Chapter 9: Chapter 8 – Hidden Potential

Three days had passed since the conclusion of Asher’s combat trials. While Asher was recovering from his injuries in a near comatose state during this time, the exam results were announced and a list of 99 accepted candidates was publicly posted by the Imperial Academy… The names of both Asher and Kevin Vazrael were among them…

 

In total, 5,895 applicants attempted the combat trials… Of those, 298 candidates were fatally injured and lost their life. The remaining unsuccessful examinees were thus forced to return home regardless of whether they were unharmed or crippled…

 

Yet despite these dreadful statistics, this semester’s combat trials actually had the lowest mortality rate in the past few years… The Imperial Academy’s staff and instructors were pleased by the outcome and eagerly awaited the arrival of their new students.

 

They were filled with hope that at least a handful of these candidates might make it to graduation… At an institution like the Imperial Academy, that was the best they could hope for.

 

And while the Academy’s instructors moved quickly to prepare for the induction of their new pupils, a certain white-haired elderly man sat in a quiet laboratory and analyzed the unconscious body of his 15-year-old grandson who remained limp on his operating table.

 

The man’s name was Damien Silvaros… He was Asher’s grandfather and one of the most powerful mages in the world. Within the Academy, even the school’s director lacked the authority to control him.

 

Damien’s power was critical to national security, and he held an honorable title as one of the Avalon Empire’s three unrivaled “Sovereigns”; the country’s top archmages. For this reason, Damien rarely acted as an instructor and spent most of his time researching magic while deterring any aggressive attacks against the Imperial Academy. He was the guardian responsible for protecting the Empire’s future…

 

As that guardian looked down at the unconscious boy, he sighed in impatience and slapped the boy awake…

 

Being rudely awoken, Asher darted upwards and looked around him in a hurry. His body was still sore, and he remained somewhat lethargic. As he turned towards Damien, Asher’s eyes widened as he gasped in surprise.

 

“Grandfather!” Asher spoke out in excitement. He had not seen his grandfather since his mother had died, but what shocked him was that his appearance seemed the same as it was the last time they met many years ago.

 

Asher knew that people with immense magical energy tended to age slower and possess greater longevity, but it still amazed him that his grandfather looked to be the same age as Walter despite having lived for over 250 years…

 

“You’ve grown boy… But watch your tone. On the Academy grounds, I am not your “grandfather.” As a student, you will be expected to refer to me as ‘Lord Damien’ lest you wish to be expelled so soon after coming this far.” Damien chastised his grandson while maintaining an emotional distance.

 

His attitude made it clear to Asher that this was not just a familial reunion, but a professional meeting.

 

“I understand. My apologies, Lord Damien.” Asher bowed and changed his attitude quickly.

 

“Very good. Now then Asher, as I’m sure you’re aware already, you have been officially welcomed to the Imperial Academy. At my request, you have been transferred to me and will be under my tutelage henceforth.” Damien explained.

 

“I am honored to receive the teachings of a Sovereign…” Asher replied with respect.

 

“Don’t be. That’s the entire reason you came here, isn’t it? Was it Diana’s will?” Damien inquired with a cold tone.

 

Asher simply held his tongue… He knew there was no right answer to Damien’s question.

 

“I see… Your silence is answer enough. Very well… Have a seat then. We have much to talk about.” Damien advised Asher who still remained sitting on the uncomfortable operating table.

 

Asher and Damien quickly moved locations and began a private meeting in his office. As the two sat down across from each other, Damien explained the situation.

 

“Now then, Asher… I’m sure you came here to carry on my daughter’s ambition. To reach the pinnacle of magic, correct? And I’m also certain she advised you to seek me out in the future to help you accomplish this objective… Knowing her, she likely didn’t reveal any more than that or bother to even explain what it truly was she wanted from you… Am I correct?” Damien asked to verify his hypothesis.

 

“Yes…” Asher replied simply.

 

Hearing his worst fears confirmed, Damien could only sigh…

 

“What I am about to tell you is a secret passed down through the generations of the Silvaros family. I inherited this knowledge from my father, and passed it down to Diana as per tradition… Before I tell you everything, you must first swear that everything discussed in this room will remain between us. Understood?” Damien ordered.

 

“Of course. I swear it on my mother’s life.” Asher replied with evident sincerity.

 

“Good… Now then, Asher, how much do you know about Arcane Magic?” Damien asked a sudden unexpected question.

 

His question immediately reminded Asher of the examiner named Ryan he had confronted just three days prior. The Gravity Magic he wielded was truly an overwhelming force, a power far greater than any simple Earth Magic.

 

While Sir Royce was also an Arcane Mage capable of using his Fire-derived Lightning Magic, that power had never been turned towards him like that… Asher shivered as he could still feel the phantom pain of his body being crushed…

 

“Arcane Magic is just an advanced form of magic derived from the four elements of Fire, Wind, Water, and Earth. Right? In order, they are Lightning, Sound, Ice, and Gravity.” Asher answered based on what he knew.

 

“Indeed… But have you ever wondered why only those elements, in particular, possess an Arcane variant? Light and Dark Magic may be much rarer, but they are still two of the Six Elemental Aspects. What if our understanding of Arcane Magic isn’t as comprehensive as we thought it was?” Damien proposed.

 

“What do you mean? Are you suggesting that Light Magic and Dark Magic have Arcane variants of their own?” Asher asked with doubt.

 

“I am not suggesting this… I am telling you a definite fact. This is a secret known only to our family, but we do believe that the two rare elemental magic aspects of Light and Dark each have their own Arcane Magic of incomparable power.” Damien revealed.

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This revelation shocked Asher… He had spent years fervently studying both Light Magic and Dark Magic, but never once had this thought crossed his mind. It was merely common sense that only the four basic elemental aspects could lead to Arcane Magic. To suggest otherwise is to go against all proven examples…

 

“As I’m sure you know, both your mother and I are mages with an affinity for the Dark Magic Aspect. Our magic specializes in absorbing and consuming. It is for this reason that we Dark Mages are called ‘Anti-Mages’ as often as not. The Silvaros family is a clan that has produced some of the world’s greatest Archmages who specialize in Dark Magic, and our ancestors have explored the limits and potential of our magic… It was during those studies that a certain discovery was made.” Damien explained.

 

Asher sat captivated by Damien’s words and eagerly absorbed his words and wisdom as best he could…

 

“Many centuries ago, one ancestor of the Silvaros family discovered an ancient ruin from the Lost Empire that once ruled this very continent thousands of years ago.”

 

His words intrigued Asher… The Lost Empire had always been a fascinating subject to the young prodigy. An ancient civilization that ruled the world for millennia… Many believed the Lost Empire to be the most advanced magical civilization in history. And not without cause… even the most basic techniques recovered from the records of the Lost Empire have been considered divine knowledge that has re-shaped society itself. The core principles of modern mana theory all have roots that also trace back to knowledge from the Lost Empire as well.

 

Even the unfathomable Warp Gates that act as the cornerstones of the central continent’s logistics are mere relics leftover from an era where the Lost Empire ruled Vandra…

 

“Within that ruin, the man found a library filled with magic books originating from the Lost Empire. One of these books contained lost knowledge about Dark Magic. While the man couldn’t salvage the book as he escaped the ruin, the knowledge contained within its pages has been passed down verbally throughout the centuries and culminated in the more advanced Dark Magic our family practices.” Damien continued to speak…

 

“But within those pages, there was another discovery… The existence of a power unique only to Dark Magic. An Arcane Magic variant of Dark Magic that the ancients once used to defy the boundaries of reality and build the very Warp Gates we see standing today… They called it Spatial Magic.”

 

“Spatial Magic? You’re saying Dark Magic has the potential to grant such divine power? If that’s the case, why haven't you or any of your ancestors ever unlocked this ability?” Asher asked with doubt.

 

“We didn’t know… The dream of the Silvaros in every generation since this discovery was to unlock this hidden potential and reach the pinnacle of magic. But we never succeeded… There was always one critical factor that was lacking… Something that only a genius like Diana could uncover…” Damien's voice began to fade as he replied.

 

“My mother? And what was that?” Asher asked with impatience.

 

“The existence of the other Arcane Magic derived from Light Magic, Dark Magic's polar opposite... Time Magic. When Diana made this discovery, the wisdom he inherited from the Lost Empire had finally begun to make sense… While Light and Darkness are opposing forces, Time and Space are closely intertwined with one another. Changes to one will be reflected in the other, and vice-versa. The ancients described space-time as a fabric that bends, distorts, and warps under the influence of the combination of this magic. Thus Diana’s discovery revealed to the Silvaros family that we would never be able to use Spatial Magic unless we also possessed the ability to use Time Magic. One could not exist without the other…” Damien explained in length.

 

Hearing Damien’s words, Asher’s eyes widened as he finally began to understand what his grandfather was trying to say…

 

“You mean…” As Asher began to speak, Damien interrupted.

 

“Yes. To reach the pinnacle of magic that our ancestors once sought, it is necessary for a mage to be born with an aptitude for both Light and Dark Magic. Diana was driven to fulfill the dreams of our family, and once she learned of this possibility, she wed into the Vazrael family who was known for their talent and bloodline specializing in Light Magic. She was confident this was the only path and prayed for the improbable miracle that her child would inherit both her Dark Magic and Lord Vazrael's Light Magic. And it seems the gods smiled happily upon her prayers, for such a rare child was born without issue; you.” Damien answered with a bitter smile.

 

This revelation shocked Asher… It was hard for him to believe that his mother only married his father for such a simple reason… It was as if she had forced a political marriage upon herself solely for the sake of her dream. While Asher knew Arthur loved Diana, this idea forced him to reflect on the memories he had with his mother and whether or not she truly loved her family…

 

Asher wanted to deny the mere possibility, he knew better than anyone that his mother wasn’t just some lovestruck maiden who was led by her emotions. She was a powerful warrior that even his father feared and was almost certain to become a future Sovereign were it not for her tragic death…

 

Still, Asher couldn’t help but feel betrayed by the memory of his mother… And hearing his grandfather’s words, a dreadful feeling of foreboding clouded his mind…

 

“I can understand your confliction, boy… I myself advocated against such actions, but her determination far surpassed my own. Count Vazrael adored Diana, and the two gave birth to you; the fulfillment of the Silvaros family’s ambitions and the legacy she had worked hard to foster. A mage born with the boundless potential to unlock these hidden Arcane Magics and to reach the pinnacle of magic she once sought with obsession…”

 

It took Asher several moments to accept the reality behind his grandfather’s words… Even when he thought he understood, he still had trouble accepting it…

 

“So you’re saying I possess this power? The potential to use such powerful magic? A Magic that controls time and space itself? If that’s the case then why-” As Asher was about to speak, Damien interjected.

 

“Why didn’t Diana tell you? Why didn’t she reveal this to Count Vazrael? Why did I wait this long to tell you? The answer is simple… Because overwhelming power is a force that corrupts and destroys those who wield it. It may seem like a blessing, but your magic is truly a terrible curse… One that may destroy you and everyone around you.” Damien answered with a clear warning.

 

Asher couldn’t argue against Damien’s words… If such powerful magic truly did exist, there is no telling how the world would react. If he was lucky, Asher would just have his freedom taken by the Emperor and be used as a weapon of war for war and conquest. At worst, he would be killed instantly before such a threat can mature and endanger the interests of others.

 

“I see… So I was being protected…” Asher realized with evident disappointment at his own ignorance and helplessness.

 

“Even now, the fact remains that the hidden potential of the magic you possess is a dangerous secret that can never be revealed. You are still young, and these Arcane Magics we speak of have been lost for thousands of years. There’s no telling what dangers are associated or where to even direct our efforts. All I can give you is a push in the right direction… Whether you find the right path or fall off a cliff to your demise, is entirely your own responsibility. Understood?” Damien explained with a harsh tone.

 

“I understand. So when will we begin?” Asher asked with impatience. His body remained sore from his injuries, and he was still unsure of how to feel about this unexpected truth, but he was eager to awaken this hidden potential of his as soon as he could.

 

“Calm yourself, child. The path you walk is a long one… You may be a so-called genius, but those are a dime-a-dozen at this institution. Unlocking the secrets of Arcane Magic is not something that can be learned overnight… Though I will admit that we shouldn’t waste any time either... We will begin your education tomorrow morning. In the meantime, feel free to spend the rest of the day familiarizing yourself with the campus and finding your dormitory room. Since you were brought here on a stretcher, I imagine it will be helpful to gather your bearings…” Damien advised.

 

“Okay… In that case, I’ll see you tomorrow. It’s been a pleasure to speak with you, Lord Damien…” Asher replied dejectedly while leaving Damien’s office, preparing to explore the campus…

 

The second he walked out into the grand marble hallway, a reality suddenly dawned upon Asher…

 

“I’m completely lost…” Asher muttered to himself.

 

Following a tiring reveal, his struggles at the Imperial Academy had already begun...

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