《Chronicles of the Doomed Archmage》 Chapter 1: The Last Dawn The cold iron of the shackles dug into my wrists, their weight a cruel reminder of my fall from grace. I knelt on the damp stone floor of the dungeon, the air thick with the stench of mold and despair. Torches flickered along the walls, casting long shadows over the faces of the guards who stood watch. They did not speak, nor did they meet my gaze. It was as if I had already ceased to exist. A week ago, I was the Archmage of the Imperial Court, a man whose mere name commanded respect. A week ago, I was the most trusted advisor to the Emperor, the one who had expanded our kingdom¡¯s knowledge of magic and warfare. A week ago, I was untouchable. Now, I was nothing more than a condemned traitor. The accusations had come swiftly. Treason. Conspiracy. Forbidden magic. Words spoken in hushed voices by those who once sang my praises. My disciples, my allies¡ªeach one had turned away as the court declared me guilty. The Emperor, a man I had served for decades, had not even granted me a chance to defend myself. No, the verdict had been decided long before the trial had begun. A sharp creak echoed through the chamber as the heavy doors swung open. Footsteps followed, slow and deliberate, until they halted before me. I did not need to look up to recognize the presence. The scent of sandalwood and wine clung to his robes. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Lucien Velkaris,¡± the voice was soft, almost sorrowful. ¡°It didn¡¯t have to end this way.¡± I raised my head to meet the eyes of my executioner¡ªRegent Aldric Valstane. Once my closest friend, now my betrayer. ¡°You and I both know I never plotted against the Empire,¡± I said, my voice hoarse from days without water. Aldric¡¯s expression remained unreadable. ¡°Your magic was too powerful, Lucien. The Emperor feared what you could become.¡± I let out a dry laugh. ¡°And so he let you orchestrate this farce? Tell me, Aldric, was it worth it?¡± A flicker of something¡ªregret?¡ªcrossed his features. Then, just as quickly, it was gone. ¡°The execution is set for dawn.¡± With those final words, he turned and walked away, leaving me in the darkness once more. Morning came too soon. The sun had barely begun its ascent when I was dragged from my cell, my legs too weak to resist. The execution ground was silent, a vast courtyard lined with soldiers and nobles alike. The Emperor sat upon his gilded throne, his face impassive as I was forced to kneel before him. A hooded priest stepped forward, unrolling a parchment. ¡°Lucien Velkaris, former Archmage of the Empire, you stand accused of high treason. Your punishment is death.¡± I smirked. ¡°No final words for an old friend, Your Majesty?¡± The Emperor¡¯s gaze remained cold. ¡°You sealed your fate the moment you outgrew your place.¡± A hand pressed against my back, forcing me down. The executioner raised his blade, its steel gleaming in the morning light. I closed my eyes, bracing for the end. The sword fell. And then¡ª Darkness.... Chapter 2: The Forgotten Child Awakens A dull ache pulsed through my skull, a throbbing pain that felt like a hammer striking against my mind. My body felt¡­ strange. Weak. Small. I forced my eyes open. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar¡ªan elegant, high-vaulted design with intricate gold detailing. Sunlight streamed in through a large window, casting a warm glow over the plush bed I was lying on. The silk sheets beneath my fingers felt expensive, yet the scent of dust lingered in the air, as if no one had touched them in a long time. Where¡­ am I? I tried to sit up, but my limbs felt sluggish, unresponsive. My breathing came in shallow gasps, my heart pounding wildly against my ribs. Something was wrong¡ªterribly wrong. This was not my body. My hands, my legs¡­ they were too small. My voice, when I attempted to speak, was weak and childlike. Panic gripped me. Was this a dream? A cruel illusion? Or had something far worse happened? Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Before I could process it further, the door creaked open, and a young woman stepped inside. She wore a simple black dress with a white apron, her dark hair neatly braided. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw me awake, and for a moment, she seemed too stunned to move. Then, as if reality struck her all at once, she gasped, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Y-Young Master Lucius!¡± she stammered, rushing to my side. Her hands trembled as she reached out, hesitating before gently touching my arm. ¡°You¡¯re awake¡­ You¡¯re actually awake! The gods have blessed us!¡± Lucius? The name sent a strange chill down my spine. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. My throat was dry, and the weight of confusion pressed down on me. The maid, still teary-eyed, quickly stood up. ¡°I need to inform the Madam and the young ladies! They have waited for this day for so long!¡± She paused, her hands clasped together. ¡°Please, Young Master, do not strain yourself. You have been unconscious for three years. I will return shortly!¡± Three years? I could barely process what she had said before she rushed out of the room, leaving me alone in my swirling confusion. I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breath. The memories of Lucien Velkaris, the Archmage, were still vivid in my mind. I remembered my execution. The betrayal. The sword falling. The darkness. And yet¡­ I was here. Alive. In a body that was not my own. Who was Lucius ? And why had I become him? Chapter 3: The Forgotten Sons Place Lucius lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind still whirling. Three years in a coma¡­ Six years old¡­ An abandoned son of nobility¡­ The pieces were falling into place. The former Lucius had been weak, insignificant in the eyes of his father and elder brothers. If he had never woken up, no one besides his mother, sisters, and Adrian would have cared. A maid entered quietly, bringing a tray of warm soup and bread. She placed it on the bedside table and bowed. "Young Master, I¡¯ve brought your meal." Lucius turned his head. She was the same maid who had been by his side when he first woke up¡ªthe one who informed his family. "What¡¯s your name?" he asked. The maid hesitated before lowering her gaze. "It is Elise, Young Master." Lucius took a moment to observe her. She was in her early twenties, with soft brown hair neatly tied back. Her uniform was simple, but her posture was rigid, as though she feared speaking too much. "Were you my personal maid before?" he asked. Elise nodded. "Y-Yes, Young Master. I was assigned to care for you after you fell ill." Lucius let that sink in. That meant for three years, she had been the only servant tending to him. In noble households, servants followed power. If Lucius had been neglected, then Elise had likely suffered as well. He picked up the spoon and took a sip of the soup. It was plain but warm. After a few more bites, he set it down. "Elise, tell me more about this family." She looked startled. "About¡­ the Ardentis family?" Lucius nodded. "I don¡¯t remember much. Tell me about my father, my brothers, and why they weren¡¯t here when I woke up." Elise hesitated, glancing at the door as if someone might overhear. "You may speak freely," Lucius reassured her. "No one else is here." Elise took a deep breath. "Duke Magnus Ardentis¡ªyour father¡ªis the head of the Ardentis family. He is one of the strongest Magic Swordsmen in the empire, commanding both incredible swordsmanship and formidable magical abilities. His rule is absolute, and he values strength and magical prowess above all else." Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Lucius noted the careful choice of words. Not ¡®kind¡¯ or ¡®caring¡¯¡ªjust powerful and absolute. "Your eldest brother, Cassius Ardentis, is set to inherit the title of Duke. He is a prodigy in swordsmanship and wields magic at an elite level. The second son, Julius Ardentis, is the same. He focuses more on strategy and governance, but his combat skills are still unmatched among his peers." She hesitated before continuing. "The two of them¡­ they do not speak much of you, Young Master." Lucius chuckled darkly. "I assume they speak even less to Adrian?" Elise bit her lip. "Master Adrian is¡­ different from them. He is talented, but his ideals do not align with the Duke¡¯s. He values creativity in magic, rather than brute force, which puts him at odds with your father and eldest brothers." Lucius smirked. So Adrian was the black sheep of the sons. "And my sisters?" he asked. A soft smile flickered on Elise¡¯s face. "Lady Selene and Lady Irene are kind. They visited you often and spoke to you even when you were unconscious. They love you very much, Young Master." Lucius absorbed the information. His mother, Selene, Irene, and Adrian were the only ones who genuinely cared for him. The rest of the family viewed him as nothing. A sharp knock interrupted them. Elise straightened immediately. The door opened, and Adrian stepped inside, followed closely by Selene and Irene. Their mother was absent this time. "You¡¯re awake and already interrogating the maids?" Adrian smirked, sitting down on the windowsill. "Guess you haven¡¯t lost your curiosity." Lucius gave a small smile. "I needed to understand my place in this family." Selene sighed, crossing her arms. "Your place is with us. You don¡¯t need to concern yourself with anyone else." Irene nodded quickly. "You¡¯ve been asleep for so long. You don¡¯t have to think about Father or Cassius or Julius. Just focus on getting better." Lucius could see the sincerity in their eyes, but he couldn¡¯t simply ignore reality. "No," he said, his voice firm despite its childlike softness. "I need to know where I stand. I won¡¯t be a forgotten shadow." Adrian raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a slight grin. "Hah. Didn¡¯t expect that kind of fire from you." Selene and Irene exchanged looks, unsure how to respond. The Lucius they knew had been a fragile boy, always seeking comfort from their mother. But now, there was something different in his eyes. "You really don¡¯t remember much, do you?" Irene whispered. Lucius met her gaze and smiled faintly. "Maybe not. But that just means I have to learn again." Adrian let out a low chuckle. "Interesting. I think I¡¯m starting to like this new you, little brother." Selene sighed but smiled. "If that¡¯s the case, then we¡¯ll support you." Irene nodded firmly. "Always." Lucius looked at them¡ªthe only people in this house who truly cared. Then I suppose this is where I¡¯ll begin. For now, he would be patient. He would play his role. But in time¡­ He would carve his place into this family. And they would never overlook him again. Chapter 4: The Table of Power A week had passed. Lucius had spent the days quietly recovering, learning more about the Ardentis household from Adrian, Selene, and Irene. His strength was returning, though his body was still far weaker than his mind. He had also begun to notice something¡ªthe way the servants looked at him. There was no contempt, no outright hostility. Just¡­ indifference. To them, he was insignificant. And now, he would face the ones who had dictated his insignificance. The Night Before A soft knock echoed through the dimly lit room. Lucius glanced toward the door but did not immediately respond. The knock came again, more insistent this time. "Enter." The door opened, revealing Elise, one of the household maids. She bowed slightly before speaking, her tone measured and precise. "Master Lucius, the Duke has arranged a formal family dinner tomorrow evening. All members of the Ardentis family will be present." Lucius turned to her, his expression unreadable. "So they finally remember I exist?" Elise hesitated before replying, her tone carefully neutral. "It is simply tradition, Master Lucius. Whenever the Duke calls for a formal gathering, all family members are required to attend." Required. Not invited. Not welcomed. Required. Lucius smirked faintly. "Understood." Elise bowed again and quickly left the room, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Tomorrow, he would face them.
The Grand Dining Hall The hall was as magnificent as one would expect of the Ardentis lineage¡ªhigh ceilings adorned with golden chandeliers, banners embroidered with the family crest, and a long table large enough to seat a kingdom¡¯s council. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Lucius stepped inside, his sharp eyes taking in the seating arrangement. At the head of the table sat Duke Magnus Ardentis, the pillar of the family. His presence was like an iron blade¡ªcold, unyielding, forged for power. Beside him sat Lady Seraphina, her pale golden hair carefully braided, her expression composed but distant. To Magnus¡¯s right sat Cassius Ardentis, the eldest son and heir to the family name. His posture was perfect, his expression unreadable¡ªa man molded for command. To Magnus¡¯s left sat Julius Ardentis, the second son. Where Cassius exuded command, Julius carried a more dangerous air¡ªsharp, observant, always calculating. Further down, on the right, was Adrian. His relaxed demeanor contrasted with the others, but Lucius could tell he was just as aware of his surroundings. Opposite Adrian sat Selene and Irene, their presence the only warmth at the table. They offered Lucius brief nods, the only acknowledgment he received. And at the farthest end, at the very last seat, sat Lucius. He was the last to sit. No one had addressed him. No one had looked at him. It was as if he did not exist. The dinner began. Servants moved seamlessly, pouring wine, serving dishes prepared with meticulous care. Plates clinked against the polished wood as everyone dined with the grace befitting nobility. Lucius remained silent, observing. This was not just a family meal¡ªit was a battlefield. Cassius spoke first, his voice carrying a commanding ease. "The Emperor has summoned us to the capital next month. It seems he wishes to review the strength of the noble houses." Julius smirked. "As expected. The old man is always looking for ways to assert his control." Duke Magnus nodded slightly. "We will prepare accordingly. Cassius, you will lead the demonstration." "Of course, Father." Lucius watched the exchange, understanding something. This family only valued power. The talk of war, politics, and magic continued as if he were not there. Even his mother, who had always protected him, remained silent. Lady Seraphina remained composed, occasionally responding with a soft word, but never directly to Lucius. Even Adrian and the twins, who had shown him some acknowledgment before, seemed to understand their place in this hierarchy. Lucius was not included. He was not ignored out of malice. He was ignored because he was insignificant. He lifted his goblet, letting the crimson liquid swirl idly. This family only valued power. And right now, he had none. Not in their eyes. Not yet. The dinner continued, the weight of his absence in their presence pressing against him. Lucius remained silent. He had no need to prove himself here. Not yet. But one day¡­ they would look at him and see something they could no longer ignore. One day, he would not be forgotten. Chapter 5: The Path to Power Lucius sat alone in his room, his mind still replaying the dining hall scene from ago. No one had acknowledged him. No greetings, no words¡ªjust cold silence. He had been seated at the farthest end, like some distant relative of no significance. That was the moment he fully understood his place in this family. Cassius, Julius, the others¡ªthey were standing at the peak, while he was left at the bottom. A failure. A disgrace. But that would change. Lucius clenched his fists, staring at them. He had to reclaim his power. But there was a problem¡ª "This body is too weak."
The Ardentis family was famous for their Magic Swordsmen, warriors who combined swordsmanship with powerful magic. They wielded their mana through Magic Circles¡ªthe foundation of all spellcasting. A newborn noble had zero circles. A six-year-old, if they were talented, would form their first circle. A genius, by the age of six, could have two circles. Three circles at six years old? That was a once-in-a-generation prodigy. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
In his past life¡ªbefore awakening in this fragile shell¡ªmagic had come easily to him. The flow of mana had been as natural as breathing. But now? Nothing. No matter how many times he tried to feel his mana, all he met was silence. For the next seven days, Lucius locked himself in his room, training tirelessly. He meditated, concentrated, tried to recall the feeling of power¡ªbut his body refused to respond. No flicker of mana. No spark. Nothing. His head ached from exhaustion, his limbs trembled from constant strain, but he didn¡¯t stop. "I refuse to be weak." The frustration built inside him, suffocating. Was he truly powerless? Had this new body erased everything he once was? No. That wasn¡¯t possible. "There must be a way."
At the end of the second week, something changed. Lucius sat cross-legged on the floor, his breathing slow and steady. He pushed everything else out of his mind¡ªhis failures, his past, his frustrations¡ªand simply existed. He focused on his heartbeat. The blood flowing through his veins. The warmth in his chest. And then¡ª A flicker. Lucius¡¯s eyes snapped open. He felt it. A faint, barely noticeable pulse of energy¡ªlike a dying ember struggling to stay lit. His breathing grew heavier. It was small, but it was there. "I was right." With trembling hands, Lucius reached for that ember. Slowly. Carefully. If he forced it, he might lose it again. The ember pulsed in response. And for the first time in two weeks¡ªa spark of mana flowed through his body. It was weak, unstable, but it was enough. "I can do this." A grin spread across Lucius¡¯s face. This was just the beginning.