The sun sat centered in the cloudless blue sky, its brilliant beams radiating from its luminous form, scorching what stood down below—the pristine Blackshade estate, where nobles from all around—father and son—gathered together for an annual event.
It was the day of the ceremony of rites, where young men either gain the right to become warlocks or fail and are disposed of by their family, a very special day for the nobles, as it determines who is accepted into their pristine society and who is not.
During this trial, one's mana capacity and magic are measured—those who show no signs of potential or lack the potential of a noble are discarded, stripped of their noble name, and thrown away like trash into the society of commoners. While those who are shown to possess above-average talent are allowed into the society of nobles, and beyond that are the ones with superior magic—magic that transcends what regular elemental magic is capable of—those born with it are treated with the highest amount of respect in the noble society.
A gentle breeze passed through the courtyard of the Blackshade estate, brushing and maneuvering between the nobles that filled the courtyard of the castle-like manor, a breeze that gave off a cold chill to all of those who were present.
"Why did it suddenly get so cold?"
A nobleman questioned, a ticked expression on his face; he was clearly becoming irritated by the long wait period and growing ever more so as time passed.
"That stupid Blackshade... what could possibly be taking him so long?"
Another noble spoke, showcasing the same amount of annoyance, while he tapped his finger rapidly against his cheek.
Then suddenly, the air became thin—a pressure exuded upon all the nobles present, forcing them to their knees, and darkness enveloped the sky, blocking out the sun's illuminating rays.
"What the...? Is this all magic, but there's so much of it? There's no way a person could cover the entire sky with their magic alone."
A young noble muttered, forced to his knees and completely overwhelmed by the magic spread throughout the atmosphere. He couldn't manage to raise his head beneath all of the pressure, yet it's amazing he was even able to speak.
"Welcome, everyone, and thank you all for gathering together."
A voice spoke out, deep and commanding; it wasn't welcoming like its words tried to convey, but rather it was filled with prideful condescension.
The source of the voice was a man—clad in black robes, with waist-length black hair, and darkness pouring from every inch of his being in the form of a shadowy black mist. He stood atop a stage, his aura radiating his own ego, the ego of the House of Blackshade.
"Lord Blackshade, don't you think you've demonstrated enough power... I mean, look at these people—they're helpless."
Said a young man with long white hair and vibrant golden eyes. He wore gold and white robes, with a crescent sun emblem on his chest. Proudly, he stood surrounded by an aura of light that gave off a faint warming heat.
"Whatever do you mean, Apollo? They're nobles I thought by status alone they were worthy of standing in my presence, but sadly, out of the bunch, only three of you are capable."
Lord Blackshade replied, the incredible pressure lifting, and the shadowy sky dissipating to once more reveal the golden light of the sun.
The crowd of nobles grasped at their throats, struggling to catch their breath from the sudden influx of air flooding their lungs. "What was that? It didn't feel like a spell… It felt like gravity was increasing, like standing was against what my body was capable of, yet I only sensed him releasing his mana. But how…?" One nobleman muttered beneath his breath.
"No way, that's just impossible. No human can be that strong. I know Lord Blackshade is the recognized king of warlocks, but to be capable of warping the atmosphere with his presence alone, forcing even other nobles to bow before him, that's just unreal." Another man added gripping onto a nearby statue to help rise to his feet.
"Gee, what a monster! Even I could barely hold myself underneath all that pressure. Then again, he is one of the five strongest in the world."
Whispered the white-haired noble—Apollo.
"Like I was saying, thank you all for coming to this year's magic assessments. Today, we'll get to gauge new talent and witness the potential of a new era..." Lord Blackshade said, taking a moment before gesturing his hand towards a luminescent crystal sitting on the marble pedestal next to him.
"One by one, you young nobles will come up and place your hand onto this crystal. It shall measure your power and determine any magic you may possess... Remember, failure is not welcomed in the world of magic, and those who show a lack of magical talent have no right to become a warlock and will be stripped of their noble title."
Lord Blackshade continued, his voice echoing across the open area as if it were being enhanced by a loudspeaker, its tone sending sharp chills down the spines of those who heard it.
Shortly after Lord Blackshade's speech, the young nobles eager to prove themselves worthy gathered, standing in a single-file line as ordered by Lord Blackshade. And one by one they approached the stand and placed their hand onto the magic crystal. When the first teen reached out his hand to the crystal, it glowed with an even brighter light than it already had, while small elements of fire, water, and wind twirled above it.
"Did I do well? Am I safe...?" The noble teen questioned, frantic confusion running wild through his mind, the fear of being discarded by his family took over, causing him to shake uncontrollably.
"Calm yourself, young one. You have nothing to worry about; the brightness of the crystal's glow indicates you have a high mana pool befitting a noble, and the fire, water, and wind that float above the crystal represent your high affinity towards those three elements. I assure you, you'll make a fine warlock, though unfortunately you don't possess any superior magic; that is a pity."
Lord Blackshade responded with an unsatisfied look on his face. He then gestured for the next noble to approach the crystal—when he reached out for it, the luminescent glow that once filled the crystal vanished and was replaced by darkness.
The expression on Lord Blackshade's face shifted, a smirk of curiosity replacing his dissatisfaction. He leaned in closer towards the young man, "You have no mana at all, but in response you've been blessed with the rare superior magic—Anti-Magic... In all my years, I've never actually experienced it myself. Tell me, young man, what is your name?"
The boy adopted a prideful smile. Then again, who wouldn't after being praised by the King of Warlocks himself? "My name is Kage... Kage Dreadstone. It is a pleasure to be praised by someone of your status, Lord Blackshade. I only hope that I am able to live up to your expectations."
Lord Blackshade responded with a smile of his own, "Maybe one day, you'll be strong enough to give me a run for my money. A fight against someone who can cancel out magic is bound to be interesting."
Kage simply nodded with a look of admiration before retaking his position next to his father, who was radiating with pride for his son. "That's my boy, always sticking ahead of the competition. You're bound to be number one this year. Even ahead of the Blackshade, brat, I'm sure of it." Kage's father said while nodding his head with respect.
"Thank you, Father—it brings me much joy to have gained your recognition. I'm sure that I'll prove to you that I am more than worthy of such praise." Kage declared.
Time passed, and nobles one after the other stepped up to be evaluated by the magic crystal—a few here and there were revealed to even possess a superior magic, but then came that one.
A noble, wearing black pants and a white shirt covered over by blue robes adorned with beautiful jewelry, stepped up to the pedestal and placed his hand on the crystal.
"Ugh, how disappointing. Your mana pool is low, and your magic is weak—to balance it out, you don't possess any superior magic at all either. A weakling like you doesn't deserve to be called a noble... get out of my sight!"
Lord Blackshade said, criticizing the young noble, with a face that showed complete and utter disgust.
The boy dropped to his knees, tears falling from his eyes, and a look of despair spread across his face. His body shivered with fear; he slowly turned his head back towards his father. "Please, Father... don't abandon me. I'm begging you!" he yelled, but there was no response; only the laughter and criticism of the other present nobles followed.
Then suddenly, a shadowy mist enwrapped the child, like he was being absorbed into the darkness, and when it disappeared, he vanished with it as if he were never there to begin with.
"Tch! That bastard Blackshade."
Apollo mumbled quietly while clenching his fist; his body emanated heat that continued to grow hotter as time passed.
Yet still... he did nothing and only watched.
"What happened to him...?" One of the young nobles questioned.
"I bet Lord Blackshade got rid of that brat; after all, a weakling like him doesn't deserve to live in a world made for nobles like us."
Another boy with short brown hair and light blue eyes followed.
"Calm yourselves—he isn't dead—I just sent him into the slums of poverty, where all failures end up."
Blackshade replied, creating a silence amongst the nobles' chatter.
"Anyway, let's continue with the ceremony; things aren't over yet. In fact, it is just beginning. You'll witness the true potential of what a noble is capable of. Now come forth, Legion and Silas, my sons!"
Lord Blackshade's words rumbled throughout the courtyard, freezing everyone in their places. With a snap of his fingers, a door constructed from shadows appeared behind him—exiting from it were two dark-skinned young men.
One had long white braided hair that extended down to his waist, and his body had bruises and scars riddled all over. The other had black, spiky hair that didn't quite reach his lower back just yet; unlike the white-haired boy, he was dressed elegantly in an outfit suited for nobility.
"Two Sons? I thought that Lord Blackshade only had one son. I never heard of this other kid… His hair isn't black like his father or brother, and he doesn't look noble; maybe he's illegitimate... or possibly adopted?"
Thought Apollo, as he struggled for an answer, his aura still flared but decreased rapidly as he grew calmer.
"Legion, step forward, show them what the Blackshade bloodline is capable of. And do not disappoint your father!"
Legion—the black-haired boy, who resembled Lord Blackshade the most—reached out his hand towards the crystal, and it began to glow with otherworldly luminosity, the elements of fire, earth, wind, and water floating above it, swirling with synerg"y.
Everyone looked on in awe, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Incredible! Based off his mana alone, he possesses even more potential than I do. And his magic... to possess talent in all four elements is rare even amongst nobles."
Apollo said with disbelief.
"Nice, good going, Legion, and you seem to even possess superior magics as well—the astonishing Void magic and, like your father, Shadow magic. I am quite impressed. Now, Silas, it is your turn to prove your worth, and remember, do not let me down. If you do, you know the consequences."
Silas gave a nod before reaching out his hand towards the crystal, but strangely the light didn't glow; it got dimmer—much dimmer—and no elements appeared above the crystal either. By far his performance was the worst amongst the other nobles. The complete opposite of his brother—who performed the best.
"Wow, the difference in talent is like day and night. One's a prodigy and the other a complete failure... even better, I can't believe Lord Blackshade's son is such a weakling; what a joke. Is someone like that even worthy of being the king?"
A noble, dressed in red robes, bearing an emblem of a golden lion's head on his chest, spoke out with a mockery-filled tone.
"Wow, I can't believe Lord Blackshade's son is really so weak, with no signs of talent. Could he possibly be an adopted son? that would explain his appearance and lack of power… But why adopt someone like him? Did Blackshade think that kid held some kind of power, or does he truly belong to the Blackshade bloodline? If he is related by blood, then maybe Malric's finally losing his touch."
Said an androgynous man with long, dark purple hair tied in a ponytail, beautiful eyes that resembled the night sky, and a black robe covered in stars that seemed to shift around on the robe.
"What a letdown, and all the work I had to put in for you to be born. You've turned out to be a waste of my time, and now your life no longer holds any value."
Lord Blackshade said, while nodding his head side-to-side with disappointment.
"Hahah! You always were just a bastard; now you're a talentless bastard as well. What a pathetic weakling, you're even worse than the commoners."
Legion said, his voice adopting a prideful nature similar to his father's, his tone belittling towards Silas.
"No… no… no… father It's not what it looks like, I promise," Silas begged, collapsing to his knees, but Lord Blackshade did not hesitate; with a wave of his hands, a shadowy mist enveloped Silas. "Don't... please don't! I promise I can be useful, Father, believe me!"
"Father...? I'm not your father; you are no longer a Blackshade; you are merely an experiment gone wrong. And failed experiments like yourself are meant to be discarded—" The words of Lord Blackshade caused Silas to drop to his knees. He failed, and the House of Blackshade didn't welcome failures. All the pain he suffered and the training he went through were just for nothing. the reality of his situation allowed for his despair to wrap his body. "— Now rot away in the forest of death like the pathetic existence you are."
The sound of gasping echoed across the courtyard, the nobles caught off guard. "Forest of Death...?" one noble uttered to himself.
"He's really sending his own son to a place that deadly?"
Another added.
"If he's sending his own son there, I wonder what he did to that other brat."
A third noble spoke out, turning his head towards the man of that child. Though the man's face was unfazed, not a glimpse of emotion was depicted. "How heartless can one be?" Not even concerned about his own child."
"Huh...? What was that? Child, I have no child." The unfazed noble said with a stern voice and emotionless tone.
Apollo lowered his head, a blazing aura emitting from his body, the air grew dry, nearby sources of water evaporated, and the plants and trees around began to wither.
"Woah! What's going on?" screeched a panicking noble, barely holding onto his consciousness, before passing out shortly afterwards.
"Lord Blackshade—no, Malric, you're a monster! How could you send that child to such a dangerous place where not even veteran warriors can survive?"
Apollo exclaimed with rage echoing from his voice, but Malric—Lord Blackshade—stood unfazed with a smirk on his face.
"It's none of your business, Apollo. This is a family matter, and you are not a part of my family, so don't bother yourself with the fates I decide for my children, as they do not involve you... now back down!"
In the blink of an eye, the entire stage that Malric stood on and the portion of the Blackshade estate that stood behind suddenly vanished as if they were never there to begin with, and Apollo's blazing aura that filled the courtyard completely diminished, erased without any traces.
The origin of the attack was the purple-haired man who held his finger pointed towards Malric and Legion.
Though somehow Malric and Legion were completely unaffected, unharmed, and merely just floating in the air like nothing had happened.
"What the… So that's it, huh? The famous spatial magic of the Cosmos family—I didn't even see him activate a spell or anything. He merely pointed his finger, and the space, my aura even, was completely erased. It seems I've gotten too comfortable being praised off my talent alone. There's no way I can contend with these guys like that; I have to get stronger, much stronger."
Apollo said to himself, an astonished look on his face as he glared at the gaping hole before him.
"What is it that you're doing, Atlas? I never picked you to be as sensitive as Apollo. But let me ask, are you sure you want to challenge the king of warlocks…?"
Malric asked, before reaching out his hand towards Atlas—the purple-haired man who wore a space-like robe—and he unleashed the pressure of his mana.
"Aww, and here I was thinking that you've lost your edge. Unfortunately, it seems you're still just as powerful as ever, Malric. … I thought you were just getting weaker, but that child of yours must've just been a fluke who inherited none of your qualities at all."
Atlas responded as he lowered his outstretched hand, reclaiming his relaxed position of sitting cross-legged while floating mid-air.
"What…? My child is not weak; in fact, I promise within the span of a year he'll be able to give you a run for your money, won't you, Legion?"
Malric retorted, turning his head towards Legion.
"Right, Father, I promise to meet your expectations, and within a year I will be able to crush Atlas Cosmos and the entire Cosmos family."
Legion added, with a confident and cocky smirk on his face, a flare of darkness appearing in his hand.
"It seems the brat is just as prideful as you, Malric; he truly is a spitting image of his father."
Responded Atlas in a playful tone.
"Right, well anyways, thank you all for attending this year's ceremony of rites. I can't wait to see how all of these young nobles grow into powerful warlocks someday. I can already feel the amazing potential they exude. And I believe that under correct guidance they will surpass their elders and develop into the new era of warlocks."
Malric said, before spawning a door from his shadowy mist, and walked through it along with Legion.
In truth the trials are just beginning, well atleast for Silas Blackshade, his trials begin within of the forest of death... how will he manage against the powerful creatures and abnormal atmosphere when he doesn't possess any uniuqe traits of his own.