Thaddeus's eyes, optic nerves, and the surrounding mana veins formed a unique, integrated structure. Put simply, as long as a small amount of mana was gathered there, he could memorize, analyze, and mimic anything perfectly. However, if the mana flow was cut, he returned to being ordinary; both his memory and his vision became average once more. Since his mana reserves were still small, he couldn't maintain this state indefinitely.
Thus began his rigorous training. It started with physical conditioning, noble education, etiquette, history, and the fundamentals of mana. Even though he couldn't use his eyes to their maximum potential yet, the way he utilized them during daily practice made his growth rate terrifying. Physical drills evolved into martial arts, swordsmanship, duels, and occasionally, literal life-or-death struggles. His education shifted toward political maneuvering, reading between the lines, and protecting the family's prestige. Mana fundamentals matured into deep meditation and practical sorcery.
By age 11, he successfully entered the Inner World, and his mana reached C-rank—an incredibly high level for his age. This brought him immense fame, and a fiancée was chosen for him. Mark recalled that day vividly: everyone congratulated him, eager to be in his good graces. They whispered about him being the "next head of the family."
He remembered Anastasia too—an 11-year-old girl trying her best to act like an adult, yet possessed a face so soft you'd want to pinch her cheeks. She was a golden-haired, yellow-eyed little beauty. On that day, he heard another phrase from his father that resembled affection: "Be happy with your bride." The training continued even after the ceremony, but Thaddeus began to show signs of burnout. He finally had enough mana to fuel his eyes constantly, and his mastery of the Inner World had seemingly secured his future. Then, he turned 12, and the official training came to an end.
Then, the first signs of Thaddeus's downfall began to surface. After gaining freedom from official training at age 12, he continued to practice, but his efforts dwindled over time. When you can mimic anything perfectly at a glance, the desire to spend hours mastering it fades away. As his training decreased, he sought to enjoy life—fine dining, expensive clothes, and the smaller pleasures of existence.
He began spending most of his time with the "friends" he had met during his engagement ceremony at age 11. They weren't entirely to blame; they simply believed that building a relationship with Thaddeus would pay off in the future. In their eyes, he was the inevitable patriarch of the family. Influenced by their flattery, Thaddeus began to view himself as the heir, despite the fact that his father had yet to make any official announcement. Through these friends, he was introduced to many women and began to indulge in those worldly pleasures as well.
Over the years, his relationship with Anastasia soured. Year after year, Thaddeus's discipline eroded. The prodigy who had reached "C"-rank mana by age 11 had barely scraped past "C+" to reach "B-" rank by age 16. Even so, this was still considered an excellent achievement among his peers. He recalled his final conversation with his father, Lucas, before leaving for the Academy:
"I understand you are becoming very close with a certain group of nobles," Lucas remarked.
"Father, they are simply my friends. A noble must maintain good relations with others to uphold his social image, shouldn't he?"
"There are foul rumors about you, that you are involving yourself with far too many women."
"Those are nothing but vile rumors. I merely offered assistance to women in need; is that not the duty of a gentleman?"
"How is your relationship with Anastasia? How have you two been lately?"
"She is simply jealous. Our love is unbreakable."
"Your magic hasn't progressed much recently."
"Father, we both know my talent. There is no need for concern."
Lucas stared at Thaddeus for a long time after that. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Fine. I will leave these matters to you and will not interfere. Have you forgotten our family motto?"
"Of course not, Father. Trust me. Our motto is: 'Duty Alone'."
Lucas nodded slowly. "Very well. You may go. Do not forget your duty."
The first year at the Academy was marked by Thaddeus parading around like a peacock and losing the last remnants of warmth in his relationship with Anastasia. Yet, Thaddeus remained oblivious, still convinced of her love.
In the second year, Colin, the protagonist of The Great Hero, was admitted. Despite his commoner origins, he possessed immense talent. He was a handsome youth with black hair, blue eyes, and a friendly countenance, yet he remained remarkably humble. People began to compare him to the other genius, Thaddeus. By then, rumors had already dragged Thaddeus's reputation through the mud, though he remained indifferent. How could a mere commoner ever hope to rival him?
That indifference vanished the moment he learned Anastasia had been seen laughing and talking with Colin. Using his sycophants, Thaddeus began creating constant trouble for Colin. These provocations eventually culminated in a duel between the two. The result was Thaddeus's total humiliation. Colin defeated him so effortlessly that Thaddeus's pride was shattered into pieces.
Then, madness set in. He became obsessed with a dangerous concept he had read about—fusing Mana and Kin. He finally attempted it. The outcome was catastrophic: his body became completely deformed, his hair fell out, and he lost his sight entirely. The doctors saw no possibility of a cure.
This was the final straw for the Lightborn family. Previously, they had turned a blind eye to Thaddeus's antics only because of his talent, but this fool had now destroyed that very talent. He was cast out of the family. Hearing the news, Thaddeus went into shock. He screamed in fury, demanding to see his father and begging them to change their minds, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Under the guise of "receiving treatment," Thaddeus was exiled to a remote corner of the world. Upon learning that Colin had been adopted by his family , he simply jumped into a river and ended his life.