I’ve always felt invisible. My brothers and sister are all geniuses, each with a unique talent that makes them stand out. My eldest brother became a knight at just 15, earning the respect of everyone around him. My older brother and my sister are fighting fiercely for the throne, each one dreaming of ruling the kingdom one day. But as for me? I don’t think they even see me as a threat or someone worth caring about. I’m the forgotten one.
This kingdom is small. It doesn’t offer anything great, and I’m sure my siblings will leave one day to seek their true potential somewhere else. They belong to something greater than this place. But where does that leave me? Here, in this small kingdom, with no talents, no grand ambitions. Sometimes, I wonder if I’ll ever find my place in the world.
I’ve always struggled with the loss of my mother. She died when I was just five years old. I barely remember her face, but I remember how much she loved me, how she made me feel special even when no one else did. She wasn’t like anyone else—strong yet gentle, wise but humble. She was like a gemstone, shining bright in a dark world. I miss her every day. She was the one person who saw me for who I truly was. Now, it feels like no one does.
Today, I’m 13 years old, and today is the day that my future will be decided. The scroll of destiny is a tradition in our kingdom, something every royal child must experience. It’s said to reveal what path you’re meant to follow in life—whether you will become a hero or a failure. Everyone else is excited for their destiny to be revealed, but I can’t bring myself to feel hope. Deep down, I already know the truth: I don’t have what it takes to be anything other than ordinary.
“Wish me luck,” I whisper to myself as I open the scroll.
The scroll is magical, its colors glowing and swirling with ancient power. It has seven colors, each one representing a different life path:
- Red: War—the path of the warrior, strength, and courage.
- Green: Healing—the path of the healer, compassion, and care for others.
- Blue: Wisdom—the path of the scholar, knowledge, and learning.
- Yellow: Prosperity—the path of the merchant, wealth, and growth.
- White: Purity—the path of the guardian, protection, and justice.
- Black: Mystery—the path of the sorcerer, magic, and the unknown.
- Purple: Leadership—the path of the ruler, power, and governance.
As I unfurl the scroll, I watch in awe as the colors begin to glow. They twist and blend together, each path shimmering with a different light. My heart races as I wait for the scroll to settle on my destiny. But then something strange happens. The colors don’t stay separate—they swirl together, mixing and merging into a brilliant display of light. For a brief moment, I think I see all seven colors at once, as though I’m meant for all of them. And then, in glowing gold letters, the scroll reveals a title:
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Valerius Imperion.
The words don’t make sense to me. I don’t know what they mean, but they feel heavy. And then, suddenly, a wave of dizziness crashes over me. My vision blurs, and I feel myself fall to the ground.
When I wake up, I’m not sure where I am. I try to move, but my body feels strange, heavy with a weight I can’t explain. My mind is foggy, and I struggle to make sense of everything. The memories from the scroll—strange, foreign memories—keep flashing in my mind. I see glimpses of a man from another world, someone who became the hero of light, and yet he’s also connected to something darker, something destructive. A god-like figure, powerful and terrifying.
The power from those memories pulses through me, but it’s all too much to understand. My head spins, and I feel like I’m losing myself.
And then, I realize I’m not alone.
I hear soft sobbing, and when I look up, I see my sister—my older sister, the one who has always been cold and distant, the one who never paid much attention to me. She’s sitting beside me, her face wet with tears. I don’t know why she’s crying. It’s strange.
I’ve always seen her as a rival, someone to compete with for the throne. She’s always been strong, confident, and unapproachable. But now, as I look at her, I see something different in her eyes—something I’ve never seen before.
She’s holding me, cradling my head in her lap, her hands trembling. I can’t remember the last time she ever showed me any kind of affection. She looks at me as though I’m the most precious thing in the world, and that makes my heart ache.
“You’re okay, right?” she asks, her voice soft and shaky.
I nod slowly, trying to reassure her even though I’m confused myself. The power from the memories still lingers inside me, and I’m not sure what it means. But in this moment, I realize that something has changed. My sister, who once saw me as nothing, is holding me close. She’s crying for me. And for the first time, I don’t feel alone.
“I’m okay,” I whisper, though I’m not sure I truly understand what’s happening. The power inside me feels vast, overwhelming, but there’s something comforting about it too. Maybe I’m not meant to be ordinary after all. Maybe I have a purpose greater than I ever imagined.
My sister hugs me tightly, her arms strong, as if she never wants to let me go. For the first time, I feel like I belong. Maybe this is the beginning of something new, something I never expected.
And maybe, just maybe, I’ll discover what it truly means to be Valerius Imperion.