A strange meeting room had been prepared in advance.

  It was not a common hall nor a ceremonial space, but a wide room, improvised to host an unusual lecture.

  Several students had gathered there: adults, nobles, and important figures of the domain. They all shared the same reason for being present: to listen to a lesson that, according to rumors, would be crucial for the city’s immediate future.

  The professor…

  A child barely three years old.

  He wore a small formal suit, perfectly arranged, with well-fitted clothes and carefully combed hair. Despite his size, his posture was straight and his expression surprisingly serious, as if he were truly ready to teach.

  —KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! —Holley, Tana, and Caria shouted in unison, throwing themselves toward him with shining eyes—. Professor, let us give you a little kiss! (>*3*)>.

  —No..! —Kael replied immediately, crossing his arms firmly—. And if you ask again, I’ll fail you!

  —The professor is so grumpy… —the three of them murmured almost at the same time, stepping back with clearly disappointed expressions.

  Freya stepped into the center of the room and spoke in a firm tone, restoring order.

  —Please, maintain discipline. This information will be important for the plan Kael wants to carry out… —she said, glancing sideways at him—. Please, little dwarf in a suit, begin.

  Kael cleared his throat seriously, adjusting himself slightly before adopting a posture that had nothing to do with his age.

  —I will begin with something I consider fundamental —he said with a clear voice—. It is information that never left my mind… because we were taught it since we became aware of ourselves.

  The atmosphere changed immediately.

  The conversations died down, and those present straightened in their seats, beginning to pay real attention.

  —According to the biology books of this world —Kael continued—, diseases and illnesses are generated by curses or negative burdens sent to living beings. Many cannot be cured by light magic, and that is why they are called curses…

  He paused briefly, observing the faces in front of him.

  —And, in a way, that has some truth to it… but not for the reasons you believe.

  Laret raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

  —How so, so— I mean, professor? —he corrected himself quickly—. Light magic is supposed to heal a damaged body.

  —Light magic does heal —Kael replied without hesitation—, but physical injuries: cuts, burns, blows, and similar damage.

  Curses are not a possession of negative energy invading the body… they never were.

  Kael lifted his gaze calmly.

  —In reality… they are germs.

  —Germs? —Tana asked, tilting her head—. Is that an animal?

  —Almost —Kael replied—. Germs can be of different types: parasites, fungi, bacteria, or viruses. They enter our bodies and begin to cause damage.

  Garbard frowned, clearly skeptical.

  —And how do we know when those germs invade us?

  —With current technology… it’s impossible —Kael answered bluntly.

  —Are they invisible? Or do they do something to avoid being detected? —Garbard insisted.

  —To us, they are invisible.

  —AAAAAA! How is that possible!? —Ken exclaimed, clutching his head—. Then how do you know they exist!?

  —Excellent question, monkey —Kael replied with a slight smile.

  —Monkey!? —Ken protested immediately.

  Kael’s smile widened just a bit.

  —Germs are and are not invisible —he explained—. Why? Because we cannot see them.

  Not because they are magical or hiding… but because they are extremely small.

  Holley raised her hand timidly.

  —Smaller than a grain of rice?

  Kael looked at her gently.

  —Holley, a grain of rice is a giant compared to a bacterium. To give you an idea…

  Kael picked up a grain of rice that was on the table and held it between his fingers.

  —If this grain of rice were the size of this room…

  —a bacterium would still be smaller than a grain of sand.

  The people present opened their eyes wide, completely stunned.

  —And there are even smaller bacteria —Kael continued—. Some are so tiny that you could line up fifty thousand along the edge of a fingernail… and you still wouldn’t see them.

  Caria visibly turned pale.

  —Fifty thousand!? That many!?

  —Yes —Kael nodded—. And they live in water, on hands, in food…

  And if they enter the body, they cause disease.

  That is why we need bathrooms, cleanliness, safe water, and sewers.

  Freya watched him with almost reverent attention, as if every word were being carved into her mind.

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  —And is there no way to defeat beings that small? —she finally asked.

  Kael took a deep breath.

  He was aware that he was pushing the limits of what they could absorb.

  —There is much we could talk about later… but for now, listen to this —he said seriously—:

  At this very moment, millions of viruses and bacteria are trying to enter your bodies.

  Several women immediately tensed, instinctively placing their hands on their arms or necks.

  —They want to settle in, reproduce, and make you sick —Kael continued firmly—.

  But that is where the strongest warrior you have comes into play: your own body.

  Freya clasped her hands in front of her, fully focused.

  —At this moment —Kael continued—, all of you are fighting an internal battle.

  Your defenses destroy germs every second to keep you healthy.

  Kael raised a finger, marking the point.

  —Do you know when someone gets sick and develops a fever?

  It’s not a punishment… it’s a strategy.

  The body raises its temperature because many germs cannot withstand heat. They weaken or die.

  Freya nodded slowly, understanding the concept.

  —So… the only defense we have right now is our own body.

  —Exactly —Kael replied firmly—.

  We cannot stop germs from attacking us… but we can prevent them from having a comfortable place to live.

  And that is achieved through prevention.

  The room remained in absolute silence. No one dared to interrupt.

  Kael raised three fingers.

  —The first measure is already done: the toilet.

  If waste does not accumulate near us, germs cannot multiply there.

  He lowered one finger.

  —The second will be copper pipes.

  Copper does not rot, does not accumulate fungi, and kills germs that touch it.

  He raised the third finger with an enthusiasm that contrasted with his small size.

  —And the third… the most important of all… soap!

  —The one and only vital soap!

  If everyone learns to wash their hands, we will prevent most diseases before they even begin.

  The room fell silent once more.

  For the first time, many understood that they were peeking into a completely new world, one they had never imagined.

  Kael pulled out several record books that Redda had helped him complete with patience and dedication.

  He spread them across the main table:

  an old tax ledger, three incomplete registers, church records, and the rural cadastre.

  —Adding births and deaths… —Kael began, pointing at the pages— we have around thirteen thousand inhabitants registered by the church.

  Laret frowned, surprised.

  —Only that many?

  —No —Kael replied—.

  Because the tax records show three thousand two hundred taxable households.

  If each household has between five and seven people… that gives us between sixteen thousand and twenty-two thousand inhabitants.

  Freya leaned over the table, clearly intrigued by the reasoning.

  —And what is the most likely number?

  —Ten thousand live inside or near the city —Kael explained calmly—.

  Another seven thousand in villages.

  And one or two thousand among soldiers and border workers.

  He paused briefly, letting the numbers sink in.

  —The total is around eighteen thousand.

  Silence took over the room.

  For the first time, everyone could visualize the true scale of Cautares, not as a collection of streets, but as a real mass of human lives.

  Kael took a deep breath as he looked at the maps and records spread out before him.

  Then he spoke with that mix of innocence and determination that left everyone speechless.

  —My plan… is to reform all the cities.

  I want bathrooms in every home, sewers in every street, and clean water moving through pipes, not in dirty buckets.

  I also want to teach the use of soap and daily hygiene.

  Some frowned, uncomfortable with the scale of the idea.

  Others, however, leaned forward, paying close attention to every word.

  —If we achieve that —Kael continued—, the life of the entire country will improve.

  Fewer diseases.

  Fewer deaths.

  Less suffering.

  Kael raised a finger gravely.

  —But the most important thing is this:

  We will prevent pandemics.

  The word echoed through the room, as if it carried weight of its own.

  The word remained suspended in the air.

  —What you call “mass curses” in the church records… are not curses —Kael continued firmly—.

  They are diseases that spread because people live among their own waste.

  If we control that… we can stop them before they begin.

  The room fell into absolute silence.

  For the first time, everyone understood the true magnitude of what Kael was trying to create, and how radical his proposal was.

  Garbard stepped forward, crossing his arms with a grave expression.

  —Your initiatives are noble, Kael… but this is not only a city problem.

  Reforms cost money. A lot of it.

  And they require constant maintenance.

  He paused briefly, measuring each word before continuing.

  —We cannot ignore that we are having difficulties with the harvests.

  And this winter will be harsher than the last three.

  With food barely sufficient and reserves low… any poorly planned expense could lead us to severe losses.

  Kael smiled from ear to ear, as if he had been waiting for exactly that objection.

  —That’s right, papa! That’s exactly why I want to do it!

  If we move forward with bathrooms, pipes, and sewers, we will need craftsmen, masons, potters, blacksmiths, collectors, carriers, builders… people!

  His eyes shone with contagious energy.

  —That means work for everyone: the poor, landless farmers, young people without a trade.

  They will be able to specialize and earn a living!

  Laret looked at him with narrowed eyes, clearly impressed by how quickly he had turned the argument around.

  Kael continued, now with a more serious tone, heavy with intent.

  —And when I leave the foundations ready to manufacture all these projects… I want you to take me to tour every field and every village.

  I need to see the land, the wells, the crops.

  There is much to review before winter… and many things to improve in the sowing.

  Garbard watched him in silence for several seconds.

  It was the first time he had seen a child speak as if carrying the weight of an entire kingdom on his shoulders.

  Then, Laret and Caria stood up almost at the same time.

  —Kael… —Laret began cautiously—. Your presentation was energetic and incredible, no one denies that.

  But you are still very young to leave the mansion.

  And even more so the city.

  And much less to go to the other villages.

  Caria stepped forward, visibly alarmed.

  —That’s right! No, no, and no!

  It’s not a short distance!

  It would be months of travel.

  And you are very small, you wouldn’t endure something like that!

  What if a beast from the Indomitable Forest appears!?

  Garbard observed them seriously, evaluating the situation.

  Then he spoke with a grave voice, imposing silence in the room.

  —Kael’s ideas are good.

  And his plan… is better structured than many proposals from adult advisors.

  But my children are right: it would be a long, dangerous, and exhausting journey.

  Kael clenched his fists, holding back the urge to protest.

  Garbard continued, without taking his eyes off the small boy.

  —Let’s do this, Kael.

  If you prove to me that you can leave your entire project ready, safe, and working before Freya, Liora, and Queen Isadora must depart —which will be in a few months—…

  then we will seriously discuss your journey.

  The room fell completely silent.

  Garbard stepped forward and added solemnly:

  —If you fulfill all of that… I will accompany you myself.

  I will choose my best men to escort you on the journey.

  We will visit every village, inspect the lands, and prepare the necessary countermeasures to ensure that the last stable sowing of the year bears fruit before winter.

  But first… prove to me that you are ready.

  Caria and Laret looked at him in surprise, unable to hide their shock at Garbard’s words.

  Kael, on the other hand, smiled as if he had been handed the entire world.

  To him, this was not a condition… it was an opportunity.

  He already had his plan.

  Everything was ready.

  Soon, he would not only leave the city… but travel across the entire domain.

  With a satisfied look and a victorious pose, Kael rejoiced in his success, unaware of the monsters lurking behind him.

  He only managed to hear a small phrase, whispered with dangerous sweetness next to his ear.

  —Professor… it’s time for the exam…

  His world came crashing down.

  With no time to react, Kael tried to flee in his little suit, but it was too late.

  A feral Caria caught him with her tentacles, and two equally fierce creatures —Tana and Holley— pounced on him without mercy.

  The little professor was devoured without hesitation in that improvised classroom.

  End of the lesson.