After a brief conversation with her maid, Evelyn, the noblewoman closed her eyes, enjoying the bustling auction. Though nothing else piqued her interest, she remained seated, savoring the lively atmosphere.
Once the auction concluded, she finalized her decisions—acquiring two items: a sword and the human boy.
As she completed the administrative process, the noblewoman glanced at the boy she had purchased. He stood silently, his head bowed, an air of defiance lingering in his posture. His eyes spoke of resistance, as though trying to will his fate into something beyond the cold chains of servitude.
The noblewoman and her maid walked out of the administrative room, the boy trailing behind them without a word.
Finally, the noblewoman spoke, her tone carrying a mix of authority and curiosity. "Will you just stand there in silence forever?"
The boy glanced up at her for the first time, then began to follow with small, hesitant steps.
Even when they reached the carriage, the boy remained quiet, his presence almost ghostly.
"Well," the noblewoman broke the silence, a playful note in her voice, "this awkward quiet is unbearable. Oh, I haven't introduced myself, have I?"
Her attempt to lighten the mood was met with a blank expression from the boy. Undeterred, she continued, her voice carrying a hint of pride. "I am Camillia Den Corando, the third daughter of the House of Corando, a family of swordsmen unmatched in this land."
However, the boy's only response was to tilt his head slightly, his expression unchanged.
Camillia frowned, her curiosity turning serious. "Are you mute?"
At last, the boy shook his head, his quiet voice cutting through the silence. "No."
Camillia let out a relieved sigh, then smiled. "Good. Then, introduce yourself. I'd like to know who I just spent 1,500 gold on."
I raised my head slightly, meeting her gaze for the first time.
Her eyes held no malice, unlike those of the others who had stared at me during the auction. Yet, there was something unsettling about her. The way she looked at me, calm yet probing, sent a shiver down my spine.
Though she joked and laughed casually with her maid, I could sense the immense power she wielded. It was like standing before a deep chasm, not knowing how far it extended.
Resigned, I decided to play along.
"My name is Aurelius," I said quietly, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "I come from an unnamed village... destroyed by demons."
Camillia tilted her head, her curiosity deepening. "No family name? Just Aurelius?"
I bit my lip, hesitating before finally answering, "Aurelius Paul Draco. That's my full name."
At the mention of my name, I lowered my head, burying my face in my tattered clothes.
Camillia and Evelyn froze, their eyes wide in shock.
Evelyn was the first to speak, her voice trembling. "You… you're from the Duchy of Draco? One of the survivors?"
I nodded silently, confirming her words.
Camillia, recovering from her initial shock, leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "How is it possible? A direct descendant of Draco... still alive? Are you pureblood or… mixed?"
Her question made me wince. I took a deep breath and answered, "I am the son of the head of the Draco family… but I am illegitimate. My mother was an aura swordsman."
Camillia's eyes widened further, her gaze locking onto mine as I finally lifted my head.
My platinum-gold hair, amethyst eyes, and sharp, noble features seemed to cast a shadow over the very air around me. Though I stood as nothing more than a slave, the fire in my gaze was unmistakable—a blazing hunger for vengeance that had burned deep into my soul.
And it was justified.
The Fall of Werzen
Once, this boundless continent was governed by countless powers. But among them, four great forces dominated:
The House of Corando, unrivaled masters of the sword. The Ryunan Empire, a bastion of military might. The enigmatic Magic Tower, where the greatest magicians gathered. The Werzen Empire, home to the legendary Duchy of Draco, known for their unbreakable bond with dragons.
To preserve the fragile balance of power, these four forces forged a peace treaty, avoiding the wars that had once devastated the land.
However, three years ago, the Ryunan Empire betrayed that treaty, launching a brutal assault on the Werzen Empire. What followed was a bloody, two-year war that ended with the complete collapse of Werzen.
The nobles of Werzen were publicly executed, their names erased from history—except for three families who vanished into obscurity. Among them was the Draco family, whose renown had once eclipsed even the empire itself.
The Dracos were revered for their contracts with dragons, an honor passed down through bloodlines. Only those recognized by the dragons themselves could carry the Draco name. They were the heart of Werzen's strength, its sword and shield.
The fact that a child of Draco survived… it was unthinkable.
Camillia's thoughts raced as she studied the boy before her.
There was no mistaking it—his raw potential was monstrous. A scion of magic and swordsmanship, born into a family of dragon-blooded warriors, with the aura of a fighter already seeping from his frail body.
Her lips curled into a smile.
This boy, Aurelius… he might just be one of the rarest beings to walk this earth. A magic swordsman—an existence so rare it was said to be less than 0.01% of the population.
But first, she had to peel away the layers of fear, sorrow, and anger buried within him. Only then could she unlock the storm of potential lurking beneath his fragile exterior.
Camillia leaned back, her voice calm yet filled with conviction.
"Aurelius Paul Draco," she said softly, "the world doesn't know it yet, but you're going to change everything."