The new day dawned, and Alex slowly opened his eyes, only to be greeted by a sight that made the inner Harris within him cringe. It was early in the morning, and he was still in the crib inside his mother's room. Unbeknownst to her, Cynthia was engrossed in some romantic activities, completely unaware that her third child was wide awake and feeling extremely awkward.
Alex tried to ignore the situation, but it was impossible. To distract himself from the scene, he focused his senses outside the room. The maids in the house were up early, bustling about and doing their chores for the palace. His senses were incredibly sharp, and he could even sense his two sisters soundly sleeping in their respective rooms. However, his attention was drawn to his grandmother, who was in the same room as Elena, but not sleeping. Instead, she was doing something with Elena's sword.
"What could grandmother be doing with big sis's sword so early in the morning?" Alex wondered.
As he observed closely, he noticed that she was inscribing something on the sword. The characters she was inscribing looked ancient, like those found in the remains of long-lost civilizations back on Earth. Suddenly, the sword started to emit a faint blue glow.
"No way, is this what I think it is?" Alex's eyes widened in excitement.
He recognized the enchanting process from the countless RPGs he had played back in his previous life. If this was indeed what he thought it was, then it meant that alchemy, forging, enchantments, and runes—all those elements from fantasy stories—were real in this world. And if he could learn these skills, he could potentially make a fortune by creating and selling enchanted items.
As Alex let his imagination run wild with thoughts of a thriving business empire, he noticed a change in his grandmother's expression. She suddenly shifted her gaze upwards, as if she sensed something or someone watching.
Panicking, Alex quickly canceled his perception. "Could she have sensed me? Does she know that it was me spying on her? Can she trace it back to me?" His mind raced with questions.
"I mustn't let my guard down. If someone was spying, it's likely they were after me. But I might be overthinking things. Regardless, I need to investigate this later," Seraphina thought to herself, unaware that Alex was actually the one who had been observing her actions.
Finally, after Richard and Cynthia were done with their activities, their attention shifted to Alex, who was pretending to be asleep. Once they were ready for their daily tasks, Richard and Cynthia headed towards Richard's office. In an attempt to include Alex in their affairs, they began discussing the responsibilities and the piles of paperwork that awaited him as the heir to the Grand Duchy.
"What are they doing? I mean, they do know that none of this matters to me. Damn it, I'm just a two-day-old infant, and I'm already scared out of my wits by my parents. Who would want to be the heir after witnessing this mountain of papers?" Alex grumbled inwardly.
Later, Cynthia took Alex to a beautiful garden, where they were joined by Seraphina and Myrine. Elena, on the other hand, went for her sword training. "It did surprise me to hear that my sister is doing sword training. Not that I am biased towards gender roles or anything, but I thought this society would be more patriarchal, with strict gender-based responsibilities. I guess either the society is not as biased as I thought, or my household is quite progressive," Alex contemplated.
Alex's slice of life continued for a week, during which he enjoyed being showered with love by his mother, sisters, and grandmother. His father, being the man of the house, tried to involve him in discussions about the responsibilities of being a Winterhaven, which really annoyed Alex. "Dude, I get it that you want your son to be a great ruler or something, but come on! At least let me speak my first words before talking about heavy stuff. Sometimes I doubt if he is a reincarnation of some Asian parent," Alex sarcastically pondered.
As the days passed, Alex became more accustomed to his new life, learning more about his family and the world he was now a part of. While he enjoyed the love and attention from his family, he also felt the weight of the expectations that came with being the heir to the Winterhaven family. After some thorough contemplation, Alex shoved this whole heir part to the back of his mind.
As the week came to an end, it was finally time for Seraphina to bid adieu to the Winterhavens and assume her responsibilities in her territory. The whole family gathered at the entrance to bid farewell to her. Seraphina went to each family member, embracing them and giving them words of advice and encouragement.
To Cynthia, she said, "Take care of yourself and the children, my dear. I trust you to lead this family with grace and wisdom."
Turning to Myrine, she smiled and said, "My little one, don't let your condition hold you back. You have a strong spirit and a keen mind. Use them to achieve greatness."
As she looked at Elena, Seraphina's eyes softened, and she said, "Keep training hard, my brave girl. I know you will become a skilled and honourable warrior."
Finally, she approached Alex, who was still in Cynthia's arms. "And you, my precious grandson," she said, kissing his chubby cheeks, "remember that you are destined for greatness. Embrace your abilities and always protect your family."
The farewells were bittersweet, and as Seraphina bid her last goodbye, the family watched her carriage disappear into the distance. Despite her departure, her presence and influence would continue to linger in the Winterhaven household.
After Seraphina's departure, Alex finally felt a sense of relief, knowing that he could now continue to explore and train his perception and the mysterious energy he had sensed since his realization of being both Harris and Alex in this world. However, he was cautious not to draw any attention to his abilities, especially from Seraphina, who seemed to have noticed his perception.
Playing with his heightened perception, Alex couldn't help but be in awe of the world around him. He could hear the faintest sounds, feel the tiniest vibrations, and even sense the emotions and intentions of those around him. It was both exhilarating and overwhelming, but he knew he had to be careful.
"If they catch me using these abilities," he thought to himself, "they might consider me a heretic, and the consequences could be dire." The idea of facing a trial by fire, a harsh and unforgiving judgment, sent shivers down his spine.
For now, Alex chose to keep his newfound abilities hidden. He didn't want to raise suspicions or risk exposing himself as an anomaly in this world. So, he played safe and decided to wait until he had a better understanding of the world and its magic before venturing further.
He spent his days practising in secret, honing his perception and experimenting with the enigmatic energy that surrounded him. In quiet moments, he would meditate, trying to gain better control over his senses and harness the potential power within him.
But the lingering fear of being discovered weighed on his mind. Seraphina's perceptive gaze had already caught him once, and he couldn't afford to let his guard down. He had to be cautious, always aware of his surroundings, and mindful of the consequences of being exposed.
Despite the dangers, Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder at the possibilities that lay before him. The world was filled with magic and mysteries, and he was determined to uncover its secrets while safeguarding his loved ones. As days turned into weeks, Alex's skills and understanding grew, yet he remained ever-vigilant.
As the days passed, Alex's determination to understand and control the mysterious energy within him only grew stronger. Each day, he spent hours meditating and focusing on this energy, hoping to gain a better grasp of its essence. However, progress was slow, and he often felt frustrated by the lack of tangible results.
He tried to circulate the energy within his body, mimicking the techniques he had read about in cultivation novels, but it was like trying to move a massive boulder with his bare hands. The resistance he faced was immense, and he could only manage to create small ripples in the energy at best. It was a disheartening experience, but Alex refused to give up.
"I know it's possible," he whispered to himself during one of his meditation sessions. "I've seen it in countless stories. People can manipulate and wield this energy to perform incredible feats. I just have to keep trying."
So, he persisted, day after day, working to understand the flow and nature of this energy. He experimented with different visualizations and breathing techniques, trying to find the key that would unlock its true potential. There were times when he felt close to a breakthrough, the energy responding to his intentions ever so slightly, but it remained elusive.
Despite the challenges, Alex remained determined and hopeful. He knew that mastering this energy could lead to unimaginable possibilities, and he couldn't let go of that potential. His dedication to practice and exploration was so intense that he often lost track of time, becoming so immersed in his meditation that his parents and maids mistook it for deep sleep.
"Alex must be exhausted from all the new experiences," Cynthia would say with a smile as she watched him peacefully meditate.
"Indeed, it's not easy being the young master," Richard would chuckle, completely unaware of the profound inner journey their son was undertaking.
In these moments of deep focus, Alex felt a sense of connection to the world around him, as if he was tapping into ancient knowledge and wisdom. He believed that with patience and persistence, he would eventually unravel the secrets of this energy.
One day, unexpectedly, the whole mansion, no whole of the city shook but deep inside the Winterhaven palace, a young infant has an elated expression on his face,
"Finally!"