So, I was born into a noble house, the Great Sage thought grimly.
He’d suspected this might happen. Being reborn into a distinguished family sounded ideal at first, but the reality often came with burdens—restrictions, expectations, and in this case, unfavorable conditions. His premonition had been correct.
“But abandoning him in that forest…” The mother’s voice cracked as she tightened her grip around her baby. “Couldn’t we leave him in a nearby town, at least? He’ll die out there.”
“If we leave him in town and he survives, he might come back one day, and that could cause complications. Honestly, if he has a useless trait, we should end him here and now,” the father said coldly. “But even I won’t go that far. The forest is the best we can do.”
“That’s no different from killing him yourself!” the mother cried, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“It’s a matter of sentiment, not logic,” he replied, as if swatting her words away. “In any case, we’ll measure his trait. If it’s a good one, then there’s no issue.”
The Great Sage’s mind raced. If I’m abandoned as a baby, there’s nothing I can do. I have no magic, no speech, no mobility.
Which traits are considered “good” again?
He tried to recall what had been considered desirable in his era.
Let’s see… magical aptitude, tactical genius, and alchemical talent—those were the big three back in my day. Those traits were widely respected, prized in noble circles and among guilds alike.
Of course, that was decades ago. This era may judge differently… but surely, magic is still seen as valuable. It’s so versatile—combat, construction, daily life. There’s no way it’s fallen out of favor.
As these thoughts flickered through the Great Sage’s mind, preparations began for the test. The process for measuring one’s innate trait was simple but precise. It involved taking a small sample of blood and dropping it onto a special object known as an Appraisal Stone. Once the stone came in contact with blood, it would change color to reflect the bearer’s natural trait; this would determine whether the child would be cherished or cast aside.
For the record, Appraisal Stones were so expensive that ordinary citizens couldn’t afford them.
The father picked up a knife, then reached for the newborn’s hand. A sharp sting shot through the Great Sage’s tiny finger as the blade sliced his skin.
The man blinked in surprise. “He’s not crying?” He sounded genuinely caught off guard, but only for a moment. Without dwelling on it, he pressed the bleeding fingertip over a pale, palm-sized stone he had pulled from his cloak.
The drop of blood sank into the surface. A moment later, the Appraisal Stone shimmered and turned blue.
Blue. That’s magic aptitude. I did it. The Great Sage took in a deep breath, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. That’s a hit.
His relief didn’t last.
“Magic trait, huh… That’s about as bad as it gets these days,” the father muttered, his voice low with bitter disappointment.
What?
For a second, he thought he’d heard something different, but it quickly became clear he hadn’t. The mother burst into tears, cradling him desperately. At that instant, the father’s face darkened, his expression grim.
Magic is a failure trait? What has happened to this era? Panic churned in the sage’s mind. No… never mind that. If they think it’s a useless trait, they’re going to abandon me, aren’t they?
If they did that, he surely wouldn’t survive the outcome of their actions. The Great Sage couldn’t move, speak, or use his magic. In this body, he was completely helpless.
His mother clung to him, refusing to let go, pleading through her tears. But her resistance was short-lived. He was torn from her arms by force.
Wrapped in a rough blanket, he was handed off to a man clad in armor—a knight. He appeared to be a trusted subordinate, and his task was to carry the child to the Frazes Great Forest and leave him there to die.
The father’s voice was cold and unwavering as he gave the order. “Tell no one. Strip away your feelings. Fulfill your duty without fail.”
The knight bowed his head, then turned on his heel and left without hesitation. He mounted his steed and rode straight for the forest.
What do I do? What can I possibly do? The Great Sage’s mind spun, his thoughts racing like wildfire. But no matter how many thoughts ran through his mind, he ended up without a solution to his current predicament.
There’s nothing. Nobody. No voice. No magic.
There’s nothing I can do.
At the moment, all he could do was leave his fate in the hands of the heavens.
Maybe someone will find me after I’m abandoned. It wasn’t impossible, but the odds weren’t good either. If they were going to discard him, it would surely be deep in the forest, somewhere no one would ever come to his rescue.
At this point, the only sliver of hope left was the knight’s conscience.
The father had clearly trusted the man, but perhaps—just perhaps—even a loyal knight would hesitate at the cruelty of abandoning a helpless infant in monster-infested wilderness.
Clinging to that faint hope, the Great Sage surrendered himself to the flow of events.
It didn’t take long to reach the Frazes Great Forest.
The knight rode deep into the woods, his expression unreadable behind his helm. They passed through thick groves and tangled undergrowth, the path narrowing and light thinning. While in the forest, they were attacked by a monster, but the knight swiftly cut it down without acquiring so much as a scratch. He didn’t falter or pause.