That night, as the moon bathed the world in its silver glow, Lucian sat near the window, gazing at the endless expanse of the dark sky filled with shimmering stars. A thought crossed his mind—"Is the world really as vast as it seems?"

​

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed in his room, and his personal maid, Marina, entered, carrying a neatly folded set of clothes.

"Here are your clothes, Young Master," she said softly.

Lucian turned to her with a small nod. "Thanks."

Marina hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "You haven’t eaten much today, Young Master." She paused, then asked with a hint of concern, "Is it because of what Lord Leon said today?"

Lucian glanced at her and smiled faintly. "Don’t worry, Marina. I’m fine."

But deep inside, he knew her worries weren’t baseless.

[Lucian’s thoughts]

"In the Reinhardt family, every direct descendant is assigned a personal maid or servant whose sole duty is to serve their master. Marina is my maid—kind, easygoing, and always looking after me. But because of my status in the family, she, too, gets ignored."

He turned back to Marina. "Where is Father right now?"

"The Lord is in the library," she answered.

"The library?"

"Yes."

Lucian sat in silence for a moment before standing up. He didn't know why, but curiosity sparked inside him. What could his father be reading so intently?

A Peek into the Library

Lucian made his way through the dimly lit corridors, stopping in front of the grand wooden doors of the library. He carefully pushed the door open—just enough to take a peek inside.

There, under the soft glow of candlelight, sat Leon Reinhardt, his father. A book rested in his hands, and his sharp golden eyes were locked onto the pages. He looked so absorbed in reading that he didn’t even notice Lucian’s presence.

[Lucian’s thoughts]

"Father is always strict and composed, but this is the first time I've seen him so focused on something. Just what kind of book is that?"

Lucian had never been particularly interested in reading. Books never piqued his curiosity. But seeing his father so engrossed in one… it made him wonder.

"Maybe books are more interesting than I thought."

Lost in thought, Lucian unknowingly leaned too much against the door—until it suddenly swung open.

Thud!

Lucian fell face-first onto the floor. "Ouch!"

Leon’s piercing gaze landed on him. "What are you doing here at this hour?" His voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

Lucian, still sprawled on the floor, scrambled to find an excuse. "U-Uh… Nothing, Father! I was just… um… checking if everything was alright!"

Leon raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Awkwardly getting up, Lucian glanced around and pointed at a nearby vase. "Wow! This vase looks great. I never noticed it before… Haha…"

Then, without waiting for a response, he quickly turned and fled the scene.

Leon sighed, rubbing his temple. "This kid..."

A New Beginning

The next morning, Lucian woke up earlier than usual. Unlike his usual sluggish routine, he rushed through his morning preparations. Even during breakfast, he ate so fast that Elaina, his mother, noticed.

"What’s the rush, dear?" she asked, watching him curiously.

"It’s nothing, Mother. Don’t worry!" Lucian replied, finishing the last bite and hurrying off.

Elaina chuckled, shaking her head.

Meanwhile, Lucian headed straight to the library.

He quickly scanned the bookshelves, searching for the one his father had been reading last night. After a while, he finally found it. The book’s cover was old and worn, and the title read:

"The Forgotten Magic: Ancient Era"

Lucian sat down and eagerly flipped open the pages. However, after reading just a few lines, he realized something—

He couldn’t understand a single thing.

The book was filled with complex terms and unfamiliar theories, all of which flew right over his head.

"What is this even saying?!" He groaned in frustration but kept turning the pages.

Just then, Elaina, who happened to be passing by, spotted him inside the library. She walked over and smiled.

"What are you reading, dear?" she asked.

Lucian hesitated before replying, "The book Father was reading last night."

Elaina raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That book is too advanced for you." She sat beside him and picked up another book. "Why don’t you start with the basics instead? Like 'Mana and Aura Amplification' or something similar. It’ll help you understand the fundamentals."

Lucian considered it for a moment and then nodded. "Alright, I’ll start with that."

Elaina smiled warmly and handed him a few beginner-level books.

And with that, Lucian Reinhardt’s journey into the world of magic and aura had begun.

To Be Continued…