Morning arrived with a gentle breeze, carrying the faint scent of clover and grass across the parish grounds. The baby mage lay on his stomach, orbs of Star Magic hovering gently above him, spinning in arcs of purple, blue, and red. The day's plan was simple in appearance: play with the two boys. But in reality, every interaction was a carefully orchestrated training exercise, guided by the system and shaped by his adult mind.
Yuno arrived first, carrying a small wooden ball he had found near the garden. His movements were precise, deliberate, and careful—already showing the early discipline that would one day define his magical control. The baby mage watched attentively, adjusting the orbs' trajectories subtly to sync with the boy's hand motions. A faint Hololow Purple shimmer followed the ball, highlighting its path and drawing Yuno's attention in a way that sharpened his observation skills.
Asta came bounding in shortly after, tumbling over the grass as he approached, arms flailing in uncontrolled enthusiasm. "Hey! Can we do something fun today?" he shouted, grinning wildly. His energy was chaotic, unpredictable, and frustratingly difficult to account for, but the baby mage welcomed it. The system whispered softly: Focus on controlling multiple variables. Coordinate interaction between allies with differing skill levels.
The first exercise emerged naturally. The baby mage directed three of his orbs into synchronized arcs above the boys, moving in patterns that required Yuno's precision and Asta's reflexes to "catch" or interact with. Yuno's careful timing allowed him to tap the purple orb as it hovered, sending it spinning toward the baby mage. Asta, bouncing and laughing, tried to reach the blue and red orbs mid-air, almost toppling over but succeeding in lightly grazing one.
Every small success was logged in the system: Multi-ally coordination achieved. Precision and reaction time measured. Early cooperative exercises complete. But the real lessons were subtle. The baby mage was learning to manipulate multiple orbs simultaneously, maintain stability under unpredictable conditions, and predict the actions of his allies—even in infancy.
He introduced slight variations. One orb would reverse trajectory mid-flight, an early form of Reversal Red, while another orb bent faintly in a shimmering Hololow Blue curve. Yuno adjusted instantly, guiding his hands along the correct path, while Asta relied on raw reflexes and determination to intercept the light. The baby mage observed, recording patterns, tendencies, and potential for growth.
The system nudged him further: Introduce controlled challenges. Observe adaptability in allies. Adjust magic output for dynamic cooperation. Taking the suggestion, he split the orbs into more complex arrangements—some hovering, some spiraling, others darting gently between the boys. The children squealed in delight, moving together in ways they did not yet understand were training exercises.
After several rounds, the baby mage allowed them a short break. They sat together on the grass, catching their breath, the orbs spinning lazily above them. The system whispered quietly: Social bonding reinforced. Mutual observation and trust increasing. Record interactions. Even as a baby, he recognized the importance of emotional connection—friendship and trust would be just as important as raw power in the future.
A spontaneous playful experiment followed. The baby mage sent a small arc of Star Magic toward a leaf on the ground. It glowed faintly, hovered, and then spiraled upward. Asta reached for it instinctively, but Yuno stopped him with a calm hand, guiding him to tap at the correct moment to maintain its orbit. The boys, unknowingly, were learning timing, coordination, and spatial awareness—all under the subtle guidance of the baby mage's powers.
By afternoon, the exercises became slightly more advanced. Multiple orbs spun in overlapping paths, merging and splitting unpredictably. Yuno learned to track the orbs with careful precision, while Asta relied on timing, reflexes, and determination. The baby mage's mind cataloged every movement, every response, every instinctive reaction. Each interaction taught him not just magical control, but how to teach, guide, and influence others subtly—a skill the system marked as essential for long-term development.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the trio lay on the grass, exhausted but exhilarated. The baby mage's orbs spun gently above him, a kaleidoscope of light reflecting in their eyes. Though he could not speak, the bond formed through shared play, subtle guidance, and magical interaction was undeniable. Yuno and Asta had no idea they were being shaped, just as the baby mage had no idea how far-reaching these lessons would become in the future.
The system whispered one final note before the day ended: Cooperative exercises complete. Ally observation and social adaptation advanced. Prepare for next phase: increased complexity and environmental interaction. The baby mage closed his eyes, allowing the faint hum of Star Magic to lull him into a restful state, while his mind continued to catalog, analyze, and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.
Even in infancy, the seeds of leadership, mentorship, and strategy were taking root. And as the stars appeared in the sky, his own orbs of Star Magic shimmered faintly, a reflection of the destiny that awaited him—a rising star destined to shine alongside the prodigies he was already beginning to influence.