**Chapter 2: The Queen's Secret Power and the King of Kings**
The grand celebration turned to chaos in an instant. The sorcerers' dark portal had vanished, but the aftermath was far from over. Monstrous creatures—twisted abominations of shadow and bone—spawned from the lingering dark energy, their hollow eyes scanning the panicked nobles before locking onto prey.
Ashver, still hidden in the shadows, felt his blood run cold. *Sorcerer-spawned beasts…* The same kind that had torn through his village years ago. His fists clenched, nails digging into his palms. He wanted to fight, to tear into them—but he was just a laborer. Unarmed. Powerless.
Then, a scream pierced the air.
A noblewoman stumbled, her silken gown snagged on the claws of a looming beast. Before it could strike—
**"Lumen Burst!"**
A blinding flash of golden light erupted, vaporizing the monster in an instant. Ashver shielded his eyes, blinking as the radiance faded. Standing there, her emerald dress fluttering despite the lack of wind, was **Queen Liora herself**, her delicate fingers still glowing with residual magic.
*The queen… can use magic?!*
The remaining beasts turned toward her, sensing the greatest threat. Ashver's instincts screamed at him to run, but his legs refused to move. Then—one of the creatures lunged at *him*, its maw dripping with venom.
He braced for death.
**"Void Step."**
A whisper, and suddenly, the queen was *right in front of him*, her back pressed against his chest as she raised a hand.
**"Celestial Bind."**
Chains of pure light shot from the ground, wrapping around the monster and crushing it into nothingness. The force of the spell sent a shockwave through the hall, knocking Ashver off balance. He stumbled—
And his hand *accidentally* grabbed onto the queen's waist for support.
Her dress, already delicate from the battle, *ripped slightly* at the shoulder, exposing a glimpse of smooth, porcelain skin.
Time froze.
Ashver's face burned. "Y-Your Majesty, I—!"
Queen Liora turned her head slightly, her lips curling into an amused smirk. "A little forward for a laborer, aren't you?"
Before he could stammer an apology, a deafening **BOOM** shook the palace.
The remaining sorcerers had regrouped, their hands raised in unison. **"Let the unworthy perish under the gaze of the Demon Sorcerer!"**
A massive dark sphere formed above them, crackling with annihilation energy.
Ashver's breath caught. *This is it…*
Then—
**"Enough."**
A single word, spoken with the weight of a thousand storms.
The air itself *split* as a figure descended from above, his golden armor radiating an aura of absolute dominance. His presence alone made the ground tremble.
**King Rhonerer—the Father of All Kings and Queens.**
The sorcerers recoiled. "N-No… he wasn't supposed to be here!"
Rhonerer didn't even raise his hand. He simply **looked** at them.
**"Divine Judgment."**
Three beams of light *erased* three sorcerers in an instant, their bodies disintegrating before they could scream. The remaining sorcerers wasted no time—they tore open another portal and fled.
Silence.
Then, the remaining nobles and guards dropped to their knees in reverence. Ashver, still pressed close to the queen, could only stare in awe.
Queen Liora sighed, brushing off her dress. "Father, must you always make such a dramatic entrance?"
Rhonerer chuckled. "Would you prefer I let my daughter handle everything?"
Ashver's mind raced. *Magic. Power. A way to fight back.*
Before he could think, he dropped to one knee before the queen.
**"Your Majesty… please teach me magic!"**
The hall fell silent again.
### **Power System Explanation & Aftermath of the Sorcerer Attack**
#### **The Bloodline of Rhonerer – The Source of All Magic**
In the kingdom of Busan, **only those with the blood of King Rhonerer can wield true magic.** This divine power is an inherited gift, passed down exclusively to his descendants—his **7 sons and 3 daughters**, who rule as the kings and queens of the land.
- **Magic is not learned; it is inherited.**
- **No commoner, no matter how talented, can ever use magic.**
- **The strength of one's magic depends on their lineage's purity.** (Rhonerer's direct children are the strongest, while their offspring may have weaker or diluted magic.)
This is why **Queen Liora (21 years old, youngest of Rhonerer's daughters)** could cast spells effortlessly, while Ashver—a laborer with no royal blood—could never hope to do the same.
---
### **Ashver's Crushing Disappointment**
When Ashver begged Queen Liora to teach him magic, her response was cold but honest:
*"Magic isn't something you can learn, boy. It flows in the blood of kings. You have none of it."*
Ashver's fists trembled. His dreams of vengeance—of destroying the sorcerers who killed his mother and tormented his father—were **shattered in an instant.**
Without a word, he turned and left the palace, his heart burning with frustration.
---
### **The Royal Family's Private Discussion**
After the attack, **only Rhonerer and his 10 royal children remained in the grand hall.** The other nobles, including **Renui (the queen's sister but not Rhonerer's daughter—meaning she has no magic)**, had already fled.
Rhonerer's voice was deep, commanding:
*"The sorcerers grow bold. They speak of awakening the Demon Sorcerer."*
**Queen Liora** crossed her arms. *"We slaughtered them all years ago. How are they still alive?"*
**The Third King** (one of Rhonerer's sons) scoffed. *"Does it matter? Father destroyed three of them in an instant."*
**Rhonerer's eyes darkened.** *"Do not underestimate them. The Demon Sorcerer was sealed, not killed. If he awakens… even I may not be enough."*
A heavy silence fell.
Then, **the Fifth King** smirked. *"Then we'll just have to slaughter them all again."*
---
### **Renui's Glance – Did She Recognize Ashver?**
As Ashver walked away from the palace, he caught a glimpse of **Renui** watching him from a distance.
*"That boy… he was the one from before, wasn't he?"* she murmured to herself.
For years, Ashver had admired her from afar, ever since she once showed him kindness as a child. But to her, he was just another face in the crowd.
Yet now… something flickered in her gaze. **Recognition? Curiosity?**
Ashver didn't notice. His mind was too clouded with anger.
### **Chapter 3: The Hidden Sorcerer**
Ashver trudged through the muddy streets of the lower district, his mind still replaying Queen Liora's words.
*"Magic isn't something you can learn. It flows in the blood of kings."*
His fists clenched. **Then what was he supposed to do?** Watch as the sorcerers returned, as they burned everything down again?
A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
**"Ashver. You look like a man who's just lost a war."**
Ashver turned to see **Reteow**, an old family friend—a scholar who often traveled between kingdoms, trading rare books and artifacts. He was a lean man with sharp, calculating eyes, always dressed in faded robes that smelled of ink and aged parchment.
**"Reteow?"** Ashver blinked. **"When did you get back?"**
**"Just this morning,"** Reteow said, leaning on his walking stick. **"But enough about me. You're shaking with anger. What happened?"**
Ashver hesitated. Reteow wasn't just a friend—he was one of the few people who had helped his father when times were hardest. If anyone would understand, it was him.
**"The sorcerers attacked the palace,"** Ashver muttered. **"They just… appeared out of nowhere. Said they were going to awaken the Demon Sorcerer."**
Reteow's grip on his walking stick tightened. **"They… what?"** His voice was low, almost dangerous.
Ashver frowned. **"You didn't know?"**
**"No,"** Reteow said, his expression darkening. **"They didn't tell me."**
Ashver didn't miss the way Reteow said *they*.
**"Wait… you *know* the sorcerers?"**
Reteow's eyes flickered—just for a second—before he let out a dry chuckle. **"Know of them, yes. I've studied their history. For them to return now… it's troubling."**
Ashver exhaled. **"The kings killed three of them, but the rest escaped. I wanted to fight them myself, but…"** He gritted his teeth. **"I can't. I don't have magic."**
Reteow studied him for a long moment. Then, he sighed.
**"Magic isn't the only power in this world, Ashver."**
Ashver's head snapped up. **"What do you mean?"**
Reteow's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. **"Meet me at the old ruins tonight. Midnight. And come alone."**
Before Ashver could ask anything else, Reteow turned and walked away, his robes swaying behind him.
Ashver stared after him, his heart pounding.
**Who was Reteow, really?**
And why did it feel like he knew far more about the sorcerers than he was letting on?
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