Sovereign of Strings
In the weakest kingdom of Arcadia on the continent of Aerion, the acting head of the Mage Guild, Darius, receives Quentin Shaw, a mysterious elder Lute Magus from the Sanctum. Appointed as the new guild master, Quentin also seeks a successor.
In Lunaria, Quentin encounters Maya Leaf holding her newborn son, Evan Young. The baby is born with only eight fingers (missing pinkies). Quentin sees this as a perfect trait for cultivating the Innocent Heart Core, the supreme lute magic technique, as pinkies are unused in playing. He follows Maya to the Emerald Canopy to meet the baby’s grandfather, Yale Leaf, head of the Bamboo Sect.
Old friends Quentin and Yale negotiate. Quentin proposes taking Evan as his disciple to teach lute magic. His revolutionary idea is to combine the Innocent Heart Core with Bamboo Aura, creating an unprecedented fusion (“Lute-Bamboo Unity”) to potentially surpass Amethyst rank and challenge the Sanctum’s Seven Pagodas. Yale agrees after securing promises about the Five Sovereigns (legendary lutes) and Evan’s future role as heir to both sects, provided his primary identity remains with the Bamboo Sect until success.
Evan grows up in seclusion within the Emerald Canopy. He befriends a silent, enigmatic purple-haired boy named Zander, who becomes his constant companion and audience. Under Quentin’s lute melodies and Yale’s aura guidance, Evan masters the Innocent Heart Core to its ninth tier.
Sixteen years later, Evan, having perfected the Innocent Heart Core, prepares to leave for the distant Milan Institute per Quentin’s plan. Accompanied by Zander, he visits the Lunaria Mage Guild for documents and his Crimson mage badge. There, they confront Rufus, an Azure Archmage leading a delegation from Poland seeking to poach mages. Evan, wielding his lute’s mesmerizing power and the deadly Sonic Edge technique taught by Quentin, stuns everyone by effortlessly defeating Rufus and his five companions.
While procuring supplies in Roll City, Evan’s kindness is exploited by a street urchin who steals his Spatial Ring containing the Five Sovereigns, funds, and his institute letter. Simultaneously, Zander spots a lion-man from the Northern Wastes, causing him visible distress. Zander decides he must leave Evan temporarily to handle urgent business. He gives Evan the map to Milan, promising to find him at the institute later. Stripped of his possessions and sole companion, Evan sets out alone on the uncertain journey northward, guided only by the map.
