"What just happened? Aelius, I know your bloodline is amazing, but this is just monstrous?!" Melbuar blurted out, staring at the boy wrapped in a radiance so dense it made even veteran mages uneasy. "Hey if I have a daughter, want to intermarry with me? I swear I'll start working on it today!''
Aelius didn't even spare him a glance. His gaze was locked on Aurelian, his expression shifting between pride, disbelief, and a quiet fear for what this meant. Not fear of his son but fear of the storm this kind of talent would stir in the world.
"Melbuar," Aelius said slowly, voice low, "That's not a Tier 3 mana core."
Melbuar frowned. "What do you-"
He froze. He felt it.
The air condensed again, mana tightening and swirling with a density that no normal child should be able to endure. The golden light around Aurelian thickened, settling on him like a mantle. It wasn't expanding wildly anymore, but compressing. A chill crawled up Melbuar's spine. "He's still rising?" he whispered, nearly stumbling back.
The crowd erupted into murmurs. Clergymen pressed their foreheads to the floor, overwhelmed by the purity of the light. Nobles exchanged panicked glances, unsure if they were witnessing a blessing or an omen. Even the rogue wizards who came seeking opportunity suddenly felt small.
Then the sun sigil above flared once more. Golden arcs twisted inward, compressing into a focused brilliance that shook the entire temple. Aelius exhaled, half-laugh, half-disbelief.
"He, he stopped at Tier 4. He actually stabilized a Tier 4 mana core."
A six-year-old with a Tier 4 mana core. Something that normally required decades of accumulation and mastery. Melbuar let out a wheezing, incredulous laugh.
"I take back what I said earlier. Forget intermarriage I should sign a lifetime alliance contract for my entire bloodline."
Aelius shot him a glare.
"Mel."
"Fine, fine!" Melbuar raised his hands defensively. "But mark my words the moment this gets out, every noble family in the Empire will swarm your gates with proposals. Sons, daughters, cousins they'll throw everyone at you hell maybe some in our generation will try their luck."
Their banter cut off as Aurelian slowly opened his eyes, unaware of the chaos he had just caused. Golden light still clung to him like a second skin. A tier 4 mana core at age 6 the first one in history.
"HAIL THE SUN OF THE EMPIRE!"
A clergyman suddenly shouted, voice cracking with emotion as he dropped to one knee.
The words echoed through the massive temple like a spark thrown into dry tinder. One voice became dozens. Dozens of voices became hundreds.
"HAIL THE SUN OF THE EMPIRE!"
Clergymen raised their hands toward Aurelian, some trembling, some openly weeping. For them, this was not just talent, this was divine proof. Proof that their God, Luminor, had blessed the Empire.
"Looks like living a life of relaxation isn't meant for me," Aurelian thought, a small sigh forming in his heart. He understood immediately what this display meant. From this day forward, he would be under the eyes of everyone.
Nobles, the clergy, the common people, imperial officials, foreign powers, and most dangerously the void creatures lurking in the depths of the world.
Expectations would follow him everywhere like a second shadow. He was no longer just Aurelian. He was now the Empire's supposed future hero. The next Brightwarden that's destined to stand against the darkness, just like those before him. Yet strangely he didn't hate it.
"This is my family's duty," he reminded himself quietly. "If Luminor has blessed me with this talent, then I'll do my best to protect the light."
This is the first time, the weight didn't feel like chains for Aurelian, now it felt like a mantle he would grow strong enough to carry.
"My little sun, you did it!" Selena burst through the crowd the moment the ritual ended, sweeping Aurelian into a tight embrace. Her voice trembled with joy as she peppered his cheeks with gentle strokes. "Mommy knows her son is the best. You made Mom and Dad proud".
Aurelian flushed crimson, glancing around at the sea of people staring at them, "M-mom not here. There's so many people" he whispered.
Selena only laughed softly, her golden hair swaying as she held his hand. "Let them look. You're my child first before anything else." With graceful confidence, she guided him forward, toward the waiting crowd of nobles.
"Stay close," she whispered, leaning down just enough for only Aurelian to hear. "Don't worry, Mom won't let anyone take advantage of you."
Normally, a young noble who had just completed their first mana ceremony would be the one humbly approaching and greeting each noble guest to introduce themselves to noble society. But in Aurelian's case, the roles had completely been reversed. Nobles were practically lining up, arguing on who would go first, even subtly shoving each other aside just to be the first to congratulate him.
"Young master Aelius, your light will truly bring blessings upon the Empire"
"A miracle child indeed, worthy of being called the Sun of the Empire!"
"Allow our family to humbly offer-"
"No, we're next move aside!"
It was chaos disguised as a ceremony. From the distance, Melbuar watched the scene unfold with raised brows. He glanced at Aelius, who stood with arms behind his back, wearing a mixture of pride and silent smugness as he gazed at those normally pompous nobles. No other kid has experienced this in their first mana ceremony right? Maybe the princess of the Empire did as nobles smell the same opportunity they smell at the princess and my son.
"Well," Melbuar said, nudging him with his elbow, "aren't you going to introduce me to my nephew? Hey, I consider you my brother, but you're not even going to let my cute nephew greet his uncle first?"
Aelius sighed, trying to hold back a smile. "With the way you keep calling him your nephew, I'm beginning to think you're trying to adopt him into your family."
Melbuar smirked. "If you won't introduce him, I'll introduce myself. I'm not letting all those stuck-up nobles beat me to it."
And with long strides of confidence the Emperor of Flame, Melbuar marched straight toward the crowd, ready to greet his little nephew. "Hey don't push me! Do you know wh-". The protesting noble went pale mid-sentence as he finally registered the man who'd nudged him aside.
"L-Lord Melbuar! I-I didn't know it was you". He immediately stepped back, bowing so quickly he nearly tripped over his own robe. Melbuar just grinned, with the confidence of a man who had once burned a sky-sized void monster to ash, he casually pushed through the line of nobles. Each one glared for a heartbeat, until they recognized him. Then the anger vanished, replaced by stiff smiles and frantic greetings.
"Lord Melbuar, please, go ahead"
"W-We were just leaving anyway"
"Ah yes, my throat feels dry, I should get some wine"
In seconds, the line parted like the sea. Melbuar strutted forward, arms crossed behind his back as if this were the most natural thing in the world. Finally, he reached the front where Selena and Aurelian stood.
He flashed a bright, roguish grin. "Hello, Selena, you look as beautiful as Luminor blessing"
Selena laughed and replied. "Still as dramatic as always, Melbuar."
Melbuar true to his personality put a hand over his heart dramatically. "Selena, please. I'm hurt. I came all this way just to congratulate my dear nephew and this is what I receive?".
Aurelian looked at the roguish man in front of him, blinking up at him he called softly. "Uncle Mel?". Melbuar crouched a little to meet the boy's eyes, the cocky grin softening into genuine fondness. "That's right. Your father and I survived our academy days together that alone qualifies me to claim the title as your Uncle."
Aurelian remembered a story about this Uncle, curious he tilted his head and suddenly asked. "Are you that friend that father said who almost burned the Imperial academy?". Selena nearly choked, holding back a laugh. Melbuar let out a surprised gasp.
"Aelius told you that story? I swear, I set ONE roof on fire and suddenly it's a legacy."
"That was more than one". Selena added at the side, Aurelian giggled, the tension easing from his shoulders with this funny Uncle.
Melbuar ruffled his hair lightly. "Anyway kid, congratulations. I saw that light show earlier. Tier 4 at six years old you're terrifying." He grinned proudly. "I'm saying that in the best possible way."
Aurelian's cheeks warmed. "Thank you, Uncle Mel."
Melbuar leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially, "If any of these nobles try to force their way into marrying their daughters to you, just point at me. I'll scare them off."
"Melbuar," Selena warned, though she was smiling.
"What? Someone has to look out for my nephew, you know." Aurelian couldn't help but laugh again. Suddenly a warm steady mana washed over them. Aelius walked towards them, his white and gold robes trailing lightly behind him, his every step composed and dignified. The moment he arrived, the nobles bowed instinctively, the pressure of his Tier 8 mana settling over the space like a quiet reminder of who truly ruled this hall.
Aelius sighed as he reached them. "Mel, do you have to bully my guests every time?"
"They weren't bullied," Melbuar replied, crossing his arms. "I just adjusted the order of the line."
Aelius raised a brow. "By pushing twelve nobles aside?"
"Thirteen, actually," Melbuar corrected proudly.
Aelius closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Somehow that doesn't make it better."
Selena laughed softly. "Aelius, let him be. He just wanted to greet Aurelian first."
Aelius opened his eyes, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips as he turned toward his son.
Aurelian immediately brightened. "Dad!"
Aelius knelt down to Aurelian's height and placed both hands gently on his shoulders. Up close, his golden eyes shimmered with pride and affection.
"You did wonderfully, my son." His voice was low and sincere. "No matter what happens after this, remember you are Aurelian first our son, not the Empire's symbol."
Aurelian's chest warmed. "I'll remember, Dad."
Melbuar let out a loud snort. "Look at you acting all wise and noble.
Selena elbowed Melbuar lightly. "Stop teasing."
A few hours later, midnight finally draped itself over Solaria Keep. The last of the nobles had left, the laughter and music had faded, and servants were already sweeping away the remnants of the grand celebration.
Aurelian collapsed face-first onto his bed, limbs splayed like a sun-dried starfish. "Luminor help me, If I have to smile at one more noble, my face might actually fall off," he groaned into his pillow. His cheeks still tingled from being stretched into polite expressions for hours. "At least this is the only event I'm forced to attend for the next few months except the Year-End Banquet at the Imperial Palace. But that's still far away. Future me problem."
Exhaustion tugged at him, but curiosity tugged harder. "Alright let's see how much I actually improved." Just moments ago he could barely keep his eyes open, yet now he shot upright with renewed energy. He sat cross-legged on the bed, hands settling into a familiar meditation . posture.
"Time to test how fast I absorb light now that my core's-"
Aurelian froze. "Oh. Right. It's night."
His shoulders drooped. Aurelian flopped backward onto the bed like a defeated cat.
"Never mind. I'll just do this tomorrow."
The Brightwarden bloodline had many strengths and equally annoying weaknesses. When the sun was up, their power soared. Their mana flowed naturally, their spellcasting sharpened, and their absorption rate was stronger. But when the sun vanished behind the horizon so did 20% of their strength.
It wasn't crippling, but it was enough of a dip that enemies had taken advantage of it for generations. Many assassination attempts on Brightwardens were done under the moonlight.
Aurelian still remembered the story of his ancestor, the one who led the empire's army in the Northern Siege centuries ago. The enemy commander had ordered an all-out nocturnal assault, convinced the Brightwarden would be weakened enough to fall.
It had not gone the way they expected. Even stripped of sunlight, a Brightwarden was far from helpless. The commander realized this only after his forces were reduced to ashes.
And then there was the legend, the story every Brightwarden child grew up hearing.
The tale of the First Brightwarden, the one personally blessed by Luminor. Rumor said that when the old kingdom now the Empire was on the brink of annihilation, besieged by all its neighbors at once, the First Brightwarden rose into the sky and created an artificial sun with his own hands. The false sun burned for three days and three nights, turning the battlefield into a sea of ashes.
Just standing in its glow was said to be enough to scorch armies down to nothing but smoke.
Aurelian let out a small sigh as he burrowed into the blankets.
"An artificial sun, huh? Maybe one day." His eyes drifted shut, as he dreamed of creating an artificial sun similar to the first ancestor.