Laughter echoed through the Kaiser mansion, and the sound of harps drifted from the ballroom where servants prepared for tonight's celebration.
It was Jack's sixth birthday.
Not just a birthday, but an important event for every child in the kingdom.
---
In this world, talent determines everything. Being born into a wealthy family like the Kaiser's guaranteed a high prospect for magical and martial prowess.
The Kaiser family is the strongest noble house in Elysium. Jack is one of four children.
The youngest, but also the first male heir to Alaric and Genevieve Kaiser.
Their children are named Octavia, Annabelle, Celeste, and Jack.
The Kaiser family is known for its dual or triple affinities, and even some magic swordsmen throughout its bloodline.
The key to harnessing this power is talent. Talent and affinities are measured by an ancient ritual called the Sacred Communion.
It's a ritual every child undergoes at the age of six.
Through the ritual, one's talent is measured from Rank F to Rank SSS. Each rank determines the prospect of reaching certain heights through training, determination, and divine blessings.
The Sacred Communion is special. One travels to a holy site and communes with the gods to discover who they are and what they will become.
A god answers based on your beliefs and bestows a blessing if you're deemed worthy.
If one receives a blessing, they're considered a chosen one.
Chosen ones are destined for greatness. If from lowly birth, they're taken in by the kingdom. If from noble families, dukes, marquesses, counts, viscounts, or barons.
They receive provisions to enhance their training, becoming key figures in the kingdom's future.
---
"Mother," Annabelle asked as she jumped up and down, "do you think Jack will be as strong as Father when the ceremony is over?"
A voice cut into the conversation. "Of course he will," Celeste said. "Every firstborn son of the Kaiser family has had a dual affinity with dark magic."
Genevieve smiled. "Girls, settle down. Whatever Jack becomes, he'll make us proud."
Octavia set down her book. "Dual Casting Magic."
"He's curious and obedient. The boy practically lives in the library."
"He'll pick it up quickly, I'd say. Whether he has a triple affinity like Father remains to be seen."
---
Jack was an avid reader of history books. From the age of three, he could read and write, considered advanced for his age.
Alaric had even betrothed Jack to his good friend Cassius Sunblade's daughter, who was five years old.
Today was the day when the nobles would travel to the holy site at nightfall, and the Sacred Communion would begin.
---
Just as the ladies were discussing Jack's potential, a loud crash came from the front gates.
BANG!
The front doors were kicked off their hinges and slammed into the wall.
When the ladies rushed to see what caused the commotion, they froze.
Alaric stood in the entrance, his armor bloodied, his face twisted with rage that he couldn't contain. In his arms, he carried Jack's small body.
All eyes focused on the knife still lodged in Jack's back.
Blood soaked through his clothes, dripping onto the marble floor in steady drops.
"Get me the healers, now!" Alaric's voice shook the mansion.
Genevieve's scream pierced the air. "No! Not my baby!" She collapsed to her knees, sobbing.
Two healers came running down the hallway, bread still in their mouths. They dropped to the floor beside Jack as Alaric laid him down carefully.
"Heal!" the first priest said, his hands glowing green. "Heal! Heal! High Heal!"
The light washed over Jack's small form, but the knife remained embedded, the wound was too deep.
"My love, what happened? You're hurt too," Genevieve said through her tears, reaching for Alaric's bloodied face.
"I'm fine. Just make sure he gets healed." Alaric's jaw clenched. "I was ambushed by mercenaries in the forest. One of them had concealment magic… I didn't see him until it was too late. He stabbed Jack in the back while I was fighting the others."
His hands trembled as he looked down at his son.
"I lost control. Destroyed a huge portion of the forest. The villagers will be upset that I ruined their hunting grounds, but I don't care."
He turned to the guards. "Send everyone out to the forest. I need to know who sent them."
"Yes, sir!" The guards rushed out immediately.
By the time the guards reached the forest, they found only destruction. Trees were splintered, the ground scorched black from magical fire. Piles of blood and broken weapons littered the clearing.
But no bodies remained.
---
'Is this it? I lived a pathetic life, died from a truck, all to be stabbed in the back as a child.'
'Well, I can say I didn't see this coming at all.'
Jack opened his eyes, but they felt impossibly heavy. He noticed he was in his room.
His whole family surrounded his bed, along with servants, healers, and guards.
His arms and legs felt like lead. He tried to sit up.
He coughed up blood and fell back into the bed.
'Oh, this really hurts. Let's not do that again. I was stabbed… it wasn't a dream.'
"Jack! Baby, lay down and don't move. You were badly injured," Lady Genevieve said, her voice breaking.
"But the ceremony, Mother. It's tonight. We have to go."
Octavia pressed her small fingers onto Jack's forehead.
"Don't be stupid. You're injured. The ceremony can wait… no one will object."
"Where is Father?"
"He's outside. He's very angry at himself. It's not even afternoon yet, and the whole sky is dark," Annabelle said quietly.
Jack's vision blurred.
"This is supposed to be my day. I'm supposed to learn what I will become today. Whether I'll cast fireballs or strike lightning in the dungeons."
"You'll have plenty of time for that later. Just rest," Celeste said.
Jack looked around. Even though everyone was concerned, he could tell something was wrong.
The servants and healers looked worried… not just worried, but afraid.
His sisters whispered to each other, their faces were going pale.
His mother just continued to cry.
Something was clearly wrong, and Jack didn't understand what.
"My head feels heavy," Jack said as the room began to spin.
In the next moment, Jack passed out. His eyes rolled back, his arms slid off the bed, and screaming filled the room.
To Jack, the world had just spun too fast, and he had to close his eyes. To everyone else, it looked like the firstborn son was dying.
---
Jack opened his eyes and saw how dark his room was, lit only by a few candles.
He tried to sit up and almost collapsed from how difficult it was.
He stared at his hands, then his legs, then touched his chest and face.
'What is going on? I'm not on Earth. So why are my arms and legs so long?'
Jack stood up and stumbled to the ground.
'Ah, this is harder than I thought. I guess this is what happens when you get stabbed.'
Jack crawled to the mirror and pulled himself up.
What he saw made him question everything.
He was drastically older. His face had lost its childhood softness, replaced by sharp features.
His body was tall, easily six feet, but gaunt, weakened from years of inactivity.
'Wait, how old am I?!'
Jack was puzzled. One day, he was a small child hunting with his father. The next, he was six feet tall with weak limbs and failing health.
The door creaked as a servant entered with water and what looked like soup.
She dropped everything and shrieked. "Ah! Young master, you're awake! I must get your parents at once!"
"Wait," Jack said, his voice hoarse and unfamiliar. "How old am I?"
The servant's eyes filled with tears. "Young master, it's your sixteenth birthday tomorrow."
'I've been asleep for ten years! I thought I took a nap!'