The first thing I learned about having a second life was that growing up took an unnecessarily long time.
I had already spent more than a year in this world, yet I could barely walk without stumbling over my own feet. My vocabulary was limited, my arms were too short to reach anything interesting, and my parents seemed convinced that every object within my reach was a potential threat to my survival.
To be fair, they weren't entirely wrong.
"Lucien! Don't put that in your mouth!"
I froze with a wooden button halfway between my fingers and lips.
My mother stood in the doorway, holding a basket of freshly washed clothes. Her expression suggested that she had already endured enough of my nonsense for one morning.
I slowly lowered the button.
"Good boy."
She smiled before returning to her work.
I stared at the object in my hand.
I wasn't going to eat it.
Well, probably not.
My curiosity had become increasingly difficult to satisfy. Now that I could move around independently, I spent most of my time exploring our house, examining anything that caught my attention.
Unfortunately, my parents interpreted this as a remarkable talent for finding trouble.
I had already attempted to climb the stairs twice, nearly overturned a bucket of water, and somehow managed to get myself stuck beneath the dining table.
My father found the last incident particularly amusing.
I disagreed.
Still, despite the inconveniences of childhood, I couldn't deny that I was enjoying myself.
It was a strange feeling.
In my previous life, I had often complained about having too little free time. Now I possessed more of it than I knew what to do with.
And for once, I intended to make good use of it.
"Lucien!"
A familiar voice called from the hallway.
I turned just in time to see Evelyne rushing towards me.
She had recently turned six, although she behaved as though she possessed enough energy for three children her age.
"Come on! Father said he'll show me something!"
Before I could respond, she grabbed my hand and began pulling me towards the back garden.
"Wait—"
My protest came out as an awkward collection of syllables.
Evelyne ignored it.
By the time we reached the garden, I was struggling to keep up with her hurried footsteps.
Our father stood near the wooden fence, holding several smooth stones.
He glanced towards us and smiled.
"Slow down, Evelyne. Your brother's legs aren't as long as yours."
"But he's getting faster!"
"That doesn't mean you should drag him across the garden."
She released my hand with an embarrassed grin.
I gave her the most disapproving look I could manage.
She responded by poking my cheek.
I was beginning to suspect that being an older sister came with certain privileges.
"Now then," Father said, placing the stones on a wooden table. "You wanted to learn how to control your Aether, didn't you?"
Evelyne immediately straightened.
"Yes!"
"Then we'll start with something simple."
He picked up a stone and held it in his palm.
A faint blue glow surrounded his fingers.
The stone slowly rose into the air.
I watched with interest.
Unlike the light sphere he had demonstrated previously, this technique appeared to involve manipulating an actual object.
"Magic isn't about forcing Aether to do whatever you want," Father explained. "You have to understand how it moves. If you try to control too much at once, you'll only waste your strength."
The stone floated several inches above his palm before gently returning to his hand.
"Now you try."
Evelyne eagerly stepped forward.
She closed her eyes and extended her hand.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then tiny blue sparks appeared around her fingers.
Father frowned.
"Careful. Don't force it."
"I'm not!"
The sparks intensified.
A sharp crack sounded, and Evelyne immediately withdrew her hand.
The stone remained motionless.
She stared at it with a disappointed expression.
"Why won't it move?"
"Because you're trying to use lightning."
"But that's my magic!"
"That's the form your Aether naturally takes when you release it. It doesn't mean every technique should become lightning."
Evelyne looked confused.
I couldn't blame her.
I was having difficulty understanding the distinction myself.
Father crouched beside her.
"Think of Aether as water flowing through a pipe. You can guide it, change its direction, and control how much passes through. But if you release everything at once, you'll lose control."
He demonstrated again, allowing a small quantity of Aether to flow around the stone.
"Start with a little. Don't worry about lifting it yet."
Evelyne nodded.
This time, she concentrated more carefully.
A faint blue glow appeared around her hand.
The stone trembled.
Then, ever so slightly, it moved.
Her eyes widened.
"Father! Did you see that?"
"I did."
"It moved!"
"Yes, it did."
She practically jumped with excitement.
I couldn't help smiling.
For all her intelligence, Evelyne was still a child.
Watching her celebrate such a small achievement reminded me of something I had forgotten during my previous life.
Progress didn't always have to be extraordinary to feel meaningful.
Sometimes, simply moving a stone was enough.
After the lesson, Evelyne insisted that I should try as well.
"Come on, Lucien! Hold out your hand!"
I obediently extended my arm.
She placed a small stone on my palm.
"Now make it float!"
I stared at her.
If only it were that easy.
I concentrated on the stone, attempting to imitate the sensation Father had described.
Nothing happened.
Evelyne leaned closer.
"Try harder!"
I frowned.
That's not particularly helpful.
I tried again.
Still nothing.
After several unsuccessful attempts, Evelyne sighed.
"Maybe you're still too little."
"Little," I repeated.
She nodded seriously.
"Don't worry. I'll teach you when you're bigger."
I wasn't sure whether to feel encouraged or insulted.
Father chuckled from nearby.
"There's no need to rush him, Evelyne. Most children can't consciously manipulate Aether at his age."
"How old do you have to be?"
"It depends. Some children develop an awareness of Aether earlier than others, but proper training usually begins when they're older."
Evelyne considered this.
"Was I early?"
Father smiled.
"Very."
She looked immensely pleased with herself.
I glanced down at the stone.
There was something frustrating about knowing that magic existed while being unable to experience it myself.
Especially after what had happened with the lamp.
I hadn't forgotten that night.
The blue particles flowing towards my body, the sudden darkness, and the strange emptiness that had stirred within my chest remained vivid in my memory.
Since then, I had attempted to reproduce the phenomenon several times.
Nothing.
No matter how long I stared at a crystal or concentrated on the sensation within my chest, I couldn't make the particles appear again.
Perhaps the incident had been a coincidence.
But I didn't believe that.
The entity's words continued to linger in my thoughts.
A soul that should have vanished has begun to consume.
Consume what?
Aether?
And if that was true, why had it happened?
I had no answers.
For now, all I could do was wait until I understood more about this world's magic.
A frustratingly familiar situation.
At least this time, I wasn't waiting because I was afraid to act.
As the seasons passed, my world gradually expanded beyond the walls of our home.
My mother occasionally brought me along when she visited the market, while Father took Evelyne and me on short walks through Bellhaven whenever his work allowed.
The town was larger than I had initially imagined.
Rows of brick buildings lined the main streets, their windows decorated with painted signs advertising everything from clothing and furniture to enchanted household equipment.
Horse-drawn carriages travelled alongside mechanical vehicles powered by Aether crystals. Their engines produced a low humming sound rather than the familiar rumble of combustion engines.
Most fascinating of all was the railway station.
Bellhaven's station stood near the eastern edge of town, where several tracks converged beneath an enormous iron-and-glass roof.
I had seen trains before in my previous life, of course.
But nothing quite like these.
The locomotives were enormous machines of polished metal, their sides engraved with intricate patterns that glowed faintly whenever Aether flowed through them.
Instead of producing thick clouds of smoke, they emitted pale blue vapour from narrow vents along their engines.
Passengers dressed in tailored coats and elegant dresses hurried across the platforms, while porters transported luggage using small mechanical carts.
I stood beside Father, staring at the locomotive in fascination.
"Impressive, isn't it?" he asked.
I nodded.
He smiled.
"That one's a Class Three Aether locomotive. It's used for passenger transport between Bellhaven and the provincial capital."
Evelyne leaned forward.
"Is it faster than the one you work on?"
"Much faster."
"How fast?"
"Fast enough that you wouldn't want to stand in front of it."
She giggled.
I continued examining the machine.
Its design reminded me of the industrial revolution on Earth, except that magic had replaced several technological developments.
I wondered how far this world's technology had progressed.
Did they possess aircraft?
Telephones?
Electricity?
Or had Aether made such inventions unnecessary?
The possibilities were fascinating.
"Father," Evelyne asked, tugging his sleeve. "Can we ride it someday?"
"Of course. Perhaps when we visit the capital."
"When?"
"When your mother agrees."
Evelyne immediately looked disappointed.
Apparently, even in a world of magic, fathers still knew how to avoid making promises.
Our visit to the station took an unexpected turn when a commotion erupted near one of the platforms.
Several uniformed men hurried towards a recently arrived freight train.
Their coats bore silver insignias shaped like crossed swords beneath a circular emblem.
Father's expression changed.
"Stay close."
Evelyne immediately moved beside him.
I followed his gaze.
Two men were being carried from one of the freight carriages on stretchers.
Their clothing was torn, and dark stains covered the bandages wrapped around their bodies.
A third man followed behind them, his left arm secured in a sling.
I felt my stomach tighten.
Even from a distance, it was obvious that something terrible had happened.
"Another attack?" someone nearby muttered.
"That's what I heard. Somewhere along the northern trade road."
"Those damned Aberrants are getting closer."
Father gently placed a hand on Evelyne's shoulder.
"We're leaving."
"But—"
"Now."
His tone left no room for argument.
We returned home without speaking much.
I glanced back once, watching the uniformed men disappear into the station.
Until then, the dangers of this world had existed mostly in conversations I overheard.
Seeing injured people brought back from an attack made those dangers feel considerably more real.
For the first time, I understood why my parents were so protective.
Bellhaven might have been peaceful, but that peace wasn't guaranteed.
That evening, Father returned home later than usual.
I was sitting beside Evelyne in the living room when I heard the front door open.
Mother greeted him quietly.
Their conversation was too distant for me to hear clearly, but I caught several words.
"Caravan."
"North road."
"Investigation."
Then Father's voice became more serious.
"…Greater Aberrant."
I looked up.
I remembered hearing that term before, although I didn't know exactly what it meant.
Mother lowered her voice.
"Is the town in danger?"
"Not immediately. The guards have increased patrols, and an Adept has been assigned to the investigation."
"Do you think that's enough?"
Father hesitated.
"It should be."
His uncertainty was difficult to miss.
Evelyne, who had been arranging wooden figures on the floor, glanced towards the hallway.
"What's a Greater Aberrant?"
I turned towards her.
An excellent question.
Father entered the room before Mother could respond.
"It's a dangerous creature," he explained. "But it's nothing you need to worry about."
"Could you beat one?"
Father laughed awkwardly.
"Absolutely not."
Evelyne looked surprised.
"But you can use magic!"
"So can plenty of other people. That doesn't mean we're all strong enough to fight monsters."
"Then who can?"
"Trained mages. Soldiers. People whose job is to protect towns like ours."
Evelyne considered his answer.
"Then I'll become strong enough to beat one."
Father smiled faintly.
"Is that so?"
"Yes! Then nobody will have to be scared."
For a moment, he simply looked at her.
Then he reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
"That's a good reason to become strong."
I watched their exchange in silence.
Evelyne's declaration was simple, perhaps even childish.
Yet I found myself admiring it.
She already possessed something I had struggled to discover throughout my entire previous life.
A reason to pursue strength.
Not for recognition or wealth, but because she wanted to protect others.
I looked down at my small hands.
What about me?
Why did I want to learn magic?
Curiosity, certainly.
The desire to explore this world.
Perhaps even the excitement of becoming stronger.
But beneath those reasons was something more personal.
I didn't want to lose this life.
I didn't want to return to the darkness.
And most importantly, I didn't want to spend another lifetime watching opportunities pass me by.
That night, I decided to try something different.
Instead of attempting to force Aether into my hands, I sat quietly on my bed and concentrated on the sensation within my body.
Father had described Aether as something that flowed.
If that was true, perhaps I needed to stop thinking of it as an invisible object I was supposed to grab.
I closed my eyes.
At first, there was nothing.
I could hear Evelyne moving around in the neighbouring room and the distant ticking of a clock downstairs.
I focused on my breathing.
Slowly, the sounds around me faded into the background.
Then I felt it.
A faint sensation near the centre of my chest.
I opened my eyes immediately.
The sensation disappeared.
Wait.
I closed them again.
Several minutes passed.
Nothing.
I was beginning to wonder whether I had imagined it when the sensation returned.
It wasn't warm like Father's Aether.
Nor did it resemble the crackling energy Evelyne produced.
It felt hollow.
Like an empty space somewhere inside me.
My heartbeat quickened.
I recognised that feeling.
It was the same emptiness I had experienced when the crystal lamp went dark.
I concentrated harder.
For a brief moment, I thought I could sense something moving around me.
Tiny currents.
Faint traces of energy drifting through the air.
I reached towards them instinctively.
The sensation suddenly intensified.
A sharp pressure formed within my chest.
I gasped and immediately lost concentration.
The pressure vanished.
I fell backwards onto my pillow, breathing heavily.
For several moments, I stared at the ceiling.
What was that?
It hadn't felt like ordinary magic.
At least, not the kind Father had demonstrated.
The sensation was uncomfortable, almost as though something inside me had attempted to awaken before my body was ready.
I placed a hand against my chest.
My heartbeat gradually returned to normal.
Despite the discomfort, I couldn't suppress a small smile.
For the first time, I had consciously sensed something.
It wasn't much.
I hadn't produced a flame, moved a stone, or performed any impressive technique.
But it was progress.
And progress, no matter how small, was something worth celebrating.
Several weeks later, our family received unexpected news.
I was sitting at the dining table, struggling to eat a piece of bread without making a mess, when Mother called Father into the kitchen.
She seemed unusually nervous.
Father listened quietly as she spoke.
Then his eyes widened.
"Really?"
Mother nodded.
For a moment, he simply stared at her.
Then he laughed and pulled her into an embrace.
Evelyne immediately looked up from her breakfast.
"What happened?"
Father turned towards us, smiling more broadly than I had ever seen.
"Well, it seems our family is going to get a little bigger."
Evelyne blinked.
"Bigger?"
Mother rested a hand against her stomach.
"You're going to have another little brother or sister."
There was a moment of silence.
Then Evelyne practically launched herself out of her chair.
"ANOTHER BABY?!"
Father laughed.
"Yes, another baby."
"Can I hold it?"
"When it's born."
"Can I teach it magic?"
"Let's wait until it can walk."
"Can I name it?"
"We'll discuss that."
Evelyne immediately began suggesting names, most of which sounded suspiciously similar to characters from the adventure stories Father occasionally read to her.
I remained seated, watching the excitement unfold.
Another sibling.
The thought caught me by surprise.
I had grown accustomed to our family of four.
Soon, there would be five of us.
In my previous life, I had often regarded change as something inconvenient, even frightening.
But looking at my parents' happiness and Evelyne's excitement, I found myself smiling.
Perhaps change wasn't always something to fear.
Sometimes, it was something worth looking forward to.
I glanced towards Mother's stomach.
A younger sibling, huh?
I wondered what kind of person they would become.
Would they be energetic like Evelyne?
Quiet like Father?
Or perhaps someone entirely different?
Whatever the answer, I knew one thing.
I wanted to be a good older brother.
It was a small ambition.
Hardly the sort of grand dream I had once imagined I needed to pursue.
But for the first time in either of my lives, it felt like something I genuinely wanted.
And that was enough.
For now