As life was not meant to stand still, Kael's linguistic skills continued to develop rapidly. Since the day he spoke his first word, his proficiency in language had skyrocketed. Now, just two months later, he was able to form complete sentences, though his throat still bothered him occasionally.
But speaking wasn't his only achievement. Kael had accomplished something even more extraordinary: he began to feel the "Mana" of the environment around him. The sensation was almost instinctive, a new perception that, within just a few days, had already become natural to him.
His physical progress was also remarkable. His movements, once clumsy, were now almost flawless, and he had finally managed to walk entirely on his own.
At that moment, they were in the backyard garden of Elion's house. The red-haired woman was seated in an elegant chair next to a small Victorian-style tea table. With a cup in one hand and a current newspaper in the other, she was reading quietly, although her eyes often strayed to observe Kael. He, in turn, was sitting on the ground, with the book "Principles of Magic, Vol. 2" open in front of him, a gift from his mother after the incident with the last book.
Elion was smiling faintly as she watched her son immersed in learning about magic and the world around him. Though hesitant to teach him directly, she had decided that he should first explore on his own. Only when he was old enough would she instruct him properly.
'She's looking at me with that strange look again...' Kael thought, pretending to be focused on his reading. Out of the corner of his eye, he observed how the peculiar woman behaved, trying to decipher her intentions.
The silence of the environment was broken only by the sound of the leaves swaying in the wind and the soft rustling of the trees. The cool breeze brought an almost hypnotic tranquility, and Kael, already beginning to feel the weight of sleep, rubbed his tired eyes. However, when he turned, he noticed something unexpected.
His mother, who had seemed calm until then, suddenly changed expression. She stood up abruptly, her eyes glowing a deep red, while her flaming hair seemed to almost catch fire. The seriousness on her face was palpable, and the energy around her became oppressive.
"Stop hiding," she said, with a sharp firmness, staring into the void as if challenging an invisible presence.
"Hey, lower those hands! I'm not here to turn to dust!" A firm voice, laced with irony, echoed as a woman appeared, dissolving the invisibility cloak that had covered her – or perhaps just deciding to reveal herself.
She was tall, standing just over 1.90 meters, exuding a presence that blended strength and sensuality in equal measure. Her body, sculpted by intense training, was both powerful and incredibly attractive. She wore a tight black leather outfit, with a deep neckline starting between her breasts and extending to her groin, showing plenty without compromising her intimidating aura. The outfit was complemented by a pair of black leather boots and an enormous, vibrant red leather coat that flowed dramatically with every movement.
Her eyes were an intense blue, penetrating like a cloudless sky, while her short, completely white hair contrasted with her bold and confident expression.
"Great, another incredibly gorgeous woman." Kael thought, unable to suppress his internal sarcasm, even while trapped in the body of a one-year-old. His eyes, still infantile, lingered for a moment on the woman's perfectly sculpted curves and the voluminous breasts that seemed to defy gravity.
"Eva..." Elion murmured nervously, her voice carrying an aggression that made Kael raise an eyebrow in suspicion. It wasn't the first time he had seen his mother act this way. Whenever something or someone was perceived as a threat, she adopted this tense, defensive posture.
"I'm just visiting, calm down." Eva said with a carefree smile, raising her hands in surrender. "I heard rumors that you, the woman who swore never to sleep with a man, now have a child." She teased, her bright blue gaze landing on Kael, who did his best to ignore her.
"Close friend?" Kael wondered, keeping his focus on the book as if Eva weren't there. "Well, if she weren't a close friend, she'd probably already be sleeping in a black box." He mentally shrugged, returning his attention to an explanation on elemental manipulation in the text.
"So, how have you been?" Eva asked, waving with a mischievous smile that made Elion scoff before answering.
"It was better when you weren't here. And besides, I haven't slept with anyone! Stop talking nonsense in front of my son!" Elion retorted, crossing her arms, irritated.
"Wait, what do you mean? How was he born, then?" Eva asked, pointing at Kael with curiosity.
"Exactly, how was I born?" Kael thought, unable to avoid the curiosity while still pretending to be immersed in the book.
"Huh? It was simple," Elion answered, her tone casual with a hint of pride. "I pretended I wanted to be the wife of the strongest man I found, got his essence, erased his parts, and used magic to inseminate my womb. Voilà, a healthy boy, created only with my essence. Only mine, just mine."
Eva raised an eyebrow, tilting her head with a slight expression of curiosity. "And what happened to that man?"
"I killed him," Elion answered without hesitation, her voice cold and direct, as if she were narrating something as mundane as the weather.
"So... I only have a mother. How wonderful," Kael thought, letting a touch of sarcasm slip into his mind. "Honestly, I don't miss having a father. The last one I had in my previous life was a complete lunatic, a first-class sicko. Living without a father? That's more than enough for me."
"I see... well, that's very much like you," Eva commented, shrugging as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Yes," Elion replied indifferently. "Some men even tried to attack me after that, but I ended up tearing a few more of them apart. Nothing special."
"Ah... as always, insignificant?" Eva asked, pulling up a chair and sitting casually in front of Elion.
"Drunkards and fools," Elion responded with a sigh of boredom. "Those who keep killing each other in taverns, robbing, and looting. Basically dead weight."
"At least they knew who you were before..."
"I didn't waste my time. Using authority is boring," Elion interrupted with disdain, making it clear how much she despised such formalities.
"Anyway... you've been keeping your distance. Is everything really okay?" Eva asked, calmly pouring tea into a cup, her tone laced with subtle curiosity.
"I don't need much," Elion replied with a slight shrug. "I've reached the age of having children and retiring."
Eva raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly ironic. "You say that, but you have the body of someone who's at most 25 years old."
Elion didn't waste any time replying, pointing directly at Eva. "And you're still a shameless Milf. Please, close that neckline. My son is about to devour you with his eyes."
Kael, caught in the act, quickly averted his gaze, pretending to be interested in anything else.
"HAHAHAHA" Eva let out a loud laugh, leaning slightly back in her chair as she set the tea cup down on the table. "Well, it's not my fault he has good taste. Maybe it's in his blood."
Elion narrowed her eyes, clearly irritated. "Don't start with those insinuations, Eva. He's just a child."
Eva shrugged, still smiling. "A child with quite an observant gaze, from what I can see. Tell me, boy, are you starting to understand the world, or are you still pretending to be just a curious baby?"
Kael felt both women's eyes on him, and for a moment, he considered his options. Pretend to be just a baby or admit something that would surely lead to more questions? He sighed internally and decided on the safer route.
"Just trying to learn," he murmured, keeping his voice low but clearly articulated.
This made Eva raise her eyebrows in surprise. "Huh... he speaks well for someone so small. Have you been teaching him, Elion?"
"I didn't need to," Elion replied with a mix of pride and caution. "He's... exceptional."
Eva watched Kael for a few moments, her mischievous smile giving way to a more serious expression. "Exceptional, huh? Well, I hope you know what you're doing. Children like that attract unwanted attention."
"I know," Elion said firmly. "And I'm ready for anything that comes after him."
Kael, still pretending to be completely engrossed in the book, couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity about what exactly Elion meant by "unwanted attention". After all, he already had a good idea that his mother was no ordinary person - and from the looks of it, neither was he.
Eva took another sip of tea before leaning back in her chair, returning to her relaxed tone. "Well, I hope you're really ready. But speaking of which... aren't you going to offer me anything? The tea smells incredible."
Elion snorted. "Help yourself. I don't need to stand on ceremony for you."
Eva smiled mischievously. "Ah, it's good to know that nothing has changed."
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