Ascension of the Forsaken Genius

House Aldreth was a place of power, politics, and quiet wars.

It was one of the oldest noble houses in the kingdom, known for its strength in both military and cultivation. Despite being in a low-tier kingdom, House Aldreth had influence far beyond its borders—but influence came with enemies, even within the family.

At the head of House Aldreth was Duke Varian Aldreth, Sylas’s father.

He was a man of absolute authority, feared both inside and outside the household. His philosophy was simple—strength determined worth.

He had multiple wives, each from different powerful families, chosen for political reasons. His children were pawns, and he had no interest In those who showed no promise.

Sylas had met him only once—on the day of his naming ceremony. The Duke had barely spared him a glance.

That, however, was a blessing. Being ignored was better than being crushed early.

The duchess, Sylas’s mother, Lady Evelyne Aldreth, was the Duke’s first and highest-ranking wife.

But she was not the only one.

There were four other wives, each with their own children, each vying for the Duke’s favor.

Lady Selene – The mother of Rael Aldreth, Sylas’s strongest brother. She was cold, calculating, and ruthless.

Lady Isolde – The mother of two twin brothers, Dain and Kieran Aldreth, who were only a few years older than Sylas.

Lady Mirea – The mother of Cassius Aldreth, a quiet but dangerous boy.

Lady Lilia – The youngest wife, whose son was only a year older than Sylas but already displaying talent.

Each woman plotted in the shadows, ensuring their own sons had the best resources and training.

Lady Evelyne had once held the most power among them, but after Rael’s rapid rise, her influence had started to weaken.

Sylas had six half-brothers, all older than him. Each viewed him in different ways.

Rael Aldreth (8 years old) – The prodigy. Strong, arrogant, and dangerous. Sylas’s greatest rival.

Cassius Aldreth (7 years old) – The silent one. He watched more than he spoke.

Dain & Kieran Aldreth (6 years old, twins) – The duo. Mischievous, intelligent, but not openly hostile.

Lucien Aldreth (5 years old) – The ambitious one. Always trying to prove himself.

Elias Aldreth (4 years old) – The forgotten son. Overshadowed by the others, but still a noble.

Each one was stronger than him. More experienced.

For now.

Sylas’s days were uneventful on the surface. He was too young to be involved in training or politics, but he wasn’t blind.

Every look, every interaction between the wives, the brothers, and the servants—he observed it all.

The way his mother was treated less favorably compared to before.

The way Rael walked with the arrogance of someone who had already been declared the heir.

The way the other wives whispered when they thought no one was listening.

He was just a baby. But in this house, weakness was a death sentence.

And no one expected him to survive.@@novelbin@@

Sylas knew he had only two choices.

Stay weak and get crushed.

Or find a way to become strong in secret.

And to do that, he needed to do something no one expected—cultivate, even before awakening his energy.

That would be his next challenge.