A boy with black hair as dark as an abyss, absorbing all light without reflection, giving his hair an intensely dark appearance. His bright blue eyes, reminiscent of the ocean, sparkled as he ran along the circular ground's circumference.
He was 7 years old, but his body was more like 14 Years old. The way he ran was strange and tricky, making it hard to follow his movements.
He was definitely fast, but for kids of his age, his speed was pretty normal. You see, in this world, different energies helped humans develop faster and stronger, so his abilities weren't unusual for someone his age.
He continued running, his feet pounding the ground in a steady rhythm. Finally, he came to a stop, having completed his 20th lap - a staggering 38 kilometers. Despite the impressive feat, he showed only minimal signs of exertion: a few droplets of sweat glistened on his skin, and his breathing was slightly quicker than normal.
As the boy ran, different buildings came into view after a few minutes. The structures were similar in design, and soon he approached the gate, where two guards stood at attention. A sign above the gate read "Everwood's Resident". The guards spotted the boy and saluted, "Lord Grey! Welcome back from your training!" Grey, the boy, nodded briefly as he sprinted past the guards without breaking stride.
As Grey entered, he saw his relatives chatting outside. He waved and shouted to get their attention, "Hello, Aunty! Hello, Uncl-!" But his greeting was cut short by a booming voice.
"Hahaha! Kid, you're finally back! Now it's time to get beaten!" The voice came from high above, and Grey's grandfather descended towards him like a meteorite. Grey stopped running, a smirk on his face as he watched his grandfather approach.
"Too slow," Grey said, unfazed. His grandfather's face turned red with anger, and he charged towards Grey like a bullet.
Grey readied himself, moving his hands forward and his left leg back. Bringing his palms near his face, he shouted, "Grandma! Help!" The old man's eyes widened in surprise, and before he could react, a loud "Boom!" sounded, and he was kicked into the air, flying away like a shooting star. The kicker was an old lady who floated towards Grey with a warm smile.
She reached out and patted Grey's head. "Are you alright, Grey? The old dog didn't hurt you, did he?" Grey smiled, relieved. "Thank you, Grandma. I'm fine." The scene didn't surprise anyone; they knew it was bound to happen when they heard Grey's cry for help.
In their family, Grandma held the highest authority. Her words were law, and everyone obeyed without question. One thing was certain: she adored Grey dearly. As a result, everyone knew better than to mess with him, except for Grandpa, who seemed to enjoy getting scolded by his wife.
Grey's uncle and aunt approached him, exchanging warm greetings similar to those they had shared with Grandma. As it was early morning, they made their way to the dining area. The space was more like a serene garden, filled with lush greenery and vibrant flowers. Colorfully designed mattresses were spread across the ground, where everyone sat together.
Servants arrived, distributing utensils to each person. The plates were uniquely designed, featuring separate sections for various dishes. A procession of servants followed, each carrying a different type of food: steaming rice, savory meat, fresh salad, hearty pulses, flavorful curry, and cool curd.
As everyone began eating, the atmosphere was filled with happy chatter and the clinking of utensils on plates.
After the meal, everyone lingered, enjoying each other's company as the servants cleared the utensils and dishes. The atmosphere became even more lively as conversations flowed freely among the relatives.
The dining area was filled with nearly 30 people, all connected by family ties. The only notable absences were Grey's parents, who had visited his mother's family to exchange New Year's greetings.
Sama Everwood, Grey's grandfather, looked at him with a serious expression. "I think you're now of the age to attend the academy," he said. "You can't learn much by being confined within these household walls."
Grey nodded in agreement, having already considered attending the academy, though not necessarily for the reasons his grandfather thought. Unbeknownst to his family, Grey possessed secrets and motivations that drove his desire to venture beyond the town.
"When do you plan to leave?" his grandmother asked, concern etched on her face.
"I'll wait until Mother and Father return," Grey replied. "Then I'll depart."
The family continued discussing essential reminders for Grey's journey, cautioning him about the dangers that lay beyond their town. They urged him to be careful and take care of himself. Grey's heart swelled with warmth, touched by his family's loving concern, especially as the youngest member of the family.
...
Grey let out a deep sigh as he lay in bed, his head resting on a black and white pillow. Suddenly, an excited smile spread across his face. "Finally!" he exclaimed, clenching his fist and raising it to the sky. "I can finally go on an adventure! Hoho, yay!"
Grey shifted onto his side, facing the window, and gazed out at the view. "I need to prepare myself for the exciting things to come," he thought to himself.
As a member of the wealthiest family in town, Grey's life had been comfortable, but he knew that his family's wealth was modest compared to those living in the cities.
For Grey, preparation didn't just mean packing essentials like money, equipment, and accessories. He needed to complete a project he had been working on – a plan that would shake the world.
Grey hurried out of bed and headed to his personal experiment room, where he had spent the past three years conducting various experiments, starting when he was just four years old. Although he wasn't exceptional in physical abilities, his mind was uniquely gifted. He approached problems from different angles, leading to innovative creations.
Grey's interests were diverse, ranging from physics and chemistry to alchemy, medicine, philosophy, and even swordsmanship. He was talented in magic, but he didn't want to rely solely on it, as it wouldn't always be helpful in every situation.
Finally, Grey opened the door to his experiment room, which looked like something from a fantasy world. The wooden door was adorned with intricate runes, some of which shone brightly, while others moved with a mesmerizing rhythm.