran, have you been too worried about your studies lately? You need to have fun too, go out a bit more, meet new people." I smiled at her, "Mom, you know I love studying. But I promise I'll try to do more fun things." My younger siblings seemed more interested in their food than in the adults' conversation.
Mocking my heart, why would I waste my time playing with children? An adult reincarnated playing, how ridiculous. There are only three years left until I truly begin my path as a wizard and I need to have a solid foundation of knowledge. Honestly, I don't want to waste my time playing, I don't need to pretend that I do. And my new father seems to support my behavior, so we are aligned.
After dinner, I retired to my room to continue my studies. The hours passed quickly as I delved deeper into the mysteries of magic. The clock on my bedside table struck midnight, and I realized it was time to get some rest.
As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but wonder what new discoveries awaited me in the world of magic. However, my curiosity would have to wait, as I slept soundly for what felt like an eternity.
------3 years later-------
Three years had passed, and I awoke with a start. I rubbed my eyes and looked around my room, trying to recall why I had slept for so long. Suddenly, it hit me - it was time for the magic talent test.
I walk to the door of my room and as I open it, I see my personal servant Lucy. "Master, what are your orders?"
"Prepare and bring my food to the room."
"Yes, master," she bows her head and leaves. I quickly take a shower, washing away all my sleep with cold water. I think that my effort in studying magic will finally pay off. Now, it only depends on my own luck to determine my precise magical talent and awaken my mana.
Finishing my meal, I head to the gate of our castle and see my father waiting for me. I pass by the guards and before I can say anything, I see a blue glowing shadow grab my shoulder. Lightning surrounds me and everything around me turns into blurred images. It lasts for two minutes and we arrive at the kingdom's magic tower, where there's a magical tool capable of detecting magical talent accurately. They also have the magical awakening item, which, without it, you'd have to use different methods to use magic, even if you're a noble and need to go to the king's tower to awaken magic. Twelve years old is the perfect age to awaken magic, and looking around, I see numerous peasants crowded on one side and nobles on the other. The two groups are separated and don't mingle since they have completely different statuses.
The commoners wore decent clothes, with some dressed in old and worn-out clothing, most likely homeless. The nobles, on the other hand, dressed in luxurious garments and appeared well-groomed. The difference was notable, and the social classes in this world were rigidly structured. The nobles were disdainful towards the commoners and did not understand why such people were allowed to participate in the magic test. Looking at the tower, it seemed to be 70 meters tall, had the color of obsidian, a large silver door, and inside was a great hall, white in color, with a platform, a black pillar, and a transparent crystal ball altar.
"Everyone, line up and don't cause any trouble," said the white-robed wizard with golden edges, and the surrounding noise stopped, leaving everyone in silence.
"One by one, from the group of commoners, step forward and place your hand on the pillar," he ordered with a cold look, and the commoners hesitantly complied.
As people start moving towards the platform, one by one, with expressions of fear and anxiety. The white-golden mage observes attentively as each person places their hand on the black pillar. A few moments later, the crystal ball begins to glow and the mage takes notes on a parchment.
Finally, it's the nobles' turn. They approach the platform with an air of superiority and disdain towards the plebeians. The white-golden mage receives them and asks them to place their hands on the pillar. They do so without hesitation, and the crystal ball glows even brighter than before.
After all the nobles have taken the test, the white-golden mage gives a speech on the importance of magic and how it's essential to maintain order and peace in the kingdom. He also warns that the misuse of magic can have serious consequences.
After the speech, everyone starts dispersing. The plebeians who don't have any magical talent sadly leave the hall in silence, while those who have awakened their magical talent and possess it remain in the tower with smiles on their faces. The nobles bid farewell and leave quickly.
All the nobles have awakened magical talent, but not because noble blood is something special or anything like that. In fact, it's due to the use of potions that can give anyone without talent the lowest-level, inferior magical talent, but this potion has no effect on those who have magical talent. The reason why nobles spend money on such potions is that it would be a blow to their pride if they didn't.
Returning home, my talent was determined to be "intermediate-high" and with an affinity for lightning magic. The majority of the Itriz family has an affinity for the lightning element, which is a stroke of luck. After all, I won't have difficulties obtaining lightning spells and magic meditations with the support of my family. My path is much easier than most, with my intermediate-high talent placing me above average. It's a good talent, but nothing too special, and I'm already satisfied. After all, it would be terrible to have an inferior talent or not have any talent at all.