Chapter 1 — The World Beyond the Palace
Six years had passed since Liam Deamonheart was born.
In those six years, Liam had discovered something he had never experienced in his previous life.
Happiness.
He had a mother who kissed his forehead every morning.
A father who carried him on his shoulders despite being the king of one of the most powerful kingdoms on the continent.
Three sisters who argued over who got to spend the most time with him.
And an entire palace filled with servants who smiled whenever the little prince passed by.
Liam treasured every moment.
But there was one thing that had begun to trouble him.
He knew almost nothing about the world.
Every day, he heard adults talking about magic, monsters, kingdoms, demons, magical beasts, ancient heroes, and something called the Royal Magic Academy.
Yet whenever Liam asked about them, the adults usually gave him the same answer.
"You're still too young."
Liam hated those words.
He had already learned to read.
He could perform simple calculations.
He could remember conversations almost perfectly.
And, most importantly, he possessed memories from another life.
He wasn't going to spend his childhood waiting for someone else to teach him.
So, on the morning of his sixth birthday, Liam made a decision.
He was going to the royal library.
---
The Royal Library of Valaria was enormous.
Liam had passed its massive golden doors countless times before, but he had never been allowed to enter without an adult.
Today was different.
The librarian bowed as Liam entered.
"Good morning, Your Highness."
"Good morning!"
Liam smiled brightly.
The old librarian, Master Rowan, couldn't help but smile back.
"Are you looking for something?"
"Everything."
Rowan blinked.
"Everything?"
"Everything about the world."
The old librarian laughed.
"That might take you a few lifetimes, Your Highness."
Liam grinned.
"I have plenty of time."
He didn't realize how meaningful those words were.
---
The first book Liam picked up was titled:
The Continent of Elarion — A Historical Record.
He opened it.
The first page contained a map.
Liam's eyes widened.
The continent was enormous.
At its center was the Valarian Empire, one of the largest human nations in the known world.
To the east lay the Celestian Empire, famous for its enormous magical towers and powerful mages.
To the north stretched the frozen territories of the Frostborn Kingdoms, where powerful magical beasts roamed the mountains.
To the west was the Dwarven Kingdom of Ironhold, built beneath an enormous mountain range.
And far to the south...
Liam stopped.
A vast black region covered the map.
At its center was a red symbol resembling an eye.
Written above it were three words.
The Demon Continent.
Liam frowned.
"Demon Continent?"
Master Rowan, who had been watching from nearby, nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"What lives there?"
"Demons."
Liam stared at the map.
"Are demons monsters?"
"Not exactly."
Rowan's expression became serious.
"Monsters are creatures born from mana, mutated beasts, magical experiments, or ancient bloodlines. Demons are something else."
"What?"
"An ancient race."
Liam's curiosity grew.
"Are they evil?"
Rowan hesitated.
"Some are."
"Some?"
"Just like humans, demons are not all the same."
Liam thought about that for a moment.
Then he continued reading.
---
The Seven Great Powers
According to the book, Elarion was divided among countless kingdoms, territories, tribes, and city-states.
But seven powers stood above the rest.
The Valarian Empire.
The Celestian Empire.
The Frostborn Kingdoms.
The Dwarven Kingdom of Ironhold.
The Elven Kingdom of Sylvaris.
The Beastfolk Confederation.
And the Demon Dominion.
Liam's eyes widened.
"Father rules an empire?"
Master Rowan chuckled.
"Technically, His Majesty rules the Valarian Empire."
"So I'm a prince of an empire?"
"Yes."
Liam stared at the book.
He suddenly felt that the palace was much smaller than he had imagined.
His father wasn't merely the king of a peaceful kingdom.
He was the ruler of one of the greatest powers in the world.
Liam continued reading.
The Valarian Empire controlled enormous territories, including forests, plains, mountains, and several major cities.
Millions of people lived under its banner.
Its armies were considered among the strongest in the world.
And at the center of it all stood the imperial capital.
Aurelia.
Liam had seen the city from the palace balconies.
But he had never realized how enormous it truly was.
---
Then Liam found another section.
Monsters
His expression immediately changed.
He turned the page.
A large illustration of a creature stared back at him.
It had four legs, enormous horns, sharp claws, and glowing red eyes.
Ironfang Wolf.
Rank: F.
Liam read the description.
Ironfang Wolves were weak monsters commonly found near forests.
The next page showed a creature several times larger.
Flame Bear.
Rank: C.
Then another.
Thunder Wyvern.
Rank: A.
Then—
Liam stopped breathing for a moment.
The illustration showed an enormous black dragon with six wings.
Abyssal Dragon.
Rank: SSS.
Liam swallowed.
"Master Rowan?"
"Yes?"
"How strong is an SSS-rank monster?"
The librarian became quiet.
"Strong enough to destroy cities."
Liam looked at the dragon again.
"And can Father defeat one?"
Rowan smiled faintly.
"Your father is extraordinarily powerful."
"That's not what I asked."
The old librarian laughed.
"No, Your Highness. It would not be an easy battle even for His Majesty."
Liam's eyes shone.
Not with fear.
With excitement.
So this world really is dangerous.
He had always wanted to become strong.
Now he finally understood why.
---
Magic
The next book was even more interesting.
The Principles of Mana and Magic.
Liam opened it carefully.
According to the book, mana existed throughout the world.
It flowed through the air.
It existed within living beings.
It filled the oceans, forests, mountains, and even the deepest parts of the earth.
Humans who possessed enough mana could learn magic.
There were several basic elements.
Fire.
Water.
Wind.
Earth.
Light.
Darkness.
But those were only the basic elements.
Advanced magic could manipulate lightning, ice, space, gravity, barriers, healing, summoning, and countless other forces.
Liam's fingers tightened around the book.
Magic.
The word alone made his heart beat faster.
In his previous world, magic had existed only in stories.
Here, it was real.
He had already seen his mother use it.
Once, Queen Elara had created hundreds of glowing butterflies from pure mana just to make him laugh.
At the time, Liam had thought it was beautiful.
Now he wanted to understand it.
He wanted to learn it.
He wanted to master it.
---
Then he discovered something that immediately caught his attention.
The Royal Magic Academy
Liam read the description carefully.
The Royal Magic Academy was considered one of the greatest institutions in the world.
It accepted talented students from across the empire.
Nobles.
Commoners.
Foreign royalty.
And even exceptional individuals from other races.
Students studied magic, swordsmanship, monster studies, alchemy, magical theory, history, summoning, combat techniques, and ancient languages.
The academy's strongest graduates could become royal knights, archmages, adventurers, scholars, generals, or imperial officials.
Liam's eyes sparkled.
"How old do you have to be to enter?"
Master Rowan smiled.
"Usually twelve."
"Twelve?"
"Yes."
Liam looked down at himself.
Six years old.
Six more years.
He could wait.
But he didn't want to.
"Can I enter earlier?"
Rowan laughed.
"Perhaps, if you become exceptionally talented."
Liam closed the book.
A determined expression appeared on his face.
"Then I will."
The librarian stared at him.
Liam stood on the chair, raised his little fist, and declared—
"I'll become the strongest student in the academy!"
Master Rowan burst out laughing.
"Your Highness, the academy is filled with geniuses."
"I'll become a greater genius."
"There are nobles who have trained in magic since they were three."
"I'll work harder."
"There are sword prodigies who can defeat adults."
"I'll train harder."
"There are monsters—"
"I'll defeat them."
Rowan stared at the six-year-old prince.
For a moment, the old librarian didn't see a child.
He saw determination.
Something rare.
Something dangerous.
Something extraordinary.
Then he smiled.
"Perhaps the academy should prepare itself."
---
That evening, Liam returned to his room.
Queen Elara was waiting for him.
"You disappeared for half the day."
Liam froze.
"I... went to the library."
His mother smiled.
"I know."
Liam looked at her suspiciously.
"You knew?"
"Of course."
She walked over and gently fixed his messy hair.
"You are my son. Did you think I wouldn't know where you were?"
Liam smiled.
Then his expression became serious.
"Mother."
"Hmm?"
"I want to learn magic."
Elara paused.
"You do?"
"I want to become strong."
"Why?"
Liam looked toward the window.
Beyond it stretched the enormous imperial capital.
"I want to protect our family."
His mother stared at him.
For a moment, she saw something unusual in her six-year-old son.
Not childish ambition.
Resolve.
She knelt in front of him.
"Then I will teach you."
Liam's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Really."
She touched his forehead gently.
"But remember something."
"What?"
"Power isn't what makes someone strong."
Liam listened carefully.
"Then what does?"
"Knowing what you're willing to protect."
Liam smiled.
"I know."
He looked at the family portrait hanging on the wall.
His father.
His mother.
His three sisters.
His family.
The family he had once dreamed of.
"I'll protect them."
Far away, beneath the ancient earth, something stirred.
A sealed magical circle flickered.
An ancient presence opened its eyes.
And somewhere beyond the borders of the empire, a monster raised its head toward the sky.
The world had not yet noticed the birth of Liam Deamonheart.
But that would not last forever.
Because six years after being born for the second time—
Liam had taken his first step toward becoming something far greater than a prince.
He had begun his journey.
And one day, the entire world would know his name.