"The future of Valcrest," the king declared, his voice rich with joy, "a prince destined to surpass us all."

The kingdom rejoiced. For generations, the Valcrest bloodline had produced legendary mages who defended the land with unmatched power. Expectations for the young prince were boundless.

Yet amidst the celebration, the royal mage, a silver-robed elder with eyes heavy with wisdom, lingered silently. In his hands, a crystalline orb flickered weakly, barely emitting any glow. His solemn expression betrayed the gravity of what he had discovered.

"Your Majesty," the mage said hesitantly, bowing low, "there is something urgent I must discuss."

King Aldred frowned. "Speak."

The mage’s voice trembled slightly. "The prince possesses no discernible mana. His magical core is dormant... or perhaps nonexistent."

A stunned silence swept through the hall. Disbelief rippled among the nobles.

"No mana?" one whispered. "A Valcrest heir without magic? Impossible."

The queen’s face paled, tears welling in her eyes. King Aldred's expression darkened, fury overtaking his disbelief. "Test again," he commanded sharply.

"I have tested thrice, Your Majesty," the mage replied gravely. "The results are the same."

The joyous atmosphere shattered into fragments of shame and disappointment. To be born without mana in a kingdom defined by magic was a curse—a stain on the royal lineage.

King Aldred’s voice turned cold, devoid of the pride it once held. "Then he is no son of mine."

The queen gasped, but her protests fell on deaf ears. Driven by the shame of a mana-less heir, the king issued a decree that would be remembered in whispers of cruelty. By nightfall, guards carried the infant prince deep into the forbidden Darkwood Forest, a place feared by all for its lurking beasts and untamed magic.

Left abandoned beneath ancient trees, the child’s fate seemed sealed—until a flicker of golden light parted the shadows. A figure stepped forward, cloaked in flowing robes that shimmered like starlight.

"Well, well," the mage murmured, his voice gentle yet powerful, "what a cruel fate for one so young."

This was Thalos, the legendary archmage who had long vanished from the world’s eyes. With a wave of his hand, the forest stilled, its dangers retreating into silence.

"You've been cast away by fools," Thalos said softly, lifting the child into his arms. "But fear not, little one. I will teach you what they cannot comprehend."

And so, under the care of a forgotten legend, Aeren Valcrest’s journey began—not as a prince, but as a child destined to defy fate and rise beyond imagination.