#### Learning the Rules
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Kael slipped out of the estate, hugging the shadow of the tall stone wall. He’d become an expert at avoiding notice. Bastard had stealth down to a goddamn art. A small kid with a big secret, and keeping that secret meant playing dumb. Kid had it down cold. His father had no idea that he was sneaking off to places no three-year-old had any business going. Diaper wasn’t even dry and he was already working angles that'd make a con man proud. This little mook was either going to end up running the city or serving life by kindergarten.
His target today? The archive.
It wasn’t a grand library, not in the sense of towering bookshelves and chandeliers, but it held something more important: information. And Kael had a taste for it like a wolf catching the scent of blood. His mind, still wired like a fighter prepping for a match, knew that in this world, knowledge was leverage.
He pushed open the creaky wooden door to the archive, slipping inside the dimly lit room. Scrolls and old tomes lined the walls, dusty, ignored by everyone except the few scholars left in service to the Talvion family. Nobles rarely read much here—they preferred the sword over the quill.
But Kael? He wasn’t most nobles. He had to learn fast.
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[New Quest: Investigate Magic Sources]
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He wandered between the stacks of scrolls, his small fingers trailing over the brittle parchment. His mind buzzed with questions, and like a **hungry detective** on the trail of a case, he was determined to dig up every clue this world had to offer.
What was the real difference between magic and raw combat?
Could one dominate the other? Was it about willpower or some deep arcane understanding? His old self—forty years of brawling and bruising in the octagon—wanted to know how much his fighting instincts could transfer over.
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[Skill: "Investigation (Basic)" Unlocked]
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Kael pulled a scroll from the shelf, unrolling it slowly. His eyes flicked over the ancient symbols, the unfamiliar runes. Yet as he stared, something clicked in his brain. His curiosity pushed through the haze of confusion, and bit by bit, he began to understand the layout. Not fully, but enough.
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[Arcane Lore (Basic) Gained: +10 XP]
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It wasn’t like magic in his old world, the kind you saw in movies or video games. It wasn’t just flashy fireballs or floating objects. No, this stuff was woven into the bones of reality here, and it played by rules he didn’t fully grasp yet.
But he would. Oh, he would.
The scroll mentioned something called “sigil binding”—a technique where runes could be embedded into weapons or armor, enhancing them with magical properties. He’d seen some of that in the duel. The shimmer of arcane power around the boy’s blade hadn’t been a trick of the light after all. It was a sigil.
Kael leaned closer, his heart picking up speed. This is it.
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[Skill: "Arcane Sigil Awareness" Unlocked]
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“Found something interesting?”
Kael nearly jumped out of his skin, spinning around. A robed figure stood in the doorway, an old scholar by the looks of it. Thin, with a white beard like strands of spider silk. The man peered at him through narrow eyes, suspicion hanging on every wrinkle in his face.
Kael quickly tossed the scroll behind him, trying to look as innocent as possible. “Just... reading.”
“Reading?” The old man’s voice crackled like dry leaves. “At your age?”
Kael flashed a sheepish grin, the kind of grin that said, "I'm just a harmless kid, pay me no mind."
But his mind was working overtime. This guy could be trouble. He might report Kael to his father, or worse, ask questions. Questions Kael couldn’t answer. Not yet.
The old man shuffled forward, clearly curious. “What was it you were reading?”
“Uh, stories. Old tales,” Kael said, trying to mimic the voice of a clueless kid. He’d have to sell this, and fast.
The old scholar squinted at him, then down at the scroll half hidden behind Kael’s back. “Stories, you say? Those runes look like more than stories to me, boy.”
Kael felt his heart skip a beat, but he didn’t flinch. He’d been in enough tight spots in his past life to know how to keep a straight face. “I don’t really understand it. Just... thought it looked cool.”
The old man raised an eyebrow. “Hm. Well, best not to mess with magic you don’t understand.” His voice dropped into something more serious, almost a warning. “People who play with things they shouldn’t often find themselves... regretting it.”
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[Skill Check: Persuasion (Basic)]
[Success: Narrowly Avoided Detection]
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
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Kael kept the smile plastered on his face. Thanks for the advice, old man, but I’m not exactly scared of a few symbols on paper. He nodded, doing his best to look grateful. “I’ll be careful.”
The old man didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he shuffled back toward the door. “See that you do,” he muttered, before leaving Kael alone in the dim archive.
When the door clicked shut, Kael let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. His hand instinctively reached for the scroll again. Curiosity didn’t kill this cat. Not yet.
He scanned the parchment again, absorbing as much as his brain could handle before he had to leave. This was only the beginning. There was so much more to learn, so much more to figure out. But one thing was clear:
This world wasn’t just about fighting. It was about control—over magic, over people, over everything. And if there was one thing Kael knew how to do, it was taking control of the fight.
He folded the scroll carefully, tucking it back where he’d found it, already itching to return for more.
---
[Arcane Knowledge +5]
[XP Gained: 15]
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Kael slipped back out of the archive, keeping to the shadows. The air outside was sharp, biting at his skin. His father’s voice rang through the yard, barking orders at the training soldiers.
“Strength! Skill! You live and die by your blade!”
Kael paused for a moment, watching them train. Not all of us, Dad. Some of us are going to do things a little differently.
He turned and made his way back to the estate, his mind still buzzing with what he’d learned. This world was starting to unfold, piece by piece. The rules were becoming clearer, and with each discovery, his path forward sharpened.
---
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The hall was filled with laughter, the clinking of goblets, and the quiet hum of magic. Kael sat near the back, small hands resting on the polished wooden table in front of him, staring at the adults gathered around in their silks and armor. It was a family gathering—a celebration, of what, he wasn’t entirely sure. Maybe a noble's promotion. Maybe someone’s engagement. It didn’t really matter.
What did matter was that this was another opportunity.
His father sat at the head of the table, already deep in conversation with another noble, both of them occasionally glancing Kael's way. There was tension in the air, though hidden behind the polite smiles and raised cups. Kael felt it like a current underneath the surface—there was always an angle, always a play being made.
And tonight, he was part of it.
“Kael,” his father called, his voice cutting through the noise like the slice of a sword. Every head at the table turned toward him, expectant. “It’s time for you to show them what you’ve learned.”
Kael’s stomach tightened, but he kept his face neutral. Oh, this is gonna be fun.
He stood, walking to the center of the hall, feeling the weight of all those eyes. Nobles, mages, knights—they were all watching. Waiting. His father wanted him to demonstrate his magic. The nobles expected it—proof that House Talvion’s bloodline carried the arcane strength that kept them in power.
But Kael wasn’t about to give them everything. Not yet.
He extended his hand, channeling the faintest flicker of magic through his body. A low hum started at his fingertips, followed by a soft glow of light, hovering in the air like a faint orb. Basic stuff. Child’s play. Literally.
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[Skill Activated: Arcane Manipulation (Basic)]
[XP Gained: +5]
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The orb floated gently in the air, spinning slowly. The nobles clapped politely, but there were a few raised eyebrows. He could hear their whispers—some impressed, others questioning. A three-year-old with basic arcane control wasn’t that rare, but it was a start.
But Kael wasn’t satisfied. He wasn’t here just to show off beginner-level magic. He needed to push it. He needed to know what this world’s magic could really do.
His eyes flicked to the flickering torches lining the walls. Fire. His hand twisted subtly, drawing energy from the flames, his mind calculating quickly. Arcane control is linked to focus. Concentration. But what happens when the focus splits?
The orb above his hand split into two. Then three. Then four. Each one taking on a different color—blue, red, green, white. The light danced through the hall, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the polished floors.
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[Skill Upgrade: Arcane Manipulation (Intermediate)]
[New Skill Unlocked: Multi-Casting (Basic)]
[XP Gained: +20]
---
He kept his expression calm, but inside, a slow smirk formed. That’s more like it.
The room’s murmurs grew louder. A few of the nobles were nodding now, impressed. One of the older mages leaned forward, stroking his beard with curiosity. "Not bad for a child," he muttered, but Kael caught the gleam in the man's eye. He’s suspicious.
Kael let the magic fade, the orbs dissolving into sparks as he lowered his hand. His father’s gaze was unreadable, but Kael knew him well enough to catch the flicker of approval beneath the cold mask. His father wasn’t one for compliments. He didn’t have to be.
“Good,” his father said, voice as hard as steel. “But you have a long way to go.”
Don’t I always.
---
[Character Panel]
[Name: Kael Talvion]
[Class: None]
[Level: 2]
[Skills: Arcane Manipulation (Intermediate), Multi-Casting (Basic), Arcane Sigil Awareness, Basic Comprehension, Investigation (Basic), Tactical Awareness, Muscle Memory]
[Stats: Strength: 1.2 | Agility: 3.2 | Intelligence: 7 | Stamina: 1.5]
[XP to next level: 30]
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Kael retreated back to his seat, feeling the tension ease a little. The nobles turned their attention back to their own affairs, their interest in him fading for the moment. But Kael knew better. This wasn’t over. It was never over. In a society like this, power was always being measured. One step forward, and a hundred more eyes followed you.
As he sat, his curiosity flickered again. The magic he’d used—it felt like scratching the surface of something much bigger. The orbs, the colors—they were showy, but they weren’t enough. How far could he push it? What were the real limits?
His eyes drifted to the walls again, catching sight of the sigils carved into the stone. The same ones he’d seen in the archive, faint, barely noticeable to anyone who wasn’t looking for them. He squinted, trying to read them. But his understanding wasn’t complete yet. Not enough to know exactly what they did.
Soon. I’ll figure it out soon.
“Kael.”
His father’s voice again, quieter this time. He leaned down, his expression as cold as ever. “You did well. But remember, power isn’t just for display. Control it. Master it. Use it.”
Kael nodded, the words echoing in his mind. Use it.
His father’s gaze shifted toward the other nobles. “And trust no one.”
Already ahead of you there, Dad. Kael kept his face straight, but inside, that cynical edge twisted his thoughts. Trust wasn’t something he ever planned on giving freely. Not in this world.
---
The night wore on, the nobles drifting into deeper discussions about trade routes, alliances, and border skirmishes. But Kael’s attention was elsewhere. His curiosity burned hotter than ever, stoked by the brief taste of magic he’d just experienced. The world around him was layered in secrets—arcane, political, personal. And he was going to uncover them all.
But he couldn’t do it openly. Not yet.
---
[Quest Completed: First Public Display]
[XP Gained: +25]
[New Quest: Study Advanced Arcane Techniques]
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Kael leaned back in his chair, watching the nobles with half-lidded eyes. There were rules to this game, ancient rules written in blood and magic. But every rule had a loophole. Every law had a way around it. He just needed to find it.
And when I do, Kael thought, a faint grin tugging at his lips, this world won’t know what hit it.
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**End of Chapter 1**
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