Morning in the Ravenshade estate was quiet, save for the distant rustling of leaves and the crisp northern wind brushing against the frost-covered windows.
Within the nursery, a young child sat cross-legged on a thick, embroidered mat, his tiny hands resting on his knees.
His silver-white hair shimmered under the soft light filtering through the curtains, and his crimson eyes held an unusual depth for a mere three-year-old.
I, Averis Ravenshade, was that child.
Though I had lived in this body for three years, it still felt foreign in many ways.
My hands were small, my movements unsteady, and my speech… frustratingly childish. But none of that was what truly irritated me.
No, my greatest challenge—the one thing that refused to bend to my will—was the wild mana surging within me.
It was like a raging river, untamed and relentless, threatening to burst through my fragile control at any moment. Even as I closed my eyes and tried to center myself, I could feel it thrumming beneath my skin.
Taking a deep breath, I focused inward.
──────────────────────────────
[ SYSTEM INTERFACE ]
[Name]: Averis Ravenshade
[Age]: 3 Years Old
[Title]: Heir to House Ravenshade
[Attributes]:
Strength: 2
Agility: 2
Endurance: 2
Magic: 2
Mana: ? (Unmeasurable)
Spirit Energy: 100
──────────────────────────────
Even at this young age, my physical abilities had improved slightly. But my mana… It was still unreadable. Untouchable.
I tightened my fists. Mana Control.
This was my daily struggle—learning to restrain the unstable force within me. If I could master even a fraction of it, I could prevent my body from tearing itself apart. My fingers traced small patterns in the air, mimicking the flow of mana circles I had studied.
Breathe in… gather… compress…
The moment I tried to guide it, the energy inside me lashed out, refusing to be tamed. A sharp jolt shot through my veins, and a faint blue frost crackled at my fingertips before dissipating.
"…Guh."
I clenched my jaw. Again.
I repeated the process, this time moving my hands more slowly, whispering under my breath, "Flow… control… refine…"
Then, a cold presence stirred in the room.
A gust of icy wind blew through the nursery, despite the windows being closed. The temperature dropped slightly, and a familiar voice—deep, calm, and ever so condescending—whispered in my mind.
["Your control is still feeble, little one."]
My eyelids fluttered open, and perched on the window ledge was a ghostly raven, its icy feathers gleaming in the dim light.
The Frost Raven—a high-ranking spirit bound to me.
I exhaled sharply, irritation bubbling inside me. "…I know."
The spirit tilted its head, amusement glimmering in its ethereal eyes. ["And yet, you persist. Your efforts are commendable, though futile."]
A vein twitched in my temple. You—
No. I refused to react.
I would not let a bird provoke me.
Closing my eyes once more, I resumed my training. The Frost Raven did not speak further, but I could feel its watchful gaze, observing my every movement. Judging me.
Seconds turned to minutes.
Minutes into what felt like hours.
And then—
For the briefest moment, the mana inside me stilled.
It was fleeting, barely noticeable, but for one second, I had held control.
A slow, triumphant smirk tugged at my lips.
The Frost Raven let out a quiet chuckle. ["Interesting. Perhaps you are not entirely hopeless, after all."]
My eyes snapped open, meeting its unearthly gaze.
"I told you," I murmured, my voice still carrying the lisp of a child, but firm with resolve.
"…I will master this."
The raven observed me in silence before finally speaking.
["Then prove it."]
I would.
No matter how long it took.
No matter how many times I failed.
Because I was Averis Ravenshade—and I would never be bound by my own power.
---
End of Chapter 13