Chapter 1: Son of the duke
Gon was the only son of the Duke of Hannan, a title that carried great weight and responsibility.
As the duke's heir, he was destined to inherit the throne, a future that many in the land saw as his rightful place.
Wherever he went, people regarded him with respect and expectation, for they knew he would one day step into his father's shoes and lead their realm.
One would think that being the only son of the Duke of Hnannan would mean a life filled with ease, comfort, and endless opportunities.
After all, as the heir to the throne, Gon was surrounded by wealth, power, and privilege from the moment he was born.
Many would imagine that his days were spent in grand halls, learning the ways of leadership, or wandering through lush gardens without a care in the world.
Surely, such a position came with a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment, knowing that he was destined for greatness.
To most, it seemed obvious that Gon's life must have been perfect, full of responsibilities that were as rewarding as they were important, and free of the struggles that plagued ordinary people.
However, it wasn't so.
Despite the grandeur that surrounded him and the privilege that came with his birthright, Gon's life was far from the picture of ease and fulfillment that others imagined.
In a world where magic flourished and stories of legendary mages filled every corner of the land, Gon stood out for a very different reason—he was painfully ordinary.
The land of Hannan was known for its gift and talents, each with unique abilities that shaped their lives and the world around them.
Some could summon storms with a whisper, while others could heal even the gravest wounds with a mere touch.
Tales of their daring exploits were sung by bards in every town, stories of power, courage, and incredible feats that left listeners in awe.
Yet, Gon possessed none of this.
There were no sparks of magic in his fingertips, no whispers of untapped potential waiting to be unleashed.
Unlike the prodigies who were born with remarkable gifts or the diligent few who worked tirelessly to master even a fraction of magic's mysteries, Gon seemed utterly unremarkable.
For all his noble blood and grand title, he had no special talent to his name.
It wasn't that he didn't try. Gon had spent countless hours in the study, poring over ancient texts, and in the training grounds, hoping to find some trace of ability within himself.
But no matter how hard he worked or how deeply he hoped, the results were always the same—mediocre at best, frustratingly dull at worst.
In a world brimming with wonder and power, Gon felt like a shadow, plain and forgettable.
He couldn't fight with the grace or skill that others seemed to possess so effortlessly, nor could he wield a blade with the precision and mastery that turned warriors into legends.
When it came to special techniques, the kind that required years of disciplined training and an innate understanding of combat, Gon fell short.
His movements were clumsy, his strikes lacked power, and his attempts at anything resembling advanced tactics always ended in failure.
As for magic, it was an even greater disappointment.
While others his age could conjure flames with a snap of their fingers, weave illusions to confuse enemies, or call upon ancient spells to bend the elements to their will, Gon was utterly powerless.
No matter how many incantations he memorized or how much effort he poured into practice, the magic simply wouldn't come.
In a realm where exceptional abilities were the measure of one's worth, Gon's lack of talent made him feel like an outsider,
This was because Gon had been born without mana, and the very essence that allowed people to perform magic and harness extraordinary abilities.
In a world where mana was as common and essential as the air one breathed, his lack of it was not only rare but also unthinkable.
Mana flowed through the veins of every mage and warrior, a vital energy that made the impossible possible.
It was the source of strength, the fuel for spells, and the foundation of nearly every great achievement in their realm.
For someone of Gon's status, this absence was more than a personal flaw—it was a glaring anomaly.
His father, Duke Edmond, was one of the most powerful men in the land, both politically and magically.
The duke's mana reserves were said to be nearly limitless, and his prowess in combat and strategy had earned him both fear and respect across the kingdoms.
His name was synonymous with strength, and his legacy was built on a foundation of unparalleled talent and relentless determination.
That his only son and heir, Gon, would be born entirely without mana was a shock that rippled through the noble courts and beyond.
Whispers of disbelief spread like wildfire, and it wasn't long before people began to question how such a thing could even happen.
It was unheard of, almost unnatural, for the child of someone as gifted as Duke Edmond to be powerless.
While others speculated about curses or hidden causes, Gon himself could only live with the reality of what it meant to be so different in a world where strength and magic were everything.
This lack of mana was not just a simple absence, it was a constant reminder of the expectations he couldn't meet, the legacy he couldn't uphold, and the shadow of his father's greatness that he could never escape.
But perhaps if his mother had been talentless or weak, they could have excused it as nothing more than bad luck, a misfortune that simply befell the family.
After all, in the grand scheme of things, even the greatest lineages sometimes produced a less-than-perfect heir.
Yet that was not the case with Gon. His mother, the Duchess, was no ordinary woman.