Time passed, and Leon's exposure to mana continued to shape his growth. The warmth of fire-elemental energy still lingered in his core, subtle but present. Though it wasn't a full awakening, it was proof that his method worked.
But he needed more.
Elemental affinity was not something gained overnight. It required continuous exposure, adaptation, and refinement. And if he wanted to accelerate the process, he needed a way to absorb stronger, more concentrated mana.
His golden eyes flickered.
If fire responds to fire, then I must seek it out.
------
It was rare for Duke Reynard Aeternis to remain within the estate for long. His duties as the head of House Aeternis often took him away, ensuring the family's influence remained secure.
But today, he had returned.
Leon could sense it even before he saw him. Reynard's presence was vastly different from Seraphina's. If she was a steady flame, warm and nurturing, then Reynard was an inferno—controlled, yet capable of devastating force.
Powerful.
Leon remained still in Seraphina's arms as his father approached, his sharp golden eyes studying his son.
"Still as ever," Reynard murmured, his voice deep. "But those eyes… they watch and understand far more than they should."
Seraphina chuckled, adjusting Leon in her arms. "You notice it too, don't you?"
"I do." Reynard crossed his arms. "The boy barely cries. He listens, observes, and reacts in ways that no infant should."
Seraphina brushed a hand through Leon's platinum hair. "Perhaps he takes after you."
"Hmph." Reynard's gaze lingered on his son before he extended a single hand. A faint glow of mana flickered around his fingertips.
Leon immediately focused, recognizing the energy. Fire-elemental mana.
Reynard's control was refined, leagues beyond Seraphina's playful display. His mana was not just warmth—it carried weight, authority, and destruction.
"Let's see…" Reynard mused, releasing a controlled pulse of fire mana into the air. It was harmless, meant only as a passive test.
Leon's instincts reacted instantly.
The moment the energy reached him, his body responded. The warmth from before flared within his core, drawn to the external source. For the first time, his mana circulation shifted—no longer just absorbing, but resonating.
[Eon: Fire Elemental Affinity Synchronization Initiated.]
A flicker of heat pulsed through his small body. The fire inside him… it was responding.
Reynard's eyes narrowed. He had expected nothing. Perhaps mild discomfort, or at most, a simple reaction. But his son… his son was absorbing it.
A slow smirk crossed the Duke's face.
"You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
Seraphina blinked. "Did he… respond?"
Reynard nodded. "Not just respond. He accepted it."
A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. "It seems the boy has already chosen his path."
Leon remained still, though his mind was racing. He could feel it—the awakening had begun.
The first flames had been kindled.
------
Beyond the grand halls of House Aeternis, beyond the noble estates and towering castles, whispers spread like wildfire.
The heir of House Aeternis was not ordinary.
Those who had been watching from the shadows—enemies, allies, and unknown forces alike—had taken notice.
"The boy is unusual."
"Fire? So soon?"
"Impossible. No infant should develop an affinity at this age."
Yet the truth remained.
Leon Aeternis was no ordinary child.
And the world would soon come to understand why.