Two years had passed, and Rynan was finally getting the hang of this "fantasy" world. Life as a toddler wasn't glamorous, but it had its perks—mainly, mastering the art of walking.
Every day was leg day, as Rynan liked to put it. If walking counted as a sport, he'd already be a gold medalist. Jogging down the hallway? Check. Speed-waddling in circles? Double check.
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I'M READY FOR THE WALKING OLYMPICS!
"Awaawaae!" he blurted, throwing his hands in the air like he'd just won a race.
Translation: Yahoo!
Linia covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, while Forle let out a hearty chuckle. Their son had a knack for turning the simplest milestones into grand victories.
"At this rate, I can start his training sooner than I thought!" Forle announced, his chest puffed out with pride.
"Training?" Linia raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Forle, he's TWO."
"And that's the perfect age to start building a strong foundation!" Forle argued, his excitement undeterred.
Linia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "He can barely say a full sentence. Let him be a kid for a while."
The two continued their debate, their voices a mix of affectionate teasing and stubborn insistence.
Meanwhile, Rynan was plotting his next move. The stairs—his greatest rival—stood just a few steps away. He'd tried conquering them before, but gravity had been a cruel enemy. This time, though? This time, he was ready.
He crept toward the staircase, glancing back to make sure his parents were still distracted.
Focus, Rynan. You can do this.
The first step loomed before him like a mountain. He planted his tiny foot firmly, then pulled himself up. One step. Two steps. His little legs wobbled, but he didn't stop. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he pushed onward, determination etched across his face.
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By the time he reached the top, Rynan threw his arms in the air like he'd just scaled the tallest peak in the world. YES! I DID IT!
He giggled to himself, proud of his victory, and wandered down the hallway on the second floor. Four doors lined the corridor, each one a mystery waiting to be solved.
The first door led to Linia's room. A quick peek inside revealed a neatly made bed, a dresser, and a soft scent of lavender. Nothing exciting here.
The second door was Forle's room. It smelled faintly of leather and steel, a hint of his father's warrior lifestyle. Rynan sniffed and moved on.
The third door was Andrea's room. His older sister was terrifying when she got mad, so he decided not to push his luck.
That left the final door—the storage room. It was slightly open, just enough to pique his curiosity. Rynan pushed it wider and froze.
The room was packed with treasures—or at least, that's how it looked to him. Shelves overflowed with dusty books and scrolls. Racks of swords gleamed faintly in the dim light. Odd trinkets and strange artifacts covered every surface.
His eyes sparkled. This… this is heaven.
He tiptoed inside, drawn to the nearest shelf like a moth to a flame. His fingers brushed against the spines of old books, each one promising secrets and stories. One title caught his attention: Magic Simplified.
Rynan grabbed the book, sat cross-legged on the floor, and opened it with the reverence of someone handling a sacred relic. The pages were stiff and yellowed, but he didn't care.
Flips
The first page read:
Magic Simplified
Written By: Ashbourne
Flips
"The first step to magic: Eon Circles.
Eon Circles are like ranks. From the first circle to the tenth, they are separated within the ranks of E to A, with E being the weakest. A child is born with only one circle, at the minimum rank of D."
Rynan frowned, his tiny fingers tracing the words. Circles? Like levels in a game? This just got interesting.
Flips
"Every living being has Eons.
Eons are the simplest building blocks of life. They represent the strength, life, and energy of all living beings. Continuously draining your Eon can result in 'Eon exhaustion.' During Eon exhaustion, the body forces itself into unconsciousness to replenish its Eon supply."
He nodded to himself. Okay, so it's like mana. Don't overdo it, or you pass out. Got it.
Flips
"There are three ways to use Magic:
1. Casting: Chanting a set of words to use a spell.
2. Circles: Drawing hand-drawn circles to cast spells, commonly used in artifacts.
3. Runes: Infusing Eon into letters to maximize output.
4. Silent Casting: The hardest and most powerful method, requiring pure imagination."
His eyes lingered on the last one. Silent casting sounds amazing. I've gotta learn that someday.
Flips
"There are four primary elements:
Water, Fire, Earth, and Wind.
Sub-categories exist, known as Primordial Magic, which includes unique abilities like Gravity, Sound, String, Illusion, Light, Lightning, Ice, Crystal, and Venom."
Rynan's jaw dropped. Primordial Magic… That's what I want. Something rare and powerful.
He flipped through the pages faster now, eager to find the section on actual spells.
After a few minutes, his finger stopped on a page titled "Beginner Fire Magic."
Aha! Found it. His heart raced as he scanned the instructions.
Before he could read further, footsteps echoed down the hallway. Panic shot through him. He slammed the book shut and darted behind a shelf, clutching the book tightly.
The door creaked open.
"Rynan?" Andrea's voice called softly. "Are you hiding in here?"
He held his breath, heart pounding.
Andrea stepped into the room, her sharp eyes scanning the shelves. "You're not supposed to be in here," she said, spotting him immediately.
Rynan gave her his most innocent smile, holding the book behind his back.
Andrea sighed and walked over, scooping him up like he weighed nothing. "You're going to get in so much trouble one of these days," she muttered, ruffling his hair.
As she carried him downstairs, Rynan's thoughts raced. He didn't care about the scolding he'd probably get. All he cared about was the book in his hands.
Magic Simplified… Just wait. I'll learn it all.
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