The Last Spark of Aetherion

In the empire of Varethia, aether—the source of all magic—is hoarded by the noble houses, leaving the lower tiers to rot.Kael Ardent, a sparkless orphan scraping by in the slums, discovers he doesn't just lack magic… he devours it. Every spell near him unravels. Every enchantment dies. The nobles call him The Hollow, a living abomination.But when Kael accidentally absorbs the soul of a dying revolutionary, he gains:A sentient aether-core that whispers combat tactics (and insults)The ghost's memories of a rebellion meant to topple the empireAnd a death sentence from every faction—nobles, rebels, and the god-king whose throne runs on stolen sparksNow, Kael must master his curse, unite the oppressed, and rewrite the laws of magic itself—before the empire burns him to ash.(Progressive elements: Magic system evolves with societal change, protagonist's growth tied to systemic reform, power scaling impacts worldbuilding directly.)