Aldoria: Am I a hero...or not?

As Kael entered his room, he lay down on the soft mattress, staring at the ceiling. The burning sensation from earlier still lingered in his chest, a mix of unfamiliar emotions and fragmented memories that felt both distant and painfully close.

His head throbbed, but he pushed the thoughts aside. He was exhausted, and for now, sleep was the only escape.

When he woke up, the sun had barely risen. The morning air was crisp, and the estate was still quiet.

Kael got up, stretching his sore muscles before reaching for the clothes left by the servants. As he dressed, his mind drifted back to last night, the fury in his father's voice, the pain in his mother's eyes.

He needed to understand more about this world.

Determined, he made his way to the bookshelf in his room and pulled out a thick volume titled:

The Chronicles of Aldoria.

Flipping through the pages, he quickly found what he was looking for.

[Aldoria]

the name of this world.

His eyes scanned further, stopping at a section about the power system.

The 11 Tiers of Strength.

The strongest warriors, mages, and knights in the world were categorized into these tiers, with Tier 11 being the supposed pinnacle of mortal ability. But then…

Kael's fingers trembled as he read the next part.

[Lancelot Valor]

The Man Who Broke Limits.

His father. The only known warrior to ascend past Tier 11, reaching Tier 12. The book described him as an unstoppable force, revered and feared across the continent.

Kael swallowed hard before moving on to the section about the Valor family.

Lancelot Valor – Tier 12, the strongest swordsman in Aldoria. Feared by kings and emperors alike.

Elysia Valor – A normal woman, yet considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

Cassian Valor (Oldest Brother) – Tier 9. A strict yet charismatic man, being groomed to inherit their father's domain.

Garrett Valor (Second Brother) – Tier 8. A promising knight with talent nearly equal to their father's in his youth.

Freya Valor (Oldest Sister) – Tier 8. A beautiful and deadly swordswoman, known for her overwhelming strength.

Selene Valor (Youngest Sister) – Tier 2. The sweetest and most stunning among the sisters. She had yet to prove herself in battle.

Kyle Valor (Closest Brother in Age) – Tier 4. A young knight preparing to leave for the academy.

Then, at the bottom of the page…

Kael Valor – Tier -1. A failure. A disappointment. A mischievous, talentless noble. A disgrace. One year left before being sent to the academy.

Kael's hands clenched the book, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

Rage and humiliation twisted inside him. Every one of his siblings, even Selene, who was still young, had more potential than him. The book might as well have spat on his name.

His self-loathing was cut short by a knock at the door.

"Young Master," Sylvia's voice came from the other side. "Your father has summoned you."

Kael shut the book and exhaled.

The study was vast, lined with bookshelves and intricate wooden carvings. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating the two men seated at the center of the room.

Lancelot Valor sat in an ornate chair, his posture relaxed yet imposing. His gaze, however, was as sharp as a blade. Beside him stood a towering knight, clad in dark armor with a massive greatsword strapped to his back.

Kael felt his breath hitch. Even without knowing his name, the sheer presence of the man was overwhelming.

A Tier 10 warrior.

A monster second only to his father.

The knight glanced at Kael, his expression unreadable.

Lancelot finally spoke. "You took your time."

Kael stiffened before bowing slightly. "Good morning, Father."

His father studied him with a calm, unreadable expression.

Yet Kael could feel the judgment behind it.

His hands curled into fists. Not out of fear, but out of anger.

Lancelot leaned back, resting his chin on his knuckles. "I have other matters to attend to, so I will keep this brief."

He exhaled slowly. "I don't care about your pranks. I don't care about your games. But I will not allow you to be a disgrace to this family any longer."

Kael felt his body tense, but he remained silent.

"You have one year," Lancelot continued. "One year to prove you are worthy of carrying the Valor name. Otherwise…"

His voice trailed off, but the weight of his words crushed down on Kael like an avalanche.

His father stood, giving him one final glance. "That is all. Dismissed."

The knight beside him remained silent as Kael turned and walked out.

Kael found himself in the massive library within the manor, surrounded by towering shelves filled with knowledge.

His mind was still racing.

He clenched his fists.

He couldn't remain weak. He wouldn't remain weak.

If his family and this world had already decided he was worthless, then he would prove them wrong.

He grabbed the first book on swordsmanship he could find and flipped it open.

His real training started now.