In the kingdom of Lucretia, nestled in the lush hills of Marion, stories were a lifeline for young Zelis. Countless tales filled the worn pages of the books he loved, revealing his lineage as a noble. The Lucretia kingdom, despite its large size, suffered under the shadow of the Daminhom family, whose military might made them the true power behind the throne.
To the common folk, the relationship appeared harmonious, but in reality, Zelis's family were nothing more than the king's hunting dogs, bound by a magical Orth crafted by their ancestors—a bond that the nobility could not break.
Zelis loathed the thought that one day he would be expected to embrace this fate. He silently vowed to discover a way to dismantle the Orth safely. The legends warned that any Daminhom who dared to rebel against the Lucretia royals would meet a swift death—an inescapable consequence of their ancient magic.
Beyond the expansive Daminhom dukedom, other noble houses flourished, each harboring distinct histories.
Among them was the Rainheart family, which ascended from humble merchant roots to dazzling wealth, thanks to the shrewdness of its former count. Now Count Rainheart ruled, a figure both respected and envied.
Zelis understood that if he wanted to emancipate himself from the royal family's chains, he would need a fortune to match that of Count Rainheart. His memories of watching shows about production in his past life offered a flicker of hope.
He had absorbed details on how various products were made; perhaps he could leverage this knowledge to build a name for himself. However, before wealth, he needed strength.
Zelis prepared for the upcoming Awakening Ceremony, a significant rite where children were blessed by the god stars and bestowed skills—gifts that would set the trajectory of their lives.
The excitement bubbled within him at the thought of receiving a gift. In their society, gifts were seen as badges of honor, classified from F to SSS, with higher grades carrying more prestige. Those blessed with high-ranked skills, like his father, Duke Antolis, wielded immense respect and fear.
The Duke's telekinesis was the most formidable skill in the kingdom it was an SS skill, capable of turning the tides of any conflict, yet there were whispers of lesser versions—those who could barely lift a cup compared to the Duke's might, who could shatter castles.
The hierarchy extended beyond skills, affecting martial and magical prowess, too. The most skilled swordsmen were classified into tiers, from novice to celestial kings. Only a select few had even reached the sky levels, and Duke Antolis stood on the verge of reaching star tier. With no understanding of the realms of magic apart from what he'd seen from the old mage, Zelis didn't yet comprehend the depths of magic. His only ambition, for now, was to ascend the ranks to the cosmic tier and become a deity among men.