05.12.590 AF (+2 Days)
[Walter Carnell]
Today, Lukas asked for me to the courtiers' chamber. We were set to test my Arcana, measuring whether I possessed enough to wield magic. The odds weren't in my favor—likely around 2-3%. The average sits closer to 10%, but that figure is skewed by the nobility, who almost always have sufficient Arcana to perform magic. Arcana levels are typically hereditary, and nobles, by marrying within their own ranks, preserve and strengthen their magical bloodlines over generations.
Walking through the corridor, I passed a servant who paused to bow, a cleaning cloth in her hand. Likely busy with routine dusting, she quickly returned to her task as I nodded in acknowledgment and continued toward my retinue's chamber. Though it wasn't necessary, I chose to knock before entering. The door opened swiftly, revealing Lukas in his mage robe—a striking sight. He hadn't dressed this formally even during our first meeting. His robes, embroidered with intricate symbols of his craft, exuded a quiet authority, setting the tone for the task ahead. I stepped inside, ready for what was to come.
"Dressed for the occasion, I see?" I teased, a playful smile on my face.
"Well, you could say that..." Lukas replied, scratching his head. Without waiting for further banter, he quickly added, "Anyway, follow me," and began walking toward the far end of the chamber.
We stopped at a table where a transparent orb rested—a sphere nearly the size of my head, though not particularly large given that I'm just a ten-year-old boy.
"So, this is an Arcana detector?" I asked, my gaze fixed on the gleaming orb.
"Yes," Lukas confirmed. "It's the only one I could locate in this keep, but it'll do the job." His focus shifted to the orb as he spoke.
"Watch closely," he instructed, placing his hand on the orb. Within moments, its clear surface deepened into a vibrant blue, glowing faintly.
"It changed color!" I exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise.
Lukas chuckled softly. "Yes, it did. The orb reacts when it detects enough Arcana for spellcasting. Blue represents water, orange for fire, brown for earth, and green for wind. Each signifies an affinity."
He paused, gesturing toward the orb. "Now, your turn. Don't worry if it doesn't react—most don't have enough Arcana. You can always marry into a noble family to ensure your descendants inherit it," he added with a sly grin, clearly trying to lighten the moment.
I nodded and placed my hand on the orb, waiting anxiously. One... two... three... four... five seconds passed before Lukas sighed. "Guess you don't—"
His words were cut off as orange light began to glow beneath my palm. His eyes widened in shock. "Fire! Master Carnell is a fire mage!"
"Wait! I can use magic?" I asked, my voice full of excitement.
"Yes, sire! You can!" Lukas exclaimed, his expression filled with astonishment.
The next few hours were filled with excitement as the news spread throughout the keep. Everyone congratulated me, and I gladly accepted their praise. In addition, I was given a book that detailed the intricacies of Arcana in this world. I immersed myself in it, the pages offering new knowledge and insights. It took me three hours to read through the entire book, each page fueling my excitement and curiosity about the magic I could now wield.
I learned that a mage's power largely depends on how much Arcana they can harness within themselves. This capacity grows with the number of cores an individual possesses. A core is essentially the source of a mage's energy, representing their ability to control and utilize Arcana. It determines both their magical potential and combat prowess. The more cores someone has, the greater their energy reserves and the more powerful techniques they can sustain. Advancing from one core to multiple cores is no easy feat, requiring intense training, experience, or a rare catalyst like a significant battle or a spiritual awakening. These events are few and far between, making core advancement a hard-earned achievement.
A one-core mage, like myself, is called a Novice. The first core is always present within the body; it's simply a matter of becoming aware of it. The second core, which grants the title of Adept, is a significant step forward. The average age for forming a second core is around sixteen, though with enough resources and talent, it can happen earlier. However, this early advancement is typically reserved for the wealthy and high nobility.
A mage becomes truly skilled once they form a third core, earning the title of Expert. This marks the beginning of a mage's mastery of their element, and such individuals are highly sought after wherever they go. However, only about one in a hundred mages can achieve this, making them incredibly valuable and respected.
The gap between the third and fourth cores is known as the great bottleneck. While any individual with sufficient hard work and talent can become an Expert, breaking through this barrier to form the fourth core is a monumental challenge. Achieving the title of 'Virtuoso' requires more than just physical or spiritual effort; it represents a massive leap in capability, understanding, and mastery over one's element. The fourth core is not simply another step in a mage's progression—it is a threshold that few can cross. Most individuals lack the innate talent, resilience, or affinity to house and control such immense power, making the transition from Expert to Virtuoso extraordinarily rare.
As a result, there are only about twenty-three Virtuosos in the world, and they are considered living weapons capable of wreaking havoc in battle. Their destructive power is unmatched, and their presence is a testament to a nation's military might. For comparison, the Kingdom of Azaria is said to have five Virtuosos, underscoring their strength and influence in the world.
Beyond the Virtuoso stage lies the mythical fifth core, known as the Paragon. This stage is considered a legend, as the last to reach it was Avalon the Great, the founder-emperor of the Avalonian Empire. No descendant of his have ever achieved such greatness. Among the many claimants to the Arcane Throne, the most powerful is King Idris Al-Pashia of Azaria, a Virtuoso. At sixty-one, he commands the largest portion of the former empire and is widely regarded as the strongest man on the continent, his fame and power unmatched by any other ruler. But even he is nowhere near the prowess of Avalon.
I understood enough about the skills to realize that I didn't have the resources to sustain the village and afford skillbooks. I'd need to ask Lukas about it tomorrow, as he had mentioned that my training would begin then.
I closed the book, skimmed through some parchments, and spent the rest of the day pondering. I couldn't help but wonder if Frederick was handling his duties as regent well. Perhaps I should check on him soon.
As night fell, I was served my meal, and soon after, I retired to bed, eager for what tomorrow would bring.
------------------------------------------------------
"Try to sense it, Walter. Feel it with your core!" Lukas instructed as I sat cross-legged in the training ground. The sun was out, making the cold bearable—otherwise, I would have frozen. Lukas had both hands resting on my back, channeling waves of Arcana through my body. The goal of this exercise was to help me sense the Arcana within my core, allowing me to activate it as a source for magic.
I closed my eyes, focusing inward as Lukas had instructed. I tried to feel the Arcana, to sense it with my core, but all I felt was a deep emptiness. It was as if there was nothing there at all—no energy, no spark. I tightened my focus, willing myself to feel something, anything. My breaths grew shallow as I pushed harder, straining to make sense of the invisible force Lukas had been speaking about.
Minutes passed, but still, nothing. Frustration began to creep in. Was I doing it wrong? Why couldn't I feel anything?
Then, suddenly, I felt it. A faint pulse, like the softest hum, emanating from deep within me. It wasn't in my chest, but in my heart. The pulse, the rhythm, seemed to match the beat of my own blood. Slowly, I realized it wasn't just my heart—it was my core, nestled there, hidden within my chest, subtly swirling with Arcana. It wasn't a burst of power, but a quiet presence. A force I could feel in the deepest corners of myself.
I focused on that, and for the first time, I understood. The Arcana was there, not as a distant power, but as part of me—alive, waiting.
You have completed the hidden requirement! You are granted a System!
I was startled by the sudden pop-up. It took me a moment to realize I was seeing the screen even though my eyes were closed. I opened them, but the blue, transparent screen remained right in front of my vision. I blinked, trying to process what I was seeing. "A system?" I muttered in disbelief, confused by the sudden appearance. Before I could even fully grasp what was happening, another window popped up in my vision.
Name
Walter Carnell
STRENGTH
5
Level
1
VITALITY
4
Health
90/90
CORE
1.01
Arcana
101/101
Free Points
2
Age
10
Shop Points
0
Title
Master of Cardhan
Skills
[OPEN]
"This—? I think this might be related to sensing Arcana," I muttered to myself, still trying to process it.
"Lukas, what level are you on?" I asked, turning to him.
"Level? What are you talking about, Walter?" Lukas replied, sounding confused.
"I mean, on the blue screen, what does your Level column say?" I clarified.
"What blue screen? Are you okay, Walter? Did you manage to sense the Arcana with your core? I didn't overdo it, did I?" he asked, now looking a little panicked.
I quickly deduced that Lukas couldn't see the screen, nor did he have one of his own. The first message confirmed I had been granted a system. Is this a unique skill? I thought, processing the information. I understood the other attributes, except for the Shop Points and Skills sections. Shop Points were zero, so I'd leave that for later, but there was an open option for Skills. How do I access it? I wondered. "Open Skill?" I muttered, hoping for a response.
Skill
Proficiency
Blood of Avalon (Inferior)
1.6%
Arcana Sense
7.4%
Another window appeared above the first, and I quickly skimmed through the contents. The skill of "Arcana Sense" made sense, but the "Blood of Avalon"? What was that about? I'm a bastard son, as far as I know, with my father's father being just a wandering knight. Wait... a wandering knight? The thought hit me hard. I opened my eyes wide, my mind racing. I immediately tried to close all the windows from my vision, and to my relief, they vanished from sight.
"Walter, what's wrong? Are you feeling alright?" Lukas asked, his concern growing as my odd behavior continued.
"I'm fine, Lukas. I just have a question," I said, trying to reassure him.
"Umm... Yes? Ask away."
"Valonians. What was their banner?" I asked, my voice steady but my mind racing.
"A black lion on a field of blue. Why? I thought you already knew this, considering you adopted their reverse colors as your sigil," Lukas replied, puzzled.
My eyes widened in realization. "Ah... yes, yes, I must have forgotten." I quickly changed the subject. "Can we stop the training for today? I'm feeling a bit exhausted."
"Yes, of course. It's normal to feel drained after the first exercise. Rest up, and we'll continue tomorrow," he said kindly.
I nodded and turned away, heading toward the keep's entrance. As I walked, I absentmindedly pulled the pendant I always wore from around my neck and looked at the centre. There was the same image: a blue lion on a field of black.