Chapter 1 — I Was Born Without a Talent
Everyone in Elarion was born with a Talent.
It was the first thing parents asked after a child's first breath.
Not their name. Not their health. Their Talent.
Fire. Sword. Healing. SSS.
And then there was me.
The cathedral was silent. Candles burning.
Thousands of nobles.
At the end, beneath a golden dragon, sat King Aldric Ardent.
Beside him: my three brothers. Gravity. Dragon blood. Sword genius.
And me.
Leon Ardent. The useless prince.
The priest touched my chest.
"Sixteen years ago. Born beneath a blood moon. The astrologers said you'd change the world."
Someone laughed.
The Soul Appraisal activated.
Gold light. The crystal turned blue. Purple. Gold.
"An SSS-rank?"
My father's eyes widened. For one second: hope.
Then—
CRACK.
The crystal shattered.
The priest went pale.
"Your Majesty... The prince possesses no Talent."
3 seconds of silence.
Then laughter.
"None?"
"The fourth prince?"
"What an embarrassment."
My brother Adrian smiled. "Leon. You've finally proven your worth."
My father sat back down.
"Remove him."
Two knights came forward.
I didn't resist.
People only fear what they understand.
Nobody understood me.
Nobody watched me.
That was useful.
I turned to leave.
Then the shards on the floor lifted.
They rotated.
A black symbol formed between them.
A window appeared only I could see.
[Soul Appraisal complete.]
Name: Leon Ardent
Talent: NONE
Another window.
[ERROR]
Appraisal failed to identify true Talent.
[Hidden Talent awakened.]
[Talent Name: ???]
[Rank: ???]
[Target identified.]
Target: Royal Astrologer Elias Vorn.
I looked up.
The old man was smiling at me.
Blood sprayed across the throne.
A black needle in his chest.
He collapsed.
Chaos.
"ASSIN! SEAL THE DOORS!"
I stared at the corpse.
His eyes were open. On me.
[The target has died.]
[Determine the true cause of death.]
Time remaining: 60 seconds.