Evan was excited — finally, he was about to learn what type of magic he had.
But Nevalis's next words shattered him:
"You have no magic."
Silence fell over the room.
Everyone was stunned — especially Evan.
Nevalis's words crushed every hope and ambition he had built.
Old Elias spoke up, confused:
"Then why did you place him among the mages if he has no magic?"
Nevalis paused, then said:
"Who said he has no magic?"
Evan shouted:
"Just tell me already! Stop messing with my nerves! Do I have magic or not?!"
Nevalis replied:
"Oi, calm down, man. The veins are about to pop out of your forehead."
"You're right — you don't possess normal magic.
But you have something else. Something I call... Total Enhancement."
---
"It's a type of bodily enhancement — but on a whole different level.
Unlike person enhancement, item enhancement, or even self-enhancement magic...
this is pure enhancement. Reserved for the mage alone."
---
"It strengthens everything: movement, physical strength, vision, even the mind itself.
Simply put — total enhancement."
---
"I've read about people who reached the top using only enhancement magic.
But you'll need more training than anyone else here.
You'll need perseverance. And more than anything — you'll need to be on the front lines of every battle.
Unlike most mages."
---
"This magic demands resolve and endurance — a lot of both.
It needs real combat.
You'll have to fight with your body, bleed, fall, and rise.
Your growth will depend entirely on you. Whether you fall or rise — it's on you."
---
"Fortunately for you, I'm somewhat skilled in enhancement magic myself.
I'll teach you everything I know... in the coming months."
---
Everyone gasped at this revelation.
But as usual, Nevalis ignored them and stood from his chair.
He looked at Elias and said:
"And that concludes step one."
Then, turning toward the old mage:
"Now… let's move to step two."
---
"Do you know anyone else in this place who is trustworthy and capable?"
Elias nodded:
"I know a few. And I know a fellow mage from another noble family who settled in the western area.
It'll take a few days to contact him."
Nevalis nodded:
"Another mage will be a great help."
Evan and Ryan also joined in — they knew a few children who were trustworthy and reliable.
Nevalis said:
"Good. We still have seven months until the noble families begin recruitment.
In these months, we'll expand.
We'll bring in anyone trustworthy and capable, and we'll distribute them between families or the army."
---
"I'll teach you all the basic and theoretical knowledge you'll need.
You'll learn how the kingdom functions — how to act, how to think.
After all, we don't want you to be exposed the moment you're among nobles."
---
"We begin one week from now — after everyone's gathered.
Bring anyone you trust. I'll be here to test their aura and magic."
---
"Elias, contact your friend. If you know any soldiers or fighters — bring them too.
They'll be useful for practical training."
---
"And we'll build a proper meeting place.
This house will be the center for now, but we can't expand it.
It would draw too much attention.
So, we'll build an underground gathering center beneath it."
Nevalis sighed:
"That's going to be tough. Digging... It'd be great to have an earth mage."
Elias laughed:
"The friend I mentioned is an earth mage.
So that won't be much of a problem."
Nevalis smirked:
"Perfect. Then you two will be the main builders.
And yes — this will count as training.
Let the kids cut down trees for support — they'll be perfect for building the underground base."
---
"Now then… we meet again in a week.
I'll be heading to the inn.
Let's see how many people you can bring — and how exceptional they are."
---
On his way to the inn, Nevalis was deep in thought:
"Is the emperor of this kingdom an idiot or what?
Just one section of the slums has knights and mages capable of forming a strong family — if trained properly!"
He sighed and muttered under his breath:
"Now I understand why this kingdom is just a second-rate power — and a low one at that.
The entire system is run by a bunch of idiots…
from the emperor all the way down to the smallest noble houses."
He looked up at the sky, feeling the weight piling on his shoulders:
"Ah... damn it.
I've got a lot of work to do.
If Edward were here, this would be a lot easier."
---
As soon as he entered his room at the inn, Nevalis collapsed on the bed, exhausted.
He slept through the night and didn't wake up until the next morning.
Unlike the people in Elias's house — most of whom couldn't sleep at all.
Their minds were spinning with thoughts.
---
The next day, Nevalis woke up, went downstairs, and devoured a mountain of food.
Then, he left the inn.
His destination: Miras City.
He had a lot to buy — clothes, books… and news.
After slipping a few gold coins to the gatekeeper, he entered the city.
It was a completely different world compared to the outside and the lower-class district.
---
A thriving city full of life.
Clean and wide streets lined with elegant buildings and shops.
The markets were crowded and bustling with energy.
In the center stood a vast plaza with a beautiful fountain and trees that offered peaceful shade.
It was like a different realm altogether.
No one would believe that only one wall separated these two worlds.
---
Nevalis sighed, then walked forward.
His first and favorite destination: the library.
He had to buy a lot of basic books — and clothes too.
These kids had to look like nobles before they could act like them.
That meant more than just training.
---
They needed sharp jackets, neat trousers, clean shoes.
They needed to groom themselves, keep clean, and speak properly.
They needed to read and write fluently, master polite conversation, and understand the basics of history and geography.
He couldn't have them sounding like clueless commoners around actual nobles.
And of course — manners, etiquette, and formal conduct.
The last thing he needed was someone bowing like a thug in front of a noble.
---
Nevalis looked at his ever-growing list of needs.
He rubbed his face and muttered sarcastically:
"Great... I'm not training warriors anymore — I'm planning a masquerade ball for lost noble children.
Should I hire a table manners instructor too?"
---
He raised an eyebrow and thought to himself:
"Now that I think about it...
Most of the people in the slums are actually descendants of nobles and rulers who fell over the years.
Over the last 150 years — since the fall of the First Emperor and the rise of the noble system —
many noble houses collapsed.
Their heirs scattered across the lowest layers of society."
---
"This isn't just a slum...
It's a graveyard for noble bloodlines.
Hell — am I leading a social revolution or founding a museum for extinct noble families?"