Kairos' black eyes slowly fluttered open, greeted by the sight of his mother, Liora Solari, gazing down at him with a mix of concern and tenderness. She had been informed of his nightly escapades by the maid, and her expression reflected a blend of curiosity and worry.
Kairos' eyes, still heavy with fatigue, betrayed the exhaustion of someone who had been up to no good.
Liora sighed softly, brushing a lock of silver hair away from his face.
"My little troublemaker," she whispered, her voice filled with affection. "What have you been up to this time?"
Kairos remained silent, his eyes fixated on the ceiling with a distant, almost blank stare—the telltale sign that Eclipse, the dark god's system, was speaking to him. Inside his mind, the cold, mechanical voice of Eclipse droned on.
"Today, you will continue your crawling exercise," Eclipse started with its usual lack of empathy. "This time, you must crawl further than last night."
Kairos groaned inwardly, responding in a lazy tone. "Crawling... again? Just the thought of it tires me out. Can't we do something less exhausting?"
Eclipse, undeterred by Kairos' complaints, continued its lecture. "Repetition is the key to leveling up your skills, Kairos. However, skills do not improve from the same repetition
without challenge. No mission will repeat the same amount of effort. The progression will ramp up to prevent your skills from collecting dust."
Kairos rolled his eyes mentally, though his outward expression remained a vacant stare.
"Be So, you're saying I have to keep crawling... but in longer intervals? Great," he replied sarcastically.
"Precisely," Eclipse confirmed.
"Think of it like running a mile each day. As you improve, the distance must increase to maintain growth. Skills can also be obtained through various actions like cooking, swimming, or even floating. If you can do it, I can make it a skill. Consider it a glimmer of hope for the future."
Liora, observing her baby's spaced-out look for over ten minutes, began to worry.
"Kairos?" she called softly, trying to bring him back to the present. But Kairos remained unresponsive, still caught up in his mental conversation with Eclipse.
Unable to shake her concern, Liora hurriedly left the room, returning moments later with a glowing crystal in hand. The crystal radiated a soft light, and as Liora channeled her mana into it, a beautiful galaxy appeared within, its bright stars twinkling like distant suns.
This was a key trait of an Aurelian—a direct link to the celestial magic that ran through their veins.
The display finally captured Kairos' attention. His eyes, now full of curiosity, followed the mesmerizing sight. He was like a cat fixated on something extraordinary.
From the crystal, tiny stars began to fall toward him, drifting gently like snowflakes. The moment they touched his small hands, Kairos let out a delighted giggle, feeling a warmth spread through him as the golden stars flowed between his fingers.
Liora's eyes welled up with tears of joy as she witnessed the scene. "Oh, Kairos... my precious child," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "You're gifted... so gifted."
Eclipse, still present in Kairos' mind, explained,
"These stars are the remnants of Aurelians who ascended to the heavens, becoming the very stars that grant their descendants magic. In a way, they live forever through you."
As the stars continued to fall, something unexpected occurred. The golden stars began to darken, turning into a cold, jet-black hue. The warmth they once radiated vanished, replaced by a bone-chilling coldness.
Liora's expression shifted from joy to bewilderment, her heart racing as she witnessed the transformation.
"Kairos... what's happening?" she murmured, her voice tinged with fear. She had never seen the stars behave this way before.
Just as she was about to scream for Eldric, Kairos' father, the black stars suddenly flashed a brilliant golden light before disintegrating into dust.
The room fell silent, save for the soft hum of the crystal.
Eclipse made a quick alert noise, drawing Kairos' attention back to the system.
"Congratulations," Eclipse announced, displaying a status plate before him.
Status Board
Name: Kairos Solari (formerly Ichibei Sukejuro)
Age: 1 week (biological), 32 years (mental)
Race: Human (Aurelian)
Class: None
Title: [??], [Star Child] - 4%
Affiliation: Solari Family, Viscounts of the Celestial Peaks
Attributes:
Strength: 0.6 (+0.1)
Dexterity: 0.5
Endurance: 0.7 (+0.1)
Intelligence: 1.1 (+0.1)
Wisdom: 1.0
Charisma: 0.5
Luck: 0.5
Mana: 2.5 (+0.5)
Skills:
Observation Lv. 0 - Passive ability to notice details, currently limited by physical capabilities.
Crawling Mastery Lv. 0
Celestial Magic Lv. 1
Special Abilities:
Eclipse: A mysterious system granted by the dark god, serving as a guide and companion.
Memory Retention: Ability to retain memories from past life.
"You have just gained the skill 'Celestial Magic Lv. 1' and increased proficiency in the title 'Star Child' by 4%," Eclipse explained.
"This title is only accessible due to your Aurelian roots. However, you can only see progress toward this title because of the Eclipse system."
Liora, finally calmed from the brilliant display Kairos had just performed, gently cradled him in her arms. She began to feed him, her gaze softened with affection. As he nursed, she hummed a soft lullaby, a tune that felt ancient yet comforting, resonating within the grand halls of the manor.
Once Kairos was fed, Liora decided to take him on a tour of their home, hoping to familiarize him with his surroundings, even though he was just an infant. She spoke freely as they wandered through the corridors, her voice filled with warmth and a touch of nostalgia.
"This, my little star, is your home," Liora said softly, as she carried Kairos past grand portraits of their ancestors that lined the walls.
"The Solari Manor has stood here for centuries, watching over the Celestial Peaks."
As they passed each portrait, Liora shared stories of those who came before them. "This is Aurelius Ariem," she explained, pausing before the largest painting. The man depicted had the same silver hair as Kairos, his eyes piercing and wise.
"He was the first master of celestial magic, the one who dedicated his life to understanding the mysteries of the stars. It is said that when he died, he bound his soul to his descendants, ensuring that our bloodline would always possess the power of the heavens."