Once I was sure she was gone, I focused inwardly, calling forth the system interface once more. The translucent screen flickered into view, displaying my status and the intriguing new Skill Fusion feature.
[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
Skill Fusion Available
I stared at the Skill Fusion option, my mind racing with possibilities. Which skills should I consider combining? What new ability might emerge from such a fusion?
I stared at the system interface, my young mind racing with possibilities. The concept of Skill Fusion was both exciting and daunting. What would happen if I combined two of my abilities? Would it create something entirely new, or simply enhance what I already had?
My eyes lingered on the Illusion Magic and Fire Affinity skills. The combination intrigued me could I create illusions of fire that felt real? Or perhaps imbue my illusions with actual heat? The potential applications seemed vast and fascinating.
I briefly considered including my Advanced Telekinesis in the fusion, but quickly decided against it. Telekinesis was already my most powerful and versatile skill, and I didn't want to risk altering or losing it in an unpredictable fusion. It seemed wiser to experiment with my less developed abilities first.
Glancing towards the closed nursery door, I strained my ears for any sign of approaching footsteps. Satisfied that I was still alone, I turned my attention back to the system. My tiny hands clenched with determination as I made my decision.
'Let's do this,' I thought, focusing my will on fusing Illusion Magic and Fire Affinity.
As I mentally confirmed my choice, a strange sensation washed over me. It felt as if two streams of energy were converging within my body, twisting and intertwining like threads of light. The warmth of my fire affinity melded with the ethereal coolness of illusion magic, creating a peculiar, tingling sensation that spread from my core to my fingertips.
The system interface flickered, displaying a new message:
[Skill Fusion in Progress...]
[Combining: Intermediate Illusion Magic Level 3 + Basic Elemental Affinity (Fire) Level 1]
[Result: Phantasmal Flame Manipulation Level 1]
I blinked in surprise as the new skill description appeared:
[Phantasmal Flame Manipulation: Create and control illusory flames that can affect the physical world. These flames can cause real heat and light but consume less energy than actual fire. Can be used for both deception and genuine damage.]
Excitement bubbled up within me as I contemplated the possibilities of this new ability. However, before I could experiment with it, I heard footsteps approaching the nursery once more.
As the footsteps grew closer, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration. Why did it seem like someone was always interrupting just when things were getting interesting? I understood that as a baby, I required constant care and attention, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to find moments to explore my unique abilities.
Reluctantly, I closed the system interface and grabbed the plush dragon, trying to look as if I'd been innocently playing all along. The door creaked open, revealing not my mother or father, but an unfamiliar face.
A young woman with ravenblack hair tied in a neat bun and warm brown eyes peeked into the room. She wore the simple attire of a household servant, a crisp apron over her dress. Her eyes widened slightly as she saw me awake and alert.
"Oh! Hello there, young master Lyran," she said softly, entering the room with a gentle smile. "I'm Nora, the new nursemaid. Your parents hired me to help look after you."
I regarded Nora curiously, my mind working quickly. A new person in the household meant I needed to be even more careful about displaying any unusual abilities. At the same time, this could be an opportunity to gather more information about my surroundings and the people in it.
Remembering my role as a oneyearold, I offered Nora a toothless grin and held up my dragon plush, babbling happily. It was important to appear friendly but not overly precocious.
Nora's smile widened as she approached the playpen. "Aren't you just the sweetest thing? And what a lovely dragon you have there!"
I decided to keep playing with my toys, maintaining the appearance of a normal, happy baby. Grasping the plush dragon in my tiny hands, I waved it around and made soft cooing noises, occasionally glancing up at Nora with wide, innocent eyes.
Nora's smile grew even warmer as she watched me play. "You're quite the little explorer, aren't you, Master Lyran?" she said softly, kneeling beside the playpen. "Would you like to show me your other toys?"
I babbled enthusiastically in response, reaching for a wooden rattle nearby. As I shook it, creating a gentle sound, I observed Nora carefully. Her demeanor seemed kind and genuine, but I couldn't help wondering about her background and why my parents had hired a new nursemaid.
While playing, I considered how to use this situation to my advantage. Perhaps Nora could provide insights into the household or the world outside that I couldn't easily access on my own. However, I needed to be cautious and not reveal my true intelligence or abilities.
Nora reached into the playpen, gently stroking my hair. "You're such a good boy, Lyran. I think we're going to get along splendidly."
As she interacted with me, I noticed a faint scent of lavender coming from her clothes, likely from the laundry soap used in the household. This small detail helped me build a more complete picture of my surroundings.
I decided to reach out towards Nora, making grabbing motions with my hands. This seemed like a natural action for a oneyearold wanting attention, and it would allow me to observe her more closely.
Nora's eyes lit up at my gesture. "Oh, do you want to come out and play, Master Lyran?" she cooed, reaching into the playpen to lift me gently. Her hands were soft but sure as she cradled me against her chest.
From this new vantage point, I could see more of the nursery and smell the faint lavender scent more clearly. I babbled happily, maintaining my infant facade while secretly taking in every detail of my surroundings.