Accidental Ascendance

Cedric found himself in the garden, practicing magic alongside Megna, the mana fairy. The sun bathed the vibrant flowers in warm hues as Cedric's excitement filled the air.

As they continued their magical exercises, Cedric fell silent, his curiosity getting the better of him. He turned to Megna, his voice filled with intrigue. "What are the other fairy queens like?"

Megna paused, her eyes distant for a moment, before responding. "They are no fun."

Cedric furrowed his brow, leaning in closer. "What do you mean?"

Megna sighed heavily, her expression tinged with disappointment. "The queen of the north is an Ice fairy. Their kind lacks emotions, favoring logic above all else. Then there's the queen of the west, a fire fairy who cares only about strength and creating powerful magic. As for the queen of the east, she is kind enough, being an earth fairy and the oldest of all the fairy queens."

Cedric's eyes widened with anticipation. "Wait! If they are all elemental fairies, what element do you represent?"

Megna shot Cedric an annoyed glance. "Did you forget that as well, Merlin?"

Cedric tried to interject. "I'm Cedric, not Merlin..."

But his words fell on deaf ears as Megna shook her head. "I am not an elemental fairy. My sister was, and she was the former queen. She left me in charge."

Confusion crossed Cedric's face. "Then what kind of fairy are you?"

Megna's smile brightened. "I'm a unique fairy. You are looking at the only known mana fairy."

Cedric couldn't help but applaud as Megna showcased her magic, the display resembling a blossoming garden. However, his curiosity still burned within him. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "What happened to your sister, Megna?"

Megna's features froze, her complexion turning pale. "She..."

Before she could continue, a voice interrupted them. "Young lord!" Lyla's voice rang out from the castle.

Cedric swiftly turned, his attention shifting. "I'll be there shortly!" As he spun back around, Megna had vanished. Cedric slapped his forehead in frustration. "I'm so stupid. Why did I ask such a personal question?"

Escorted by Lyla, Cedric made his way to the castle. Standing before his father's study, he felt a mixture of anxiety and uncertainty. "We are here, my lord," Lyla announced.

Cedric's mind raced with thoughts. 'Oh no! Is this about my mistake at the debut?' He stared coldly at the door.

Lyla saw the cold look and her imagination ran wild. 'It seems my lord can sense who's behind that door and is annoyed. He was probably in the midst of creating some form of new magic, and this interruption is nothing more than a waste of his time.'

As Cedric's thoughts spiraled, he tried to calm himself. 'Maybe it's not that. Mistakes happen, right? I'm overreacting.' He reassured himself inwardly.

Lyla bowed before Cedric, her voice filled with remorse. "I apologize, my lord."

Cedric's heart sank, his mind screaming internally. 'I'm definitely in trouble!'

Taking a deep breath, Cedric pushed open the door to his father's study. Lord Montclair sat across from a man dressed in extravagant armor. The stranger scratched the scruff on his face, his black hair tied back into a ponytail. Cedric's attention was immediately drawn to the man's piercing green emerald eyes. "This is him?" the man asked, his voice carrying an air of authority.

Lord Montclair nodded. "Yes, please be gentle..."

Cedric's eyes widened as the man got up from his seat and approached him. "Ummmm, what?"

Without warning, the man grabbed Cedric by the collar and began dragging him out. "From what I hear, this boy is the one who will need to be gentle with me."

Panicking, Cedric caught a glimpse of Lyla as he was pulled away. "Lyla, help me!" he cried out desperately.

Lyla simply bowed, her voice calm and composed. "Be safe on your trip, my lord."

Cedric's eyes widened in disbelief, his voice helpless. "Lyla!"

As Cedric was being dragged away, the servants all stood bowing in respect. Cedric heard one servant whisper, "Poor boy...."

Cedric panicked even more, his mind racing. "Hey, wait! If this is about the debut, then I'm sorry!"

The man scoffed annoyed. "This is about the debut. You caught my eye, kid."

As they passed through the front doors, Cedric caught a glimpse of his mother. Desperation overtook him as he worked up one last plea. "Mother, what's going on? Help me!"

Lady Isabella wiped away tears with her handkerchief as she waved at Cedric. "Be strong, my son."

Cedric's confusion grew, and he could only muster a weak response. "Huh?"

The man gruffly silenced Cedric. "Shut it, Cedric."

Looking up at the man, Cedric's confusion deepened. "Who are you, and where are we going?"

A wicked smile crept onto the man's face. "I am Captain Kaid Montclair, boy."

Cedric's complexion turned pale as realization struck him. "Montclair... then that means..."

Kaid chuckled. "Yep, kid. I'm your uncle, and I'm the one who's going to make you into a magic swordsman."

Cedric could only manage a feeble response. "Oh..."

Kaid effortlessly lifted Cedric and tossed him into the carriage, giving himself a self-congratulatory high-five. "Still got it."

Meanwhile, Lord Montclair stood near his window, gazing out into the distance. Lyla, concerned, couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure this was wise, my lord?"

Lord Montclair nodded, his expression filled with determination. "Cedric demonstrated his power to the world yesterday. However, that wasn't just a demonstration; it was a declaration."

"A declaration, my lord?" Lyla asked, her confusion evident.

Lord Montclair let out a heavy sigh. "Yes, a declaration that one day, he will be unstoppable. I'm sure the whole world is thinking about him even now. If he's that strong as a child, imagine when he comes of age."

Lyla bowed, her eyes filled with admiration. "My young lord is amazing."

Lord Montclair placed his hand against the window, as if seeking solace. "He certainly is, and that's the issue. People will look to him and depend on him soon enough. Even worse, some will see him as the ultimate enemy. Until then, he must be hardened as soon as possible." Lord Montclair tightened his fist with frustration as he thought, 'I'm still not sure if my little brother won't go overboard, though...'