1: Embers of Holy Light

Rumor has it that the Saidi Luoyate Continent was a single entity over one hundred thousand years ago. The War of the Gods several tens of thousands of years ago split the Saidi Luoyate continent into two, named the Saidi Luoyate East Continent and the Saidi Luoyate West Continent.

Across the entire continent, magic and Qi coexist. Ranks such as Apprentice, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Earth, Sky, Legendary, and Epic are clearly defined. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Dragons, Titans, and hundreds of other races stand tall. Various cultivation professions like Knights, Mages, Priests, Apothecaries, and Druids emerge one after another.

June 27, 31597 of the dawn calendar.

Aulai Kingdom, Saidi Luoyate West Continent!

Summer sunlight filtered through the crystal facets of the academy dome, casting dappled light spots upon the white jade steps of the graduation platform. Lynn Ellis raised his hand to straighten his faded Mage robe. His right index finger rubbed unconsciously against the ring worn on his thumb.

Three years ago, he was still a history graduate student buried in historical texts at the library. An accident caused him to open his eyes in this Western fantasy world, becoming the unremarkable third son of the Iris Family. The original owner was physically weak and cowardly, like an insignificant shadow in a noble Family full of talents. He was sent away early to the kingdom's academy in Holy Radiance City for "advanced studies." Everyone knew this was just a disguised exile for a marginalized person. Not to mention his origin—the illegitimate son of Count Ailisi and an Elf woman. With black hair and black eyes, he was already glaringly out of place in the Aulai Kingdom, where golden hair and blue eyes were the norm.

"Student Lynn Ellis, primary profession: Mage, Silver Elementary. Element type: Fire and Wood dual-element. Secondary profession: Apothecary, Level 1 Apothecary. Comprehensive rating: Level 3, qualified." The dean's voice was steady without a hint of fluctuation; one could not hear a shred of recognition for being "qualified."

As the top institution of the Aulai Kingdom, the Holy Brilliance Academy taught every professional skill that matched one's talent. It took Linn three years to fully integrate into this world where magic and Qi intertwined and humans coexisted with other races. If not for breaking through to Silver Elementary just a few days ago, barely meeting the graduation line, he would not have gained the qualification to leave the academy.

As the kingdom's highest institution, most peers had already promoted to Silver Elementary professionals.

When he walked onto the platform to receive the gold-stamped certificate, the applause from below was sparse, sounding only perfunctory in his ears—the Iris Family controlled the wealthy territories of the three southwestern counties and was an old noble Family of the kingdom. As for him, the illegitimate son possessed by an "outsider" soul, he was just an insignificant name on the Family roster.

In the noble circles of the Aulai continent, this was nothing new. There were many children born to nobles and non-human Slaves. These non-orthodox Bloodline children were destined to have no claim to inheritance from birth. Most had only two paths: either receive a remote fief or be sent to the frontier for expansion, euphemistically called "serving the Family." But everyone knew that pioneers without Family support facing fierce non-human tribes at the frontier was no different from throwing an egg against a rock. And for the Family, the deaths of these illegitimate children were actually a "good thing"—it meant one less person to share resources with. Even if it were just insignificant resources, in the eyes of the nobles, it was a waste that could not be tolerated.

Even if there were occasional survivors, they had to continuously provide blood to the Family. These dispatched pioneers were like ants going out to find food, providing all the energy needed by the queen ant.

"May the great god of dawn bless you with a bright future." With the dean's blessing, the graduation ceremony was declared over.

Before the noise of the graduation ceremony had dissipated, a knight wearing the Family's black armor was already blocking the academy gate. The cold armor reflected the sunlight, and the knight's tone was colder than the armor: "Third Young Master, the Family Head has ordered you to return to the fief immediately without delay."

There was no pleasantry, no inquiry, only an indisputable command. Linn stuffed the graduation certificate into his backpack and swept his gaze over the basic magic staff hanging at the knight's waist. That was the lowest-tier equipment provided by the Family to ordinary guards; they didn't even bother to provide one for him, the "young master." He nodded silently, knowing clearly that what was bound to come could not be avoided. Perhaps he, too, was to follow in the footsteps of those illegitimate children and lose his life in the wilderness of the frontier fief.

"Sir Knight, could you allow me to briefly bid farewell to a friend? Just a moment, and I will follow you home." Linn's tone was gentle, even carrying a hint of imperceptible compliance.

Linn could not see through the depth of the knight before him, but the steady aura around him and that cold, gleaming Family black armor all indicated that he was at least of Silver Rank. The journey from Holy Radiance City back to the Count Ailisis Fief was long. Now that he was only a Silver Elementary Mage, he absolutely could not offend this "escort." Who knew if he would be quietly eliminated on the way for some excuse?

When one lacks strength, "laying low" is the hard truth. Linn never counted on "big shots" saving him in times of crisis. Living another life, this life was only secure when grasped in his own hands; showing off was the most foolish thing to do.

The knight looked down at him, the contempt in his gaze almost solidifying. Perhaps Linn's submissive posture satisfied his sense of superiority as a core member of the Family (even if at the bottom). He let out an inaudible cold snort from his nose before saying coldly and stiffly: "I'll give you ten minutes. If you dare to exceed the time, don't blame me for being impolite."

Damn it! If I weren't unable to beat you now, I would have slapped that poker face of yours off! Pretending to be a big shot? Does the blood flowing in an illegitimate child's body not belong to the Iris Family? Linn had already cursed the other party inside his heart, but reason quickly suppressed this nameless fire. He laughed at himself, as if in the noble rules prevalent on this continent, an illegitimate child really didn't count as a "proper young master," and was even worse than some powerful stewards or servants.

Whatever! Whatever! It's not easy for anyone. Let the bullets fly for a while longer. He silently repeated this in his heart using a meme only he could understand; this was the unique way for a transmigrator to decompress.

"Yes, thank you for your accommodation. I will definitely not exceed the time."

He maintained that submissive appearance on the surface. As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and ran quickly toward the quiet cedar forest in the southeast corner of the academy. There, he had Payson, the only person he could call a friend after three years in this indifferent Holy Brilliance Academy.

Linn walked quickly through the graduates in the center of the academy who were still congratulating each other and taking photos. They turned a blind eye to Linn's passing, as if he were just an insignificant gust of wind. He walked straight to the quiet cedar forest in the southeast corner, one of the few places in the academy undisturbed by the noise.

Just as he reached the edge of the forest, a voice that was intentionally lowered but hard to hide its clarity came from behind a tree: "Linn! Over here!"

A young man in a luxurious silk shirt and an exquisite velvet short robe walked slowly from behind the cedar tree. His light golden short hair was combed meticulously, but his handsome face carried a melancholy inconsistent with his age. This was Payson, Linn's only friend in the academy, also of noble origin, but a count's heir in a subtle situation due to internal Family strife.

"How is the situation?"

Payson stepped forward quickly, his brows slightly furrowed, his gaze sweeping over Linn's slightly pale face with concern. "I saw your Iris Family's black-armored knight from afar just now. With that icy appearance, don't tell me they aren't even giving you a moment to breathe and are going to escort you back immediately?"

A bitter arc tugged at the corner of Linn's lips: "The graduation certificate just arrived, and the transfer order followed closely. This efficiency is truly 'moving'."

Payson's face immediately showed a sympathetic indignation, and he clenched his fists unconsciously, his knuckles turning slightly white. "It really went as we expected! They are determined to send you off to some poor, remote place to 'pioneer,' just so they don't have to see you?" He spoke rapidly, carrying the restrained excitement typical of noble children.

The reason the two could become best friends was precisely because they saw similar situations in each other! Both marginalized by their families, both having a "good stepmother." As the legitimate son of Count Lorin, Payson was originally the rightful heir, but his mother died early, and the daughter of a marquis his father remarried had a prominent background and soon gave birth to a younger son who was more favored. With a stepmother came a stepfather; Payson, the eldest son of the former wife, found his position in the Family increasingly awkward, with resources and connections clearly tilting toward his younger brother. His coming to the kingdom's academy to study was, to some extent, to avoid the limelight temporarily. In this Holy Brilliance Academy, no one dared to act rashly yet.

Even so, Payson's condition was still much better than Linn's. At least he was considered a legitimate heir, while Linn was an illegitimate son born to a non-human Slave.

"It is nothing more than being sent to the frontier to pioneer a fief, or... the rumored desolate islands in the Storm Sea to the east of the kingdom." Linn's tone was still calm, as if he were recounting idle matters unrelated to himself.

"Damn Family politics!" Payson cursed under his breath, his elegant phrasing unable to hide his full anger. He took a deep breath to steady his emotions, then took out a flat box wrapped in deep blue velvet from the inner lining of his exquisite short robe and stuffed it into Linn's hand without question.

"Take it, no need to decline."

Linn opened the lid. What came into view was not the jewelry he expected, but an exquisite sleeve bow with mysterious and exquisite inscriptions. He recognized this object. This was a masterpiece that Payson had spent years of hard work perfecting. Payson was a skilled Arcane Mage with unique insights into magical devices.

"This is too precious!" Linn immediately closed the lid, intending to decline. He knew how much time and effort Payson had spent on this work; it could be called a treasure for self-preservation.

"Precious?" Payson held down Linn's hand, his handsome face full of unquestionable determination. "Linn, listen to me. No matter how precious an object is, it cannot compare to a best friend's life! You and I both know what you are about to face. The world outside the academy has no rules; the wilderness, the frontiers, the sea—everywhere is full of vicious people who eat people without spitting out the bones. As a mage, having an extra defensive item is always good!"

Linn stared at the heavy velvet box in his hand, looking into the genuine concern in Payson's ice-blue eyes, and the ice in the bottom of his heart seemed to be melted by a warm current. In this cold and snobbish noble circle and academy, this friendship without mixed interests was the most precious harvest he had gained in three years.

Linn no longer declined and deftly equipped the sleeve bow on his forearm. The Mage robe perfectly concealed this exquisite weapon.

"I will keep this friendship in my heart." Linn's voice was not loud, but every word carried great weight.

He glanced toward the academy gate; the black-armored knight was still standing like a javelin, silently conveying urgency.

"It's time to set off." Linn said softly, "You must also take care. Back to the Lorin Family... be careful in everything, guard your Foundation. Your ability and Bloodline are your greatest reliance."

"Don't worry, I am the rightful heir after all. On the surface, they still dare not act rashly." Payson managed to pull out a smile and squeezed Linn's arm firmly. "Go quickly! Remember, no matter what, you must survive! When I gain a firm foothold in the Family, or when you find a new starting point, we will definitely have a day to meet again!"

Linn nodded solemnly, took one last look at this good friend who was in a different predicament but shared the same mind, and resolutely turned to walk toward the black-armored knight. No matter what he would face upon returning to the Count Ailisis Fief, at least at this moment, he had no choice.