บท 3: The Heir’s Burden

The Aetheris estate lay shrouded in the soft glow of twilight. Mana-infused lanterns flickered gently along the grand hallways, casting long shadows across the walls adorned with portraits of long-dead ancestors.

Outside, the trees swayed gently in the evening breeze, their branches trembling under the weight of the mana that filled the air.

From his crib, Valen stared up at the intricately carved ceiling, his thoughts far from the luxury surrounding him. He could hear voices in the distance, muffled yet familiar.

His father, Lord Marcellus, was speaking with one of the family's elders—a voice Valen didn't immediately recognize.

Curious, Valen shifted slightly, focusing on the sound. Over time, he had learned to listen more closely, discerning meaning even when conversations were held in whispers.

This time, however, something tugged at him—a deeper sense of importance in the words exchanged. He concentrated, focusing his attention entirely on the conversation that drifted into his room.

"The boy is nearly ready," Marcellus's voice was deep, though tinged with something else this time—perhaps a note of caution. "We've prepared him as best we can."

Another voice, sharp yet laced with age, responded. "You've done well, but don't forget the failures of the past.

The Transcendence Ceremony is not without its dangers. The bloodline ensures he will survive, but it's the mind that must endure."

"Many of our own have fallen to the pain—those who couldn't bear the strain of unlocking their core so young."

Valen remained still, his heart beating a little faster. He had read about the Transcendence Ceremony in Echoes of Eternity, but hearing it now, discussed as something real, made the weight of its consequences far more tangible.

Failure in the Aetheris family wasn't just about survival—it was about legacy.

The elder continued, the tension in their voice sharpening. "It's a shame your mother isn't here to oversee this. Her knowledge of the ceremony far surpasses ours."

Valen's mind latched onto the mention of his grandmother. In Echoes of Eternity, she had been nothing more than a fleeting memory, someone long gone before the events of the novel began.

But in this reality, she was very much alive. She was one of the most powerful figures in the Aetheris family, her mastery of mana and battle second to none.

Her absence had been explained in passing in the novel, a mere line about her being "away," but now Valen could piece together the truth.

She was fighting.

It was said that the truly powerful could live for centuries, their mastery over mana extending their lifespan well beyond the limits of ordinary mortals.

His grandmother was one of those figures, her appearance youthful and unblemished, despite being centuries old. But she wasn't here now. Instead, she was on another continent, battling enemies far beyond the reach of the empire.

The elder's voice lowered. "She would have seen the signs. She knew when a child was ready. But in her absence, we must proceed with care. There's no room for error."

"None," Marcellus agreed. "But Valen will succeed. The ancestors have seen to it."

The conversation faded as Marcellus and the elder moved further down the hall. Valen lay still, absorbing the weight of what he had heard. The Transcendence Ceremony was not a simple formality.

It was a trial—a test that would determine whether he was truly worthy of the legacy he was born into.

As the voices disappeared entirely, Valen's thoughts drifted back to the Aetheris legacy. His family was known for their strength, not just in battle, but in their ability to harness mana far beyond the capabilities of other noble houses.

This power wasn't something passed down easily—it was earned, forged in rituals like the one he was about to undergo.

The Transcendence Ceremony had claimed the lives of many who had come before him. Not all who were born into the Aetheris family could withstand the physical and mental strain of unlocking their mana core at such a young age.

The pain was said to be unbearable, a searing agony that consumed body and mind, breaking even the strongest-willed individuals.

The ones who failed became nothing more than whispers in the family's vast history, forgotten by all but a few.

Valen's lips curled into a faint smile. He would not fail.

He had read about the ceremony in the novel, and while the true nature of its power was hinted at, even Kael Draven had never faced anything like it.

Kael's path had been blessed by the heavens, his strength unfolding naturally over time. Valen, on the other hand, would face a gauntlet far more dangerous—yet far more rewarding.

Two great opportunities awaited him in the future, ones Kael had never been able to seize. But Valen knew the steps he needed to take to claim them. He knew the risks, the dangers, and the sacrifices.

The first would come years from now, but its potential was undeniable, even though Echoes of Eternity had only hinted at the power it could grant. Its true nature remained a mystery, but Valen had no doubt that it would change the course of the story.

The second opportunity, though more elusive, was equally significant. He knew less about it, its details clouded by the vagueness of the novel's descriptions, but he had a sense that it was crucial to his rise. And when the time came, he would be ready to seize it.

But first, he had to survive the Transcendence Ceremony.

As night fell over the Aetheris estate, preparations for the ceremony began. Valen could feel the shift in the air—an invisible hum of mana as servants and attendants moved quietly through the halls.

He was bathed in mana-infused oils, the potent mixture designed to harden his body against the pain to come. Each drop of the shimmering liquid was carefully prepared, distilled from ancient alchemical processes known only to the family.

The scent of the oils was sharp, like burning metal, but beneath it was a hint of something else—something ancient and powerful.

It soaked into his skin, igniting his senses as the mana-enhanced concoction seeped into his pores. He could feel it working, reinforcing his muscles, hardening his bones.

Around him, ancient relics were brought into the room, each one a symbol of the family's legacy. Some were weapons, others scrolls, but all pulsed faintly with the same mana that ran through the very walls of the estate.

These objects, passed down through generations, were tied to the ancestors who had built the Aetheris family into what it was today.

Valen could feel their presence, like shadows lingering just out of reach, watching, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

As the night deepened, Valen closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the family's expectations settle over him like a mantle.

The ancestors had placed their hopes in him, and his success would determine the future of the Aetheris legacy. He would not allow himself to fail. His rise to power began now, with this ceremony.

But as Valen drifted into the edge of sleep, something stirred in the air—a presence. It wasn't the ancestors or the relics that filled the room with their faint mana hum. This was something different.

His eyes snapped open, and for a moment, the world felt… off.

It was faint, barely there, but Valen could feel it. A pull, a whisper at the edge of his consciousness.

It wasn't something he could name or identify, but it left a ripple of unease in his mind. It was as though the very air around him was alive, watching, waiting.

For what, he didn't know. But he would find out soon enough.