Morning sunlight washed over the noble estate, illuminating its tall marble pillars and sprawling gardens.
Inside the nursery, the air felt unusually heavy.
Archmage Theron stood quietly near the doorway, his sharp eyes fixed on the infant lying in the cradle.
"Kael."
The child stared back at him.
Not like a normal newborn.
There was focus in those eyes. Awareness. A stillness that made the hairs on the back of Theron's neck rise.
Lord Alaric stood beside him, arms crossed.
"Well?" the nobleman asked.
"You felt something when you entered the room."
Theron didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped forward slowly. The wooden floor creaked softly beneath his boots.
The closer he got to the cradle, the stronger the sensation became.
Mana.
The energy that flowed through all living things in this world.
Most people couldn't sense it until years of training. Even talented children only awakened sensitivity around the age of five.
Yet here,
The mana in the room was subtly shifting. Responding. To the newborn.
Theron whispered quietly, '…Fascinating.'
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Kael watched the man carefully.
Blue robes. Silver runes embroidered along the fabric.
Mana density around his body far greater than anyone else in the estate.
A mage.
Even without knowing this world, Kael understood immediately.
This man was dangerous.
More importantly,
He was observing him. Testing him.
Kael's mind ran through the possibilities.
If the mage realized he had adult-level awareness, it could lead to problems. Suspicion. Fear. Perhaps even attempts to control or eliminate him.
In his previous life, Kael had survived by one rule: 'Never reveal your true ability too early.'
So he did what any baby would do.
He blinked.
Then yawned.
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Archmage Theron extended one hand slowly above the cradle.
A faint blue glow formed around his fingers.
Lord Alaric raised an eyebrow.
"You're using magic?"
"Only a simple detection spell," Theron replied calmly.
A thin ring of light spread outward from his palm, rippling through the room like water.
When the wave reached Kael,
The mana around the child trembled.
Theron's eyes narrowed. There it was. The infant's mana responded instinctively. Almost like it was… listening.
But something else caught the archmage's attention.
The baby's reaction.
Most infants would cry or panic when exposed to magical pressure.
Kael simply stared at the glowing spell, mild curiosity on his face. As if he were studying it.
Theron felt a chill crawl up his spine.
'…Remarkable.'
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Lord Alaric stepped closer to the cradle.
"What did you find?"
Theron lowered his hand slowly.
"There is definitely mana activity around your son."
Alaric frowned.
"Is that dangerous?"
"No." The archmage shook his head. "In fact, it is extremely rare."
He glanced back at the baby.
"Some individuals are born with natural sensitivity to mana."
"Prodigies," Alaric said, his voice tightening.
"Are you saying my son is one of them?"
Theron hesitated. The truth was far stranger than that. But saying it aloud felt absurd. A newborn controlling mana? Impossible. Yet the evidence was right in front of him.
Finally, he said carefully, "Your son has… extraordinary potential."
Scene 5 – Kael's ⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘Victory
Kael listened carefully to every word.
Mana. So that was the name of this world's energy. Good.
Information first. Knowledge meant control.
The mage clearly suspected something. But not everything. That was good.
Kael continued pretending to be a harmless infant. He wiggled slightly in the cradle, then grabbed the edge of the blanket.
Theron watched him closely. Still observing. Still analyzing.
Eventually, the archmage stepped back.
"Raise him normally," Theron told Lord Alaric. "Do not push him into training too early."
Alaric nodded. "Understood."
Theron added quietly, "However… you should monitor his development carefully."
Because if the child's mana sensitivity continued to grow… the future might produce something extraordinary. Or something terrifying.
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Later that night, the nursery was quiet again.
Moonlight poured through the tall windows.
Kael lay awake as usual.
The visit from the archmage had confirmed several important things.
First, Magic was real in this world.
Second, Mana could be controlled through will and focus.
Third, He already had a natural advantage.
Kael closed his eyes.
Slowly, he focused inward.
The faint spark of mana inside his body responded immediately.
This time, the movement was clearer. Stronger.
The candle on the nearby table flickered again. Leaned toward him slightly.
Kael opened his eyes.
Good. Progress.
A tiny smile appeared on his face.
'In my previous life, I mastered death.'
'In this new life'
'…I will master magic.'
And this time…
'No one will ever betray me again.'