"Wake up Leo" Someone stirred me from my slumber, with a groan I opened by blurry eyes to find my mother standing above me, she was a beautiful woman with platinum blond hair unlike my own which was dark black, and ocean blue eyes which was something we had in common. "Its time for work dear, they want your help in the kitchen." She encouraged with a smile.

"Yes mom." I acknowledge her words as I climb out of the bed, glancing around at the other servants and maids of the manor preparing for another arduous day at work. I quickly changed into my work clothes, which were nothing impressive like the servants of higher nobles, simple wool clothes with an itch I had grown used too and shoes that were too small on me a year ago.

I glance at my mother smiling at me nurturingly, "Y'know honey this'll be your last day working as a servant so just hang in there."

I return her smile with one full of love, The reason I would no longer be a servant is that tomorrow I will turn ten, and be sent to the Academy City for magic potential testing. I've always dreamed of becoming A mage or a knight and leaving this servant life behind me, despite the fact that I was born of lowly blood and was unlikely to have potential for magic.

Even if I ended up with low or no potential, me and my mother had vigorously worked for the past five years, saving up so that I could pay to enter with out the magician scholarship that was provided, to become a knight.

"I promise mom that I will make something of myself and get us a great home in the capital, with our own servants so that you wont have to lift a thing ever again!" I grinned with determined eyes as she smiled proudly at me.

"Oho, alright honey but this is your last day here so make sure to do your best for mommy alright?" She says with a pinch of my cheek.

I nod my head in excitement as I turn and head to the kitchen, leaving my mom to her own preparations.

On the way I catch up to a friend of mine, Quickly I dash up behind him as quietly as I can, attempting to surprise him.

...An attempt which fails miserably as I somehow manage to trip over my own feet and fall straight on my face.

Mat turns around in surprise, showing a moment of confusion before pointing and laughing at my fallen figure. "That has to be the fifth time you fell this week, like this you're going to have trouble when you get to the academy tomorrow, I suggest not going for the knight's course." He recommends before giving me a helping hand up and continuing our way to the kitchen.

"Shut up mat! I can still become a knight, Ill just put in extra training!" I grin with a fist pump.

He snorts, "Right, And Ill become a powerful magician."

"Oh Ill become that too!" I giggle childishly as we walk into the kitchen.

"There you brats are! I needed the table set five fucking minutes ago, yet here you punks are playing around! The lord and his family will be up in ten minutes, Which means I want that table set in two!" The head chef refuses to use his inside voice as he yells at us.

"Sorry Jerry!" We both respond before grabbing the silverware and speed-walking to the dining room, Quickly setting the table in a minute tops as we had set it countless times before.

Quickly we hopped back into the kitchen to look at the head chef with expectant, sparkling eyes.

The man glared down at us. "Table set?" He questions to our immediate nods at the regular routine. He quickly tosses us an old apple and slightly stale bread each. Well, mat's was old while mine seemed perfect. I couldn't help looking up to him in slight surprise. "Going away present."

I grin while mat grumbled under his breath, "Thanks Jerry!" I resist the urge to hug him as I bit into the juicy apple, could have swore I saw a trace of a smile on the old mans face as we walked away.

"Tsk, so unfair, I still have two weeks until I'm ten so I can go to the academy, You better not make too many friends without me." He punched me in the shoulder as we walked down the hall, chewing on our bread.

I chuckle "Nah, I'm going to be the most popular person in the entire city, but don't worry, once I'm famous Ill let you clean my shoes." I finish as I quickly kick him in the shin.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say. I've got like fifty windows to clean, not to mention the floors. So Ill see you around." He waves as he turns down an intersection of the hall.

I finish up my food quickly, being reminded of my own work that needs to be completed.

[[[[Later in the evening]]]]

I spent most of the day dusting and putting extra elbow grease into cleaning the marbled floors, As well as assisting my mother with washing clothing down by the river.

Once I finish up my work its almost dusk, and since tomorrow is a big day I decide to get to bed early so I head to the servants quarters.

On the way I run into a fellow servant, an elderly lady by the name of Jess. "Leo there you are! The master sent for you in his office, did you do something wrong?" She asks in a concerned tone.

"I don't think so, but Ill head over and see what master needs." I quickly head down the hall until I get to Lord Beneth's office. Once I arrive I knock gently on the oak door.

"Come in." A gruff voice calls from the other side. I swiftly open the door and enter, carefully closing the door behind me.

"You sent for me sir?" I look at him, his hair is grayed with life's experience and he watches me with the piercing and calculating gaze of a noble.

"Yes, I understand that you will be heading to the Academy city, Glory for magic testing. I've had a Griffon arranged to take you."

My eyes cant help widening in shock. "A Griffon sir?" A Griffon to send a servant who was leaving their service to testing was rather odd.

"Yes, Your mother has worked hard for me for a good fifteen years, and you for five. Not to mention that my daughter Leah had nagged me about making sure you arrived safely." He said with a roll of his eyes. I had been her playmate along with Mat for several years now so we were all pretty good friends, despite her nobility.

I can't resist the smile at the thought of seeing my friend after several months, she had gone to the academy about five months back on her own birthday.

"I just wanted to let you know, And I wont be able to see you off tomorrow so this will be our last goodbyes." He speaks with a casual smirk.

I grin and bow slightly. "Its been a pleasure working for you sir." And it has really, to the point I feel like I've developed some weird addiction to cleaning.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

After wards I make my way back to the servants quarters, to find my mother waiting for my with a thin leather bound book and a copper ring.

"I know you'll be leaving first thing in the morning so I thought I could give you these now." She explained with a nostalgic smile. "These were left for you by your father, he planned to give these to you when you became ten, before he passed away." A trace of a tear appeared in her eye before she calmed herself and held the two out to me.

I take the items and look them over and think back to the stories my mother told me of my father.

She had found him on the side of the road, blood covered and barely conscious, my mother brought him back to the manor, where Lord Beneth generously hired a physician to fix him up, he awoke but he could not walk and was barely able to speak nobody could find out what was wrong with him and his health slowly deteriorated, my mother was tasked to look after him, through the process they fell in love and she had me, shortly after my birth father seemed to have let go and quickly passed away.

I quickly shake away the thoughts and look over the book and ring, The ring is a bronze color with odd markings all over it that I could barely distinguish. The books pages were entirely blank and it seemed like a journal.

I was extremely happy to have something that belonged to my father and tightly hugged my mom in gratitude. Quickly slipping the ring onto my finger and looking it over in joy.

"Alright son you better get to sleep, you have a big day tomorrow." She tucked me into bed and kissed my forehead as I fell asleep.

As I slept the markings on the ring glowed a faint red for several seconds before fading.

..............................................................

My vision was filled with white and nothing else. Startled, I look around, confused as of what is happening. "Hey!" I hear an elderly voice behind me, to which my reaction is to scream in terror and jump around to find giant crow, at least ten feet tall.

"Uh, uh a bird..?" I question in confusion at where the voice came from.

"Damn it brat respect your elders!" The bird chirped-I mean spoke to me in annoyance.

"W-whats going on?! Am I dreaming??!"

"In a way, I am a Spirit, And we are in your mind!" The bird/deity explained proudly as he looked me over. "I must say you look a lot like your father.."

"You knew my father!?"

"Ah yes, we conquered half of Aether together! Ahahah, those were the days. Kicking Immortal ass left and right."

"Uhm.. Aether?"

"Oh that would be the high realm, no need to worry too much about it for now though. Right now I need to see what we have to work with!" The bird went silent for several moments as he examined me. "Whats this?! Unthinkable."

"Huh? Is it something amazing?" I question excitedly.

"Absolutely no magic potential nor affinity! I've never seen anything like this! Usually people have at least a little potential! But absolutely none?! Unprecedented!" He seemed oddly excited while I on the other hand was suddenly really down.

"N-no way, Everyone has at least a little! I mean, I thought if I had a little I could focus on another study and maybe learn a little magic eventually but absolutely none?!" I seriously felt like crying now.

"No boy this is amazing! Beyond incredible! You're mind is extremely neutral and malleable, Its perfect for the mental cultivation technique your father practiced! Hell you can raise your own potential if you so choose!"

"U-uh Really? Is it that good?" I felt my hopes growing.

"Hah! good? did you hear nothing about conquering half of Aether?! You and me are going places kid, BIG places!" He spoke excitedly as he morphed into a man who looked to be only in his early twenties, with black rugged hair that went down to the middle of his back and a silver robe. Swiftly he appeared before me and shook my hand. "The name is Silas, And the pleasure is all yours."

"Nice to meet you as well Mr. Silas." I gingerly shake his hand in return.

"Aha! And he has decent manners, We are going to get along swell! Now I'm sure you are full of questions, What is the mental cultivation technique, Why did my father die if he was so powerful. And really! I would answer the one about your father but mentioning their names would draw their attention to you, not to mention your lack of power at the moment. You couldn't do a thing to them. And the reason I don't want to explain about the mental cultivation... Well because that wouldn't be any fun at all! I want to see what you can do with it before giving you any of your dads tricks and tips, I cant have you relying on me y know."

"But.. If I got stronger you'll tell me who killed father right?" I questioned with the best serious gaze I could muster.

"Of course boy! Trust me, I want revenge on those bastards just as much as you do!" He explained with a vicious grin.

I nod enthusiasticly, "Okay, So uh, how do I learn the technique?"

"Ah, right. Here you are." Silas produced a marble sized ball of light from his sleeve. "Ah, Also take care of the Tome, The one your mother gave you. Sweet lady, carefully looked after my ring for a whole ten years. Didn't once try to sell it."

"Your ring?" I questioned, glancing over the sparkling ball of light.

"Oh yes, my spirit is connected to the ring along with a few other functions, so please for the love of all that is holy don't lose it."

"Of course I wont! Ill wear it at all times!"

"Wonderful! Now before I shove this little ball of fun into your brain, If you need to speak with me just speak to the book as I wont be able to interact with the outside world at your current strength, You can also store items in the pages once it is bound to you, to bind it just a drop of your blood will do.Great! Now that thats out of the way, take this!" Silas slammed the marble of light into my forehead, and the world went black.

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Author's notes:

Thank you for reading! It was kinda short but Im realllyy Tired and wanted to post it tonight! xD Ill try to get chapter one out tommorow or the day after, but for now I gotta sleep! Please leave all the comments you want! Constructive, deconstructive, Suggestions on ideas for mental cultivation, Whatever you want to comment just DO IT! ^-^