The Burden of a Broken Circle
Years ago, Alistair had been born with a curse—mana distortion syndrome, an extremely rare condition that caused his aura to collapse every time he tried to cultivate it. The family had searched for cures, but none could help him. His brothers saw him as weak, and his stepmother, the mother of his six brothers, whispered venomous words of doubt. Only his sisters and his true mother, a powerful mage from the Elvenor Duchy in the distant continent of Faelor, had believed in him.
In his past life, Alistair had risen through sheer force of will, relying on his raw strength to survive. It wasn't until the final years of his life that he had uncovered the secret to curing his curse—a series of rare materials and ancient rituals.
Now, with the knowledge of what he needed, he turned to his butler, Sir Cedric, one of the family's most trusted retainers. A former knight and loyal servant, Cedric had served Alistair since childhood, standing by him when others doubted.
"I need you to gather the materials for me, Cedric," Alistair said, his voice firm. "Start with the Essence of a Bloodhound, and I'll need Nightshade Petals and the Heart of a Mountain Wyvern. I know where to find them."
Cedric bowed. "As you wish, young master. I will set out immediately."
The Path to Strength
As his butler left to gather the items, Alistair returned to the training yard. This time, his body moved with new confidence, his muscles remembering the trials of his previous life. He trained fiercely, focusing on physical strength while waiting for his mana to stabilize once he completed the cure. Each swing of his sword was sharper, each movement faster. The knights who watched from the sidelines whispered in awe. Alistair von Agarest, once considered the weakest of the family, was returning to form.
But the road ahead was still long. The Agarest Dukedom, though powerful, had enemies. And not just from outside the family his brothers, especially Vincent and Leopold, eyed him with jealousy and suspicion. They didn't yet know the strength Alistair would soon regain, or that he was planning to cure the very curse that had held him back all his life.