A month had passed since the battle on the hill. I woke early, my heart pounding with excitement. Today I was turning five years old, a crucial milestone for any Ancient. Though the dream of the mysterious woman still lingered in my mind, I was determined to enjoy the day. Mom and Aria were busy preparing a big celebration, and the house was adorned with floating lights and ancient symbols that glowed with a magical light. My friends—Zephyr, Thalor, Nara, and Po Dong—were also present, sharing in the excitement of the day.
Profundia always had a melancholic air, with a dark and ancient beauty. Its streets wound between intricately carved stone buildings, adorned with gargoyles and statues that seemed to watch over every corner. Gas lanterns flickered in the dimness, casting haunting shadows on the moss-covered walls.
“Happy birthday, son,” Mom said, handing me a package wrapped in silk cloth. Inside, I found a medallion engraved with a protection rune, which I immediately put around my neck. “This medallion will protect you and reduce any side effects during your metamorphosis.”
Aria, who had just returned from training with Eldric, must have been given the day off along with the others. She handed me a special gift—a black wand made from a unique mineral found only in Profundia, known for its hardness and resilience. The black surface gleamed with a faint glow, almost as if it were alive. I could feel mana flowing through it with ease.
The party was in full swing when I began to feel strange. An unfamiliar energy surged through my body, making me feel dizzy and glow intensely.
“Kaion, it’s happening!” Mom exclaimed, guiding me to the center of the room. Everyone watched in awe as my body began to change. I felt my skin tighten, my bones stretch, my muscles reconfigure, and my height increase. It was an indescribable pain, yet it was also a feeling of growth and strength.
My thoughts mingled with a sense of transcendence. I felt as though a new power was awakening within me—an energy that wasn’t just mine but ancient and powerful. My white hair grew even brighter, and my yellow eyes shone with an intensity I had never experienced. I felt my body rapidly age into that of an eight-year-old child.
The initial pain faded, replaced by a feeling of power and clarity. Everyone was staring at me with astonishment and respect.
As the party continued, Aria approached Nara. “Nara,” she said, hugging her. “I wanted to apologize for what happened with your brother. The fight took place on your clan’s territory, and I regret the pain it caused.”
Nara, her expression serious behind her bone mask, looked back at Aria. “Thank you, Aria. I appreciate your words. What happened with my brother was difficult, but I know it wasn’t your intention. I just hope we can move past it.”
Aria nodded, genuine remorse in her eyes. “I promise to do everything I can to prevent something like that from happening again.”
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After the metamorphosis, Mom and Aria took me to the Ancient Temple. With its Gothic architecture and high arches, the temple looked like a relic from forgotten times. Candles flickered in rusted candelabras, casting dancing shadows on moss-covered walls. The air was charged with an ancient, almost palpable energy.
“This is your elemental affinity test, Kaion,” Mom explained. “You’ve prepared for this for two years. Now, concentrate and connect with the elements.”
I stood in the center of a rune-engraved circle, closed my eyes, and felt the energy of the elements: fire, water, earth, air, light, and darkness. But none responded strongly. Instead, a neutral and balanced energy manifested. The circle lit up with a silvery light, and I felt my mana shift into a ghostly white.
The gathered mages murmured in surprise and confusion. It was uncommon for the elements to reject someone, leaving an air of expectation and uncertainty. I even tried to invoke the Edicts, but they too ignored me, increasing the uncertainty among the onlookers.
Lysa stepped forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. “My son, this is something extraordinary. Neutral mages are extremely rare. They specialize in enhancing allies and controlling enemies with unique spells. Throughout history, entire nations have gone to war for the favor of a neutral mage.”
Suddenly, everything around me faded, and I found myself in a strange place—a vast void bathed in a soft and calming light. An ethereal figure appeared before me, radiating unmatched peace and power.
“Kaion Graves—or should I call you Legan Pearson, as in your previous life?” said the figure, with a resonant voice. “I am the Neutral God, Balance. You have been chosen for your courage in battle and your selfless spirit, putting others before your own gain when you fight. The mark on your soul has caused the other gods to reject you, as they do not wish to involve themselves with something not of this world. But I am different. In the future, you must prepare for events that will change your life and the destiny of many. Your hybrid body is unique and different from others. You possess a curious ability—an innate capacity to adapt and harmonize with any energy, which makes you one of a kind.”
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The figure drew closer, and I felt an enveloping warmth. “I will grant you a blessing that you will need to discover how to use. This blessing, combined with your innate ability, will allow you to achieve a perfect balance with all energies.”
I felt a wave of energy flow through me as the figure disappeared and the void faded, returning me to the temple. Mom and Aria looked at me with a mixture of pride and awe.
“Kaion, this is incredible,” said Aria. “Your mana is now white. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The ascension ceremony took place in the same temple. Now, with a deeper understanding of my power, I knelt before the assembled mages. As I waited, I felt a blend of excitement and nervousness. The energy within my body was more intense than ever, and every cell seemed to pulse with power.
A mage from the council, a greedy man named Vesper, approached with a sly and cunning smile. “Allow me the honor of inscribing this young mage’s first circle. It’s a rare opportunity.”
Eldric stepped in, his composure unshaken. “As the Grand Elder of Draconia, I have the authority to choose who will inscribe the first circle. I’ll handle it myself.”
Tension filled the air. Vesper frowned. “But Eldric, this is an extraordinary event. A neutral mage is an exceptionally rare find. It should be handled with the utmost care and precision.”
“Precisely,” replied Eldric, his tone firm. “And no one in this temple is more qualified than I am to perform this task.”
Vesper, though visibly annoyed, stepped back. Eldric approached me with a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Kaion. Everything will go smoothly.”
Eldric began tracing the first circle on my back. I felt warmth radiating from each line he drew, resonating with my internal energy. It was as if the circle was awakening a latent power within me, connecting me with forces I was only beginning to understand. Each stroke of Eldric’s hand seemed to come alive, merging with my essence and granting me a profound sense of connection to mana.
“This circle will expand as you grow stronger,” Eldric explained as he finished. “It will be a symbol of your growth and power.”
Eldric grinned, adding in a joking tone, “I’ve heard the kings of Triumph Hill have been doing quite the job lately. Would you know anything about that, Kaion?”
I smiled, remembering the recent battle on the hill. “Maybe,” I replied, not revealing too much. Eldric always seemed to know more than he let on.
After the ceremony, I approached Mom with a question that had been on my mind. “Mom, was my father the same race as you?”
Mom hesitated, a shadow of concern crossing her face. “Kaion, that’s complicated. We’ll talk about it later, alright?” She quickly changed the subject as Eldric and Aria approached.
“Kaion, Draconia has given rise to only the second neutral mage in its history,” said Eldric solemnly. “The first was the Graves’ original ancestor, known as the ‘Voice of the Abyss,’ Klavier.”
Aria added, “Your spells will be more powerful and distinctive due to your white mana. This color is unique and will evolve as you grow stronger. Like battle aura, the color of mana is personal and reflects your true essence.”
I reflected on their words, marveling at the new reality of my life. Yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about my question regarding my father and the mysterious blessing from the god Balance.
After the ceremony, I headed to the kitchen to gather some things for the celebration. I felt that my mana was stronger, and my eyes had been pulsing for a while. I decided to activate them, letting my mana flow through my body. Immediately, my vision sharpened, and I noticed that I could see new things. Enchanted objects glowed with a magical light, and I could easily tell apart the regular glasses from Aria’s wand, which shone intensely.
As I looked around, I noticed something unusual about a stone tile on the floor. However, at that moment, Thalor and Zephyr entered, looking for Aria.
“Kid, your eyes…” Thalor murmured, unable to look away.
Zephyr, a mixture of fear and worry in his voice, added, “Those are the eyes of a predator…”
Lysa, who came in carrying a tray of Profundia’s sweet moss snacks, stopped dead at the sight of my eyes and dropped the tray in shock. “Kaion, your eyes!” she exclaimed.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, concerned. I’d never seen my eyes while activating them and never thought they looked different.
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“Your mana… your eyes have a yellow glow with a sharp iris. It’s incredible,” said Thalor, still in awe.
Zephyr nodded, a bit of fear in his voice. “I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s… unsettling.”
Mom approached slowly and hugged me, her expression a mix of astonishment and concern. “Kaion, this is just the beginning. You have great power within you. You must learn to control and understand it.”
Aria came down the stairs after hearing the commotion. “What happened here?” she asked, looking at the mess on the floor and then focusing on my eyes. “Kaion, your eyes are… glowing!”
Thalor, still impressed, explained, “Those eyes are unsettling, Aria. I think the kid can see things we can’t.”
Zephyr, his animal instincts surfacing, added, “Those eyes hold a deep mysticism. As a Qi beast, I can feel it.”
“Kaion,” Aria asked, trying to understand, “What can you see with those eyes?”
I took a deep breath and explained, “I can see things I couldn’t before. Enchanted objects glow, and… I can see ghosts even when they’re not in physical form.”
The revelation left everyone in stunned silence. Aria was especially surprised. “But ghosts in spiritual form can only be perceived by those who study the Edicts of Life or Death, or priests of light and darkness. Even then, only saints can see them clearly.”
Lysa nervously closed the door to ensure no one else could overhear. “Those are the ‘Eyes of Infinity,’” she said in a hushed tone. “A mystical power thought to be extinct in our family. The first King of the Abyss feared the Graves because of those eyes.”
The profound silence that followed was broken only by the sound of our breathing as the gravity of what we had just discovered settled upon us all.