<div>"Lord Eros, please be careful, you might fall from that tree." A lady who seemed to be a maidservant said nervously.


    "Oh come on Corey." A boy who was standing on a branch of an abnormally tall tree answered while shuffling his sleeve preparing to do a leap to an adjacent tree. "Look Corey, you know I am a miracle child loved by the the heavens and could already use magic even before I turned twelve. A fall from such height could not harm me." The boy then leaped without reserve at a speed which made the maidservant gape, and in an instant before landing to the branch, he slowed down as if a light wind ensured his safety.


    "See. That was a magic I learned recently, It is a floating technique which I can now slightly use. My father said that It can only be used by mages who trained for several years." The boy said with a smug expression while his blue eyes staring directly at the maidservant as if waiting for her reaction.


    "Lord Eros, I know that you are gifted and could control natural energy since birth, but your mother told me to prevent you from doing anything that could possibly cause you harm." While hurriedly walking towards the other tree, she continued saying. "If there is even a small wound on you, your mother would definitely feel disappointed in me. So please allow me to help you down from that tree."


    Eros then eyed the maidservant for a moment then replied with a smile. "Alright. Don''t be nervous Corey, you know how kind my mother is. There is no way she would punish you."


    "That is why I am scared my Lord. I am scared to even bring sadness to your loving mother." Corey said pleadingly.


    With a sigh, Eros decided to go down the branch and follow the maidservant back at their mansion. But, before they could even step in the mansion, a beautiful lady wearing an elegant long dress walked out from it. Her face was as smooth as jade which seemed to be untainted by time, and her movement and gaze was as gentle as a spring breeze.


    At the instant Eros saw the lady he immediately shouted. "Mother! Why are you here?" And without waiting for response, Eros ran towards the lady with his arms wide, hugging her tightly, then continued asking. "Where is father?"


    While Eros was hugging her, the lady stroked her son''s silver colored hair and said. "My sweet child, what have you been doing. Your hair is a mess."


    The maidservant then stepped forward with a hint of guilt in her face while staring at the ground and said "Lady Ufea, It is all my fault, I failed to properly guide Lord Eros."


    Ufea then looked at her with a loving gaze and responded. "Corey, do not worry about it. This is nothing. Children are supposed to play. So please raise your head."


    Eron also chuckled while looking at Corey then quickly turned his attention back to his mother. "Mother, you did not tell me yet why you are here."


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    "So father is with you?" Eros asked excitedly.


    "Of course I am here my son." A middle aged man walked out of the mansion along with an old goblin. The face of the man resembled Eros, and even his hair was the same color. The only difference was Eros'' blue eyes which he obviously got from his mother. Quickly, the man then held Eros'' shoulder and continued. "Nothing could hinder me from witnessing the day you become a formal mage. Tomorrow, you would become one of the most gifted mage of Chorias and would surely surpass me in the near future."


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    The goblin beside his father then chuckled lightly, lit up his pipe, and took a puff. While smoke was coming out of his mouth the goblin said with his hoarse voice. "Ahh.. Sir Corrus, your boy have grown up to be a promising young man." The goblin then coughed slightly from inhaling too much smoke, and went in a daze for a moment as if trying to remember something, then suddenly continued. "When I first laid my eyes on him when he was born, I knew that he was something special when natural energy started to converge around him." he then paused again, and after a moment said "This time, I could see natural energy dancing around him without even his slightest effort to control it."


    "Senior Ald, you praise my son too much. He might get to conceited from it." Corrus said while laughing proudly.


    Eros stared at the goblin all the time while it was speaking since it was his first time seeing an extremely old goblin. Also, the way it spoke was as fluent as a human which was rare for goblins.


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    This time, Eros was sure that everytime the goblin pauses, he was thinking of the next words to say. However, he wasn''t sure if it was because the goblin was so old that it affects it memory or that it was really struggling to speak human speech. Whichever be the case, Eros still found it funny to observe the goblin.


    Because he thought the goblin to be funny, he decided to spend the rest of the day with it, talking about unessential stuff, but sometimes, the goblin would say incredibly enlightening words which Eros tried to get a grasp on, but before it could finish, the goblin would suddenly pause and start a new statement unrelated to his first.


    His father also checked on them every moment attempting to join the conversation, but every time he saw goblin Ald pause and continue while Eros was lightly chuckling enjoying the scene, he did not bother and simply waited for the day to pass by.


    ....


    When Eros woke up, he swiftly vaulted out of his bed, fixed his hair, and began to ferret around for goblin Ald which he had a long night conversation with. While he sauntered in their mansion, he took notice of the people starting to gather in their Magic Training Hall. His face flinched as he remembered the significance of the current day. In this day he will be officially tested to become a mage along with many other hopeful.


    "Lord Eros." A female voice slightly panting came from behind Eros which he quickly recognized as he replied. "What''s the matter Corey?"


    "My Lord, I have been looking all over for you. Please come with me and get dressed." She then tried to calm his breathing and continued. "The event will start in an hour. We need to hurry."


    With a smile Eros replied. "Alright Corey. I will not cause much trouble for you this time, since my parents are expecting so much from me in this event."


    With haste, both of them went to a large dressing room for Eros to get groomed with an elegant robe fit for a young mage from a prominent background. His robe was pure red, with lines of gold at every corner of it, and a crest of the Libera family embroidered from his chest down to the knees. The crest resembled dragon and was made from threads of magical silk which possess a magical protection property impossible for ordinary humans to possess.


    Eros looked at himself in a mirror, checked his robe, then said. "So this is the moment I prove myself to my parents." After a moment, he inhaled deeply, and breathed out calmly, then with a satisfied smile, walked out of the room towards the Magic Training Hall.


    In the hall, several people already gathered. In front, there stood three noticeably old wizards, who seemed to be quite adored by everyone present, one of which was an old goblin puffing a wooden pipe seemingly in daze. Eros quickly recognized him as goblin Ald. Several paces away from goblin Ald, he saw his parents standing as as if waiting for everyone to gather. On his side, there were also several young aspiring mages, some even of different race. And gathered around them were a crowd of parents with mixed status.


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    Everyone began clapping, and the tense atmosphere quickly turtned into a joyous one. Even the three serious looking wizard in front eased up a bit and gave a faint smile.


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    After the short explanation finished, goblin Ald started his line with a single word as if imitating the wizard who spoke before him. "Alright." Then he paused looking at everyone''s reaction, but sadly it did not have the same effect. Eros noticed this which made him slightly giggle. His barely noticeable giggle has caught the attention of goblin Ald which made goblin Ald clear his throat, puff his pipe again, and continue awkwardly. "I will not delay this, so.." Before finishing his statement, goblin Ald waved his wrinkled small hands which caused magical symbols to appear above each young participant including Eros. "Yeah, you now probably know the meaning of those symbols, it represent the order in which you will be assessed." Then after another puff, he continued. "Come on, the first one, step forward and come here."


    A boy slightly trembling strode forward and bowed to the three wizard. He looked fragile and weak, and in no ways looked like someone who could become a mage, so everyone started to think that it would be the first failure of the day.


    Even Eros thought to himself. "If this guy can pass, I guess it''s not that hard to become a mage."


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    "Kid, touch the ball." goblin Ald said.


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    "Next." When Eros heard this words. His breathing went rugged, and his nervousness skyrocketed. When he stood in front of the three, goblin Ald lightly said. "Don''t be nervous kid. You can already use natural energy, so this is just a formality, and will only be to assess your talent."


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    "Madam Orris let us proceed to the assessment." Louvel said, then continued not allowing Orris to reply. "Son of Corrus Libera, place your hand on the crystal ball."


    Without hesitation, Eros touched the crystal ball. In an instant, his body was covered in glyph and his eyes shone with deep blue luster.


    "Ah! Such pure energy! Perfect!" Madam Orris suddenly exclaimed. Beside him, the serious expression of Louvel also turned into a smile and goblin Ald looked at him feeling proud for Eros. "See kid, nothing to be nervous abo.." when goblin Ald was about to finish his line, something unusual happened which made his jaw drop and his eyes went wide. The deep blue luster in the left eye of Eros suddenly turned darker until it became pitch black. Slowly, his blue eyes also turned black as if being corrupted by darkness.


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    "How can the legends be true?" Another man said trembling. His face ashen as he continued. "Is this the sign of revival of Lord Orcus!?"


    His words caused the already terrified crowd to even submerge into fear.


    "Silence!" Corrus shouted. "My son has nothing to do with Lord Orcus or some legend! There has to be a mistake! Lord Orcus was sealed five hundred years ago at the depths of the underworld. The legends about his curse must be untrue!"


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    "But Grand Wizard Ald, do you not remember the last words of Lord Orcus before he was sealed by the Gods?" Spoken by the man who strongly swung his hands intensely to oppose goblin Ald as he continued.


    "Cursed Gods! When my seed is born, my flesh shall form. My brethrens souls shall aid my goal, to spill blood in the land of God!"


    Those words made everyone''s face ashen, even Ufea and Corrus could say nothing in response.


    "Aye, I remember that clearly." Then he took a puff and continued. "But, I think we should study this phenomenon further before we revile and castigate the boy."


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    Louvel eyed the couple, and said. "As the Grand Wizard of the town of Orion, I have the right to decline your request oh Lord Corrus. Your fear is the death of your child, however, my fear is the catastrophe that will befall us if Lord Orcus can truly revive." Without arguing further, Louvel walked out of the Magic Training Hall and disappeared.


    "No!!!" Corrus cried while hugging Eros who was struck speechless of the whole event. Eros knew of the name Lord Orcus, and knew a bit of the legends about his final words. Also, he completely understood the events that transpired, however, it was too much of a change that his world seemed to turn upside down. He could only stand there as he looked at the crowd who were starting to distance themselves from him and some even slowly exiting the hall.


    ....


    In a room at the Libera family mansion, Eros asked. "What will happen to me father?"


    "Nothing my son. I will make sure that not a single hair on you will be hurt." He said while looking lovingly at Eros.


    "I think, you should hide the boy for now Lord Corrus." goblin Ald advised. "Also, in a few more minutes, I believe there will already be wizards from.." Before he could finish talking, goblin Ald frowned, he looked up, and said. "They''re here." And he shifted his gaze at Corrus and said. "And there are tons of them."


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    "Grand Wizard and Wizards, why did you suddenly visit the house of Libera?" goblin Ald asked with a smile, while Corrus was just behind him feeling tense.


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    "Grand Wizard Haimmon, from the town of Gunt, May we know what you wish to do with the child?" goblin Ald replied.


    "Grand Wizard Ald of the mountain of Oms. We hope that you do not get yourself involved in this matter. This concerns the future of the entire plane of Chorias itself. We wish to simply take the boy and silently retreat."


    "Are you going to kill him?" goblin Ald asked while puffing his pipe.


    Haimmon went silent, and did not respond. Instead, he waved his hands causing the surrounding wizards to fly towards the mansion of Libera family. Only three wizards remained floating unoving. One of which was Haimmon and the other two seemed to be Grand Wizards themselves.


    "Kapnos Sunexo!" After which, his chest grew bigger, his throat bulged and his cheeks to puffed. Then, as he exhaled with his mouth, a large quantity of smoke came out from it and covered the entire area. Anyone touched by the smoke were incapacitated unable to fly further.


    "Ouranus Pyr!", which caused flames to be formed that directly tried to burn Haimmon. However, the flames only surrounded Haimmon and did not hurt a single hair on him. And with a wave of Haimmon''s hand, the flames were extinguish instantly.