One year had passed since the Emperor's Decree, and the Empire was still reeling from the Emperor's speech. The announcement had divided the Empire between the supporters and detractors of the Imperial Academy.
High up in the Noble districts, the Nobles were furious. They had just lost the monopoly on the most powerful tool known to man, and the Emperor had just taken the only thing that had granted them their privileges: Magic.
The commoners, however, were jubilant. The Imperial Academy was open for anyone, regardless of their status, to apply for admission. They could finally rise out of the poverty and oppression the Nobles had forced them into. As soon as the Academy first opened its gates, exactly 6 months after the Decree, thousands of people flooded the admission hall. From the commoners to the sons and daughters of the Nobility, anybody who had even a sliver of Magic Potential tried to enroll in the prestigious institution.
However, the Emperor had set one condition. To keep the nobility from bribing their way in, he decreed that any student enrolled in the Academy must pass a series of tests, designed by the Academy's faculty, before being allowed to join. The Emperor had hand-picked the examiners from his most trustworthy subjects to ensure their loyalty and prevent corruption. They would without fail separate the wheat from the chaff and make sure only the most talented of mages made their way into the Academy. It was still an institution of education after all, not a charity.
The headmaster of the newly established Academy was one of these men handpicked by the Emperor, and one of his closest friends at that. Aurelius Valerius was a man of unwavering integrity, unwavering loyalty, exceptional talent, and above all, he ranked among the most brilliant minds in the entire Empire. In his private chamber, illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight, Aurelius sat behind his desk. His keen eyes were fixed on a letter that contained a rather unusual request from the Emperor.
"Dear friend,
During the last Parade, I finally managed to lay my eyes on someone whomst i've been looking for for an astonishingly long time. This individual is someone dear to my benefactor, and thus I'd like to request you to keep your eyes on him. If he displays even the tiniest bit of Magical Potential, I want you to take him into your folds without the need for an entrance exam. I ask you this as a friend, not as the Emperor, so you are free to refuse.
Attached to my letter is his personal file, though you might find it to be a bit short.
Yours truly,
Egnatius Pendragon, your oldest friend."
Aurelius frowned. Usually, the Emperor wasn't one for favoritism or nepotism. This request coming from him in particular was extremely peculiar.
'What kind of person could make the Emperor stray from his core principles?' He asked himself.
He quickly grabbed a knife and started breaking the seal on the file of this enigmatic person. Usually one would have needed to be very careful opening a seal on a letter from the Emperor, since breaking the Imperial Seal was seen as desecration of the Emperor and punishable by death. Aurelius had no such problem though, since the Emperor had used his personal seal instead of the Imperial one.
He opened the file, and his jaw almost hit the ground as quickly as the knife slipped from his fingers. The contents were beyond absurd.
"[Name: Ruen, Son of Vedel]
[Age: 1 Year, 2 Months]
[Occupation: Baby]
[Residence: The Cinderstone District]"
That was the entire file. The person who had prompted the Emperor to compromise his ethical stance was a baby, and not just any baby but a commoner, barely a year old.
Aurelius found himself further confounded by his friend's request. How could the Emperor have been seeking this particular baby for an extended period, when the subject was a mere infant? What made this baby so remarkable to the Benefactor?
'Egnatius, what kind of perplexing situation have you stumbled into this time?' Aurelius sighed in disbelief.
He rose from his seat and began to pace within the confines of his room.
"Should I truly heed his words?" Aurelius contemplated, stroking his chin. "After all, he did mention that I am free to refuse."
"Admitting someone without any testing is absurd, and tracking a seemingly unremarkable infant is even worse!" he thought.
He continued to tread the carpeted floor, making so many rounds that it raised concern in his butler. He suddenly halted, slapping his cheeks a few times to regain focus.
'Egnatius does seem to have a special interest in this "Ruen" though.' He thought.
Then, with a heavy sigh, he sank back into his chair. "I shall adhere to Egnatius's wishes. I am a mere slave to my curiosity, and it seems that the only way to appease it is to follow his instructions."
He called over his butler.
"Yes, sir?" The old man said as he approached the desk.
Aurelius handed him the file. "Keep track of this individual, and notify me without delay if they ever happen to Awaken their Magic."
The butler accepted the file, and failed to keep his face straight for a fraction of a second while reading it. "Sir, this file appears to be that of an infant. Are you sure this is the correct one?"
"Yes, Alberic, as a matter of fact I am." Aurelius sighed, rubbing his temples.
Alberic remained silent for a second before responding. "As you wish milord. I shall notify the proper authorities immediately."
"Thank you Alberic, and please make sure the specifics remain between you and I."
"Yes sir" Alberic bowed before leaving the room.
"I wonder how this will end." Aurelius mumbled whilst swirling his drink.