Ren had always been a bright and curious kid.As a child, Ren had spent hours poring over books and obsessing over magic. He used to dream of becoming a powerful spellcaster, fighting off monsters and protecting the town. But that had been nothing more than a child's fantasy. Less than one percent of commoners ever became mages—why would he be any different? Eventually, the dream faded, pushed to the back of his mind, replaced by more practical ambitions.

  His father had always wanted him to take over the family business, while his mother encouraged him to focus on his studies and become a great scholar. Ren had always possessed an incredible memory—almost photographic—able to absorb complex texts with ease, recalling details others would forget in minutes. But his mind was always very selective, latching onto subjects that fascinated him while stubbornly resisting those that didn’t.

  When it came to arcane studies or history, he could spend hours engrossed in books, consuming knowledge. He had read entire tomes in days, dissecting theories and piecing together concepts far beyond his years. But when faced with subjects like mathematics, his thoughts drifted, the numbers blurring together no matter how much he tried to force his focus.

  He wasn’t incapable—he just didn’t care enough. But caring alone wasn’t always enough. Some knowledge was simply out of reach, no matter how much someone desired it.Magic had always been the domain of the nobility. It was their birthright, their proof of superiority over common folk. They guarded their secrets jealously, passing down sigils and techniques through bloodlines, ensuring that power remained in their hands. Commoners, on the other hand, had to scrape together whatever fragments of knowledge they could find and tried their best to carve a place out for themselves in a world which had already decided they didn't belong

  It wasn't about talent or determination which many-certainly did not lack - knowledge itself was locked behind barriers, hoarded by the nobility like a dragon guarding its hoard. Centuries of tradition ensured that commoners remained beneath them, with only a select few ever breaking through.

  Testing Day.

  It was supposed to be just a formality. A tradition, nothing more.

  Ren knew the odds better than anyone—less than one percent of commoners ever became mages. The numbers weren’t in his favor, and he had long since buried the childish hope of wielding magic. And yet, as he walked toward the town square that morning, he couldn't completely snuff out the quiet flicker of anticipation in his chest.

  It was ridiculous. He had no reason to expect anything different from the thousands of other commoners who had taken the test before him, only to return home disappointed. Still, a small part of him—a part he refused to acknowledge—whispered, What if?

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  The streets were livelier than usual, packed with families leading their children toward the center of town. Banners draped over buildings, emblazoned with the crest of the ruling noble house, signified the importance of the occasion. The nobles themselves wouldn’t bother attending, of course. This wasn’t for them. It was for the common folk, a mere formality to remind them of their place in the world.

  Ren adjusted the straps of his satchel and exhaled, forcing his thoughts into place. There was no point in hoping for something impossible. Today would come and go, and he would continue with his life, just like everyone else.

  Still for some inexplicable reason he walked a bit faster.

  Before heading to the town square, Ren took his usual detour down a quieter street, where the scent of fresh parchment and exotic spices lingered in the air.Nestled between a bakery and an apothecary was Thorne’s Curiosities, a cluttered little shop that sold everything from old books to peculiar trinkets brought in by traveling merchants.

  Inside, behind a counter piled high with ledgers and half-unrolled maps, stood Edwin Thorne, one of the few merchants Ren actually respected-apart from his father ofcourse-. The man was sharp-eyed, silver-tongued, and always seemed to know things before they became common knowledge. He wasn’t noble-born, but he played the game well enough to make powerful connections.

  And leaning against the counter, half-listening to Edwin’s latest trade negotiation while lazily flipping through a dusty tome, was Leo -Ren’s best friend.

  Leo had inherited his father’s charisma but none of his patience. He was everything Ren wasn’t—outgoing, reckless, and always quick with a joke. Where Ren preferred to stay on the edges of social circles, observing and listening, Leo had a way of walking into a room and making himself at home.

  “Look who finally showed up,” Leo said, not looking up from his book. “I was starting to think you ran off to avoid the test.”

  Ren scoffed. “It’s a formality. Not like anything’s going to change.”

  Edwin chuckled as he scribbled something into his ledger. “You say that now, boy, but fate has a funny way of proving people wrong.”

  Leo finally set the book down and grinned. “Come on, you’re at least a little excited. Imagine if you do have magic—you could finally rub it in all those stuck-up noble kids’ faces.”

  Ren rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t deny that thought had crossed his mind. Not that he’d ever admit it out loud.

  Ren exhaled, shifting the weight of his satchel. “We better get going unless we want to get in trouble for being late.”

  Leo rolled his eyes, tossing a small coin into the air before catching it again. “You worry too much. It’s not like they’re gonna throw us in the stocks for showing up a little late.”

  Ren shot him a look. “Maybe not, but I’d rather not give them an excuse to sneer at us more than they already do.”

  Leo snorted but didn’t argue. With a final nod to his father, he fell into step beside Ren as they made their way toward the town square, the streets growing livelier with the buzz of anticipation.