Inside the dimly lit room, a complex magical circle emerged on the ground.
Drawn in pure white, it radiated a mysterious aura that filled the air with an eerie stillness.
Two interlocking rings encircled the formation, each made of intricate glowing lines. The intersections of these lines shimmered with a strange brilliance, casting an otherworldly glow into the darkness. The lines wove into complex geometric patterns, moving as if alive—endless in their motion. Every point of contact seemed to be a node of power, channeling unseen energy.
Within the circle, scattered arcane symbols floated and connected in a mysterious web. Some seemed to rise above the surface, while others sank into it. Each symbol varied in size and design—some were simple shapes like triangles and circles, others appeared as ancient runes or incomprehensible glyphs beyond human logic.
At the very center, intricate lines converged to form a pentagram, surrounded by randomly scattered small circles. Inside the pentagram, a grid of parallel lines overlapped, designed to link with forces beyond the physical world—forces hidden behind the veil of dimensions.
Though the circle appeared simple in color, its complexity deepened the more one looked. Every angle and intersection held secrets, slowly revealed to the trained eye—as if the design only unveiled itself to those who could truly understand magic.
The complexity didn't end with its surface. Its inner structure branched out with even more detail, each segment resonating with unseen power that pulled at the mind and stirred curiosity.
The three children stood frozen. They had no idea what the circle was or its purpose, but its majesty and presence struck them with awe and fear.
However, it was the old man, Elias, who was the most shaken. After all, he understood what this was—how nearly impossible it was to create such a thing. The mental pressure alone to construct this design was crushing.
This wasn't just magic; it was a relic of the ancients—something modern magic could only attempt to imitate. And even then, few could.
Elias turned to Nevallis, his gaze now transformed—there was respect in his eyes. He whispered,
"How... how did you do it?"
Nevallis smiled.
"Why wouldn't I be able to?"
He added with a hint of pride,
"They didn't call me the 'First Genius of Magic' for nothing."
Elias's eyes widened. That title… there was only one person in the entire kingdom who held it—the son of the Olivier family. The only count-ranked noble house known not for magic, but intellect. He wasn't born into a lineage of archmages, nor did he belong to the Brandel Duchy, the most magical family in the realm. And yet, he outshone them all.
Genius of numbers. Genius of geometry. Genius of magic. But his most famous nickname?
"The Kingdom's Number One Bookworm."
He was obsessed with collecting books from across the realm. There wasn't a single book he hadn't read. The Olivier family's private library became a kingdom-wide legend because of him.
Elias found it hard to believe this prodigy was standing right in front of him. But even so… even he shouldn't be able to create a circle like this.
He asked again,
"How did you really do it?"
Nevallis raised an eyebrow,
"Don't be so stubborn, old man. What matters is—I did it."
He paused, silently thinking.
Even for me, creating this was no simple task. I wasn't even sure I could finish it… but I did.
A proud smile spread across his face as he whispered to himself,
"If only Adrian were here to praise me like always."
Just then, Ivan broke the silence.
"Grandpa… what's this circle even for?"
Elias glanced at Nevallis, who gave a small nod, allowing him to explain.
Elias took a breath,
"It's used to identify those who are capable of becoming mages."
The three children gasped. Mages—they had only heard of them in stories.
In that moment, a single thought echoed in all their minds:
"Am I… one of them?"
But Nevallis interrupted,
"Not just that,"
His prideful gaze deepened,
"It can also reveal your primary element."
Elias's shock grew even further. A normal detection circle could only determine magical aptitude—but this one… this was far more advanced.
He examined the design again, eyes widening as he murmured,
"This... this is a hybrid circle... Impossible!"
Nevallis grinned.
"So, who wants to try it first?"
Ivan stepped forward. He couldn't deny it—he was curious about his magic.
To become a mage... such a being was rare, someone beyond normal human limits. If he could become that person—he could protect his siblings. He could get revenge on that cursed noble. Unconsciously, he had already made up his mind: he had to try.
But Elias quickly stepped forward, mind racing,
"Wait! Entering that circle means agreeing with your madness from earlier.
You think just by finding a few mages—if they exist—you can fight the noble families' armies? That's nonsense!"
Nevallis calmly pointed to his head and smirked,
"Don't worry, old man. Everything is already planned—up here."
He motioned for them to follow him to the basement.