For an entire week, Rynan worked tirelessly to refine his control over Eon, the mystical energy that coursed through his body. Despite being trapped in the body of a child, his progress was nothing short of astonishing. He'd climbed to rank A, first circle—the first milestone on the road to true strength.
It wasn't easy. He'd spent days teetering on the edge of exhaustion, practicing late into the night while the rest of the household slept. His tiny hands ached, and his head often buzzed with the strain of channeling Eon. But every time he stumbled, he got back up with even more determination.
And now, he was back in the storage room.
The dimly lit space felt more like a sanctuary than a dusty old closet. Rynan sat cross-legged on the floor, his gaze locked on the ancient book he'd smuggled out once again. The pages were yellowed with age, and the words glimmered faintly under the narrow beam of sunlight streaming through the tiny window above.
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Alright, let's see what I can do now.
Flipping through the book, his finger traced the bold titles until he found the one he was looking for.
"Rank A, First Circle," it read.
Underneath, another heading caught his eye:
Light Beam
The description was short but precise:
"Difficulty: A
Recommended Rank: A, 1"
He grinned. "Difficulty: A" might have sounded daunting to someone else, but to him, it was just another challenge to conquer.
Placing the book beside him, Rynan closed his eyes. The first step was focus—he needed to picture the spell clearly in his mind.
He imagined the energy pooling at the tip of his finger, a brilliant yellow glow gathering like the morning sun breaking through the clouds. Slowly, he raised his tiny hand, pointing it toward the ceiling.
A faint hum vibrated through the air as the Eon began to stir.
Then—
BAM!
A blinding beam of golden light shot from his fingertip, slamming into the wooden ceiling above. The force was more than he expected, leaving a small, smoking hole. Rynan froze, his jaw dropping as he stared at the damage.
Oh no…
For a moment, panic bubbled up inside him. But then he took a deep breath and reassured himself.
It's fine. It's just a tiny hole. No one's gonna notice that, right?
He quickly glanced around, half expecting Andrea or Linia to burst through the door. When nothing happened, he relaxed.
Okay, moving on…
Flipping through the book again, he searched for another spell. There were so many to choose from, each one more tempting than the last.
"Wind Slash," "Flame Burst," "Aqua Surge"—the possibilities seemed endless.
Rynan's hands trembled with excitement as he settled on another spell. He decided to try silent casting again. After all, if he could master that, he wouldn't have to rely on lengthy incantations.
This time, he closed his eyes and focused on the element of fire. He pictured flames dancing in the palm of his hand, their heat radiating outwards.
Within seconds, a flicker of orange light appeared. It grew steadily until a small ball of fire hovered just above his palm. Rynan stared at it, mesmerized.
This… this is incredible!
The flame fizzled out as he flipped to the next page, eager to try something else.
"Water Sphere," the next spell read.
He followed the same steps, focusing on the cool sensation of water forming between his hands. The result was a shimmering orb of liquid, floating effortlessly.
Spell after spell, Rynan continued his experiments. The minutes turned into hours, and soon the storage room was filled with faint scorch marks, puddles of water, and streaks of wind-blown dust.
By the time he finally stopped, his energy was nearly spent. He slumped back against the wall, staring at the chaos he'd created.
And then, it hit him.
I… I can use all the elements!?
The realization sent a jolt of exhilaration through him. He scrambled to his feet, his fatigue forgotten as he began hopping around the room like an excited rabbit.
I'm a genius! A prodigy!
His small fists pumped the air, and he couldn't stop the wide grin from spreading across his face. It was more than he'd ever hoped for—proof that he was capable of achieving greatness in this world.
The possibilities were endless.
But just as he was about to celebrate even more, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the door.
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The creak of the door startled Rynan. His head snapped up, heart pounding in his tiny chest. He wasn't sure who it would be this time, but he wasn't prepared for Linia to poke her head inside.
She stepped in, her expression a mix of curiosity and confusion as her gaze landed on him.
"Rynan?" she called softly, tilting her head. "How did you get in here?"
Rynan froze, the ancient book clutched tightly in his small hands. His mind raced for an excuse, but all he could think about was not getting caught. In a flash, he shoved the book behind his back, hoping she wouldn't press further.
Linia's lips curled into a smile. "Awww, are you reading a book?" She crouched down to his level, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "What book is it, Rynan?"
Her tone was gentle, and for a moment, Rynan hesitated. She didn't seem angry, but he couldn't be too careful. With a sheepish look, he brought the book forward, holding it up for her to see. His wide, innocent eyes did most of the heavy lifting.
Linia blinked at the cover, her eyebrows lifting in surprise. "You're trying to learn magic?"
Rynan gave her a tiny, deliberate nod, keeping his expression as adorable as possible. "Weoe."
Linia's hand shot to her chest, and she let out an exaggerated squeal. "ARGHH! SHOO CYUTE!!!" She couldn't resist pinching his soft cheeks and ruffling his hair. "Oh, you're too precious!"
Rynan endured the affection with a stoic resolve. Yeah, yeah, I know I'm cute. Just don't take the book!
Linia finally relented, smoothing his hair with a chuckle. "Alright, enough studying for now. It's time to eat, little genius."
Before he could protest, she scooped him up effortlessly and carried him downstairs.
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The dining table was already set when they arrived. Forle sat at one end, fiddling with a plate, while Andrea stood nearby, organizing the spread.
Linia practically skipped into the room, her face lit up with excitement. "Darling, you won't believe this—Rynan was reading a book about magic!"
Forle's head snapped up, his jaw dropping. "OH MAY GAWD!!!" he exclaimed, leaping to his feet. "CAN HE USE MAGIC?!"
Linia shrugged, her tone suddenly thoughtful. "I don't know… maybe?"
That single word hung in the air, heavy with possibility. Slowly, both Linia and Forle turned to look at Rynan, who was sitting on Linia's lap.
Their eyes bored into him, filled with expectation.
Oh no. What now? Rynan blinked, feigning confusion. His gaze darted between them, his tiny face scrunching up as if to say, Me? Why are you staring at me?
"Rynan…" Forle leaned forward, his expression skeptical yet hopeful. "Can you use magic?"
Rynan suppressed a groan. Idiot, I'm a baby—I can't talk yet! Instead, he squinted at Forle, furrowing his brows to mimic bewilderment.
Linia rolled her eyes, placing a hand on Forle's arm. "Darling, that's not how you talk to babies." She turned back to Rynan, her voice soft and slow. "Do. You. Know. Use. Magic?"
She added exaggerated gestures, pointing to herself, then mimicking a wand motion. Her smile was patient, like a kindergarten teacher encouraging a toddler to recite the alphabet.
Rynan almost laughed out loud. Really? You're talking to me like I'm an idiot? But this was his moment to shine.
With a sly grin, he wiggled out of Linia's hold and pointed toward the door. He raised his tiny hand, focusing on the familiar feeling of Eon coursing through him.
A faint hum filled the room as golden light began to gather at his fingertips.
Then—
BAM!
A beam of radiant light shot forward, striking the wooden door with precision. The room fell into stunned silence as the beam fizzled out, leaving a faint scorch mark on the surface.
Rynan turned back to face them, his expression smug. Heh. You're welcome.
Forle's jaw hung open, his eyes darting between the door and Rynan. "..."
Andrea, who had been silently observing from the side, let out a low whistle. "Okay, that's… impressive."
Linia clutched her chest, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
Finally, Forle found his voice. He placed a hand on the table to steady himself. "Rynan is a prodigy," he said, his tone calm despite the disbelief etched across his face.
Linia nodded slowly, her gaze still fixed on the scorch mark. "Y-yeah… But light magic? That's advanced..."
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