At the very heart of the gathered crowd stood a young man with golden hair, Aldric von Stern, the nephew of Frederick von Stern, Duke of Rhine Duchy, the land's reigning sovereign.
Aldric was the most gifted mage of his generation within the Stern family, a prodigy in fire magic. At the age of ten, his extraordinary talent became evident, prompting his uncle to send him to the Arcane Empire to further his studies in the arcane arts.
In Rhine Duchy, the strongest mage was merely a Level 9 Mage. Duke Stern feared that keeping Aldric in such a limited environment would stifle his potential. Thus, the moment Aldric's talent surfaced, he was sent to the Arcane Empire, one of the two most powerful empires on the Nolan Continent.
Yet, what had once been dazzling brilliance in his homeland became a mere flicker in the Arcane Empire. There, prodigies were not rare—they were the norm. The so-called genius of Rhine Duchy became just another student, his light dimmed amidst a sky full of stars.
In the end, it was not talent but gold and connections that secured him a place under a Level 9 Mage. But even then, he was no favored pupil. His mentor took him in reluctantly, offering little guidance. Aldric, once a shining star, had become just another flickering ember in the wind.
Duke Stern had long despaired over his nephew's stagnation—until he received a piece of news that shook him to his core.
Archmagus Isaac Grimwell was en route to Silverleaf City.
And not as a mere visitor, but as the new Headmaster of Rhine Academy of Magic.
At first, the Duke simply could not believe the news.
Must be a fake news.
Isaac Grimwell ?!!!
Could it truly be that Isaac Grimwell?
His name was the stuff of legend.
Among mages, only those who had surpassed the Level 9 could bear the title of Archmagus, a rank divided into the 10th, 11th, and 12th levels. Five years ago, Isaac Grimwell had already ascended to the 12th level.
And if he took but one step further, he would enter the realm of Legends.
A Legendary Mage.
Only two such beings existed on the entire Nolan Continent. Both had secluded themselves in their towering sanctums for over a decade, their power so vast that they were akin to gods—far beyond the reach of ordinary mortals.
And now, Isaac Grimwell is coming!
And more astonishing still—his domain was fire magic.
The very same as Aldric's.
A match ordained by fate.
This was an opportunity beyond price, a chance that could shape Aldric's destiny.
Once the Duke verified the truth of this revelation, he was ecstatic. Without delay, he sent word to Aldric.
If the Archmagus deemed him worthy, if he chose to mentor Aldric personally… then one day, Aldric might himself ascend to the ranks of the Archmagi.
Such an opportunity would never come twice. It was now or never.
Overcome with joy, Aldric wasted no time. He activated an expensive teleportation array, returning to Rhine Duchy in an instant. After a private talk with his uncle, he arrived at Rhine Academy of Magic the night before—in complete secrecy.
For if word of Isaac's arrival spread, countless young mages would descend upon the Academy like vultures to a feast.
And now—now, the moment had arrived.
Isaac Grimwell was about to pass through the Academy gates!
Aldric hurried forward, his heart pounding with anticipation. He had but one chance to stand out, to seize the Archmagus's attention.
His eyes remained locked on the Academy entrance, waiting for the first glimpse of the legendary figure.
He never once noticed the ragged, starving boy standing near the gate.
For in his eyes, Kyle Carter simply did not exist.