“I am thankful of this opportunity, father. But I will need a little time to prepare myself. After all, I might not see you and lily for a long time. I will also miss this house.”
“That won’t be—“
“Actually, that’s a good idea,” Thaddeus said. “I am leaving in a few days. In the meantime, you should spend more time with your father. The academy is far from here, make sure you don’t have any regrets after you go.”
Aldric couldn’t say anything else after that. He wanted Malachi to leave as soon as possible, but delaying it for a few days shouldn’t be a problem.
“But, I sensed some sort of magical presence around you Malachi. It’s been bothering me ever since I entered your room and noticed that. Would you care to tell me about it?”
“Magical presence? I haven’t learned any magic yet, professor.”
Aldric frowned.
“Every person actually has magical presence around them, one is more distinguishable than the others. Yours are the distinguishable type which mean there was a chance that you may have magical talent.”
“Magical talent?” Lily’s head suddenly came from behind Aldric’s leg.
“That’s correct. Everyone has different magical talent. Talents were divided into different ranks. Some region had a different name for these ranks, but the academic world agreed to just simply used the alphabet as the order of rankings. From F to A rankings, from least talented, to the most talented. Although talent does not determine how far one could reach in the future, they had far better chances. A high magical talent could learn magical skills and comprehend them to a higher level much faster.”
“Does Malachi has a high magical talent?” Lily asked innocently.
“That might be possible. Have your talent been tested before?”
Malachi shook his head. He had never believed in talent and therefore didn’t even consider to test it before. In his past life, he worked as hard as he possibly can to gain his strength. All of his achievement were all possible because of his effort and hard work.
“Would you mind if I test your talent?”
Malachi became a little curios of his talent but he shook his head thinking that it didn’t matter.
“You should test your talent, Malachi. You’re a bright boy. I am sure your mother birthed a talented child, so don’t be shy.” Aldric scoffed inside. Malachi’s mother was a woman without any remarkable magical talent. She was terrible at magic, so terrible that she didn’t even bother to learn about it and instead chose to delve into business.
Professor Thaddeus turned to look at Malachi and smiled. “What do you think?”
Malachi relented and agreed. He was a little curios anyway. “Alright.”
The professor then snapped his fingers and then light seemed to gather in the air before a crystal orb appeared in its place.
Lily’s eyes lit up when she saw the professor showed his magical power. She rarely saw magic with her own eyes. Most of the guards here cannot use magic after all, and even though her dad learned some magic from the church, he had never shown her.
“This…” Malachi’s eyes lit up. The crystal orb in front of his eyes right now was called Arcane Prism. It possessed a unique ability to discern and reveal innate magical talent of any individual. There were many artifacts that could determine someone’s talent, and they weren’t that hard to find, but this orb was special.
The orb had renowned accuracy and never failed to unveil a person’s true magical potential, but the reason that made it legendary was its ability to change one’s talent.
Legend had it that the Arcane Prism was a gift from celestial beings, bestowed upon the world to help and guide magicians towards their destined paths. It was said that the orb drew its power from the very fabric of the cosmos. It was usually used to help powerful magician to break through their limit and reach a higher form of strength. This artifact was usually guarded by powerful entities and shouldn’t even be shown to the world because it was considered to be the lifeblood of an academy or even a nation.
Its existence was so secretive in fact that he didn’t even know about its existence until he massacred all the students of a famous magic academy and killed its headmaster. The artifact was too precious that the headmaster decided to destroy it before he could put his hands on it.
‘The headmaster even sacrificed his life in order to destroy that thing rather than letting me have it. To this day, I still don’t know how the Arcane Prism actually work.’
The fact that this man could bring such artifacts everywhere he went meant that he must be a powerful magician.
‘I couldn’t sense his strength at all. The former me would have seen through him with a glance.’
“What is that professor? I have never seen that artifact before,” Aldric said.
“It’s just another artifact used to determine someone’s talent. This one is created by our academy with slightly better accuracy than you find on the market. Don’t worry too much about it. Every academy has their own artifact to determine their student’s talent.” Thaddeus smiled.
Aldric nodded, thinking nothing of it. He didn’t know much about the academic world because he put his focus on the political situation of the church.
“Okay, are you ready, Malachi?”
“What should I do?”
“Put both of your hands on the crystal orb and then look into it.”
Malachi did as instructed. The crystal orb did not respond at first, but as seconds passed a vivid display of lights and colors appeared. The mix of colors intertwined with each other until it gradually turned into white bright light.
“What is the meaning of this?” Malachi asked.
“This is interesting. The artifact can not only determine your talent, but it can also tell whether an individual has a natural inclination towards a certain elements or magic such as healing arts, illusion, or other disciplines. This white bright light meant that you are suitable to use holy magic, and your talent is the very rare A grade.”
“What?” Aldric was shocked.
Divine Empire of Iaionia was a vast empire that revolves around a central religion known as The Path of Divinity. The religion taught that the empire was divinely chosen by the gods to rule over the land and its people. The Divine Emperor was considered the living representative of the gods, and his decrees were considered sacred and unquestionable.The empire’s culture was deeply rooted in its religious beliefs. Devotion to the god was paramount, and festivals, prayers, and sacrifices were common. The Divine Emperor was the absolute ruler, considered divine in their own right. The Emperor’s decision were guided by the Council of High Priest, influential religious figure responsible for interpreting divine will and advising on governance matters.The High Priest was not an easy position to obtain. Every member of the High Priest were extremely talented and skilled magicians in the art of holy magic, said to be capable of creating miracles encompassing an entire town or landscape. In l
Amidst the garden's tranquility, Aldric's shock was palpable as his trembling hands clutched the edge of the table. The realization of Malachi's extraordinary talent had shifted the balance of power in a way he had not anticipated. The implications of an A grade talent's accelerated rate of comprehension loomed ominously over him."I... I never realized the extent of an A grade talent's capabilities," Aldric stammered, his words faltering with anxiety. Professor Thaddeus observed Aldric with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Father Aldric, is something the matter?"Aldric took a deep breath, attempting to regain his composure. "No, it's just... the news about Malachi's talent has taken me by surprise. I never imagined the depth of his potential."Professor Thaddeus chuckled, seemingly oblivious to the underlying tension. "Ah, I can understand your astonishment. A rare gem like Malachi could indeed alter the course of the empire's future. It's a testament to the gods' favor upon this l
“What are you going to do now?” Seraphina asked.“I am going back to the mansion.” Malachi immediately ran to the direction where he came from.Seraphina was confused. He retrieved the book of necromancy. From a logical perspective, Malachi should have run far away from this place and learn the art before slowly regaining his former power. If revenge was what he wanted, he could wait until he gain sufficient strength. With the memories of his past life, that shouldn’t be difficult. ‘So why is he heading back to the mansion now?’ Seraphina pondered.As Malachi sprinted through the forest, clutching the book of necromancy tightly in his hands, his mind raced with conflicting emotions. As they neared the mansion, the sounds of rustling leaves were replaced by the distant murmurs of people. The moon's soft glow began to illuminate their path as darkness settled over the landscape. “Seraphina, fly ahead and inform me if there are any guards.”“The guards are still patrolling,” Seraphina
[You have reached level 20][You have learned “Dark Bolt”][You have learned “Shadow Cloak”][You have learned “Soul Reap”][You have learned “Necrotic Aura”][You have learned “Grasp of The Abyss”][You have learned “Necromantic Art: Stygian Blades”][You have learned “Necromantic Mastery: Cursed Affliction”]Lily's heart raced as Malachi's gaze met hers, his eyes now reflecting a darkness that seemed to devour the very light around them. The room felt heavy with an otherworldly presence, and the air grew thick with tension.The maids gasped in horror, their faces pale as they exchanged fearful glances. The whispers of demonic voices seemed to grow louder, swirling around them like a malevolent chorus.“HAHAHAHA!”Malachi's lips curled into a sinister smile, and his voice carried a chilling edge as he finally spoke. "Lily, my dear, you've stumbled into a place you were never meant to see." Lily took a step back, trembling in fright as she couldn’t process what she saw.“W—who are yo
Aldric's heart raced as he sprinted through the cobblestone streets of the town, his mind racing with a singular purpose—to reach the mansion. The urgency of his mission weighed heavily on him, every step a reminder that time was slipping through his fingers. Unlocking the door, Aldric hurried inside, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. The mansion felt oddly silent and foreboding, the shadows dancing on the walls as if aware of the impending turmoil. Aldric's steps were purposeful, leading him deeper into the mansion's interior. In the main hall of the mansion, Aldric's inner turmoil raged on. His plans to eliminate Malachi had to be executed with precision and speed. He couldn't afford to underestimate the boy's capabilities any longer. “HELP!”Suddenly, he hear his daughter’s scream. “Lily?”“PLEASE HELP!”The desperate plea sliced through Aldric's thoughts like a knife, shattering his focus and replacing it with a surge of panic and dread. The voice was unmistakably Lil
As Malachi plummeted from the sky, his figure was a dark silhouette against the backdrop of the open air. The wind rushed past him, whipping his hair and clothes as he descended with startling speed.The distance between him and the ground closed rapidly, and the ground below seemed to rush up to meet him with a sense of impending impact. It was a heart-pounding moment as gravity took hold, and Malachi's mind raced to find a solution to his sudden predicament.Just when it seemed like his fall was destined to end in a bone-shattering collision, fate intervened in the form of a tree. His body collided with the upper branches of the tree, causing a cascade of leaves and twigs to scatter in all directions. The impact wasn't enough to halt his descent entirely. Instead, it served to slow him down and redirect his trajectory.With each successive branch, Malachi's fall turned into a chaotic dance of twists and turns. He bounced from one branch to another, his body contorted in unnatural a
A dozen guards arrived at the underground basement to assess the situation and were horrified by what they saw.“Perfect timing! Head to the east and locate that boy!” Professor Thaddeus ordered.The guards looked bewildered and remained motionless.“Why are you still here?” Thaddeus asked, his anger evident.Aldric stood up, then glanced at his guards before explaining the situation. “Malachi has delved into the forbidden arts of necromancy. He has gone mad due to the evil in his heart. He is no longer the Malachi we know. Necromancy is prohibited in this holy land. Search for him immediately, and eliminate him on the spot!”The guards hesitated briefly before bowing and complying with the order.Suddenly, an eagle entered through the hole in the roof and swooped down into the basement. It flapped its wings to come to a stop as it perched on Thaddeus’ arm.“Thaddeus,” the eagle spoke. “The headmaster is instructing you to return. It is an urgent matter, and you cannot delay any longe
Amidst the dense foliage of the enchanted forest, the air was thick with tension as the moon cast an eerie glow on the battleground. Malachi, his body weakened and dehydrated, stood at the ready. His young form belied the ancient malevolence that resided within him. Eight guards, four skilled swordsmen and four sharpshooters armed with bows, encircled him with cautious determination.As the guards closed in, Malachi's eyes gleamed with a cunning intensity. He knew he couldn't rely solely on brute force in his current state. His fingers twitched as he surveyed the surroundings, his mind calculating every possibility.The first swordsman lunged forward, his blade gleaming with intent. Malachi's shadow cloak engaged, enveloping him in darkness and rendering him invisible. He nimbly sidestepped, letting the swordsman's strike hit nothing but air.“Where is he?!”“Careful! He can hide using the shadows!”Meanwhile, the necrotic aura he emitted took its toll on the guards' focus, subtly wea