On the way to the church, they traveled by carriage. It would take nearly two hours to reach their destination the city of Velmora.
The road stretched through open fields and patches of woodland, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the land.
Noel sat by the window, quietly watching the scenery pass by.
Even after all these years, he still found himself fascinated by the world's natural beauty. It felt vast… alive in a way his previous world never had.
The carriage door creaked open, and his two younger brothers climbed in. Noah rushed in first, full of energy, while Marvin followed more slowly, still half-asleep.
"Brother!" Noah said, squeezing in beside him.
Noel shifted slightly to make space, a small smile forming on his face. Marvin leaned against him, silent and drowsy.
Noel didn't mind.
He enjoyed their company. And more than that he felt responsible for them. A quiet, constant instinct to protect.
As the carriage rolled forward, Amelia's voice broke the calm.
"Noel," she said, watching him closely. "Are you worried?"
He turned to her, meeting her gaze. After a moment, he gave a small smile.
"A little."
Amelia's expression softened. She reached out and gently patted his head.
"You don't have to worry," she said. "Even if your talent is low, you are strong in academics. You will be able to take care of the county."
Noel listened… but said nothing.
There was nothing amazing about that. In his previous life, he had already been like this average, steady, nothing special.
Even now, as the firstborn of a baron, he would eventually inherit the position of patriarch and take responsibility for the county.
But that wasn't what he wanted.
Ever since he came to this world, he had been weak.
He had thought things would be different. That he would have something special a hidden advantage, a golden finger like the protagonists in stories.
But reality had been disappointing.
There was nothing.
A faint unease settled in his chest.
He was scared.
He had already died once. That memory still lingered, heavy and suffocating.
And this world… this was a world where the strong survived.
Being weak was a sin.
His thoughts drifted back to an incident from years ago.
He had been six at the time.
Back then, he had begged his father to take him outside to a nearby town where a traveling show was being held.
Truthfully, he didn't care about the show.
He just wanted to leave the mansion.
Ever since he was born, he had been kept inside. Every time he asked to go out, he was stopped.
*It's dangerous.*
*You might get lost.*
He would pout and sulk, thinking to himself, *Do they think I'm a dumb child who doesn't know left from right?*
But he never said it out loud.
When his father returned to the mansion that time, Noel caused a full-blown scene. He refused to calm down, demanding to go.
Amelia tried to stop him. Even Noah only two years old at the time slept peacefully in her arms, completely unaware of the chaos his brother was causing.
Eventually, worn down and slightly annoyed, Rowan gave in.
On the way to the town, everything changed.
They were attacked.
Bandits.
A local gang from the northern mountains—the Black Viper.
"Leave the carriage and hand over everything," one of them shouted, stepping forward with a cruel grin.
Rowan stood in front, his presence alone enough to shift the air.
"You dare attack a noble carriage?" he said coldly. "Do you have a death wish?"
The bandit leader laughed. "We know exactly who you are, Baron. That's why we're here."
Steel clashed.
The soldiers moved first, engaging the bandits, but it quickly became clear these were no ordinary thieves.
Rowan stepped in.
In moments, he cut through them with overwhelming strength.
"Damn it!" one of the bandits shouted. "Release it!"
From the trees, something massive emerged.
An ogre.
Behind it, wolves lunged forward, snarling and wild.
The battlefield shifted instantly.
Even Rowan was pushed back.
Blades struck. Magic flared.
Noel could only watch, frozen, as everything spiraled into chaos.
His father—his invincible father—was wounded.
Blood.
For the first time, Noel felt it.
Fear. Real fear.
Thankfully, Amelia stepped in. As a mid-advanced mage, she cast spell after spell, forcing the monsters back just enough for them to retreat.
They didn't make it to the show.
They returned to the mansion instead.
That day changed everything.
Noel had seen it clearly.
Bandits daring to attack a noble.
Because their leader was strong a Master Knight. Strong enough not to fear consequences.
When they returned, Noel could only worry.
But Amelia treated Rowan's wounds. Thankfully, they weren't deep. He survived.
Later, when Rowan had recovered, Noel sat with him.
"You were scared, weren't you?" Rowan asked.
Noel hesitated… then nodded.
Rowan looked at him quietly before speaking.
"This world doesn't care if you're afraid," he said.
"It only cares if you're strong enough to stand."
Noel clenched his fists.
From that moment, he understood.
He would never step into the outside world again…
…until he was strong enough.
The carriage came to a stop.
They had arrived at the church.
There were many children gathered boys and girls around his age. All of them were here for the same reason.
Talent evaluation.
As the Hendrix family stepped out, people moved aside, making way for them. Priests and nuns greeted them respectfully and led them inside.
Normally, noble families could conduct private evaluations.
But not the Hendrix family.
The cost of the equipment was astronomical three thousand gold coins. Only high nobles in the capital of the Quelorin Kingdom could afford such a thing.
Their barony simply didn't have that kind of wealth.
So, like everyone else, Noel stood among the crowd.
The ceremony began.
A priest stepped forward, his voice calm yet carrying through the hall.
"Children of Vespara," he began, "today is not a day of judgment, but a day of discovery."
He looked over them, his gaze steady.
"Talent does not define your worth—but it shapes your path. Whether your light burns bright or dim, what matters is how you walk the road ahead."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"Do not fear what you will see today," he continued.
"For every flame has its purpose."
One by one, names were called.
Children stepped forward. Lights shimmered. Some dim. Some bright. Some met with smiles, others with disappointment.
Noel watched in silence.
Then—
"Noel Hendrix."
His turn had come.
A tight knot formed in his chest.
This was it.
If his talent was low…
He would be nothing more than a burden.
A weak noble in a world that devoured the weak.
A sitting duck… waiting to be slaughtered.
He stepped forward.
The hall fell quiet.
Light began to gather.
For a moment—nothing.
Then—
An orange glow shimmered down around him.
The crowd gasped.
It wasn't extraordinary…
But it wasn't bad either.