Realms of Mana, Years 766.
Decades later after the birth of royal twins, Katherine and Morpheus. The Kingdom of Merilyn is still prosperous so much different races and species can live together in harmony with different culture, together, they still lives a happy life within the kingdom itself.
"Wait for me!!!(panting)" you can heard a group of children running together to some places while playing on the street of Kreeg named after a legendary rouge who is a rival of King.
"Man... this is expensive" said Alaric with a gloomy expression looking at some high-quality material.
"Of course it is expensive, Alaric. This is a high-quality material." answer Seraphina with her right hand on her waist with a skeptical expression.
Alaric just wanted to some high quality material for his potion and more item he can make, Seraphina just follow him cause she's always worried.
Meanwhile, Sir Gideon train his soldiers as usual with strict discipline. Except for his daughter, Nora, a young knight prodigy, who trains by herself near a tree in her training attire.
Overlord King and his queen has another 8 children during 10-year period of the twins' growth. A lively trio of 8-year-old triplet daughters, a spirited 7-year-old son, two charming 6-year-old twin daughters, and the youngest pair of adorable 4-year-old twins.
The name of the triplets are Mika, the black-haired and blue eyes with glasses girls, Misa, another black head but with yellow line with a flower hair clips and blue eyes, and Mira, the blonde with blue eyes.
The name of the sons is Kafka, Short black-haired with red eye on his left and blue eye on his right.
The second twins name is Maya, a tomboy short black head, red eyes and tan skin, and Mary, the most feminine with blonde twin tails and blue eyes.
And lastly, the youngest twins named Katja, the expressionless (kuudere) daughter with blonde hair and red eyes, and Katia, the high-spirited daughter with also blonde hair and blue eyes.
In this harmonious family, love and equality weave a tapestry that embraces not only Katherine and Morpheus but extends warmly to all their siblings, fostering a bond that enriches each member's unique qualities and strengths.
10 years have passed since the festival celebrating the birth of the royal twins. Both Katherine and Morpheus have been trained by Elara. Elara is her highness, Queen Merilyn, best friend since they were children especially before Merilyn becomes the queen.
Katherine has grown up to be beautiful with her black hair, she also has freckles on her face and blue saphire eyes just like her mother's, she wears a beautiful sweet red jumper skirts dress with a cute black shoes.
But Morpheus, he is small and scrawny with black hair and red eyes. He barely wears some clothes especially he wears cilt. The butlers and maids tried to make him wear something more appropriate for years but failed because he always took it off. It seems that he has his father's attitude.
During Katherine and Morpheus train with Elara, Elara instructs Katherine to cast Level 5 Golem which is building size giant golem as all other younger siblings watches Katherine summons.
Katherine raised her training wand and she cast her spell,"Earth Spirit heed my word, Let me summon a guardian to protect me, and my people from the creature of darkness, Let the guardian banish the creature of darkness, RISE!! GUARDIAN OF THE EARTH!!!".
As she cast the spell, the ground begin to shakes and glow with lumine green. The golem did summon, but it is level 6 golem. Elara, the other siblings, guards, butler and maids is shocked to see a castle size golem rise from the very ground. Even Merilyn's eyes widened to see that her daughter become too strong too early. It also scares the people who live near the castle to point some of them drop their thing.
"I SAID LEVEL 5 NOT LEVEL 6!!!" Elara yelled at Katherine after the golem return to the earth. "Teehee" Katherine chuckles with funny expression.
"Scary..." All of her younger siblings except Morpheus is scared of Katherine powers.
"This is mana control lesson, little miss" Elara tells Katherine about the lesson itself.
"Wait, this is not summoning lesson?" Katherine tilts her head in confusion.
"No it is not" everyone in the castle answer her with annoyed.
Sir Gideon, Alaric and Seraphina comes with wind speed, they're all concern for what just happen.
"What in the- What happens!?" said Sir Gideon with worries.
"Is there's an enemy attack!?" said Seraphina while she holds her great battle axe for preparation.
"Nope, it's just Katherine summoning again." said Alaric.
"Ugh...!"
Queen Merilyn chuckles to sees a funny scenes thanks to Katherine adorable stupidity.
When the Queen changes her gaze towards Morpheus, her expression turn saddened and worried. Morpheus could not cast any spells even the most simplest spell. He is so focused on trying to cast a spell that he ignored Katherine golem summoning just now.
With his weak voice while raising his training wand, he said "Please fire, please come out" as he struggles. Morpheus has been trying to cast some spells for 5 years and he still couldn't even cast any.
Katherine on the other hand can cast "Glow" when she's not even reached 1 month.
"I feel bad for young master" sympathize by an old wolfman butler.
"He has no talent and does not have even a single drop of mana in him I can't believe he's even my older brother" Kafka lowly mock him from afar.
"Don't mock him"
"Yeah you don't even know how he feels"
"Like your magic training is cool"
The triplets stop Kafka while mocking him too.
"Shut up!" Kafka hush the triplets.
The other siblings watch Morpheus silently, some of them sympathize and some of them belittle Morpheus.
Elara, Gideon, Alaric and Seraphina, all four general also sympathize Morpheus.
Morpheus tried so hard hard that he is showering sweats. And then, he cries while he cast the spell. By the way, the spells that he tries to use is force push spell a gravity type spell. For a 10 years old mage, It can only push some rocks and pebbles. That is the most simplest spell that Morpheus can't do.
Suddenly, Katherine tap Morpheus back, Morpheus notice her dear sister calls. With her hand crossed she said "It's okay my dear little brother, talent or no talent you can still surpassed me one day but not today cause I know that you're stronger than me."
"Is that sarcasm?" Morpheus annoyed.
"Wha- Noo... I-"
"Is okay sis, I'm just joking. Thanks by the way." Morpheus cut her words by teasing her.
"You little- You're crying and I just tries to help you. Stupid Morpheus." Katherine mad at Morpheus while pouting.
"I'm sorry sis" Morpheus apologize.
"It's okay I forgive you" Katherine forgives her little brother easily.
The people that sees Katherine and Morpheus conversation, they're all in awe with their hearts melt like butter to see this cuteness of twins's loves. After that, Katherine and Morpheus continues their training till sunsets.
Weeks later, Morpheus eyes widened cause all of his siblings surpassed him. Even each of them has their own signature magic such as...
Katia with her signature Weapon Summoning Magic, she can summons any weapon as she please.
Katja with her Puppet Controlling Magic, she can physically controls any movement as she pleases and she usually controls her teddy bears.
Mary with her Plant Manipulation Magic, she can control plant and grows them as she please especially she can also use healing magic.
Maya with her Buff Magic, she can enhance herself and others, good for supporting, defensive, and offensive.
Kafka with his Shadow Manipulation Magic, he can manipulate shadow at will and he can also hides in the shadow.
Mira with her Space Manipulation Magic, she can manipulate space such as portal, gravity, force and coordinate.
Misa with her Matter Manipulation Magic can manipulate both illusion and reality.
Mika with her Time Manipulation Magic can control time, such as stopping, slowing and more.
Finally, Katherine with her All Summoning Magic, she can summons any any animated sentient as she please.
Morpheus realize that he not just weak but he is useless, he can't even compete any of his siblings at all. He feels so useless and like a failure.
Today is supposed to be his training day but he goes back to his chamber feeling depressed. When Elara sees Morpheus, she tries to call him but he ignored her.
Elara realize Morpheus depression after she saw all of his siblings got not just talents but great power. Elara feels bad Morpheus especially he doesn't have any magic nor mana, he also doesn't have any signature magic of himself.
From day to night time...
Morpheus is still sitting on his bed in his chamber, which is in the most highest part of the castle, the castle itself is 500 meters tall. He cries in anguish.
Luckily, Overlord King just returned from his expedition at evening... Alone. After he greets his guards, generals, maids, his old butler, his children and his queen with joy and happiness, he realize Morpheus wasn't around.
"Where's my son, Merilyn." ask King towards his wife.
"He's... In his chamber, my love" she answered with worries.
"Why?"
"He's crying cause he is useless, Father" Kafka suddenly answered King with pride and mockery.
"Kafka!" Katherine raised her voice.
"What it is true, he lives as long as you and he can't even cast a very simple magic yet he tried until we showed him that we are better than him and he gives up."
"But it's still wrong to talk to your older brother like that"
"My brother? Heh(Smug), he is no brother of mine"
"Yeah!" Katja and Katia suddenly interfere and sides with Kafka.
"Wha- Why you two?" Katherine is stunned and stuttering.
"To be honest, why is he even trying?" says Maya.
"Yeah, What is he even trying to achieve?" Mary continues.
Katherine and her young triplets sisters just stay silence couldn't even respond and react to their youngers siblings words. The queen tries to stop them but...
"ENOUGH...!" King suddenly speaks with his monstrous voice, filled with anger.
"YOU FIVES BETTER STOP YAPPING... IF THE FIVE OF YOU STILL MOCK BELITTLE YOUR BROTHER... I SWEAR IN THE NAME OF FATHER OF CHAOS AND MOTHER OF HOPE... I WILL PUNISH ALL OF YOU UNDER THE CASTLE, IN THE DUNGEON... GOT IT...!" King continue to teach them while he glared at them with his huge red glowing bloody eyes.
Kafka, Maya, Mary, Katja and Katia are terrified with their father's warning and threat. They can only look downward in shame and said "Sorry" together.
King picks up something from his chiton pocket... It is a cloth wrapped present.
"Merilyn, let's go to Morpheus's chamber." King ordered his wife.
"Y-Yes my love." Merilyn answer King with still surprised for what just happened. She knew that her lord is a monster but she didn't realize he was that scary when say that to her children.
"And the rest of you, go back to your chambers... NOW." King orders his children and then goes to Morpheus's chamber with his wife.
When they arrive at Morpheus's chamber, they heard his sorrow and anguish. King knocks on his son's door, "Can I come in,sons?" asks King.
"Go away!" Morpheus answers him with a tantrum.
"Damn, I can handle a naughty children but sad a child... You know what... Merilyn you can handle him, you're his mother." King muttering to himself and then order his queen to help his son.
Merilyn glare at King with disappointed expression but do it anyway.
"Morpheus, please listen to us, let us in so we can help you, please." Merilyn plead Morpheus to open his door.
In the end, Morpheus open his door with gloomy face.
"See I told you he will listen to you." King joking around with his wife. Merilyn kick her husband on his leg which he didn't feel a thing.
King continues, "What's wrong boy? You can tells us, we can help you."
"Yes, we can." Merilyn answers King while looking at his son with warm and kindness.
"Mom... Dad, I just want to be become the strongest mage just like mom, but that dream... that ambition... feels impossible."
"Nothing is impossible, my son." Merilyn answers him with comfort.
"Mom, I am Useless, I heard Kafka tells you two that I'm useless. And it's not just Kafka; Maya, Mary, Katja, and Katia, they all hate me." says Morpheus to his mom with sadness.
King realize something is off because, during King walk on stairs with his wife, Merilyn tells him that Morpheus has been in his chamber all day long. How is he know the conversation 500 meter from below.
Just when Merilyn tries to answer Morpheus, King stops her by saying...
"Wait how can you listen to your brother's word? You're literally 500 meters above"
"I... I don't know"
King and Merilyn become concerned about their son knowing that the time is almost come.
"Son,do you realized something weird about yourself?" Merilyn question her son.
"Err... I don't know?" Morpheus confused.
King closes his eyes for a moment and take a deep breath, he decides to come clean... a bit.
"My son, you're not the only one who can't cast a single spell." as King tells his son, Morpheus pay attention to his father as Merilyn eyes widened. King continues.
"I too can't cast any spell."
"To be honest Morpheus, you have my... parts and you nearly full blooded. That's the reason why you can't do any magic."
"Here this is for you my boy." King gives Morpheus a present, just for him.
Merilyn silently nods and decides to give Morpheus some space.
"Let's go dear." Merilyn leaves the chamber with King and King gives the final message to his son.
"And another thing, just follow your instincts okay."
The door shuts, and Morpheus is alone with his present, in shock and more confused. "What just happened?"
Curious, as Morpheus open his gift, he sees a Merlin Oak Wood a special that can control mana and Orb of Mana a sphere shape with blue lumine light glows within the orb that can also increase the users magic output. He quickly realize this is a material for creating a magic staff but he can't create magic nor have any mana. Morpheus remember what his father said, "nearly full blooded" and "follow your instincts", this words come to his mind and he know what to do.
"I know this is crazy, but this is the only way for me to cast some magic." Morpheus talk to himself with determination.
Chapter 2 (10 years of Nothing) ends.
To be continued...