"Son, how was class today?" she asked softly, her voice laced with warmth and affection that had only deepened over the years.
In response to his mother's question, Modret simply flashed her a reassuring smile. At the same time, his thoughts wandered silently, marveling at the strength she carried within.
Despite living with her for so long, he had never once seen her in battle. Although he had long suspected she was an awakened, her true strength remained a mystery.
"It seems her strength is far from ordinary, to be able to chase away a dragon," Modret muttered in his heart. His fist clenched slightly. Never before had he felt so utterly powerless. Now, more than ever, he felt an overwhelming urge to grow stronger.
Suppressing the storm in his thoughts, he sighed and glanced up at his mother.
"It was wonderful, as always. Pretty basic, though. When are we going to dive into the topic of awakening and all those amazing battle scenes?"
Modret portrayed the image of a child eager to explore the mysteries of a magical world filled with wonders and combat.
Anna looked into her son's bright, expectant eyes and chuckled. She reached out and gently pinched his nose.
"Do not worry about that for now. Your body is not ready to wield mana. Do you want to explode and go boom?" she teased, her voice playful.
Lifting Modret lovingly, she hoisted him as though he weighed nothing at all. Despite his age and size, she held him with the same ease as if he were a feather. Modret simply shrugged. It was the same response he had received for years.
He smiled faintly, though his gaze subconsciously drifted toward the boy he had seen earlier. The boy was waving at him, a hesitant smile on his lips. Yet there was a nervous glint in his eyes, as if unsure of his place or welcome.
"This youth…" Modret narrowed his eyes. Something about him felt strange, as though fate had tugged at his presence.
"Uh… Mother, I… I want to take him as my life guard," Modret said after a slight pause, pointing at the boy who stood a short distance away.
Anna froze in place, clearly surprised. A stupefied expression crossed her face.
"Son, do you understand what a life guard truly means?" she asked carefully, her voice low and measured.
Modret nodded without hesitation. He had come across the term in an old book tucked away in their study.
"As your life guard, he will be bound to you. You can share any form of knowledge with him freely. His presence will essentially be an extension of yours," Anna explained plainly.
Modret nodded again. He had thought it through before speaking. After everything that had happened, he felt that accepting this boy might be the wisest choice he had made.
The child in question looked back and forth between the two, stunned and confused. He had no understanding of what a life guard was. The conversation between the mother and son made little sense to him. He fidgeted awkwardly, glancing at them both with wide, uncertain eyes.
Anna fell into deep thought, then slowly nodded. After a long silence, she spoke with calm certainty. She had considered it carefully. Starting this bond early would allow the two boys to grow up together and forge a deep connection.
"Child, what is your name?" she asked with curiosity.
The boy blinked, startled, then quickly bowed and answered with respectful formality.
"This servant's name is Axel, from the House of Devon..."
"Devon?" Anna echoed softly, nodding and etching the name into her memory. She turned her gaze to the boy again and raised an eyebrow.
"Are you willing to become my son's life guard?"
Axel did not understand the full weight of the role, but he had been taught by his father to never refuse a noble's request. Without delay, he nodded and bowed once more, accepting the offer.
Anna looked pleased as she studied him.
"You have potential. You will undergo physical training in preparation for your duty as a life guard."
She turned back to Modret, placing him gently on the ground.
"Do you have anything you would like to say to him?"
Modret paused, then walked toward the smaller boy. His gaze locked onto Axel's as he spoke clearly and calmly.
"Get stronger quickly."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the newly appointed Axel stunned and speechless. He could not have imagined that this single moment would shape the course of his destiny forever.
…
Later that evening, Modret sat in his room, staring intently at a translucent panel hovering faintly before him.
[Name: Modret Axarel]
[Status: Injured. While unborn, you were poisoned. Though you survived, the effects crippled you. You are currently unable to awaken an ability. Your health may seem stable, but it is merely a facade.]
[Ability: Unawakened]
[Bloodline: Unknown]
[Shadow Fragments: 557 out of 1000]
[Remark: A pitiful soul cast into a terrifying world of deception and manipulation. The world has abandoned you, but the shadows embrace you without question.]
[Monthly Remark: During your peaceful years in this new world, you gradually let your guard down. You have no idea that the worst is yet to come.]
Through sheer determination, Modret had managed to gather 557 shadow fragments over the past five years. The process had been grueling. He had to kill various creatures just to reach that number.
As a child, he had been forbidden from approaching anything too bloody, and he had no desire to destroy larger animals like rabbits or deer. The result was a slow and difficult path.
He exhaled gently.
"Just about five hundred more," he whispered with a hopeful smile. If he remained diligent, he would soon complete the requirement to awaken his ability. Then, perhaps, he would finally have a sliver of safety in this cruel world.
Just then, a sound came from the door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The calm knocking was followed by a female voice.
"Young master, dinner is ready."
The voice was unfamiliar. She waited quietly outside his door.
Modret frowned and stepped toward the door. His eyes narrowed as he observed the maid standing there.
"I do not recognize you. Where is the maid responsible for our meals?"
From what he knew, only one maid had his mother's full trust. She was the sole caretaker allowed in the kitchen. No other servant dared to step near it. This girl was clearly not one of them.
The maid gave a soft laugh and replied in a respectful tone.
"Erga was sent on an errand by the master and mistress. She asked me to take over just for today. Please forgive my intrusion, young master."
She bowed lightly.
Modret studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly. Her explanation seemed reasonable enough. He made his way to the dining area, the aroma of hot food drawing him forward.
A spread of steaming dishes greeted him. The sight and scent made his mouth water. Enhanced by mana, the food in this world was on another level. It awakened cravings that stirred deep within.
It was even said that some people developed a genuine addiction to food because of its enchantment. Modret dismissed the thought with a chuckle and turned to the maid.
"What about Mother and Father? Are they not coming?"
He noticed the meal was clearly set for only one person.
"They will not be joining you tonight, young master," the maid answered, bowing once more.
Modret did not press further. This was not the first time they had dined separately. He took a seat and dug into the food.
It was beyond delicious. Each bite was infused with flavor that danced across his tongue. It tasted better than anything he had eaten before.
He devoured it quickly, almost too quickly. But then, strange whispers began to echo faintly in his ears.
He froze. Turning his head slightly, his surroundings started to blur. His vision darkened as the edges of the room seemed to twist and pulse unnaturally.
Through the haze, he caught a glimpse of the maid reaching into her garment.
She pulled out a gleaming silver dagger.
Modret's heart pounded wildly. His instincts screamed.
He had been poisoned.
This was not a simple or sloppy attempt like before. This was calculated, planned to perfection.
Modret was on the verge of death.