The world of Eldoria was divided into four great continents.
Among them all, the largest and most powerful was the Astrael Continent.
This land was ruled by a single king under the Royal Kingdom of Valenor, supported by a royal family whose bloodline was said to be blessed by heaven itself. Beneath the throne existed a strict hierarchy—created to maintain balance and prevent absolute domination.
At the top, just below the royal family, stood the Four Grand Dukes.
They were more than nobles.
They were the foundations of the continent.
In Eldoria, power was not limited to magic alone.
Every being possessed an aura—the manifestation of one's life force and will. Aura strengthened the body, sharpened the senses, and enhanced the effectiveness of weapons. While magic required mana and chants, aura responded directly to emotion, discipline, and intent.
Most warriors used a neutral aura.
But some bloodlines awakened colored auras—rare, dangerous, and feared.
Among them…
Red Aura was the most violent.
The Four Grand Duke Families of Astrael.
1. House Aurelion—The Duke of the Silent Blade
This was James's family.
House Aurelion did not rely on magic, runes, or mechanisms.
They relied on the sword.
And their swordsmanship was fueled by Red Aura.
Aurelion warriors trained their aura to flow directly into their blades, turning every strike into pure destruction. Their red aura did not explode wildly—it moved silently, tightly controlled, like blood flowing through steel.
In battle, their presence alone crushed weaker opponents. Many enemies claimed they felt death approaching before the blade even touched them.
Yet this family carried a secret.
Their history before three hundred years ago was erased.Old war records mentioned red shadows cutting down the gods' servants.Royal archives had missing pages—burned deliberately.
No one knew the truth.
And House Aurelion never spoke.
2. House Veridane – The Duke of Arcane Dominion
Masters of Magic.
Their aura supported mana flow, allowing them to cast large-scale spells without exhaustion. Veridane mages ruled the battlefield from afar and dominated the royal mage towers.
3. House Runefall—The Duke of Eternal Script
Controllers of Runes and ancient inscriptions.
Their aura activated symbols carved into weapons, armor, cities, and even the land itself. Their power was slow but absolute.
4. House Mecharius—The Duke of Iron Mind
Masters of Mechanisms and artificial constructs.
Their aura synchronized with machines, allowing them to control armies of mechanical soldiers and thinking golems.
Among all these houses…
House Aurelion was the most feared.
Because their power was personal.
And unstoppable.
James Aurelion was only a few months old when the sky above Aurelion territory darkened.
Aura pressure flooded the land.
Knights of House Aurelion instinctively released their red aura, blades humming softly as blood-red energy wrapped around steel.
At the gates stood an old man.
White hair.Black robes marked with constellations.Eyes that carried the weight of continents.
The Archmagician.
The only one in existence.
Lord Aldric Aurelion stepped forward, sword unsheathed. A red aura flickered around the blade like living fire.
"You enter uninvited," Aldric said coldly."Speak."
The archmagician ignored him.
His gaze pierced the mansion.
Toward James.
"I came," the Archmagician said quietly."Because your child's aura does not obey this world."
Inside the mansion, James suddenly cried out.
The archmagician raised his staff.
Golden sealing arrays filled the sky, clashing violently against a dark-red aura leaking from the child's body.
"This aura…" the archmagician
muttered in shock."It's not inherited."
He struck the ground.
Reality screamed.
Layer after layer of seals wrapped around James's soul.
James screamed—not like a baby—
But like a king chained.
The archmagician staggered, blood spilling from his lips.
"Ninety percent," he whispered."That is all I can seal."
He turned to Aldric.
"When the remaining seal breaks," the Archmagician said grimly,"Red aura will no longer be enough to contain him."
Then he vanished.
Silence returned.
James stopped crying.
But deep within his sealed soul, something ancient stirred.
Because even sealed…
His aura is still remembered.
End of Chapter 4