The Fenralis estate was a fortress of stone and steel, its towering walls and sharp angles a testament to the family’s virtues: Honor, Strength, Pragmatism, and Efficiency. Inside the training grounds, the air was thick with the sound of clashing blades and the rhythmic breathing of students practicing the Fenralis school of swordsmanship.

Garrett Fenralis, now ten years old, stood in the center of the courtyard, his swordstaff gripped firmly in his hands. The weapon was a relic of the Fenralis school’s origins—a long, elegant staff with a triangular blade at the end, designed to counter mages with reach and precision. It was a weapon of pragmatism, born from necessity, and Garrett wielded it with a skill that belied his age.

Across from him stood his older brother, Cassian, the prodigy of House Fenralis. At sixteen, Cassian was already a master of the blade, his movements fluid and effortless. He held a traditional sword in one hand and a Starflare in the other—a sleek, stone-like device that resembled a firearm. The Starflare had a grip for easy handling and a “barrel” made of Luminite, a rare mineral that amplified and directed magical energy, bypassing the need for incantations or rituals.

“Ready, little brother?” Cassian asked, his tone light but his eyes sharp.

Garrett adjusted his grip on the swordstaff and nodded. “Always.”

The match began with a flurry of strikes, the sound of steel ringing through the courtyard. Garrett moved with precision, his strikes calculated and efficient. He had trained hard, and it showed. But Cassian was on another level.

Cassian’s sword blurred through the air, each strike perfectly timed, each movement a testament to his mastery. He didn’t just fight; he danced, his Starflare glowing faintly as he channeled his celestial energy.

Garrett blocked a strike and countered with a thrust of his swordstaff, forcing Cassian to step back. For a moment, it seemed like he might gain the upper hand.

Then Cassian smiled.

With a flick of his wrist, Cassian activated his Starflare, sending a burst of fire spiraling toward Garrett. Garrett dodged, but the distraction was enough. Cassian closed the distance in an instant, his sword stopping just inches from Garrett’s throat.

“Yield,” Cassian said, his voice calm.

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Garrett sighed and lowered his swordstaff. “I yield.”

The other students erupted into applause, but Garrett barely heard them. He was used to losing to Cassian. Everyone lost to Cassian.

“Of course,” Garrett thought, his internal monologue dripping with sarcasm. “Why bother trying when you’re competing against a once-in-a-century genius? Might as well challenge the sun to a brightness contest. Or better yet, try to out-pizza the Hut. Spoiler alert: you can’t.”

But despite the frustration, Garrett couldn’t help but admire his brother. Cassian was everything their father wanted in an heir—strong, disciplined, and magically gifted. Garrett, on the other hand, was… well, Garrett.

After training, Garrett retreated to the estate’s library, a vast room filled with books on every subject imaginable. He spent hours poring over texts on physics, astronomy, and engineering, his mind racing with ideas. The Fenralis library was one of the finest in the Celestial Empire, and Garrett took full advantage of it.

He was particularly fascinated by the ancient texts on celestial magic, which described the manipulation of stars and the flow of energy through the universe. He couldn’t perform magic himself, but he understood the theory behind it, and he was determined to find a way to apply that knowledge.

“Still reading, little brother?”

Garrett looked up to see Cassian standing in the doorway, his training uniform still damp with sweat.

“Just studying,” Garrett said, closing the book he had been reading.

Cassian walked over and picked up the book, flipping through the pages. “Celestial Mechanics? Shouldn’t you be practicing your sword forms?”

Garrett shrugged. “I already practiced. Besides, this is important too.”

Cassian raised an eyebrow. “Important? You’re not going to defeat an enemy with a book, Garrett.”

“Maybe not,” Garrett said, his voice steady. “But knowledge is power. And power isn’t just about swinging a sword.”

Cassian studied him for a moment, then smiled. “You’re a strange one, little brother. But I like that about you.”

Garrett smiled back, but the compliment did little to ease the weight on his shoulders. He knew he would never be as strong as Cassian, as skilled, as perfect. But he was determined to find his own path, even if it meant defying everyone’s expectations.

As he left the library, Garrett couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was coming. In a few days, the Fenralis estate would host a grand festival, a chance for the noble families of the Celestial Empire to gather and celebrate. It would also be the first time Garrett was formally introduced to society as a member of House Fenralis.

“Great,” he thought, his sarcasm returning full force. “Just what I need—a room full of people judging me for being the ‘other’ Fenralis heir. Can’t wait to hear the whispers. ‘Oh, look, it’s the one who can’t do magic. How quaint.’ Maybe I’ll just hide in the library and pretend I’m a very tall bookshelf. Or better yet, I’ll quote Richard Feynman and confuse everyone. ‘If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand quantum mechanics.’ That’ll show them.”

But deep down, he knew this was his chance to prove himself. Not as Cassian’s shadow, but as Garrett Fenralis.