"Hmm."
"Boring."
One year has passed, or perhaps it's more accurate to say the year has changed. It is now the year 1723 in the calendar of the Zenith Empire, over a thousand years since the Empire was founded. The Empire itself stands as a silent witness to the changes that have occurred on this continent. It is March 17th, nine days before the Ferdant family's anniversary. Our family celebrates its founding anniversary every ten years, and this marks the 100th celebration. That means it has been 1,000 years since the family was established. Nearly all nobles will attend this event, which is an important visit to maintain friendships with the prestigious family that has produced dozens of Sword Saints and hundreds of Grandmasters throughout its history. What they prioritize the most are the relationships with the youngest Sword Master and the youngest Archmage Circle 7 in history.
The maximum number of Circles a person can hold is 10, and it's nearly impossible to surpass this limit even with potions or ancient forbidden remedies. This is already the peak of a person's Mana capacity. If one wishes to exceed it, they would have to consume a Dragon Heart, which is impossible to obtain given that these creatures are nearly invulnerable. So, is there an easier way? Yes, by making a contract with a Demon, but this comes with significant risks. There are various speculations and theories to surpass these limits, but this path is filled with danger and risks. There are various levels that sorcerers can achieve with magical energy: Mage, Sorcerer, Archmage, Sorcerer King, and finally, Sage. The level a magician reaches depends on the strength of their magical energy. My magical energy has reached the level of Archmage, and my Mana capacity has reached Circle 7 thanks to a method I discovered.
Considering it's only been four months since I started blind Circle training, this progress is extremely extreme. The balance between sword and magic energy that was initially stable has become heavy at one point. The amount of Mana in my mana core is almost reaching Circle 8. So, why not raise it now? As I mentioned before, the scales are starting to tip. Even though all sword-related skills have reached the maximum level (99), if my energy increases again, my body will explode and die. To counterbalance this, I have also increased the intensity of my training. As a result, my height has reached 5'9.
At this moment, I am lying on the highest roof of the castle. This place is my favorite; you can see the vast Dukedom surrounding the grand castle in the middle. The people below are clearly enthusiastic and happy, smiles and laughter echoing throughout the region.
"I just hope to get out of this castle as soon as possible."
Due to my young age, I am confined to the castle even though I have achieved great strength. Perhaps my father is worried that I won't be able to adapt to society, especially since I am a noble from the prestigious Imperial family. I must uphold the family name wherever I go. Perhaps it's because they are so fond of me, given that the Duke has no biological sons of his own. The future ruler of this region will be Emilia's older brother. The affection they show me is overwhelming, considering I'm just an adopted child who appeared out of nowhere, but the love they give me is almost suffocating. Just imagine meeting your family on the street, and they give you hugs, gifts, pats on the head, and more. It happens all the time.
If you were to ask me if I'm lazing around, the answer is no because I'm meditating and circulating all my Aura and Mana throughout my body. Skill Training (99) is truly amazing; practicing automatically whenever you want is a great ability that can even be spammed while sleeping.
A thin Aura suddenly connects with Aeolus. "Avel, come to my office now." Manipulated Aura that is as thin as a thread can enable the user and the target to communicate telepathically by using their determination to send messages through the emitted Aura. "As per your command, Patriarch."
"Teleport." A thin magical circle envelops Aeolus' entire body and transports him to the Duke's office. The entire casting process takes only one second. Although teleportation magic is a basic space-type magic, it is known as a difficult magic for beginners to learn. Many have suffered due to incorrect coordinates during casting. A 3-meter tall door greets Aeolus; he knocks and enters.
"Permission."
"Have a seat."
The Duke rises and sits on the sofa, welcoming Aeolus to sit. Before sitting down, Aeolus bows slightly and takes a seat. The tea is already set on the table even before Aeolus arrived, suggesting it was prepared in advance. Duke pours tea with telekinesis, and Aeolus accepts it with both hands. Duke starts the conversation.
"As you know, the Ferdant family's anniversary is approaching. Nobles and Imperial families will attend the event. As the Ferdant family, we must uphold our honor and family name. If possible, try not to provoke other families unless there is a real issue. Can you do that, Avel?"
"Of course, I will, but if someone disrespects our family name, I won't hesitate to hold them accountable."
"Good, as expected from my son. Now, go to the family treasury room and choose the sword that suits you best."
'At last, the time has come!'
Duke rummages through the space pouch at his waist and retrieves a silver key. "Take this; you can enter the treasure room by inserting this key into one of the doors in the castle. After choosing the sword that suits you, don't forget to return it to me. Do you understand, Avel?"
"Of course, Father."
***
Avel's Room
"Hmm... This key contains very ancient space magic attached to it. The space created by the ancestors of the Avel family is separated from this world but close to the Ferdant family castle. I'll try it immediately."
Without much thought, Aeolus uses the key to open a door in his room. There's no special effect when turning the key to the right, but when the door is opened, a strong wind rushes out, pushing Aeolus backward. This place has a height of about 100 meters, and the pillars supporting the room are grandly carved. After entering the room, Avel is greeted by a map in the center of the room, and by touching one of the points, he can teleport there.
"However, for now, there's only one destination. There are many options like history, tombs, books, armor, etc., but only the 'Swords' option is available."
"The history of this family must be incredible, but there are no recorded history books about the Ferdant family, not at all. It's hard to believe that this family has been around for 1,000 years."
"But in this treasure room, the history books are here, just waiting for me to open them."
Aeolus selects the sword option, the warp magic is applied differently from teleportation magic, and it transports him from the initial room.