Chapter 2: Happy Birthday
The scent of honeysuckle and aged parchment was the first thing Lioren registered.
It was peaceful.
Comfortable.
Like the first ten seconds before a storm kicks the door open and punches you in the face.
Because today was that kind of day.
Today was the twelfth birthday of the only son of the Eric Clan.
And also the day of the magical aptitude ceremony the moment when every child in the Veridian Empire is tested to determine their Magic Power Tier.
Tier 0: No magic, barely a spark. (Tragic tier.)
Tier 1-2: Average nobles. Basic spellcasting.
Tier 3-4: Elite warriors, academy material.
Tier 5: Genius.
Tier 6: Mythical. Royalty only. God-touched.
Lioren? Everyone had... zero expectations.
Because he couldn't blink.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't speak.
In fact, he hadn't done anything for twelve years except breathe like a decorative incense pot.
Skyhold, Eric Clan's Fortress
"Happy birthday, my darling boy," Lady Seraphina whispered, pressing a kiss to his temple.
Lord Kaelen sat silently beside her, his calloused hand gently resting on Lioren's.
They didn't expect movement.
They didn't expect magic.
But they came anyway.
Every year.
BOOM: Memory Bomb Detonated
"...Ugh. What the hell?"
Lioren's mind exploded into awareness like a repressed sneeze.
"What is this? Where's my ceiling fan? Where's my room?"
"Wait. WAIT. Truck—TRUCK?!"
Images overloaded his brain:
Tokyo crosswalk
Blinding headlights
Celestial voice yelling "FULL RESTORE!"
Absolute nothingness
And now...
"Ahhh crap. It's all back. I remember everything."
His first day at university.
His goal to find a girlfriend.
His 19-year-old brain trapped in a 12-year-old fantasy body.
"Thanks, divine IT support."
Divine Screw-Up (Recap Edition)
The gods meant to heal the damage from Truck-kun.
Instead of fixing his physical body, they accidentally awakened every single cell in it.
Now his entire biology was sentient.
Like...
Sentient.
Like talking, panicking, paper-throwing cells with personalities.
Cell HQ: Awakened Chaos
"SIR! HE'S ONLINE! I REPEAT: THE DUMB PRINCE IS AWAKE!"
Neuron Unit 7 nearly tripped over itself rushing into the Brain Command Chamber.
White Blood Cell 1146 saluted dramatically.
"Sir! Welcome back! We have been running this body in low-power sleep mode for 12 years, and you our boss were snoring the whole time!"
"Wha wait, you're my cells?!"
"Yes, sir! Neurons, immune cells, platelets, mitochondria the whole team!"
"Oh gods. I'm starring in an anime."
Platelet 33 tripped on her clipboard.
"I brought snacks to celebrate!"
Internal Emotional Explosion
Flashes of memory hit him hard:
His father whispering stories into his sleeping ear.
His mother begging healers to try one more spell.
A tiny cousin drawing on his arm with chalk because "He looks bored."
"They were always there. Even when I wasn't."
"HE'S CRYING INTERNALLY! GET THE HORMONES!"
"Dopamine deployed! Serotonin on standby!"
Reality Check
Lioren tried to move.
His finger.
His hand.
His nose hair.
Nothing.
Neuron Unit 7 cleared its throat.
"About that... You see, sir, your body's magical channels are actually in perfect shape."
"Great!"
"But the muscle signal pathways were… fried. Like crispy noodles. So we, uh, can't move. At all."
"Then how do I cast magic?! I'm supposed to be a genius tier mage!"
"Good news: Your mana core is active. Great news: You have internal power. Bad news: You have no output."
"So I'm a magical battery with no plug."
"Exactly!"
"Fan-freaking-tastic."
The Tier System Unleashed
A glowing interface appeared inside his mental world.
[MAGICAL TALENT PROFILE - LIORIEN ERIC]
Mental Core: Tier 6 (Mythical)
Aura Resonance: Tier 5
Physical Conduction: Tier 0 (ouch)
Casting Ability: Currently locked due to neurological blockage
"...I'M A TIER 6?!"
"Yes, sir! According to brain scan #3, you're mentally one of the strongest magical minds in the world."
"But I can't move a toe."
"Exactly! Isn't that hilarious?"
"No."
"We think it is."
Inside Magic Network
Lioren focused on his mana. It pulsed like golden syrup through his nerves.
But it was trapped.
Like putting a dragon in a paper box.
"So what now? Just float here until someone invents brain-powered spellcasting?"
Neuron Commander looked serious.
"No, sir. We make our own path."
"Like what, a spell made of thoughts?"
"EXACTLY."
"...That was sarcasm."
"TOO LATE WE'RE DOING IT."
Outside World
"My lord," a healer whispered, "the boy's mana is... shimmering."
Kaelen stepped forward.
Lioren's body didn't move, but faint gold mist curled from his skin like heat waves.
Seraphina's hands flew to her mouth. "It can't be—"
Internal Reaction
"SIR! YOUR CORE IS OVERCHARGING!"
"DID WE JUST CAST A PARTICLE EFFECT?!"
"HOLY PLATELET, WE'RE GLOWING!"
Neuron Unit 7 looked like it might faint.
"Sir... I think this is the beginning of magic expression via mental will."
"So basically: brain magic."
"Yes! Brain Magic Tier Alpha! We will name the style after you!"
"...No."
"Alright, you microscopic lunatics. Let's make history."
"First goal: move a toe."
"Second goal: cast a spell with zero physical movement."
"Third goal: punch a god in the face."
All the cells saluted.
"YES, SIR!"