I was seated in the grand study hall of our estate, poring over ancient texts alongside my older sister, Evelyn von Althaus. She was eight years old, graceful and intelligent, with long silver hair and emerald-green eyes that mirrored our mother's. Unlike me, Evelyn had already begun her formal noble education and often tutored me in history and etiquette.
"Cael, you need to focus," Evelyn scolded gently, tapping the open book before me. "Father wants you to understand the lineage of our house. You can't just keep staring at the pages."
I sighed, resting my chin on my hands. "But history is so long and boring."
She giggled. "That's because you're not trying to appreciate it. Knowledge is power, little brother."
As we studied, I thought about my two half-brothers, Alexander and Julius von Althaus, who were currently in the royal capital attending the prestigious Imperial Academy. I barely remembered them, as they were never around during my childhood. They had left for the academy when I was still very young, and our interactions had been limited to a handful of formal meetings. To me, they were little more than distant figures in my family, more like strangers than siblings. They were the sons of my father's first wife, a noblewoman of high standing. I would soon meet them in the capital when I turned ten, as they were still attending the Imperial Academy. How they would react to me remained uncertain, but I knew that meeting them would be ........
I wondered how they would react if they ever found out about my unique status. Would they see me as a threat? Would they even care? These thoughts lingered in my mind as I continued my lessons with Evelyn, unaware that my fate would soon change forever.
One day, my mother decided it was time for me to visit the Great Temple of Eldoria, a sacred place where nobles received divine blessings. As we entered the massive marble hall, a sense of overwhelming divinity pressed upon me. The high priest guided me to the altar, where statues of the Eight Gods of Eldoria stood tall, each representing a force of the world: Aion, the God of Creation; Mystra, the God of Magic; Vitae, the God of Life; Mortis, the God of Death; Demeter, the God of Agriculture; Hephaestus, the God of Technology; Chronos, the God of Time and Space; and Bellator, the God of War.
As I knelt before the altar, a golden light engulfed me. My consciousness was pulled into a vast ethereal realm, where eight towering figures loomed above me.
"Cael von Althaus," a voice echoed, ancient and powerful. "You were not meant to die in your previous life. A mistake was made. Thus, we have granted you another chance, one blessed with our gifts."
I could barely process what I was hearing. "A mistake? Then… my death was an accident?"
"Indeed," spoke Mystra, her voice like a melody. "To make amends, we have gifted you abilities unlike any mortal. You shall carry fragments of our divinity and wield power beyond imagination."
Aion, the God of Creation, then spoke with a voice that shook the very fabric of existence. "Normally, a child would only receive their Status Window at the age of ten, but we have granted yours at five. Your destiny cannot wait, and your path must begin now. Use your gifts wisely, for your existence will shape the fate of this world."
Suddenly, a translucent screen appeared before me, filled with strange text and numbers.
[Status Window]
Name: Cael von Althaus
Age: 5
Title: Reincarnator, Disciple of the Gods, Demi-God, One from Beyond
Class: Arcane Lord
Strength: 12
Agility: 15
Mana: ?
Skills: Divine Magic (EX), Arcane Mastery (SSS), Swordsmanship (SSS), Intelligence(SSS)
Blessings:
Blessing of God of Creation (Aion)
Blessing of God of Magic (Mystra)
Blessing of God of Life (Vitae)
Blessing of God of Death (Mortis)
Blessing of God of Agriculture (Demeter)
Blessing of God of Technology (Hephaestus)
Blessing of God of Time and Space (Chronos)
Blessing of God of War (Bellator)
Blessing from the Gods: Unmeasurable
I gasped. Infinite mana? Divine Magic? Arcane Mastery? This was beyond anything I had imagined. The gods had truly blessed me.
"Enjoy your new life as you see fit, Cael von Althaus," Aion said with a gentle tone. "You have been given power beyond imagination. Whether you choose to seek adventure, uncover the world's mysteries, or simply live in peace, the choice is yours.""
With a flash, I was back in the temple. My breath was steady, and everything around me remained unchanged. It was as if no time had passed.
I looked at my surroundings, realizing that while I had spoken with the gods, time had completely stopped for everyone else. No one had noticed what had transpired. The high priest and my mother still knelt in silent reverence, oblivious to the divine meeting I had just experienced.
A thought crept into my mind—what would happen when others discovered my Status Window? It wasn't supposed to be revealed until the age of ten, yet I had received mine at five. If people learned of this anomaly, questions would arise. Suspicion, perhaps even fear, might follow.
I needed to be careful. Until I understood the full extent of my power, I had to keep my abilities hidden. Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself. For now, I would play the part of an innocent child. But deep down, I knew—the moment my secret was exposed, my life would never be the same again.