Please read the auxiliary chapters!
In the capital of the most powerful empire, Acrelux, there are many orphanages.
Most of them are subsidized by either the state or one of the seven churches.
In one of those orphanages, Father Timothy, a priest of the God of Light, Engram, was analyzing the Mana Capacities of the children to see whether they have the potential for magic. If so, they can be sent to temples or maybe even to Everdusk Academy, the leading education institution of the continent."
All of the children were excited to be tested. Who wouldn't? It's their biggest chance to make something out of themselves, to be special. Hence, most of the children came running to Father Timothy to be tested.
Most of the children were nothing special; some showed talent and would be brought to the nearest temple to perhaps pursue an education in theology or magic. After all the children were tested, Father Timothy asked a nun working at the orphanage:
"So, Maria. Were those all of the children here?"
"No, Father Timothy. There is one more. But I doubt he has any potential. It would have already shown, as he is sixteen years old, three above the usual age for Mana Testing."
"Really? There's one more? Why haven't I heard of this yet?
"We picked him up just two days ago. The guards found him roaming the northern forest, looking visibly confused. He claims he has no memories. The guards checked the population database, and he was not there."
"Huh. Curios. Well, no matter. Engram loves all his children. Let him come to me, and I shall test him."
"Of course, Father."
Father Timothy was a curious person. There was no subject he had no rudimentary knowledge of. He had read many books in his fifty years of living, yet he had never heard of someone just appearing, having no past, no memories. He was excited to meet such an interesting new person.
Just as Father Timothy was thinking about that, the door to the small chapel opened, and Maria, along with a frail boy, came in. The boy had deep black hair, very pale skin, and eyes purple like an amethyst. He looked at Father Timothy with an intrigued look on his face. Almost as if he was interested in what he wanted.
Father Timothy looked at the unknown boy warmly and said:
"Hello, my son. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Well, the name given to me by Maria is Nyx. I like it. What is your name, sir?
"I am Father Timothy, a priest of Engram, the God of Light. I hope you are doing well. Tell me, how did you appear in that forest? Did you suddenly pop into existence?"
"As much as I would like to tell you the answer, I simply do not know. Why have you called for me, Father Timothy?"
"Ah, yes. I called you to check your Mana Capacity. In case you did not know, our Church of Engram sends talented children to our educational facilities to create new warriors that can fight against the Daemons."
"I see. I have read about the Daemons in books in the library. Horrible beasts. How do you test my Mana Capacity?"
"It's simple, my son. You need to put your left hand, that is closer to your heart and therefore your Mana Core, on this tablet."
Nyx slowly stretched out his left pale white arm with a graceful movement. Father Timothy saw a pure black ring on his left ring finger and furrowed his brows looking at it. For some reason, he got a strange sense of foreboding looking at it, but he chalked it up to being his imagination. Finally, Nyx's hand reached the Analysis Tablet, and Father Timothy was shocked.
150. Nyx's Mana Core was able to store 150 Mana. This amazed Father Timothy. Of course, his own Mana Capacity was in the five hundreds, but still. The average 16-year-old, before entering an academy or temple, had a Mana Capacity of around 75, while the greatest talents had Mana Capacities around the 200 mark, so this was very impressive.
Father Timothy looked at Nyx, who was looking at him innocently, almost as if he didn't know of his talent. But Nyx was talented. His knowledge of the world was severely lacking, but his potential in fighting was too big to waste. Then, Father Timothy decided: Nyx had to go to Everdusk Academy.