Focusing intently, I gathered my concentration once more. My parents watched with bated breath, their eyes wide with anticipation. I opened my mouth and, with careful effort, repeated:
"Ma...ma!"
The word came out clearer this time, my infant vocal cords already showing remarkable progress. Lady Elara's face lit up with pure joy, while Lord Caelan let out a gasp of amazement.
"By the celestial spirits!" my father exclaimed, his voice filled with wonder. "Our son is truly extraordinary, Elara. First words at such a young age..."
My mother cradled me closer, her eyes shimmering with tears of happiness. "Oh, my clever little Lyran," she cooed, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
Lord Caelan moved closer, wrapping one arm around my mother's waist and using his other hand to gently caress my cheek. "I wonder what other marvels you have in store for us, my boy," he said softly, his voice filled with pride and a hint of curiosity.
As my parents shared this moment of joy, I noticed a faint shimmer in the air around us, almost as if the room itself was reacting to the milestone I had just achieved.
As my parents marveled at my first word, I found myself lost in thought. Despite being just a year old, my mind raced with questions and observations.
'Is this normal?' I wondered. The excitement on my parents' faces suggested that speaking at my age, while not unheard of, was still a notable achievement. Most children, I recalled, start saying their first words around this time, but the clarity of my speech seemed to surprise them.
I pondered the implications of my development. Was I progressing faster than average? How would this affect my relationships with my parents and others? And most importantly, was this accelerated growth limited to speech, or did it extend to other areas of my development?
As these thoughts swirled in my mind, I decided to continue observing and gathering information. For now, it seemed prudent to act mostly like a typical oneyearold, to avoid causing too much of a stir.
With this in mind, I shifted my focus back to my parents, who were still caught up in the excitement of the moment.
As the excitement of my first clear word subsided, my parents settled into their daily routines. Lady Elara gently placed me in my playpen, surrounding me with colorful toys and soft cushions.
"Mama will be right back, little star," she cooed, planting a kiss on my forehead before stepping out of the nursery.
Once alone, I focused inward, calling forth the mysterious system I had discovered. A translucent interface flickered into view, visible only to me.
[System Interface]
Level: 5 exp 74.10%
Skills:
Advanced Telekinesis (Enhanced: Micromanipulation) Level 4
Intermediate Illusion Magic Level 3
Basic Elemental Affinity (Fire) Level 1
New Feature Unlocked: Skill Fusion
My eyes widened at the new option. Intrigued, I mentally selected it, revealing more information:
[Skill Fusion: Combine two compatible skills to create a new, more powerful ability. Warning: Fusion is irreversible and may have unexpected results.]
This could be the key to developing unique abilities that could set me apart in this magical world. But which skills should I consider fusing? The possibilities seemed both exciting and daunting.
As I contemplated this new development, I heard footsteps approaching the nursery.
Even though I knew the system interface was only visible to me, I decided to close it as a precaution. It was better to be safe than sorry, especially given my unique situation. I didn't fully understand the extent of my abilities or how they might be perceived by others, so maintaining secrecy seemed prudent.
As the footsteps grew closer, I turned my attention to the colorful toys scattered around me in the playpen. I picked up a soft, plush dragon, examining it with the curiosity expected of a oneyearold.
The door creaked open, and I looked up to see who was entering the nursery.
The door opened fully, revealing Lady Elara, my mother, returning to the nursery. Her warm brown eyes lit up with affection as she spotted me in the playpen.
"There's my little star," she cooed, approaching with a gentle smile. "Did you miss mama? I heard you've been quite the chatterbox today."
Lady Elara knelt beside the playpen, her silky gown rustling softly. The subtle scent of lavender and honey wafted from her, a comforting combination that always seemed to follow her.
I considered my options carefully. While I was excited to see my mother again, I knew I had to be cautious about displaying too much of my abilities. Yet, I also didn't want to disappoint her or raise suspicions by suddenly becoming shy.
I reached for the plush dragon toy, grasping it with my small hands. With a determined effort, I lifted it up towards Lady Elara, accompanied by a happy gurgle.
"Oh, how sweet!" Lady Elara exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy. She gently took the toy from my hands, admiring it. "Is this for me, my little one?"
I nodded enthusiastically, clapping my hands together. Lady Elara laughed softly, placing the dragon back in the playpen.
"You're such a thoughtful boy, Lyran," she said, stroking my cheek affectionately. "Mama needs to go prepare lunch now. I'll be back soon, alright?"
With a final kiss on my forehead, Lady Elara stood up and left the nursery, closing the door behind her.