Chapter 1: The Unfortunate Third

"Come taste these delicious kababs! Four coppers for a stick!" a vendor in the street was calling the people passing by as he was releasing fire from his hands and burning the charcoals and readying the sticks with meat to put inside the tandoor. The market was filled with hustle bustle as some vendor was bending small pieces of metals floating above his hand, making beautiful bracelets and pendants, attracting the young girls and couples. Huge paper dragons were flying above promoting the products of the toys shop in the alley and various vendors were promoting their products with attractive fireworks and stunts with the help of magic. It was a sight to behold as magic was everywhere, but no one was surprised as magic was a daily part of life of all the people in the Regelak kingdom or so as to say the whole Vyomir continent. All the people born on this land are born with a magic circle around their heart. It lies dormant for years until the 12th year. As a child reaches 12 years of age, he awakens the power of magic dormant in the circle. But all those that awaken, the limit is not the same for everyone. Some are awakened to small mana holding capacity while for some it is limitless and form more circles in the future. Some can perform just the basic daily magic while some go on to the universities to further study magic and contribute to the world and the magic studies. While magic was everywhere and it had made the lives of the people easy no matter whether it is daily chores, transport, travelling or many more there was not many that did hard physical labour. But there was one person in the duke Ranatosh’s castle, in the training field, tanned skin, handsome face with sharp jawline, wavy black hair and brown eyes, who was running around the field since the morning, sweating all over as he was doing push-ups on the ground with added weight belts in his wrists, legs and the torso. It was the first son and third one of the four children of duke Danver Ranatosh, Luke Ranatosh, who was going to be 15 this year. "448..449..500...501....502..." Luke kept counting as he did one push up after another. His muscular body and toned muscle and cuts were proof of his daily training, diligence and hard work as the brown sandy ground beneath his body had gotten a shade darker with the sweat falling from his body on the ground. "Destiny is so cruel, he has everything at his feet but not what matters the most!" the guard at the training field entrance said with a sigh. "Why? What happened?" the other guard asked, confused. "I’m talking about the third young master. Born a noble, no lack of food or money, but was so unfortunate to have born with a shattered magic circle. He was unable to awaken and now can’t use magic." "Well, that is unfortunate. But still at least he was born a noble, he doesn’t have to worry about living or lack anything in life. I would trade places with him anytime, at least I won’t have to be a guard standing under the sun the whole day for a few silver coins." just when they were about to gossip more, three figures approached the training field. At the front was a man in his fifties with beard and short hair, wearing full plate body armour and a long sword at his side and behind him were two guards in armour. "Is the third young master here?" the man asked in his husky voice. "Yes, lord Drake! He’s been training here since the morning." The first guard said nervously. The guards made way as Drake went inside leaving the two guards he brought with him behind. "559..560..561..5.." Luke was focused on his push ups when he saw the shadow of a figure on the ground standing in front of him. he stopped and looked up and saw Drake standing in front. "Lord Drake!" he got up and greeted. "Third young master." Drake bowed his head, showing respect to the Duke’s son, as he was a knight, the commander and military leader under the Duke, his master. "The duke wants to see you! He has asked me to bring you to his office chambers." "Right now? I have a few routines left!" "I’m sorry young master! He wants to see you right now." "Oh! Alright, I’ll clean up and get dressed then." "Thank you for understanding young master. I’ll wait here!" Drake said and waited on the spot as Luke moved towards the changing rooms, and seeing his retreating back, a sigh of sadness and helplessness escaped Drake. ****** "Come in." Danver said at the knock on the door. The door opened and Luke entered. He closed the door and moved in front of the table, standing opposite to where Danver was sitting on his big chair. "You wanted to see me father?" "Yes! Take a seat." Luke pulled the chair out and sat down. "You smell of sweat." Danver said as he rubbed his nose in annoyance. "I was training when you called. You asked to come immediately so I didn’t get the chance to take a bath." Luke said. But Danver didn’t respond and ignored outright. "Your birthday is near. How old are you turning this year?" "I’m going to be 15, father." "Still not awakened and you’re wasting time with all these useless body training when you need to fix that damn circle of yours!" he chided Luke in a disappointed tone. "I’m sorry father! I tried everything. The healers of the temple, mages from the university, herbal concoctions, but nothing was of use." "Then will training your body fix it?" "No!...but at least I want to be use. I want to be a warrior, fight with you in the front..." "Without magic? You think war and fighting is a joke? You’ll die the moment you face a fighter mage, and the seventh circle wizards will wipe you out with a single spell!" Danver screamed in anger. "I’m giving you a last chance. Enter the sanctuary of the elders after your birthday with your brother. If you succeed in fixing your circle then it’s great, and if not, you’ll no longer be my son and will be banished." "What!?" Luke yelled in surprise.