Lior Thalion
Leotriul has always been a fantasizer. He always liked to make up stories, and anything that came out of his mouth was either on the verge of fantasy, or fantastical altogether. That's why when I first heard him proclaim his son to be a genius, I of course took it with much skepticism. Not to call Leo a liar, of course not. But he really loved to exaggerate things.
When today he came up to me grinning like an idiot and told me that his three-year-old son cast his first spell, I barely held it together not to laugh out loud at his preposterous statement. I heard some interesting things from him from time to time, but a three-year-old child casting a spell definitely made it to the pedestal of the most absurd things he has ever told me. Perhaps it was on the same level of absurdity as when back in the academy he told me that the princess, now the current queen of Elvedriel, had feelings for him. That ended up with me dipping his face into the ice-cold water of the academy's fountain to cool his head. Hamadryad forbid he says something like that out loud to someone else besides me. Sometimes, he needs to keep his mouth sealed.
But he seemed fairly confident in what he said today, even asking me if I was accusing him of being a liar. I tried to talk some sense into him, perhaps hoping for him to calm down and tell me what actually has happened without any kind of exaggeration as he loves to do, but he stuck to his narrative until the end. It made me curious, just what has excited him so much?
In the end, it was I who gave in, and accepted his proposal to come see it for myself. I have to be honest, I came over to his place expecting to be let down again, and for whatever reason he was so excited about being of much less significance than he made it out to be. Imagine my shock when he asked his son to demonstrate the spell he learned, and the child was actually able to cast a rock and fling it forwards.
A simple earth spell, but a spell nonetheless! A three year-old capable of earth magic! I believed her majesty was a talented individual who was able to cast her first spell at five years of age, but this child was something even greater. His father of course was standing there, victoriously grinning while Eleanor stood by my side looking either proud, or concerned, it honestly was tough to tell what this child's mother was thinking at that moment. Perhaps she was worried, and I could have sympathized with her more if I just wasn't so flabbergasted.
"So? So? What did I tell ya? He's a genius right? A genius!"
In his typical fashion, Leo began proclaiming his rightness. And I was dumbfounded so to say. Not only was I wrong to claim that Leo was once again speaking in hyperboles, thinking he was exaggerating again, but more so at this peculiar child, standing there and looking me dead in the eyes. Those two enthralling, emerald irises staring at me with an oddly mature look, in comparison to that of a child. Perhaps it was my imagination playing tricks on my mind, but that was not the look a kid his age was capable of demonstrating.
"Yes Leotriul, it seems you were right."
That was the only phrase I could muster up. Nothing witty, no congratulations to him or to Eleanor, just a shocked acceptance of the reality unfolding in front of my very eyes. A once in a millennia prodigy was standing right before me, capable of magic at such a young age. I was mesmerized, shocked, but more than that, anxious. Anxious of what this child could achieve later on in his future. Yet at the same time, I was in awe at the possibility of what change this kid would bring into our world.
"Well...I suppose I have seen enough for today." I said this barely holding it in myself to not burst out with excited questions while shaking his hand. I must maintain my dignity here after all.
"This is truly a fascinating occurrence Leo. Let's discuss this further tomorrow. I must get back home now, and you have patrol duty if you have not yet forgotten?"
"Oh, haha, yeah sorry, I actually did forget. Sure, see ya tomorrow Hald!"
With that I waved him goodbye, and left the premises of his home. As I walked back, a cold sweat trickled down my back. A mage at such a young age was something that has not happened for countless centuries in the history of our kingdom. Leo is one lucky man to be raising such a son, but at the same time, burdened. The responsibility he and his wife must now bear to properly nurture and educate that child will be greater than anything those two have ever experienced in their lives.
Ardiel Elindrel
I definitely saw that guy somewhere. Those blue sapphire eyes and white hair...wait, he's the guy I saw next to my father when I first opened my eyes in this world. His name is apparently Lior. Huh. Him and my dad seem to be pals so I suppose something like Uncle Lior would be suitable? But to be honest this was literally the second time I have seen him in years, so to me right now he is just a stranger. Also that time I thought he was a doctor, but he works with my dad, so he is a warrior? But why would a soldier be there to help deliver a kid? Unless he was capable of healing magic, a very rare and advanced mana art. Does that mean Lior is a healer? So he's basically something like a military medic of sorts I suppose.
Anyways, the look he gave me when I demonstrated my spell made him seem like a caveman seeing fire for the first time. His attempts to maintain his composure were visibly ineffective. He was looking at me as though he wanted to drill through my skull with that gaze. It was really sort of uncomfortable being stared at like that. I just wanted to tell him then and there something along the lines of "hey, I'm not some zoo animal, mind not staring at me like that?", but of course I had to hold it in and bear with it for the time being.
After he and my father said their goodbyes, he paced away mumbling something to himself, and I don't know whether it was my imagination or not, but his face was visibly pale. Now I am sort of regretting practicing magic. I won't be considered some monster right? I wont be banished for being able to cast magic at my "young" age? It's not like I can tell them how old I really am. But wait, if compared to how long elves live here, I guess I can still be considered a child, right? Just as I was thinking this...
"Well, how do you feel, Ardy? Proud of ya self?"
Forget talking like an elf when it's with dad, he doesn't talk that way anyways.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"HA HA, OF COURSE."
Dad, could you not yell, you're gonna wake up the neighbors.
"I always knew you were special! Right dear?"
"Um...yes, I suppose so. But do you not think that perhaps it is way too early? I do not want our son to be the target of unwanted attention."
Woah, mom being timid? That's a first. I guess these events have completely shocked the stoic professor attitude out of her. It's kind of weird in a way. Mom please, go back to your usual self, it's eerie to see you like this.
Now I gotta make sure she is actually ok, because I'm getting concerned.
"Mother, are you ok?"
"Yes Ardiel, I am fine. Just...don't push yourself too hard, ok?"
She's worried, well that's a given. Seeing your child surpass even the elven princess, what parent won't be shocked? But I sort of feel like being put on the spot here, balancing myself in-between whether my abilities are amazing and praiseworthy, or concerning. I can't really turn back time now, and I got a hell of a feeling of deja vu of my old world just now. All I have is to hope that guy wont go all over the place spilling the beans about me to everyone around him. And no, I am not just talking about my dad, I hope Lior will refrain from going around advertising me like some kind of agent for a celebrity. He is my dad's coworker as I determined, and rumors at work travel fast. I wonder what kind of a reaction this elven princess will make when she finds out that she got outclassed by a three year-old! Actually no, never mind. I will pray that she never finds out.