The Patra Kingdom, one of the six kingdoms, is renowned for its beauty and technological advancements, having pioneered many breathtaking innovations. At the heart of this legacy is the Sanctivus House, a family with deep roots that contributed greatly to the kingdom's founding.
The previous patriarch of the house, Regalis Sanctivus, stands out even among the most powerful mages. While others focused on combat and elemental affinity, Regalis was born with a unique and powerful innate ability: healing. Unlike holy priests who use divine power, Regalis could heal himself and others using pure mana. He was the only person in the entire continent with this gift. His family, recognizing the immense value of this talent, poured all their resources into nurturing it. Despite not using elemental affinities, he reached the prestigious rank of an Eighth Circle Mage by mastering his healing abilities.
Regalis's body could refine mana into its purest form, which he would then channel to any part of a body, healing wounds with incredible speed. This ability to heal without relying on holy magic made him a rare and highly respected figure, as healers are precious and few. The Sanctivus House capitalized on this, gaining immense influence across the continent and growing in both wealth and public standing. The king of Patra at the time even gave his daughter's hand in marriage to Regalis, cementing the Sanctivus House as the most powerful family in the kingdom.
Regalis became a formidable figure, respected for his research papers and his countless acts of healing. His influence surpassed that of other Eighth Circle Mages.
The Patra kingdom, located to the northeast of the Atheliya Empire, has long maintained a friendly alliance with its powerful neighbor, with both nations offering mutual support. This bond was further solidified by the fact that Crown Prince Ash's grandmother was a princess of Patra.
Regalis fathered three sons, all of whom inherited his innate healing ability. His eldest, Nafis Sanctivus, in turn, had two children: a gifted daughter, Delfia, and a second son, Bellatora.
While Delfia inherited her grandfather's prodigious talent, Bellatora did not. He was born weak, with a low mana capacity and no discernible gift for magic. Despite his family's every effort, he was never able to progress. Now, at thirty-five years old—older than the accomplished sixth-circle mages Lucy and Olivia of Venessa Academy—Bellatora remains stuck at the third circle.
Though his family—his father, mother, sister, and grandfather—loved him for who he was and supported him in every way possible, in the eyes of the public, he was a failure. Wherever he went, people mocked him and made fun of his weakness. This constant public humiliation drove him to seek a solution in forbidden lore: curses.
His descent began during a dungeon exploration with his family's knights. There, Bellatora happened upon an ancient grimoire of curses. It was within its pages that he first learned of the Tree Root Curse. After returning from the expedition, he began to secretly study and master the dark arts contained within the book.
Last year, during a banquet at the imperial palace, Bellatora met Ines. He recognized her instantly, recalling his grandfather's words that she was born with a mana pool. His grandfather, Regalis, had regularly checked on Ines's condition, as her body required constant mana adjustments and healing sessions to adapt to and efficiently use her boundless mana.
In that moment, a wicked thought took hold of Bellatora. He followed Ines to the imperial garden and placed the Root Devouring Tree curse on her. Soon after, Ines's body began to weaken and the curse marks appeared on her back. As an ancient curse, no one knew what it was. Desperate, her father sought help from Nafis Sanctivus, and Bellatora accompanied his father to "treat" Ines. Bellatora would use the Tree Curse on his own body to secretly siphon mana from Ines's mana pool. This would temporarily give her some relief, but over time, it was slowly draining her life force.
It had been a year since he started this dark practice, and he was close to completely draining her mana pool, leaving behind only an empty corpse. Now, this very man was walking toward Aeon. Their eyes met, and Bellatora stopped before him.
Aeon remained calm and composed, and so did Bellatora. It was Scarlet who broke the silence.
"Hello, Mister Bellatora," she said. "It's been a while since we met. How are you doing?"
Bellatora turned to Scarlet. "Oh, it's a pleasure to meet you, Scarlet. And my Lady Sara and Jennica are here, too. And this beautiful lady..." He looked at Silvia. "I've seen your face. You must be Silvia, right?"
Silvia, confused by the sudden appearance of a stranger, was silent. Sara, sensing this, stepped forward. "Silvia, this is Mister Bellatora Sanctivus," she said, briefly explaining his background.
Silvia understood and said, "It's nice to meet you, Mister Bellatora. Please forgive me, I didn't know who you were."
"Oh, please, you don't need to apologize. That happens," he said with a dismissive wave. He then looked at Kayle. "And I don't need to guess who you are. Silver hair, blue and green eyes like gemstones... you must be Kayle, right?"
Kayle calmly met Bellatora's gaze, scanning his attire. Bellatora wore a long coat, gloves, and a black scarf, concealing every part of his body. Aeon knew he was hiding the marks of the Tree Curse.
Kayle extended his hand for a handshake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir Bellatora."
Bellatora shook his hand, and just then, Kayle flowed a raw surge of energy into his palm. A sudden electric shock jolted through Bellatora's hand, and he quickly pulled it back.
"What happened, Mister Bellatora?" Kayle asked, feigning innocence.
"No, it's nothing," Bellatora said, rubbing his hand. "It's just... I felt a small electric shock."
"You must be mistaken," Kayle said with a casual smile. "I think you've been working so hard that your muscles are overexerted."
"Yeah, I think you're right," Bellatora said, quickly changing the subject. "Well, it's quite unexpected to see all the well-known people of the Empire in one place."
"Well, Kayle and I came to celebrate the New Year and just happened to meet Scarlet and Jennica here," Sara said.
"I can see that. It's New Year's, and everyone wants to come to Armino at least once," Bellatora said. "I must be lucky to meet all the rising stars of the Empire here. Why don't you guys join me?"
"We're sorry, but we just ate and were about to leave," Jennica said.
"Oh," Bellatora sighed. "Well, it can't be helped. I hope we meet again."
"Yeah, we'll meet very soon," Kayle said with a calm, knowing expression.
With that, they all left the restaurant.
– – –
Outside the restaurant, Scarlet and Jennica rode together in the carriage, the glow of Alofis's lights reflecting on the snowy street. Scarlet looked out the window, contemplating her conversation with Kayle.
Jennica broke the silence, her voice bright with enthusiasm. "Isn't Kayle super hot and good-looking, just like I said? And the fact that he's able to bring back life is something no one can imagine. Scarlet, just think about it—it was a feat that no one else could accomplish. Seriously, if he weren't so principled, Kayle could have gained so much just by revealing that history. But he isn't the type who runs for fame and money like any other person. Don't you agree, Scarlet?"
Scarlet turned to her close friend, a bright smile crossing her lips. "You're absolutely right. I couldn't believe myself when I heard about him. I was so curious to meet the boy who made the stone-hearted Jennica fall for him that crazily," she teased.
Jennica's face flushed, and she looked away. "Please, Scarlet, don't start teasing me now."
"Why? Don't you like him, huh?" Scarlet pressed playfully. "When you came back from the Grand Research Gala, you were so desperate to find him that you sent your family butlers and maids to Venessa Academy to deliver your letters to him, didn't you?"
"However, I must say that everything you and my brother said was true," Scarlet explained, her tone shifting to serious reflection. "Someone who could revive a person from near death and challenge the old principles of magic—a challenge no one dared to take—who beat up every so-called noble prodigy and genius who thought the world revolved around them. He did all those things despite being a commoner; he reached the top, breaking every chain that restrained him."
"And more than that, he refused my father," Scarlet added, her voice dropping so low Jennica almost missed it.
"Did you say something?" Jennica asked.
"Nothing," Scarlet quickly switched. "I must say, he's more extraordinary than I thought."
"I know right? He is one of a kind. This is what makes him different from the others," Jennica said, her enthusiasm returning.
Scarlet looked out the carriage window again, her thoughts deepening.
"It's my first time someone has turned me down," she thought with genuine curiosity. "Up until now, whether they were noble or commoner, no one has ever denied me anything. Being called a Beauty of the Empire, one of the Six Flowers of the Empire, and the youngest daughter of Duke Maklice, I had everything in my palm. The very idea of rejection is something I've never faced in my life. Kayle, that boy... I first heard about him three years ago, and I was instantly curious to meet him. And my friend Jennica—she went to the Grand Research Gala and was utterly changed after meeting him. Just like me, she's a Six Flower and the daughter of David Roxidon, head of one of the Five Great Clans. She never lacked anything and rejected countless noble marriage attempts. Yet, that same cold and arrogant Jennica was mesmerized by Kayle. She became crazily devoted to him. It was like I was seeing a different person. Just what kind of individual is Kayle, that he can change people so profoundly?"
"What my brother told me last time was quite unexpected," she continued, recalling the Duke's words. "No one has dared to turn down my father, but he did it. He turned down the marriage proposal of one of the most powerful families in the Empire—a chance that not anyone could get in their life. What he said to my father—that this matter involved my life and happiness, and that he should talk to me first to get my permission—that was the thing that turned my curiosity into attraction. Just what kind of individual are you, Kayle, to wield such influence?"
"He turned the cold and arrogant Jennica into a crazy lover, he made my powerful father question his own decisions, and even that cocky Sara from the Vaviniya Clan, who always thinks of herself as royalty and looks down upon commoners—I didn't need to guess it, she has clearly grown fond of him and was worried sick for him."
"Kayle," she concluded in her mind, "I can't deny it, but you are truly something else. And that face... can make anyone envious. Kayle, I am looking forward to our next meeting."
– – –
At the Venessa academy.
Kayle walked through the academy's snowy grounds, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "Today was full of surprises," he mused. "First, I met with Scarlet and Jennica. Though I had already sensed their presence, and meeting with Bellatora was something I didn't expect. I can't believe it, but I have to think of it as someone out there is helping me, guiding me through these events and making things easier for me. This only reinforces the feeling that I am a chess piece in someone's great plan. Whoever that person is, I swear to find them out and get my answers."
"Now I need to focus on my next move," Aeon thought. "It was good that I met with Bellatora today. While shaking hands with him, I was able to inject my raw energy into his hand. This will render him unable to absorb or use mana in his right arm. Raw energy is vastly different from mana; while mana flows like water and is part of the environment, raw energy is like the will of a human. The stronger the person's will, the stronger their raw energy. When these two energies collide, they generate an opposite reaction and a powerful electric shock. That bastard Bellatora will feel unimaginable pain in his arm. This will help with the plan."
He soon reached a colossal, circular four-story building. This was the Brahm's Library, one of the biggest libraries in the Atheliya Empire, containing the history and many secrets of the realm, second only to the Imperial Library.
The library was named after Brahm, the most intelligent and knowledgeable man in history. Brahm was born with a medical condition similar to a social-emotional reciprocity disorder, rendering him unable to engage in normal social interactions. However, when you loss something you gain something in return. what he lost in social grace, he gained in genius: his brain was incredibly sharp, allowing him to memorize anything simply by reading it once. He became the most knowledgeable man in history, he even authored the imperial law and contributing countless works in the various fields, his written books and texts were filled in the academy's library.
Aeon stood at the foot of the library's stairs.
"Happy New Year, Senior," a girl's voice said from behind.
Aeon turned. It was Ines, offering him a polite smile. Her eyes held small dark circles, betraying the pain she tried to hide. Aeon immediately recognized that she hadn't slept much due to the ache in her back.
"Happy New Year, Ines," Kayle replied with a smile. "I think I made you wait for me very long."
"Not at all, Senior," Ines said quickly. "I just wanted to get some fresh air, so I came earlier than you."
Kayle, seeing her struggle, extended his hand to her. "Here, grab my hand. The stairs are slippery because of the snow."
Ines blushed and took his hand. Immediately, a wave of warmth spread through her body. The warmth provided immediate comfort, and the severe pain in her back and hands significantly reduced. Her pained expression instantly transformed into relief. She looked at Kayle, holding her hand.
"Senior," she asked, surprised by the sensation, "are you the one releasing the hot waves into my body?"
"Why, don't you like it?" he asked, his smile gentle.
"No, it's not like that, but why?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
"Because I know you were lying to me," Kayle explained. "That's why I am flowing my inner mana into your body so that you won't feel the pain. Don't worry, you won't have any side effects. I made this mana circulation method just for this."
Hearing Kayle's words, a huge wave of emotion washed over Ines.
"It's good that Silvia and Sara are not here," Kayle thought, a wave of relief washing over him.
Kayle and Ines stepped inside the library. It was a magnificent and grand structure built with precious white and black marbles from Alofis City. The white marbled flooring and black marbled pillars, adorned with beautiful designs, testified to its prestige. The library contained over 100,000 books, making it the second largest in the Atheliya Empire.
The first and second floors of the library were accessible to all students. However, from the third floor onward, restrictions applied:
Third Floor: Accessible only to faculty members, professors, and their assistants.
Fourth Floor: Restricts the entry of professors' assistants, serving as a more secure faculty research area.
In addition to the four visible floors, the library contained two underground floors. These floors held the most precious, historical, and ancient grimoires and texts of the Empire. Access to the underground levels was strictly limited to Headmaster Elizabeth and those who had her explicit permission.
Aeon, holding Ines's hand, walked toward the elevator. They stepped inside, and Aeon pressed the Fourth Floor button. Ines, who had been quietly following him, was surprised; she knew that even professors' assistants were restricted from this floor.
With curiosity in her eyes, she asked, "Um, Senior, can we really enter the Fourth Floor just like that? I know you're a professor's assistant, but this floor is restricted to senior faculty members only."
Kayle turned to Ines. "Don't worry, I've already gotten us permission from the Headmaster."
"But Senior, as far as I know, the Headmaster and professors have already searched the Fourth Floor of the library and didn't find anything there. So why are we going there?" she asked.
"I didn't say we're going to search for the cure there," Kayle explained. "What we're going to find is the origin of the curse. When your father asked for help, the Headmaster and professors looked into the curse and disease sections to find a cure for you. But what we need to find is what that thing on your back actually is. Now, shall we go?"
Kayle's explanation calmed her. The elevator stopped, and both Kayle and Ines stepped out. Kayle held his identity card up to the crystal ball positioned before the door. After a brief verification, the door clicked open, and they entered the restricted section of the library.