Pitter, patter...0

On a rainy day in the heart of Yuren, Creáto of the imperial family stood still, staring up at a towering structure the people of Yuren referred to simply as the Building, where a massive poster hung on the wall.0

Berbaldi, Star of Mana—Grand Prize Winner at the Magical Expo0

Berbaldi, Star of Mana—Winner of the Floating Island’s Invention Grand Prize0

“Berbaldi,” Creáto muttered as the rain rolled off his shoulders while he stood still, lost in silence, before a faint smile curved his lips. “... Berbaldi.”0

Then, Creáto looked down at the paper he held. It was the official certificate from the expo, marked clearly with the label Gold Prize.0

“… Small, isn’t it.”0

Creáto, son of the former Emperor and younger brother to the current Empress, had neither his father’s ambition nor his sister’s talent for leadership. Within the imperial family, he was often described as the most unremarkable—an assessment he had learned to live with.2

“I gave it what effort I could.”0

However, this year, Creáto had hoped to make his mark at the magical expo—with an invention he’d poured his time and effort into, giving it everything he had. But things didn’t go the way he planned.0

"But it seems it just won’t work out that way," Creáto muttered, his footsteps heavy as he sat down on a nearby bench.0

Rain continued to fall in a drizzle as Creáto closed his eyes.1

“... Talent...0