Chapter 3: First Lessons in Power

At the age of three, Kallen’s world began to expand. Gone were the days of silent observation and self-guided learning through fragmented conversations and half-heard whispers. His parents, particularly Lord Erlyn, had deemed it time for his formal education to begin.

It started simply enough. The first tutor arrived one cold morning, a man of middling height and graying hair. His name was Master Caelon, a scholar in the employ of House Veyrith for many years. He was a man of discipline, with a stiff gait and an even stiffer personality, but his mind was sharp, and Kallen could see the weight of knowledge in his eyes.

As Caelon unpacked his scrolls and ink, Kallen’s father stood by, arms crossed, observing the proceedings closely.

"Your first lessons will be simple," Lord Erlyn announced, his tone as stern as always. "Reading, history, and basic arithmetic. Do not disappoint me, Kallen."

Kallen looked up from his seat, meeting his father’s gaze without a word. He had learned long ago that his father valued silence almost as much as obedience. With a nod, Lord Erlyn left the room, leaving Kallen alone with his tutor.

Master Caelon wasted no time. "We will begin with the foundations," he said, his voice steady and firm. "The ability to read and write is crucial for a nobleman of your station."

Kallen nodded, already well-versed in reading thanks to his silent observations over the past years. He had deciphered the language of Eurithia long before this moment, parsing it like lines of code in his former existence. But he knew better than to reveal just how much he understood. Let them believe he was learning, he reminded himself.

As Caelon began to teach him the alphabet, Kallen pretended to struggle at first, deliberately fumbling through letters and pronunciations. He understood that humans expected a gradual learning curve, and he was careful to meet those expectations, while secretly devouring the material at a far greater pace. Each new lesson was stored, analyzed, and cataloged in his mind.

Days passed, and with them, Kallen’s lessons grew more complex. History became a major focus—Master Caelon recited the great events of Eurithia’s past, the rise and fall of empires, the wars waged for control of territories, and the ever-present struggle for power that seemed to define the world. Kallen listened intently, but it wasn’t the dates or battles that interested him. It was the patterns. Every war, every political shift seemed to follow a predictable cycle. Someone would rise to power, gather influence, and inevitably fall to those who sought to usurp them. It was, in many ways, not unlike the dynamics of his previous life, where corporations and governments had fought for control of resources and information.

But in Eurithia, the stakes were far higher. Here, power wasn’t just political or financial—it was magical. The Arcane Paths, as Caelon called them, were the foundation of everything in this world. Those who mastered these paths could reshape reality itself, wielding forces that Kallen had never encountered in his former existence. Magic was a tool, but more than that, it was the ultimate expression of power.

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

Kallen’s curiosity was piqued.

"Tell me more about the Arcane Paths," Kallen asked one afternoon, his voice soft but inquisitive.

Master Caelon looked up from the scroll he was reading, surprised. Kallen rarely spoke unless asked a direct question. "The Arcane Paths," he began, "are the study and manipulation of the natural and supernatural forces that govern our world. There are many disciplines—Elemental Convergence, Soulcraft, Essence Alchemy, Void Manipulation, and more. Each path offers a unique way to harness the energies of the world."

"Can anyone learn these paths?" Kallen asked, though he already suspected the answer.

"No," Caelon said, shaking his head. "Only those with the proper lineage or natural talent may pursue the Arcane. It is not something to be taken lightly. The study of magic is dangerous, and those who wield it must be disciplined. Many have lost their lives attempting to grasp power beyond their reach."

Kallen filed this information away. Magic, then, was a tool available only to a select few—those born into the right families, or those with the right gifts. It reminded him of the rigid hierarchies of his former world, where access to certain knowledge or resources was restricted to those in power.

But here, knowledge wasn’t just power—it was the key to controlling the very fabric of existence.

As the days turned into weeks, Kallen’s understanding of the world deepened. He learned about the factions that controlled Eurithia—great houses like his own, vying for dominance in the political arena. Some relied on military strength, others on wealth and trade, but the most powerful families were those who had mastered the Arcane Paths. These families controlled entire regions through their magical abilities, bending the world to their will.

Kallen’s mind raced with possibilities. Knowledge was clearly the most valuable asset in this world, just as it had been in his previous life. But here, the application of that knowledge was more profound. If he could master the Arcane Paths, he wouldn’t just control information—he would control reality itself.

He remained cautious, though. Kallen knew that his rapid progress could raise suspicions. His parents had already noticed how quickly he was absorbing lessons. His mother often remarked on how "gifted" he was, though her voice carried an undercurrent of concern. His father, on the other hand, remained watchful, his eyes narrowing whenever Kallen completed a task too quickly or recited a historical fact without hesitation.

To avoid drawing too much attention, Kallen began to feign confusion during certain lessons, asking questions he already knew the answers to, or pausing longer than necessary before responding. He understood that part of maintaining power was managing perceptions. He could not afford to be seen as too different, too advanced. For now, he would continue to play the part of the obedient, diligent child, absorbing everything while revealing as little as possible.

One evening, after a particularly intense lesson on the history of the Celestial Empire and its mastery of Soulcraft, Kallen lay in bed, his mind racing. In his former life, power had been more abstract—an influence exerted through systems, algorithms, and hidden levers of control. Here, it was more tangible. Knowledge, magic, and political maneuvering were all tools that could be used to shape the world, just as he had once shaped code.

But there was a difference.

In this world, power was more volatile. It shifted hands more easily, and the consequences of failure were far more personal. A wrong move could mean not just the loss of influence, but death or worse. Kallen realized that his quest for understanding would be more dangerous than anything he had encountered in his former existence.

Still, that didn’t deter him. In fact, it excited him.

He lay there, staring up at the ceiling, and a small smile crept across his face. He would learn everything there was to know about this world—its politics, its magic, its power structures. He would learn how to manipulate these forces just as he had once manipulated data. And when the time was right, he would use that knowledge to shape Eurithia as he saw fit.

For now, though, he would remain patient. There was much to learn, and he would not rush the process.