“Teleportation requires an exceptionally high amount of mana, and failure carries fatal side effects. Consequently, it is an advanced spell that most are reluctant to use. The caster must clearly visualize their destination and leap without fear. If they fail, only part of their body may be transported, or they could vanish altogether.”

  — Excerpt from the section on “Teleportation,” An Introduction to Magic for Ten-Year-Old Patronians

  Knock knock knock—

  “Carol, are you in there?”

  Chills—

  Kane’s eyes snapped open. He sat up abruptly, his gaze hollow. The voice obviously belonged to Aunt Helen from the vegetable stand, but for some inexplicable reason, a profound sense of dread washed over him, chilling him to the bone. Every single hair on his arms stood on end, prickling as if trying to push his clothes away—it was the exact same feeling he had experienced yesterday. Even the bright morning sunlight pouring through his window seemed somehow cold.

  Knock knock knock knock—

  “Carol, Sion, are you still asleep?”

  He heard his dad dragging his feet toward the front door, sounding half-asleep. A headache that started at the crown of Kane’s head spread downward, throbbing in time with his dad’s footsteps.

  Creaaak—

  “Mmm, Helen...? What brings you here...?”

  His dad’s sleep-roughened voice sounded somewhat guarded. The moment he spoke, the bizarre, oppressive premonition that had been binding Kane’s heart vanished like a lie, taking the headache with it. The cold sweat beading on his forehead, however, remained.

  What was that?

  “Sion, sorry to bother you so early in the morning. Baron Panain sent me. He says everyone in the village needs to gather at Tersha Castle. The Ganymede Templars, His Majesty’s direct royal guard, arrived at the castle yesterday. Apparently, a very dangerous plague is going around this area lately. Fortunately, they say they can examine the villagers and help prevent it using the divine magic bestowed upon them by His Majesty.”

  “Ah... is that so? Understood. Once Carol wakes up, we’ll eat breakfast and head straight there.”

  “Yes, and make sure to bring Kane. They said the plague can only be prevented if every single person in the village gathers. If even one person is missing, everyone else will be in danger again because of them.”

  “...Yes, we’ll see you later then.”

  “Yes, don’t forget to bring the whole family. See you later~”

  Clack.

  After a brief silence, Kane heard his dad walking back toward the bedroom. Kane quickly slid out of bed and padded over to his parents’ room.

  “Honey, wake up. Oh?! Kane, you’re up? Did you sleep well?”

  “Yes, Dad. Did you sleep well?”

  Kane tried his best to speak casually, but he couldn't hide his stiff expression and the slight twitch at the right corner of his mouth. Fortunately, his dad was too busy trying to wake his mom to notice.

  “Honey, honey, wake up. They’re telling everyone to gather at Tersha Castle.”

  At the mention of Tersha Castle, Carol, who had been tossing her messy hair around while hovering between dreams and reality, rubbed her eyes and finally sat up.

  “Tersha Castle? Why? Oh my sweet Kenny is awake~”

  Seeing his mom smiling brightly with her arms open wide, all the confusion and unsettling thoughts Kane had harbored since last night melted away like snow. He trotted over and buried his face in the crook of her neck. It was warm.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  My mom is definitely my real mom.

  Hugging Kane tight, his mom asked, “Who was that just now?”

  “Helen came by. She said everyone in the village needs to gather at Tersha Castle. She said there’s a plague going around and the Ganymede Templars came to deal with it...”

  Carol’s hand, which had been gently stroking Kane’s hair, stopped.

  “A plague? All of a sudden?”

  “Yeah. She said it’s dangerous if even one villager is missing, so everyone has to gather. I figured we’d head over after breakfast.”

  “Doesn't that seem strange? If a plague is going around, why the Templars and not healers...?”

  “...That’s bothering me too. So I just told her we’d come after we eat... But if we don’t go, what will the other villagers think?”

  Although Kane couldn't see his face because he was turned away, he was certain his dad was frowning.

  “Plus, the moment anyone mentions His Majesty the Emperor, people practically fall over themselves to comply... What should we do...”

  “Can’t we just go? If they’re Patronians, doesn't that mean they’re from the Sky Isle? The books say the people of the Sky Isle are our guardians who protect us.”

  Kane gently pulled back from his mom’s embrace and tilted his head. Instead of answering Kane, Carol looked at Sion.

  “This won’t do. You go ahead first and discreetly get a read on the situation. I’ll make an excuse that I’m making breakfast and washing the dishes, so you go first. You know the big white rock on the way into the market? Meet me there.”

  “...I’m hungry too... Ah, fine.”

  Under his wife’s glare, Sion quickly hopped out of bed and began hastily pulling on his clothes.

  It was a perfectly clear, cloudless day with a cool, pleasant breeze—so clear you could see past the next village over to the windows of the village beyond that. Even so, to Kane, his mom’s back looked heavier than usual as she locked the front door behind them. The two began to walk in silence. Kane wanted to break the awkward atmosphere and say something, but his mom beat him to it.

  “Kenny, about the magic you use... What kind of things can you do with it? Besides making things fly?”

  Kane held his mom’s hand tight and stared up at her. This was the first time she had brought up magic herself.

  “Um... I can make things move faster, and I can move things without touching them...”

  “Can you do whatever you imagine?”

  Carol wasn't looking down at Kane. Following her gaze, Kane looked toward Tersha Castle in the distance.

  “Yeah, I think so. Is there something you want, Mom?”

  Carol stopped walking, turned, and gripped Kane by both shoulders. Kane had never seen her look so serious.

  “Then, by any chance, when Kenny wants to go somewhere far away, is it possible for you to go poof! and appear at that place in an instant?”

  “Um... I’m not sure. I’ve never thought about it... Should I try?”

  Excited at the thought of being given permission to show off his magic in front of his mom, Kane didn't even wait for her answer. He focused entirely on the thought of wanting to go back to the front of their house, which they had just left. He felt a sensation akin to squeezing through a narrow tunnel, and then he vanished from the spot, reappearing right in front of their house. Kane watched with pride as his mom came running back toward him. To his surprise, Carol smiled back at him, though her expression was also somewhat resolute.

  Perhaps thinking it was finally okay to talk about magic, Kane eagerly chattered away, sharing every detail about his magic lessons that he’d been holding back until now. Carol listened with a smile before suddenly hushing him and looking ahead. In the distance, a boy with light brown hair was running toward them. But there was something alarming about how frantically Max was sprinting. As he got a little closer, they could see his face was scrunched up, half-crying. He looked terrified, as if he were being chased by something. Kane was suddenly reminded of the ominous premonition he’d felt that morning.

  “Max! It’s been a wh—”

  “Aunt Carol! They said my mom has the plague! She’s at Tersha Castle right now, and they said everyone needs to gather quickly so they can treat her... Everyone is there except you two, so we have to hurry!”

  “The plague? Elena has it?? No, wait... we’re the only two who haven’t arrived? Did you happen to see Mr. Sion?”

  “I saw him, but...” Max gasped, completely out of breath. “They said he has the plague too. They said even people who look perfectly fine might have it... Anyway, we have to go quickly, or else... Ack?!”

  “Kenny!”

  It happened in an instant. The moment Kane heard his dad had the plague, he felt as though all the blood in his body rushed straight to his head. He was consumed by an intense desire to get to Tersha Castle as fast as possible. That was all it took. The three of them vanished from the spot as if erased, reappearing right next to the entrance of Tersha Castle.

  “Whoa, w-what was that?!”

  Max was so shocked his legs gave out and he flopped to the ground. Kane was also amazed by the magic he had just performed. He knew he could teleport, but to actually transport someone else over such a long distance... Along with a sense of pride, Kane felt a slight wave of dizziness. Given the situation, however, he quickly gathered his wits and pulled the still-dumbfounded Max to his feet.

  Carol, on the other hand, had her eyes fixed on a point just over Kane and Max’s heads.

  “What was that just now?”

  On one side of the plaza inside Tersha Castle, Count Minuk, head of the Magic Accident Investigation and Prevention Department, felt a momentary magical reverberation. Duke Raja Mahdi, sitting across from him, felt it too. They quickly peered into the crystal orb resting on the desk in front of them. The orb contained a green flat plate covered in strange symbols and patterns. When the Duke waved his hand, various numbers surfaced on the orb’s surface.

  Count Minuk’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  “W-what is this... A Class 8?!”

  Duke Mahdi, however, broke into a broad smile.

  “Found him.”