Leon lay still in his crib, his mind racing despite his infant body. The warmth of fire-elemental mana still lingered within him, flowing in tiny, delicate streams through his core. It wasn't yet a roaring blaze, but the embers had undeniably taken root.
His father's mana had accelerated his adaptation. But it wasn't enough.
I need more.
He needed to go beyond passive absorption. If he wanted true control over fire, he had to refine the process—to shape the raw energy instead of simply letting it integrate into him.
But how?
His body was still too weak to actively manipulate mana, and the system—Eon—had yet to grant him a direct method of control. He could only absorb what was freely given.
That meant he needed more exposure.
And there was only one person who could provide that.
------
Seraphina had always been attentive, doting on Leon every chance she had. And since Reynard had confirmed their son's early affinity, her curiosity had only grown.
"You are full of surprises, my love," she murmured, cradling Leon in her arms. "To think you'd already respond to mana at such a young age… I wonder what else you're capable of."
She traced a gentle finger along his tiny hand, her mana naturally radiating around her. Unlike Reynard's controlled fire, hers was soft, and nurturing, like a protective warmth rather than a raging inferno.
Leon reached out instinctively, his small fingers curling around her own. The moment their skin made contact, a familiar sensation washed over him.
Heat.
Seraphina's fire-elemental mana seeped into the air around them, faint but present.
Leon's golden eyes flickered. This was his chance.
If he could absorb a stronger concentration, if he could get his body to recognize fire as a part of him instead of something external…
He focused inward.
[Eon: Fire Elemental Synchronization Progressing…]
A deep warmth spread through his core, stronger than before. Unlike Reynard's mana, which had sparked his affinity like a sudden ignition, Seraphina's mana was steady, allowing him to refine his body's adaptation.
Seraphina tilted her head as she watched him. "You're holding onto me quite tightly, aren't you?" she mused with a chuckle. "Could it be… that you like my magic?"
Leon blinked.
Seraphina hummed in amusement. "If you truly are drawn to fire, then perhaps a little more won't hurt."
With a simple thought, the air around her hand shimmered, and a soft flame danced along her palm. It was small—harmless—and controlled with a master's precision.
But to Leon, it was everything.
The fire pulsed with mana, its gentle waves brushing against him. His instincts roared to life.
This is it.
The energy within the flame was pure, far more concentrated than what had lingered in the air before. If he could absorb even a fraction of it…
Leon's body reacted before his mind could process it.
[Eon: Fire Elemental Adaptation Accelerated.]
A sudden rush of heat flooded through him, seeping into his very core. The embers inside him flared, growing stronger, more defined.
His tiny body trembled, but not in pain.
It was awakening.
Seraphina's eyes widened slightly as she felt the shift in energy. She hadn't expected anything beyond a simple reaction, yet now…
Was he absorbing the fire?
Her heart pounded in her chest. "Leon…"
For a brief moment, the flame in her hand flickered unnaturally, as if being pulled toward him.
Seraphina immediately extinguished it, concern flashing in her eyes. "That was…"
She looked down at her son, his expression calm, yet his golden eyes were brighter—almost glowing.
Her grip on him tightened slightly.
"…Just what are you, my little one?"
-----
Far beyond the nursery, deep within the hidden corners of the Aeternis estate, figures moved within the darkness.
"The child…" one voice murmured.
"Yes." Another voice, heavier with contemplation. "His affinity is developing far too quickly."
A pause.
"This was not expected."
More silence followed, heavy and ominous. Then, a final whisper.
"Observe him. Closely."
The presence in the shadows faded, but their watchful gaze remained.
Leon Aeternis was not just awakening.
He was becoming something far more dangerous.