The Epic of Victor: Reborn as a Slave of a War Goddess.

Years had passed, and Victor was now four years old. He could walk, talk, and mastered reading and writing in Latin with fluency. Among his peers, he was considered a prodigy, earning praise even from his father, Lucius Dominatus. Lucius, now a senator in the Roman Republic, lived in Rome with four of his children: the eldest, Marcus; the second, Crassus; the third, Pompeo; and the fourth, Nero. Marcus and Crassus assisted their father in managing the family's estates and political affairs, while Pompeo and Nero studied diligently in preparation for their entry into the military academy in Mediolanum, near the frontlines.

As Victor delved deeper into understanding this world, he discovered that every individual possessed a system, referred to as "Prometheus' Blessing." However, unlike his own, their systems were rudimentary, lacking faction relations, allegiances, and advanced blessings. Magic was a common aspect of life, and people gained experience and learned new abilities through practice, including the use of magic.

In the Roman Republic, patrician houses wielded elemental magic to maintain dominance over the lower classes, who relied on raw magic or what the military termed "Champion's Aura." Awakening aura was a rare and arduous process—only one in a hundred thousand could achieve it, and even fewer advanced beyond the initial ranks. Those who surpassed the Champion rank were hailed as Demigods. Each rank consisted of three phases, further divided into lower, mid, high, and peak levels. Climbing these ranks required extraordinary dedication, intense training, and, above all, luck.

Victor recognized that attaining such heights, even with his blessings, would be nearly impossible. Attempting to harness a corrupted aura could instill fear in those around him, undermining his objectives. Thus, he shifted his focus to mastering his family's elemental magic, Fog Magic. The Dominatus House, based on an island, required mastery over both sea and land, specializing in air and water magic. This expertise enhanced the speed of their ships and enabled ambushes on both terrains. Corsica, the family's stronghold, served as an ideal foundation for Victor's study of elemental magic.

Victor was in the garden with his uncle Adrian Dominatus, learning the principles of water magic. Adrian, a man in his mid-thirties with a sharp mind, commanded the Dominatus cohorts on Corsica. Graduating with honors from the Mediolanum Academy of Warfare, he was one of the Republic's finest leaders. Despite his capabilities, Adrian had no interest in politics, dedicating himself to defending the family's strategic island.

- Listen well, Victor

Adrian began.

- Water magic is a fundamental element. It requires precise control of shaping and form. Once you learn to control and shape your mana, you'll be able to identify and direct water mana toward your will. Chants and hand signs help channel mana for quick casting, but more complex spells demand rituals to form circles. Until you can form a mixed air-and-water circle around your core independently, you must rely on nature's power. Now, step into the circle with the materials and begin cultivating your circle by circulating mana into your core.

- Yes, Uncle, Victor replied.

Carefully stepping into the intricately prepared circle, Victor ensured not to disturb any essential materials. He felt the flow of mana within him and began channeling water mana through his body to familiarize himself with its properties. Recognizing the elemental mana of water was simple, but its integration was complicated by the dark mana that naturally gravitated toward him.

"Ah, this again," Victor groaned, frustrated by the interference.

Forming a water circle was delayed by his innate dark mana core. He faced two options: expand his mana core by injecting both water and dark mana to create a mixed Dark-Water circle or strengthen his body to support a second core. While rare, second cores were typically developed by Champions or Demigods undergoing aura transformations. Victor had a unique advantage—his blessing.

"Perhaps it's time to develop the Aegis of the Damned," Victor mused. "I might have a plan."

Suddenly, Adrian poured cold water over his head.

- Focus, Victor. This is no time to daydream. As punishment, you will run three laps around the mansion.

"Tch… This battle-hungry tyrant will exhaust me to death," Victor muttered under his breath.

Despite his complaints, Victor practiced magic and physical training until late afternoon. At dinner, he made a brief appearance before retreating to his room. Using his dark mana core to blend into the shadows, he evaded the maids with ease. Darkness magic, an enigmatic force without recorded spells, required Victor to innovate on his own. Using insights from chants and hand signals, he crafted a simple spell to merge with shadows.

Roaming the streets of Mariana, the capital of Corsica, Victor moved stealthily through the lower city. His plan was straightforward: head to the forum, navigate through the discarded animal remains, and attempt to absorb their blood. If unsuccessful, he'd resort to stealing or killing a target himself.

As he neared the forum, his attention was drawn to a commotion. A group of thugs was harassing a woman in distress.

"Well," Victor thought, a sly grin forming. "It's none of my business, but how can I resist such a perfect opportunity to vent some karma?"