Chapter 1: Birth of the Unfortunate Child
Zenith Empire — Red Ember City — Royal Palace
Rune Era Year 1405, August 18th, around 5 P.M.
A young girl in her mid-teens trembled outside a wooden door as screams echoed within. Tears streamed from her crimson eyes.
She was one of many princesses of the Zenith Empire, yet her title carried little weight.
“Mother! Please don’t cry!” she whispered, brushing away her tears. She raised her hand to knock on the door—but a firm hand caught her wrist.
“Athena.”
A firm voice stopped her hand mid-knock.
“You cannot disturb the healers during a royal birth.”
The voice was cold, yet somehow gentle. The voice strangely calmed her.
Realizing who it was, Athena turned, knelt, and bowed her head.
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
“This isn’t the Throne Room, little one. Call me ‘Father,’” the voice said calmly.
Athena slowly looked up at the man before her. He appeared around forty, with golden hair, olive skin, and piercing red eyes. His golden robe shimmered over a white shirt, and a long sword hung at his waist—a symbol of his prowess.
He was Ian Sillalus Jorvot, the fifteenth Emperor of the Zenith Empire.
Though he was her father by blood, Athena knew this was only their second conversation. The first had been when she became an Apprentice Knight.
It stung. Perhaps they would have earned more respect in the noble circle if her mother had been a queen—or even one of the first few concubines.
Her mother was only the twenty-fourth concubine—the lowest among them.
Though treated like a noble lady, her mother’s position was little more than a glorified headmaid.
“Arrghh! It hurts!” Her mother’s scream rose to a sharper pitch, followed by the unmistakable cry of a newborn.
Before she realized it, Athena had already turned to the door, eyes filled with worry.
After nearly a minute of tense silence—broken only by the crying infant—a woman of about thirty-five stepped out. Her blonde hair was tucked beneath a white cap, and her blue eyes carried years of experience.
"Aunt Shirley!" Athena ran to the woman, grabbing her hand in anxiety.
Shirley gently patted her head, then noticed the man standing nearby.
“Your Majesty. Please, come in,” she said with a respectful bow.
“How is the child?” Ian asked as he stepped into the chamber.
Athena followed him in, but the metallic scent of blood reached her nose.
Her eyes widened at the sight of the unconscious woman on the bed.
It was her mother, Jeanne—a black-haired woman in her thirties. The sheets beneath her were soaked with blood.
“MAMA!!” Athena cried out and rushed to her side.
“Don’t panic, child,” Shirley reassured her gently. “She only lost consciousness from blood loss.”
Shirley turned to the bed's other side, carefully picked up the swaddled infant, then approached the Emperor.
“Please, Your Majesty… give him a name.”
Ian gave the child a deep look and then looked towards Jeanne. But there was no trace of worry or even care. His gaze was calm and cold.
Meanwhile, Athena wiped her tears and looked over. The infant looked impossibly small in the Emperor’s arms.
“Is he my younger brother?” she asked, a voice full of wonder.
Ian took the infant into his arms. He then checked the child’s eyes.
His eyes were dark and still—depthless and unreadable.
He exhaled slowly and muttered.
“Even his eyes… they look like black marbles.”
Then, in a voice like rolling thunder, he proclaimed.
“I hereby name him Raven Sillalus Jorvot, the 66th prince of the Zenith Empire!”
Ian touched his ring and produced a silver bracelet engraved with a winged serpent.
Without hesitation, he clasped it around the infant’s wrist and recited a short chant in a strange, arcane tongue. The bracelet glowed for a second before shrinking, neatly adjusting itself to the baby's hand.
Satisfied, Ian nodded and turned his gaze to a shadowed corner of the room. He uttered a single word.
“Gavin.”
A shadow peeled away from the corner of the room. A figure stepped out of the darkness, startling Athena.
“G-Ghost!?” she gasped.
But the shadowed figure stepped calmly into view, revealing a hooded man with long golden hair and piercing silver eyes. Athena’s expression shifted from fear to confusion as familiarity crept in.
“The Prime Minister?!” she muttered.
‘
What is he doing here? Did he just appear out of thin air? Is he a Wizard too?’
Her thoughts were interrupted by Shirley’s polite voice. “Greetings, Lord Gavin.”
Gavin gave a small nod and approached, pulling a large, glowing white orb from his robe and handing it to Ian.
Ian took the orb and gently placed the baby’s tiny hand on it. A faint pulse of energy flowed from the orb into the child before returning. A moment later, glowing letters appeared on the orb’s surface.
[Light – Nil]
[Shadow – Nil]
[Earth – Nil]
…
Every affinity showed the same result.
Ian frowned. “Not even a faint trace of affinity? Has anyone ever tested completely null?”
“I’ve never seen such a case,” Gavin replied, perplexed. “Could it be broken?” Gavin placed his own hand on the orb. Instantly, the words
[Shadow – Prodigy Level]
lit up.
“Still works.” He turned back to Ian, now wearing a serious expression. “May I inspect the child’s soul, Your Majesty?”
A cold shiver ran through Athena.
Meanwhile, Ian looked hesitant, then gave his consent with a simple nod.
“Go ahead. But be careful not to damage Raven’s soul realm.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Gavin stepped closer, placed a thumb on the baby's forehead, and began a low, ancient chant. One minute passed. Then another. Soon, nearly ten minutes had gone by. Finally, Gavin opened his eyes, his face grave.
“What did you find?” Ian asked immediately.
“His soul is… severely damaged,” Gavin said in a hushed voice. “His mind has formed, but it won’t last. If left alone, the child may cease to exist entirely.”
His gaze turned cold.
“Your Majesty…” Gavin hesitated for a moment. “This child’s body rejects all affinities.”
Ian frowned at Gavin’s hesitation.
“Out with it.”
Gavin took a deep breath and asked.
“Can I take this child to the laboratory to research his body more, Your Majesty?”
Athena felt her heart sink.
Ian gave Gavin a sharp look and shook his head.
“Do not lay your hand on royal blood. Even if this child is born talentless, he has my blood running through. The most merciful path may be to… give him a peaceful end.”
He paused, suddenly realizing Athena had heard every word.
She fell to her knees, sobbing.
“No!” she cried, clutching at Ian’s robes. “Please, don’t take him away, Father!”
Ian looked down, conflicted. After a pause, he sighed.
“Athena… I’ve lived for centuries and have never seen a case like this. A damaged soul cannot be healed by ordinary means—if at all. Even if there is a cure, it would be impossibly rare or costly.”
He turned to Gavin. “Check for any unique affinities with the special orb. There may still be something.”
Shirley clenched her fists at his words.
Already giving up on the child?
she thought bitterly.
Gavin retrieved a second orb, this one glowing with soft blue light and covered in runes. Ian once again guided the baby’s hand to the orb.
After a long stretch of tense silence, a second row of text appeared.
Sword. Spear. Archery. Mind. Fate. Madness.
Every result showed the same word.
Nil.
Gavin froze.
“This is… unprecedented. Even commoners possess something. A child like this…” He looked at Ian. “If this becomes public, the empire may become a laughingstock across the Ivory Continent.”
Ian was silent for a moment.
“Is there no other way?” he asked as Gavin shook his head.
“Order someone to take him to the rose garden later,” Ian said.
Then, with a disappointed sigh, Ian handed the baby back to Shirley. Athena, still clinging to Ian’s leg, wouldn't let go.
“Let go, Athena.”
His voice had turned cold again.
“Forget this child. Focus on your sword training.”
He looked at the baby once more before turning away.
“What did I expect from a peasant’s blood?”
He turned and walked toward the exit. Gavin followed but paused at the door.
“Someone will arrive at midnight to take this child,” he said quietly. “Until then, do nothing foolish.”
His calm words felt like a blade. Shirley shivered as the two men left the room.
A tense silence fell.
“Why are they doing this?” Athena whispered. Her voice trembled. Her gaze slowly turned to her unconscious mother.
Shirley stepped forward, her voice gentle. “I’m more worried about your mother. If she learns the truth, it may destroy her.”
She walked to Jeanne’s bedside, tears welling in her eyes as she gently touched her sister’s face.
“That father of yours… he’s cold, Athena. But he isn’t cruel enough to harm a child.”
With a soft sigh, she lay the baby beside Jeanne.
“You should rest now,” she said, brushing Athena’s hair back. “There’s nothing more we can do.”
Athena nodded reluctantly and stepped out only after Shirley convinced her with a few more words. Laughter echoed from nearby halls, but it felt distant. Even though her brothers and sisters were near, she felt utterly alone.
“Why must it be like this?” she muttered, stepping into her own room. She lit a small magical lamp and collapsed on the bed, sobbing quietly.
Sleep came eventually, but unease lingered.
One phrase replayed endlessly in her mind:
“Someone will come to take this child at midnight. Until then, do nothing foolish.”
“I won’t let them take him,” she whispered.
Her vision faded.
…
The room suddenly grew colder.
Something unseen stirred beside the newborn.
A faint blue light flickered before the newborn’s eyes.
Then it turned crimson.
…
[System awakening… Error!!!!]
[Defense breached!]
[Target Found! Athena Sillalus Jorvot!]
[Emergency protocol activated!]
[Error…. Error… Error!]
[Host soul damage detected.]
[Forcefully shutting down the System!]
[…]
…
At that moment, Athena was standing in the room where her mother and younger brother were.
'What’s happening? Am I dreaming? Did I sleepwalk?'
The door creaked open.
A woman entered—middle-aged, slightly plump, with gray hair. It was the Head Maid.
‘Head Maid? What are you doing here?’
Athena stepped forward to confront her, but the woman didn’t react—didn’t even look at her.
And then she passed through her.
Athena gasped. Looking down, she realized… she was translucent, like a ghost.
Before she could process what was happening, the Head Maid reached the bed… and picked up Raven.
A terrible realization dawned on Athena.