The pale shimmer of morning clung to the Margrave's city, Emberhold, its streets humming with the soft buzz of enchanted carriages and rune-lit streetlamps dimming for the day. From atop the teleportation circle at the city's east gate, Nerion Ophirein stepped forward, his black cloak fluttering behind him like the wing of a patient hawk.
"Teleportation complete," muttered the exhausted rune mage, wiping sweat from his brow. "Next."
Nerion gave him a polite nod. These old mages were expensive — and restrictive. Only those with no awakened Level could use these circles.
His boots echoed across the academy's marble walk as he approached Emberhold's central noble school — The Royal Preparatory Academy of the Crimson Dawn. The school wasn't the most prestigious in the kingdom, but for the noble sons and daughters of the Margrave's vassals, it was a golden gateway to the wider world.
The courtyard buzzed with energy. Teenagers in enchanted uniforms laughed, argued, and paced nervously. Enchanted message-birds fluttered above, waiting to deliver scores. Instructors with sigil-tattoos floated gently above the crowd, maintaining order with mild levitation spells.
"Look who finally warped in late," came a familiar voice.
Nerion turned just in time to catch a mock-punch from Rayne Drakval, the Margrave's youngest son. His messy blonde hair and cocky grin hadn't changed a bit.
"Still alive, country boy?" Rayne said. "I thought your father's general would've put you through another death trial by now."
"Just the usual sword forms and philosophy lessons," Nerion replied, smirking. "Not all of us have family mages polishing our boots."
Rayne laughed and tossed him a mana-fizz drink — flavored water with a tiny boost of focus magic. "Today's the day, huh?"
"Yeah," Nerion muttered, eyeing the skies. "Everything changes at sixteen."
Nearby, Calista Velwyn leaned against a pillar, red hair braided in the western war-style, her uniform clinging in all the right places.a girl from House Velwyn of the western barony, flicked her gaze toward them. "Don't forget—only 0.03% of us will even be eligible to bond with the Tower. The rest…" She trailed off, shrugging. "Get shitty classes or worse."
"Maybe I'll be the world's first Epic-Ranked Shepherd," Rayne said, holding up crossed fingers.
"You'd still be better than someone with 'Latrine Keeper' class," Calista shot back, though a rare grin tugged at her lips.
Nerion smiled faintly, but his chest was tight.
He thought of the training back home. The weight of his grandfather's voice in the shrine, of his sculpted form earned through years of quiet sweat and solitude. Of the statue of the golden-white knight coiled in serpents, sword to the sky.
He had to awaken properly. He had to be one of the chosen who could access the Tower of Infinity. Everything depended on it — his future, his family's rise, and the legacy of a god who once dared to hope.
A bell rang above, glowing with soft light. The results were being summoned from the central archive now — a marvel of magic-technology and soul-based data.
Crystals hovered in the air, pulsing with light. As the crowd held its breath, names began to appear in glowing script.
Nerion's heart pounded.
Then it happened.
Rank 2 – Nerion Ophirein – House Ophirein
A gasp rippled through the crowd.
"Second? In the whole Duchy ?" someone blurted. "Out of 10 million?"
Whispers buzzed like fireflies in the dark.
The respect in the stares that followed him was new. Nerion knew some of them had mocked his countryside background, whispered about how House Ophirein had once been declining. But now? Now he stood among the very best.
And tomorrow, when he awakened for the first time, he would step into a world where reputation was only the beginning.
He smiled to himself, the distant echo of his grandfather's voice in his mind:
"Hope is not given. It is forged, boy. Earn it."
Just then, a knight in black-and-gold armor dismounted beside the gate, his silver mantle fluttering.
"Nerion Ophirein," the man said with quiet steel. "By order of Margrave Drakval, you are summoned to Emberkeep for immediate audience."
Rayne blinked. "Well… things just got interesting."