The sharp crack of magic-infused steel echoed through the dojo, a sound as omnipresent in this world as breath itself. Here, in the sprawling Cronus estate – a city unto itself with its central mansion, winding roads, and encircling forests – power wasn't just everything; it was the air you breathed, the ground you walked on, and the chains that bound you.Those who wielded magic reigned, their abilities inherited, honed, and ruthlessly used to maintain an unbreakable hierarchy. The weak simply... existed, often crushed beneath the weight of overwhelming might.
William Cronus, a young man of sixteen, parried a lightning-fast strike with his twin short swords, their blades forming a desperate 'X' against the formidable double-edged greatsword wielded by Lucy. Her long brown hair, streaked with red and tied back in a practical bun, seemed to dance with her movements. She moved with a fluid grace that belied the immense power behind her swings, each strike capable of shattering stone. William felt the vibrations judder up his arms, a familiar ache.
"Alright, practice is over," William said, sheathing his swords and wiping a sheen of sweat from his brow. "You win, Lucy."
Lucy's chest heaved, her breath coming in quick, triumphant gasps. "Wow, I actually managed to push you back!" Her eyes, bright with exhilaration, sparkled.
A genuine smile touched William's lips. "You're growing at an incredible pace. A true genius, honestly." Admiration warmed him, a rare comfort amidst his own constant struggle.
Lucy playfully swiped a stray strand of hair from her forehead. "No, it's because of your teaching, Master," she teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes, yet a hint of seriousness lingered behind it.
"Whoa, whoa, hold on," William chuckled, taking a step back. "You can't call me Master. We're both sixteen, about to head to the Magic Academy. You really don't have to."
Lucy tilted her head, her teasing tone softening. "But what if I don't want to stop?"
William's faint smile vanished, replaced by a flicker of the ever-present fear in his eyes. "Lucy, you're of a higher rank than me. The daughter of the esteemed Fotia family. If my family, if *anyone*, ever found out you were calling me—a bastard son of the Cronus family with pathetic abilities—'Master,' I don't know what they'd do." His voice dropped to a near whisper, laden with a humiliation he lived with daily, a stark reminder that despite the Cronus name, he was treated little better than a household servant.
Lucy's playful demeanor instantly dissolved into a frown. "You overthink too much, Will. Lighten up a bit, would you?" she urged, a quiet concern in her voice.
"Okay," William managed, a faint, strained smile returning.
"Good! Now, how about some food after that intense training? My stomach is practically eating itself!" Lucy declared, stretching her arms above her head. An audible growl from her midsection punctuated her words, and she laughed, the sound finally breaking the tension that clung between them.
"You surely eat a lot for a girl," William deadpanned, though a flicker of humor danced in his eyes.
Lucy turned slowly, her playful demeanor dissolving. Her eyes, usually twinkling with mischief, narrowed, and for a terrifying moment, William half-expected her to burst into flames. "What did you just say?" Her voice was dangerously low.
William instinctively recoiled, taking a nervous step back. "Woah, woah, easy, Lucy! Slip of the tongue, I swear! Didn't mean it like that, I promise."
"Do you want to be burnt to a crisp?" Lucy asserted, crossing her arms, though a faint hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "Then never, ever say that to a girl again."
"Yes, ma'am!" William snapped to attention, a genuine smile finally breaking through.
As they approached the dojo doors, two figures entered. One was Gilbert, an old man in a impeccably tailored black suit, the very picture of a traditional butler. The other was a woman in her thirties, her standard maid uniform adorned with the distinctive Cronus family crest.
"Pardon me, milady," Gilbert said, bowing respectfully. "You have been invited to attend a family meeting in twenty minutes. These are orders from the head of the family."
Lucy glanced at William, who simply nodded, his expression unreadable.
"Where is the meeting being held?" Lucy asked.
"In the main dining hall. Everyone will be in attendance," Gilbert replied.
"Okay, you can leave," Lucy said, dismissing them with a nod.
"Well, this is unexpected," Lucy murmured, a thread of worry in her voice as Gilbert and the maid exited. "Why would they invite me? I'm not part of this family; I'm just training here."
"Chill, first," William said, trying to reassure her, though a knot tightened in his own stomach. "This is a first for me, too. We'll find out soon enough."
They made their way toward the main dining hall. Even from a distance, the sheer scale of the room was apparent, its massive, glossy dining table stretching seemingly endlessly, crafted from the finest wood. On the right, twelve women, the wives of the Cronus family head, sat in rigid elegance – each from a noble and prestigious family in the Kingdom of Arkon. On the left sat William's numerous siblings, their expressions a mixture of boredom and disdain. Servants, all bearing the Cronus family crest, stood silently against the walls.
As William walked towards the left side, he heard the immediate, hushed murmurs. "Hey, what is that boy doing in here?" one wife whispered, her gaze fixed on William. "And why is the daughter of the Fotia family in this room?" another added, an edge of suspicion in her tone.
Both Lucy and William understood the unspoken implications of attending this meeting. For William, it was far worse. He was about to face his nightmare: his siblings, especially his younger brother, James Cronus. James, the celebrated talent of the great Cronus family, was arrogant, toxic, and particularly relished tormenting William.
"Hey Will, where have you been lately?" James's voice cut through the hushed room, dripping with feigned concern as he fixed William with a smirk.
William flinched, a shiver running down his spine. "I-I've been in the dojo training," he stammered, his nervousness palpable. The room fell silent, everyone's attention drawn to the unfolding drama.
"So, you thought you could hide from your duties, servant?" James sneered, his hand shooting out. William saw the attack coming, could have dodged it, but years of ingrained fear and painful experience taught him better. Dodging only made things worse. He simply took the hit, the sharp sting blossoming on his cheek. I wish I had the power to stand up to this prick, William seethed internally, clenching his fists. Lucy, sensing his agony, tensed beside him, wanting to intervene, but she knew better too. A commotion would only escalate William's suffering.
Before she could even consider a move, a guard's booming voice announced, "The Master is coming!" Instantly, everyone snapped to their seats. Lucy quickly sat in the last available chair, leaving William to stand behind her with the other servants, his designated place in this cruel hierarchy.
The grand dining hall doors swung open with a soft thud, and a man walked in whose presence alone commanded the air. Tall and slender, with cold brown hair and eyes that seemed to miss nothing, Jim Cronus, the undisputed head and master of the Cronus family, entered. Behind him marched three imposing figures in sleek black and silver armor – members of the Kairos Guard, the Cronus family's private army, radiating discipline and unyielding loyalty.
Jim settled into the lead chair at the front of the table, his four guards taking up positions beside him. The room fell into an oppressive silence as he began to speak, his voice devoid of emotion. "Everyone, I called you all here to tell you that the former head of the Cronus family, Albert Cronus, my father, has passed away on one of his expeditions. That is all."
A collective, unsettling stillness filled the room. No one, save for the gathered servants and William, seemed to react. Their faces remained unchanged, betraying no grief, no surprise. But William felt a sharp, visceral pain. His grandfather was the only one who had ever truly treated him with kindness. He clenched his fist, a silent cry echoing in his mind. Why, Grandpa? Why did you leave me?Fighting back the burning tears, he stood strong, a lone island of sorrow in a sea of indifference. Albert Cronus, his grandfather, had been renowned for his ingenious inventions and surprising physical strength, a stark contrast to the family's pervasive magical talents.
As quickly as he had entered, Jim Cronus finished his announcement and left the room. The silence that followed was broken by James's cruel, triumphant laugh. "Well, it seems that old man has finally passed away," he sneered, his eyes locking onto William. "You have no scapegoat now, Will. I can do whatever I want to you without any consequences."
William barely registered James's words, his mind numb with grief. Another stinging slap landed on his cheek, but this time, James's hand was stopped mid-air. Lucy had caught his wrist. "Come on, that's enough, James," she said, her voice firm, her eyes flashing with a protective fire. Annoyed and thwarted, James yanked his hand away, shot one last venomous glare at William, and stormed out of the room in a huff.
Lucy gently took William's hand and pulled him out of the dining hall. As they navigated the winding corridors of the mansion, the opulent grandeur of the estate seemed to mock him. Chandeliers glistened overhead, casting shimmering light on the walls adorned with portraits of past Cronus family members, their painted eyes seemingly following William's every move, judging him.
They finally reached William's room in the servant quarters, a stark and desolate contrast to the mansion's splendor. It was basic, unadorned, furnished only with a small, narrow bed, a simple wardrobe, and a study table. Lucy closed the door softly behind them, her expression softening with genuine concern.
"Hey, Will," she said gently, "just remember what your grandfather always said. 'Grow stronger in your own way.'" She offered him a small, reassuring smile before quietly stepping out, leaving him alone with his thoughts and grief.
Left alone, William sank onto his small bed, the crushing weight of the day's events pressing down on him. James's cruel words, his father's cold indifference, the entire family's dismissive stares – it all converged with the fresh, searing pain of his grandfather's death. He remembered Albert's gruff, kind voice, echoing the familiar words: "Grow stronger in your own way."
With a trembling hand, William reached beneath his mattress, pulling out a strange orb his grandfather had given him years ago. It was roughly the size of an orange, its surface a pristine white, shot through with intricate, pulsating blue streaks that resembled miniature lightning bolts. His grandfather had always called it a "reminder that he wasn't alone," though William had never fully understood what that meant.
Frustration surged, hot and bitter. "Why did you leave me, Grandpa?" he whispered, his voice cracking. With a choked sob, he hurled the orb to the hard floor. Tears, hot and blurring his vision, streamed down his face, splashing onto the orb where it lay.
The moment the first tear touched its surface, the blue streaks within the orb flared with an intense, internal light. It began to vibrate, then slowly, impossibly, it lifted from the ground, levitating a foot above the floor.
"What's going on?" William gasped, scrambling backward on his hands and knees, fear momentarily overriding his grief.
A voice, not from the orb itself but resonating directly within his mind, deep and resonant, filled the silence of the tiny room. "DNA Acquisition In Progress DNA Recognized. Ownership transferring in progress ownership has been transferred to William Cronus.
Would you like to ENTER THE NEXUS?"