The Boy Who Was Supposed To Be Weak

CHAPTER 1

THE BOY WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WEAK

The morning sun rose over the Kingdom of Asteria.

Cars filled the streets. Magic trains moved between buildings, carrying students toward schools and academies across the kingdom.

Above the city stood a massive tower.

At the top of the tower was the emblem of the most prestigious magic academy in the kingdom.

AETHERIA GRAND MAGIC ACADEMY.

Only the most talented young sorcerers were allowed to study there.

Children from noble families.

Heirs of powerful clans.

Geniuses with extraordinary Inner Cores.

And, starting today, two siblings from the Vance Family would become students of Aetheria.

One of them was destined to become a legend.

The other was considered almost useless.

⸻

“Yuuto.”

A young girl stood in front of a large mirror.

She wore the black-and-white uniform of Aetheria Grand Magic Academy.

Her long silver hair fell neatly over her shoulders, while her violet eyes reflected excitement.

She turned around.

“Are you ready?”

A young man sitting on the edge of the bed slowly raised his head.

His black hair was slightly messy.

His uniform was only half-buttoned.

He looked at the girl for a few seconds.

Then he sighed.

“Five more minutes.”

The girl stared at him.

“Yuuto.”

“No.”

“Yuuto.”

“I said five minutes.”

“Today is our first day at the academy.”

“I know.”

“You’re going to be late.”

“I know.”

“You’re going to miss the entrance ceremony.”

“I know.”

The girl crossed her arms.

“Then get up.”

Yuuto looked at her.

“Why are you so serious this early in the morning?”

“Because I’m your sister.”

Yuuto smiled.

“Unfortunately.”

The girl’s eyes widened.

“Unfortunately?!”

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

WHAM!

The pillow hit Yuuto directly in the face.

“Get dressed!”

She walked out of the room.

Yuuto removed the pillow from his face.

“Elena is getting scarier every year.”

He stood up.

His name was Yuuto Vance.

Seventeen years old.

Adopted son of the Vance Family.

And, according to the official records—

A boy with a nearly broken Inner Core.

⸻

THE INNER CORE

Every human being in this world possessed an Inner Core.

It was the source of mana.

The stronger and purer the Core was, the greater a person’s potential became.

Sorcerers trained their bodies and minds to strengthen their Core.

Noble clans had spent generations developing special techniques to produce powerful descendants.

Some possessed fire.

Some possessed lightning.

Some possessed healing abilities.

Some could manipulate space.

But among all those abilities, one thing remained the same.

Every sorcerer had a limit.

Except one.

Yuuto.

He stood in front of the mirror and placed his hand against his chest.

For a moment, his expression became serious.

Deep inside his body—

Something moved.

THUM.

A faint pulse echoed through his Inner Core.

Then another.

THUM.

The air around him trembled.

Yuuto immediately closed his eyes.

“Calm down.”

The pressure disappeared.

The room became completely silent.

No aura.

No mana.

Nothing.

Yuuto opened his eyes.

His expression returned to normal.

“Good.”

He adjusted his uniform.

Nobody could know.

Not the academy.

Not the other clans.

Not the kingdom.

Nobody.

Because the official report said that Yuuto Vance had a damaged Inner Core.

And Yuuto intended to keep it that way.

⸻

“YUUTO!”

Elena’s voice came from downstairs.

“I’m coming!”

Yuuto walked down the stairs.

At the dining table, Elena was already waiting.

Across from her sat their father.

Richard Vance.

The head of the Vance Family.

A powerful sorcerer respected by the other Great Clans.

Richard looked at Yuuto.

“You’re late.”

Yuuto sat down.

“Good morning to you too, Father.”

Richard sighed.

“You haven’t changed.”

“That’s a good thing.”

Elena laughed.

Richard looked at both of them.

“Today is important.”

Elena nodded.

“I know.”

Richard’s expression became serious.

“Aetheria Grand Magic Academy is filled with heirs from the Ten Great Clans.”

His eyes moved toward Yuuto.

“Some of them will look down on you.”

Yuuto calmly picked up his breakfast.

“I know.”

“Some may provoke you.”

“I know.”

“Some may even try to discover the truth about your Core.”

Yuuto stopped eating.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Richard continued.

“Do not reveal anything.”

Yuuto looked at his father.

“How much can I use?”

Richard thought for a moment.

“Nothing beyond what a normal student should be capable of.”

Yuuto nodded.

“Understood.”

Elena suddenly raised her hand.

“I have a question.”

Richard looked at her.

“What?”

“What if someone hurts my brother?”

Richard glanced at Yuuto.

Yuuto looked away.

“Elena.”

“What?”

“Don’t start a war on my first day.”

“I wasn’t going to.”

“You were thinking about it.”

“Maybe.”

Richard sighed.

“Both of you…”

For a moment, the serious atmosphere disappeared.

They were simply a family having breakfast.

But none of them knew that by sunset—

the balance between the Ten Great Clans would begin to change.

⸻

AETHERIA GRAND MAGIC ACADEMY

The academy gates were enormous.

Hundreds of students entered through them.

Some arrived in expensive magical vehicles.

Others were accompanied by bodyguards.

The aura of powerful Inner Cores filled the entrance.

Elena looked around.

“So many people.”

Yuuto placed his hands inside his pockets.

“Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried.”

“You look worried.”

“I don’t.”

“You do.”

Elena glared at him.

“You’re annoying.”

“I know.”

They continued walking.

Then—

A loud voice came from behind them.

“Move.”

A group of students walked past.

At the center was a young man with dark blue hair and sharp golden eyes.

His uniform was decorated with the emblem of a lightning dragon.

Klan Thorne.

One of the Ten Great Clans.

The young man stopped.

His eyes landed on Elena.

Then Yuuto.

“Elena Vance.”

Elena looked at him.

“Kaelen Thorne.”

Kaelen smiled.

“I heard you ranked first in the entrance examination.”

“Yes.”

“Impressive.”

His eyes moved toward Yuuto.

“And this must be your brother.”

Yuuto nodded.

“Yuuto Vance.”

Kaelen stared at him.

Something about Yuuto felt strange.

Not powerful.

Not intimidating.

In fact—

Yuuto felt like nothing.

Kaelen frowned.

He couldn’t sense any significant mana from him.

“So you’re the famous brother.”

Yuuto raised an eyebrow.

“Famous?”

Kaelen laughed.

“Your sister is one of the most talented students in the academy.”

He looked Yuuto up and down.

“And you’re…”

Kaelen paused.

“Nothing special.”

Elena’s expression immediately changed.

“Watch your words.”

Kaelen smiled.

“I wasn’t insulting him.”

“You were.”

Yuuto gently placed a hand on Elena’s shoulder.

“It’s fine.”

“But—”

“Let him think whatever he wants.”

Kaelen smiled.

“Wise.”

He turned around.

“See you inside, Course 2.”

Yuuto watched him leave.

Elena looked at her brother.

“Are you really okay?”

Yuuto shrugged.

“I don’t care.”

“You’re lying.”

“A little.”

Elena smiled.

“That’s more like you.”

⸻

THE ENTRANCE CEREMONY

Thousands of students gathered inside the academy’s main hall.

A massive crystal stood at the center of the stage.

It was called the Core Analyzer.

Every new student had to undergo an Inner Core examination.

One by one, students stepped forward.

The crystal would measure their Core Capacity, Purity and Stability.

Some students received cheers.

Some received applause.

Others received silence.

Then—

“Next.”

“Elena Vance.”

The hall became quiet.

Elena walked toward the crystal.

She placed her hand against it.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

WHOOM!

The crystal erupted with brilliant light.

Numbers appeared above it.

CORE PURITY: 99.7%

CORE STABILITY: 98.9%

CORE CAPACITY: HIGH

The examiner’s eyes widened.

“Pure Resonance Core…”

The hall exploded with whispers.

“She has a Pure Resonance Core!”

“That’s incredibly rare!”

“She’s definitely going to be Course 1!”

Elena calmly removed her hand.

The examiner smiled.

“Elena Vance.”

He announced loudly.

“Course 1.”

Applause filled the hall.

Elena walked back toward her seat.

Her eyes immediately searched for Yuuto.

She smiled when she saw him.

Then—

“Next.”

“Yuuto Vance.”

The atmosphere changed.

Yuuto slowly stood.

He walked toward the crystal.

Every eye followed him.

He placed his hand against it.

Nothing happened.

The examiner frowned.

“Try again.”

Yuuto did.

Still nothing.

Then—

BEEP.

A red light appeared.

The crystal shook.

ERROR.

The examiner’s expression changed.

“What’s happening?”

The crystal displayed several lines of information.

CORE CAPACITY: LOW

CORE PURITY: 11%

CORE STABILITY: 3%

WARNING: CORE CONDITION CRITICAL

Silence.

Then the whispers began.

“Is that real?”

“His Core is almost broken.”

“How is he even able to use magic?”

“Is he really from the Vance Family?”

Someone laughed.

“So that’s Elena’s brother?”

Yuuto stared at the result.

He almost smiled.

Perfect.

The examiner cleared his throat.

“Yuuto Vance.”

He announced.

“Course 2.”

Yuuto walked away.

As he passed Elena, she whispered:

“You’re terrible at pretending to be weak.”

Yuuto smiled.

“I got into Course 2, didn’t I?”

Elena covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

Nobody else understood.

But Elena knew the truth.

That crystal hadn’t measured Yuuto’s Core.

It had only measured what Yuuto allowed it to see.

⸻

Outside the hall, Yuuto looked toward the academy’s massive tower.

For a moment, his eyes became cold.

Something was wrong.

He could feel it.

Someone was watching him.

Not with ordinary mana perception.

With something much deeper.

Yuuto stopped walking.

His expression changed.

“Interesting.”

Elena looked at him.

“What is it?”

Yuuto looked toward the crowd.

“I don’t know yet.”

Far away, on the highest floor of the academy—

a mysterious figure stood beside a window.

The figure looked down at Yuuto.

A faint smile appeared.

“So you’ve finally arrived.”

The figure whispered:

“Abyssal Core.”

Yuuto suddenly looked up.

Their eyes met.

For a brief moment—

the entire world seemed to become silent.

Then the figure disappeared.

Yuuto narrowed his eyes.

His first day at Aetheria Grand Magic Academy had just begun.

And already—

someone knew his secret.

To be continued…

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