The Awakening Hall of the Astral Empire had seen a thousand miracles.It had never seen a disgrace like this.Seventeen-year-old Kael Ashworth stood alone on the white jade Awakening Platform, his hand trembling just inches away from the Heart of Stars — the massive, floating crystal that had judged every royal bloodline for five hundred years.The hall was full. Three hundred nobles in gold-threaded silk, twelve generals in rune-etched armor, seven High Priests in white, and on the highest throne, his father.Emperor Aldric Ashworth, the ruler of half the continent. A man who had not called Kael "son" in five years. Not since his mother died in that cold, small room at the back of the palace with no healers, no priests, just a single servant boy holding her hand.Kael could still hear his mother's last words: They sealed you, Kael. They are afraid of what you are.He didn't understand it then. He was twelve.Now he was seventeen, and today was supposed to be his salvation.Last week,

The morning in Ashenfall was always grey. The sky was grey. The ground was grey. The small huts were grey. Even the people faces were grey because they had not eaten well for many months.Kael woke up early. He did not sleep in the small broken hut again. He slept in the old ruined castle on the hill. After he killed the three assassins last night, Sir Borne had carried their bodies outside and cleaned the hut. But Kael said he did not want to stay there again. He wanted to see the castle that Darius talked about.Sir Borne followed him like a shadow. The old knight did not sleep all night. He stood at the door of the castle ruin with his sword in his hand guarding Kael. His eyes were gold and he was not tired at all. Since Kael brought him back he had new strength. He was stronger than when he was young.Kael stood at the broken wall of the castle and looked down at the village below. He could see about twenty huts made of mud and dry wood. Smoke was coming out small from some huts.

In the royal capital of the empire the palace was full of music and light. Prince Darius was celebrating his birthday. He was twenty years old and he was the favorite prince. His class was s rank golden knight. Everyone loved him. He was tall and handsome and he wore golden armor that shined.Many nobles were in the hall. They were drinking and laughing and praising Darius. They said you will be the next emperor Prince Darius.Darius smiled and raised his glass. He said thank you all. My father the emperor will choose me soon.But inside his heart he was thinking about Ashenfall. He had sent three shadow blades three nights ago to kill his younger brother Kael. They should have returned yesterday with the head. But they did not return. No message came.He felt small worry but he pushed it away. He said to himself Kael is f rank trash. Three shadow blades can kill an a rank. He is dead. Maybe they are just delayed on the road.Then the big doors of the hall opened loud. A messenger ran

Ashenfall was growing fast. In seven days the population went from twenty three to two hundred people. New huts were built inside the castle walls. The farm that Kael made with water creation and minor growth was now green and full of wheat that grew faster than normal wheat. Children ran around with full stomach for first time in their life.But Kael knew green farm was not enough. They needed meat. They needed leather for clothes. They needed stronger fighters. And for that they needed to go to the dark forest.The dark forest was at the edge of Ashenfall. It was a big forest where no one from Ashenfall village entered for many years because inside there were magic beasts. Rank d wolves, rank c bears, and deeper inside rank b monsters that even a rank knights feared.Borne said my sovereign the dark forest is dangerous. Even with our twelve stone guardians we should not go too deep.Kael said we must go. My third servant slot is still empty. The system said second servant slot unloc