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Chapter 2
The Day Everything Began
This all started one month ago.
My name is Lucas Valerian.
Before I woke up in this bright, magical world called Aetheria, I was just a regular guy on Earth. Well… maybe "regular" is too nice a word.
I was a livestreamer.
A struggling one.
The kind who sat in a tiny room with a cheap webcam, talking to maybe three viewers for two whole hours, then ended the stream with a big smile like it was the best night ever. My channel had so few followers that the chat felt emptier than an old attic. Most nights it was just me, a bag of cheap instant noodles, and the soft sound of rain tapping on my window.
Still, I loved it.
Streaming made me feel like I wasn't totally alone. Even if only a couple of people showed up, it was nice to chat about games, silly stories, or whatever popped into my head. It was my little escape from real life.
But life had other plans.
One rainy evening, I stepped out to grab those same cheap noodles for dinner. The streets were slippery, the sky dark and heavy with clouds, and I was humming a dumb song to myself as I walked.
Then—out of nowhere—
A loud horn blared.
Bright headlights blinded me.
I barely had time to turn my head before—
BOOM.
A truck slammed right into me.
Everything went black.
I thought that was the end.
Game over.
Thanks for playing.
But when I opened my eyes again… I wasn't in a hospital bed.
I wasn't even on Earth anymore.
I was in a whole new world.
A real fantasy world.
Aetheria.
Soft golden sunlight filtered through tall windows made of colorful glass shaped like dragons and stars. The air smelled like fresh bread, blooming flowers, and a faint hint of sweet magic that made everything feel warm and slightly sparkly.
And the craziest part?
I had been reborn—not as some poor village kid struggling to survive.
No.
I had been reborn as the youngest son of a noble family.
A Count's family.
At first I was terrified that I might be some secret illegitimate child hidden away in a dusty corner of a huge mansion.
But that fear disappeared quickly.
I was completely legitimate.
My father was Count Aldric Valerian, a tall man with kind but tired eyes and a voice that always sounded like he was giving an important speech to an entire army.
My mother was Lady Seraphina Valerian, the most graceful woman I had ever seen. Her long silver hair shimmered softly in candlelight, and when she smiled the entire room seemed to grow warmer.
Together they had four children.
Three boys.
One girl.
And guess what?
I was the baby of the family.
The mansion itself looked like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Tall stone towers stretched up toward the clouds. Gardens spread endlessly in every direction, filled with flowers that glowed gently at night like tiny lanterns. Floating lights drifted through the air like friendly fireflies.
Servants in neat uniforms bowed politely whenever I walked past. The food was always warm and delicious. The beds were softer than clouds.
Every hallway displayed grand paintings of ancestors riding magical horses or fighting monsters with glowing swords.
Honestly?
I thought I had hit the jackpot.
I believed I had become the main character of this world.
I imagined myself growing stronger and stronger, learning incredible spells, building a mighty empire, and maybe even becoming a legendary hero who saved the world.
After all, I had read enough novels on Earth to know exactly how these stories usually went.
But reality came crashing down much faster than I expected.
I was terrible at almost everything.
Sword training?
I swung the wooden practice sword like it was a heavy spoon and tripped over my own feet.
Magic lessons?
My tiny sparks of light fizzled out before they even left my fingertips.
Even basic physical exercises made me tired far quicker than my brothers and sister.
Compared to them, I looked like a complete amateur.
My eldest brother Leon Valerian was a sword genius. At only fifteen he could already slice through training dummies like they were made of butter. He had broad shoulders, a bright confident laugh, and a way of moving that made people naturally want to cheer.
My second brother Adrian Valerian possessed magical talent that made teachers shake their heads in amazement. He could create tiny whirlwinds that danced across his palm or light an entire room with soft blue flames.
And my sister Elena Valerian?
She was talented in both magic and politics. She could charm an entire room full of nobles with one gentle smile while secretly planning clever magical tricks in the background.
Then there was me.
Lucas.
The handsome decoration of the family.
Yes… apparently my only real talent was my face.
Smooth skin. Bright eyes. Hair that somehow fell perfectly no matter what I did.
Even the maids whispered about it when they thought I wasn't listening.
My brothers teased me about it constantly.
"Lucas," Leon once laughed after training, patting my head like I was a puppy, "there is probably no one in the entire empire who can match your beauty. You could just stand still and win people's hearts."
Adrian nodded with a mischievous grin.
"True. While we sweat and study magic, you just look pretty and eat cake."
Elena rolled her eyes but smiled gently.
"Don't listen to them, little brother. But… smiling at parties does work better than half my spells."
It was funny at first.
But deep down it made me nervous.
I had read way too many novels back on Earth.
And handsome nobles in those stories usually ended up in terrible situations—kidnapped, manipulated, or dragged into dangerous plots.
So I made a decision.
A very smart decision.
I would act weak on purpose.
I trained just enough to avoid suspicion, but never pushed myself to stand out.
Whenever something difficult appeared, I smiled sweetly and relied on my brothers for help.
Whenever Father tried to push me harder, I would yawn and say politely,
"I'll try tomorrow, Father. My head feels a little fuzzy today."
Father tried many times.
He would sit me down in his large study, where glowing maps covered the walls and a warm fire crackled in the stone fireplace.
"Lucas," he would say in that calm, deep voice, "you must work harder. The world outside these walls is not kind to those who stand still."
I would nod obediently.
But inside I was thinking—
Nope. I'm perfectly happy right here.
Eventually Father stopped pushing me so hard.
Not because he hated me.
Not because he gave up on me.
He simply accepted the truth.
I didn't have the same talent as my siblings.
And honestly?
I was completely fine with that.
Luckily Father had already declared that Leon would inherit the family title one day.
There was no dangerous competition for succession.
No political drama.
No family conflict.
Which meant I could peacefully live the perfect life of a salted fish noble.
A lazy, comfortable life.
Wake up late.
Eat sweet fruit from the garden.
Read adventure books in the sunny library.
Watch glowing flowers sway gently in the evening wind.
Sometimes I even admired my own reflection in shiny mirrors, pretending for a moment that I was some legendary hero.
Servants brought warm milk with honey every night.
Life was peaceful.
Safe.
Perfect.
I lived like that for years.
Floating through life like a happy leaf drifting down a calm river.
Until the day everything changed.
It happened right after I turned sixteen.
Father called me into his office again.
The large wooden desk was covered with sealed letters, and golden sunlight streamed through the tall windows, making tiny dust particles sparkle like floating stars.
"Lucas," he said calmly.
"Yes, Father?"
"You will attend the Royal Academy when you turn eighteen."
My heart skipped a beat.
"The Royal Academy?"
He nodded.
"After your birthday ceremony, you will enroll there to study."
Then his voice grew more serious.
"And after graduation…"
"You must leave the family and build your own future."
"You may establish your own noble house, or work under the Valerian family."
"But you cannot remain idle forever."
My dream of living as a peaceful salted-fish noble shattered instantly.
Leave the mansion?
Build my own future?
I liked my future exactly the way it was.
Cake and naps.
But I forced myself to smile.
"I understand, Father."
Inside, however, I was panicking.
How was I supposed to survive outside when even basic sword training exhausted me?
Then came the event that changed everything.
My sixteenth birthday ceremony.
In Aetheria, every noble awakened their Divine Blessing at sixteen.
It was a sacred ritual believed to connect humans with the gods.
Some received incredible magical abilities.
Others gained powerful combat talents.
And some…
Received nothing at all.
The ceremony hall was massive and breathtaking.
The marble floor shone like polished ice.
Tall pillars carved with twisting vines reached up to a ceiling painted with golden clouds and flying dragons.
Soft music played from hidden flutes.
The air smelled of sweet incense and fresh rain.
Nobles dressed in elegant clothing decorated with shining jewels sat in rows whispering among themselves.
Servants stood quietly along the walls holding glowing lanterns.
My entire family was present.
Father looked proud.
Mother smiled gently.
My siblings sat in the front row, giving me encouraging thumbs-up.
One by one the young nobles stepped forward.
The magical circle carved into the floor glowed with brilliant colors each time someone placed their hand on the stone altar.
Lights swirled around them.
The priest in white robes announced each blessing in a loud voice.
Cheers and applause echoed throughout the hall.
Finally…
My turn arrived.
I walked slowly toward the glowing circle.
My fancy birthday clothes suddenly felt a little tight.
My heart pounded loudly in my chest.
What if I received something amazing?
What if I suddenly became powerful?
Or worse…
What if I received nothing at all?
"Place your hand on the altar," the priest said gently.
I did.
The magical circle beneath my feet began glowing brighter.
And brighter.
Warm light filled the entire hall.
The golden dragons painted on the ceiling seemed almost alive.
Gasps spread throughout the crowd.
My family leaned forward anxiously.
Then—
A strange voice echoed inside my mind.
Not aloud.
Only for me.
[System Awakening…]
[Divine Blessing Detected]
[Initializing… Livestream System]
My eyes widened.
Livestream?
Like… the thing I used to do on Earth?
The voice continued calmly.
[Congratulations Host.]
[You have received the Unique Blessing…]
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To be continued…
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