That is at least the last thing I remember. Yeah, even with my eyes closed, I could still feel my body being torn almost apart. I was in so much pain that when I woke up, all around me was a bunch of haze as if I was going blind.

When I woke up, I could feel the room being cold, even though the fireplace was on. The atmosphere seemed as if something strange had happened. I looked around and saw a few maids and the emperor beside me, his face pale as if he'd seen a ghost. A maid dropped a bucket of water and scrambled, her scream seeming to startle the whole room. The doors burst open, and doctors, magicians, and mages rushed into the room. The doctors pushed past the mages and magicians to reach me, their urgency palpable. Confusion clouded my mind as I struggled to comprehend the chaos unfolding around me. With each passing moment, my vision dimmed, like a flickering candle on the verge of extinguishing. "Excuse me," I said, my voice strained with anxiety, "but I must clarify that I am losing my sight." Though I knew the cause behind my vision loss, the urgency of the moment clouded my ability to articulate it clearly.

I felt the room go colder, and I could feel stares tracing my every move.

‘Um-a, can I please get a glass of water? As I awaited a response, the room remained eerily silent, punctuated only by the hushed whispers of the attending staff. The request seemed trivial amidst the current chaos, but the parched sensation in my throat compelled me to speak.

I could hear movement, around me and everyone.

And a voice from the back broke the cold silence.

'Here.'

Someone handed me a glass of water, guiding my hand with care. 'Be careful now, young master.'

As I took the glass, a light clicked in my mind. 'Thank you, Sir Michel.'

The simple act of receiving the water brought a brief moment of clarity amidst the confusion. Yet, the cryptic warning lingered in my thoughts, adding another layer of mystery to the already enigmatic situation.

'Young master, how did you know it was me?' Sir Michel's voice held a note of surprise as he spoke.

In his tone, I detected a hint of astonishment at my recognition of him. His question only deepened the intrigue surrounding the events unfolding before me, leaving me with more questions than answers.

My response seemed to surprise Sir Michel and the entire atmosphere in the cold room. 'Because you are the only one who addresses me like that,' I replied with a smile, though it was directed towards the space in front of me.

A sense of ease washed over the room, palpable even amid uncertainty. My acknowledgment seemed to bridge a connection, however fleeting, amidst the chaos that surrounded us.

"Well, well, kid, you managed to beat my knight. What is your wish?"

The voice cut through the tension in the room, drawing everyone's attention to the emperor who had spoken. His words hung in the air, laden with both curiosity and a hint of amusement. As the focus shifted to him, I realized the gravity of the moment. The emperor himself was addressing me, and it was clear that he was offering me an opportunity to make a request.

With a hopeful smile, you made your request known. Here's how you could continue:

"All I want is to be recognized for my talent, not my birth. I also desire the opportunity to study, to learn the arts of magic and swordsmanship, and to eventually establish my own business," I declared, my voice steady with determination. Turning my head towards where the emperor's voice emanated from, I awaited his response.

His chuckle echoed through the room as he spoke, "Well, I will provide that for you, but how will you learn without vision, child?"

His question hung in the air, a challenge wrapped in concern. I took a moment to gather my thoughts, knowing that my response would shape the path ahead. With a calm resolve, I replied, "Your Majesty, though my eyes may not see, my mind remains sharp and eager to learn"My plan was first to learn swordsmanship and various fighting techniques while blinded, to sharpen my senses. Then, if and when my vision returns, I will delve into the study of history and magic. That way, I can train both with and without vision."

With a hint of mockery in my tone, I added, "Did that satisfy you, Father?"

I felt a slight snicker from him as I spoke, and my father responded, "Of course, my son, anything for you." Although I sensed his amusement, I brushed it off. Then, my father placed a hand on my shoulder, and I was jolted by a spark of magic. It surprised me, and he seemed taken aback as well. He spoke up, addressing one of the majors, "Could someone please examine my son? It seems he can sense my magic, despite not having a magic core, magic beast, or magic bead within him."

I could feel the whole room go cold again and I could sense Steps from one of the mages stepped forward: I will dear king’.

could sense a tremendous amount of aura and magic emanating from him with each step he took. As he drew nearer, he placed one of his cold hands on my shoulder. Then, I heard him rummaging for something in his pocket or robe. I couldn't see what it was, but when he placed it in my hand, I felt its cold, round surface. It seemed like a crystal ball.

The Mage instructed me, "Now, I want you to focus all your energy—your celestial and spiritual energy—into these two balls. They will reveal your status, and whether you possess magic or not."

I nodded in agreement and then held both crystal balls in my hands, closing them tightly as I shut my eyes even tighter. Taking a deep breath in, I focused all my energy, channeling it into the crystal balls. It felt as though an immense power was being drawn from the room into the balls, and I sensed my whole body being compressed tighter and tighter until...

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Suddenly, I felt like I had opened my eyes, only to find myself surrounded by darkness. In front of me at that moment, what I perceived as a spiritual animal appeared so majestic that it felt like I was beholding the universe's most beautiful creature, surrounded by a sky full of stars. However, it abruptly became apparent that it was not an animal but a voice speaking to me. It uttered, "You're not ready yet, child." As soon as I said the person said that I felt a strong winded push.

Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, everything faded to black. I could feel the weight of the crystal balls slipping from my grasp, and I heard the sound of them shattering as they hit the floor. And then…

Even in my unconscious state, I could sense the panic that engulfed the entire room, as if they had witnessed something extraordinary. Gradually, I began to feel the sensation of cool cloth against my skin, drawing me back to consciousness.

As I jolted awake, the room erupted with cries of astonishment. The Maiden's voice pierced through the chaos, screaming, "My lord! My Lord! He's awake, he has awakened!"

I found myself once again surrounded by the same familiar faces, the same people who had been present before I lost consciousness. But this time, something was different. My father, standing among them, emanated an energy that felt strangely calm and gentle, devoid of the murderous aura that had surrounded him before. It was as if he had transformed.

I could hear one of the men rushing towards my bedside, his footsteps quickening as he drew closer. When he reached me, he leaned in beside me, whispering in joy, "Thank God you're okay. Now, everyone will fear you, my lord, and I shall become your guard." I replied, "Oh, thank you, Sir Michael. I'm very glad. But what about my eyesight? I still don't know when I will regain it. Do you know?" I turned my head toward the direction of the voice, offering a grateful smile.

A voice from the other side of the bed spoke up, "Regarding your eyesight, according to all the Magicians, it will be back in a few months. So, to fulfill your wishes, I'm granting you two years. Yes, you heard that right, two years. You have that time to accomplish whatever tasks you've set for yourself. When you feel ready, you can choose to challenge either one of the great magicians or one of the great knights. Alternatively, if you're feeling particularly bold, you can take on both of them at the same time. If you defeat them, your status will be acknowledged, and you will earn yourself a spot in the running for the Crown. How does that sound to you?" And I'll be leaving you now. I wish you the very best of luck, Jay. I'm sure you'll do great," he chuckled, smiling before leaving the room. The room felt quieter than before in his absence. I turned to my guard, Michael, and asked him, "Can I rest a bit more, please?" I asked.

"Yes, of course, young master. I'll be by the door if you need anything," Michael responded. I felt him pat my back gently.

I could hear him pour water beside my bedside. "Master, I'm leaving a glass of water here beside you, and some cookies in case you get hungry because you haven't eaten all day. Okay? Thank you. Goodnight," he said before leaving the room.

However, as soon as the night settled in, it enveloped everything in its peaceful darkness. I returned to bed, but the night seemed unusually dark and serene. The rustling of branches outside my window kept me awake, so I decided to get up. I realized I must have slept for almost a day, at least that is what I think. Not sure

Stumbling slightly, I reminded myself of my blindness. With careful steps, I navigated my way through the room to reach the window bay. Sitting down, I let the cool night air wash over me, despite being unable to see the world outside. I opened the window a bit to feel the gentle breeze of the night. I tried to speak, but no sound came out. Then, I began to whistle, letting the night wind serve as my backup singer, the rustling branches as my drummers. It felt like performing, even though it was just me and the night.

Surprisingly, amidst the symphony of nature, I heard it: a cat's meow, soaring through the night in need. Even though I was blind, I could kind of pinpoint where the meow was coming from. I opened the window even further, got on the terrace, and searched around to find the cat. I found it somewhat amusing how I could locate a cat while blind. I smiled to myself, then felt a brush of fur passing through my hands. 'Ahh, there you are, kitty,' I said softly, smiling at the cat. I continued to talk to the cat, wondering aloud, "Why are you out in the cold? You too have no family. Now, let's get you inside in the warmth, and when morning hits, you can decide if you want to stay or not, okay?"

With the cat in one arm and the other navigating my path, I made it back to the bay window, to my room. Slowly, I returned to my bed, still holding the cat. "Hey kitty, here's some water on my bedside if you're thirsty. Drink some," I said gently, placing the cat down on the bed. I must have been exhausted because as soon as I settled onto the bed, I closed my eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.