Chapter 12: Reclaim What Was Lost

A lingering bitterness coated Alistair’s tongue as he set the teacup down with deliberate care. His golden eyes narrowed, the weight of revelation settling heavily upon his shoulders.

His heart clenched. “Who chose this tea? Where does it come from?”

Sofia hesitated for a brief moment before bowing her head. “It was sent from the Holy Kingdom of Aurelius… chosen by the Queen—your mother, Your Highness.”

A storm brewed in Alistair’s mind. The strings were coming together. The poison in his body wasn’t merely a cruel act of his stepmother or his scheming half-siblings. His parents—his mother and father—had known. They had countered one poison with another.

The Mana-Nullifying Poison.

A toxin designed to suppress mana. A toxin that kept him from growing, from standing as an equal among his siblings. But also… a toxin that had kept him alive.

They never abandoned me.

A smirk slowly spread across his lips. He lifted the teacup once more before placing it gently on the table.

“There’s no need to take this poison anymore,” he murmured to himself.

His gaze flickered to the glowing Quest Window still floating before him.

[NEW QUEST: Reclaim What Was Lost]
Objective: Train and grow stronger before the Trials.
Reward: ???
Failure: Remain the Forsaken Prince.

His golden eyes gleamed with fierce determination. It’s time to take back what I lost.

He turned his head towards Sofia, his expression unreadable. Though he said nothing, the silent command in his gaze was unmistakable.

“Prepare the tea as usual in my room,” he instructed coolly, “and pour it into the flower pot.”

Sofia hesitated for only a second before lowering her gaze. If I do as he says, will he hate me even more? But she pushed the thought aside.

“As you command, Your Highness,” she answered in a quiet voice before retreating silently.

As soon as she left, Alistair turned back to the Quest Window.

Beginner Quest 1:
Objective: Store mana in the heart.
Rewards:

Title: First Person to Store Mana in the Heart (+10 Mana, +5 Physique)

5 Beginner Mana Stones

Beginner Short Sword

Beginner Quest 2:
Objective: Create a mana circle around the heart.
Rewards:

Title: First Person to Create a Mana Circle Around the Heart (+20 Mana, +5 Intelligence)

5 Beginner Mana Stones

Beginner Short Staff

Alistair clenched his fists. I have to complete this beginner quest tonight. If he could succeed, he could focus on strengthening his body starting tomorrow.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself. Store mana in the heart… but how?

If it was similar to the Dantian, then he would have to create a mana path first to guide the energy. However, if he did that, he wouldn’t be able to complete the second quest—forming a mana circle around the heart.

What do I do?

His mind raced as he paced his room. His sharp eyes wandered until they landed on the Dragon River outside his window. The great river that nourished the entire empire. Water drawn from the river was used throughout the capital, flowing through an intricate drainage system.

Wait… that’s it.

A new idea took root in his mind. Instead of storing mana first, why not create a mana circle as the pathway itself? If the circle was the foundation, then mana could be stored naturally within it.

Yes… that’s the method.

In the dimly lit chamber, Alistair sat cross-legged on the cold floor, his golden eyes shut in deep concentration. The air around him was still, thick with an eerie silence, save for the faint flicker of candlelight dancing along the stone walls. He had been meditating for hours, pushing his mind and body beyond their limits to complete the first step of his beginner quest—storing mana in his heart.

At first, it had felt almost impossible. The human body was not designed to channel mana this way; the heart was a fragile, rhythmic organ, not a vessel for raw energy. Yet, Alistair refused to accept failure. He gritted his teeth, forcing the mana he had gathered to flow toward his chest. Pain, sharp and searing, erupted through his ribcage, as though thousands of needles pierced his very soul. His breath hitched, sweat trickling down his temples.

Then, without warning, an unbearable pressure clamped around his chest like an iron vice. His heartbeat thundered in his ears, erratic and strained. The pain intensified—so sudden, so fierce—that his concentration snapped.

The Royal Chamber

King Aldric Drakos sat upon his throne, his fingers steepled, his expression unreadable. His cold, commanding voice filled the chamber.

“That is why we will assign a Lord of the Land through the Blood Renewal of Drakos Ceremony.”

A collective gasp echoed across the grand hall.

Queen Eleanor’s expression darkened. “That… that would put our children’s lives in danger.”

The King’s gaze remained firm. “That is how they will prove they are Drakos.”

Duke Zephyr Drakos narrowed his eyes. “Prove? Are you referring to the Twelfth Forsaken Prince, Alistair?”

A stunned silence followed. Nobles exchanged uncertain glances.

Duke Kaelith Drakos scoffed, crossing his arms. “The Twelfth Prince? Don’t be absurd. He hasn’t even awakened his mana. There’s no way he could survive, let alone win the competition. Don’t say something so ridiculous.”

General Darius Valeheart chuckled, his smirk brimming with knowing amusement. “You won’t know until you see it with your own eyes.”

Archmage Eldrin Faelora’s lips curled into an eerie smile. “I agree.”

Duke Kaelith shot them both a glare. “What are you two scheming?” His voice was laced with suspicion. “Don’t tell me you believe that just because Alistair Drakos visited you, he suddenly has the ability to use mana? You two may stand at the pinnacle of magic and swordsmanship, but you’re not gods who can grant miracles.”

King Aldric’s aura flared, suppressing the room with sheer dominance. “Mind your manners, Kaelith.”

Kaelith’s expression twisted with frustration but he said nothing.

Archmage Eldrin’s voice was amused. “Don’t worry so much, Duke Kaelith. You’re just frustrated that your nephew might no longer be the laughingstock of the empire.”

Queen Eleanor finally spoke, her voice tinged with worry. “What are you two implying?”

General Darius gave a calm, knowing smile. “Don’t worry about it, Your Majesty. Whether Prince Alistair is capable of using mana or not… he won’t back down so easily.”

Duke Cedric Aurelius smirked. “After all, he is a Drakos.”

Silence stretched across the chamber as the weight of his words settled in. Then, one by one, smirks tugged at the lips of the Dukes and the King himself.

Duke Fenrir Drakos frowned. “But we can’t just allow only the Twelfth and Eleventh Prince to participate. That would be unfair.”

King Aldric nodded. “That is why the Blood Renewal of Drakos Ceremony will include all side-family children as well as the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Princes.”

A collective wave of shock swept through the chamber.

Alistair’s Room

"Agh!"

A strangled gasp escaped his lips as he clutched his chest, his body lurching forward. His vision swam, a wave of dizziness crashing over him. He struggled to steady his breath, but the agony refused to subside. He knew what this meant.

Something was wrong.

Gasping, he forced himself to sit upright, his hands trembling slightly. "It won't do…" he muttered under his breath, frustration clawing at his mind. "I'm missing something… but what?"

He rose to his feet, his legs unsteady. Pacing back and forth across the room, he struggled to piece together the missing link. He had already failed multiple times. He understood the process in theory—mana needed a structured flow, a path to follow. Yet, no matter how much he tried to shape it, the circle refused to form.

The circle…

His steps slowed, his brows furrowing. That was it.

He needed the circle to store the mana, but it wasn’t forming. That meant he was approaching it the wrong way. His mind raced, analyzing everything he had learned about mana manipulation. Then, his gaze fell upon something unexpected—the flower on his desk.

A single delicate bloom sat in an ornate vase, its petals arranged in a perfect spiral.

Alistair’s breath hitched. A sudden realization struck him like lightning.

The flower’s shape… it looked like an upside-down teacup.

His thoughts spun, weaving together a new understanding. Why was he struggling to form the circle before storing the mana? Wasn’t that the same as trying to create a teacup before pouring the tea?

His eyes widened.

"I’ve been doing it backward…"

The answer was suddenly clear. He had to store the mana first, allowing it to settle naturally, before shaping the circle around it. Like water filling a vessel, mana needed a base to stabilize before being molded into form.

His lips curled into a smirk, golden eyes burning with newfound determination.

He clenched his fists.

"This is it… this is what the quest is all about."

With renewed vigor, he sat down once more, shutting his eyes. He would complete the quest. He would grow stronger. And he would claim whatever mysterious reward awaited him.

[NEW QUEST: Reclaim What Was Lost]

Objective: Train and grow stronger before the Trials.

Reward: ???

Failure: Remain the Forsaken Prince.

To be continued…