After the harsh scolding and completely exhausted, Kael only waited for his plate of food, defeated.

  When the main door suddenly opened with force…

  It was Liora.

  And she had a huge bump on her head.

  —KAEL!!! —she shouted—.

  —WHY DID YOU GIVE RONAN SUCH A DANGEROUS GIFT?!

  —Oh, no… —Kael murmured—.

  —What did that monkey do now…?

  Liora walked up to him and began squeezing his head with her fists.

  —He came running into my room waving that horrible sword!

  —When he got close to me, he stepped wrong and hit me on the head with it!

  Caria and Freya, after hearing that, could not hold back.

  —Pffff… —they let out at the same time—.

  —HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

  Caria pointed at the bump.

  —Look at the size of that bump!

  —HAHAHAHAHAHA!

  Freya held her stomach.

  —Looks like you’re about to grow a horn!

  —HAHAHAHAHAHA!

  —You evil, hateful old women! —Liora shouted—.

  —DON’T LAUGH!!!

  After lunch was over, a completely defeated Kael prepared to resume some of his magical training.

  Then, Freya appeared behind him.

  —Kael… —she said in a serious tone—.

  —There isn’t much time left before we leave.

  —Yes, teacher… —Kael replied—.

  —There are only a few months left…

  —How is the project going?

  Kael took a deep breath and began his improvised report.

  —With difficulty… but moving forward.

  —I already have the plans ready and the primary materials.

  —Redda secured the designated locations for me to start manufacturing the materials and create everything needed to begin with the pipes and toilets.

  Kael continued, focused.

  —Since this is a pilot plan, everything that is done will go first to medium-sized towns.

  —Main Cautares will be the final step.

  —And soon I will have the required level to begin with the pipes.

  As he finished speaking, Caria and Laret arrived accompanied by the three guardians.

  —We’re here, Freya —Caria said.

  Kael flinched slightly when he saw his parents and the guardians.

  They were serious… too serious.

  Just by looking at them, he knew something important was coming.

  Laret took a step forward.

  —Kael… we came because we had something pending with you.

  —We decided to wait until you were sufficiently recovered.

  Kael looked at them seriously, though with some confusion.

  —Yes, Dad…

  —What happened?

  Laret continued.

  —When you performed the test in front of everyone and used the elements…

  —you said you would obtain a “unique skill.”

  Caria nodded.

  —That’s right.

  —You said it was called the dimensional cube.

  —What exactly is that?

  Kael opened his eyes wide.

  —AAAAAH! That!

  —Yes… that’s the name of the skill that voice told me about.

  —And it is exactly what the name says: a dimensional cube.

  Everyone tried to understand the concept, but none of them could fully imagine it.

  Freya crossed her arms.

  —Can you already use it, or is it still dangerous?

  —No… —Kael replied—.

  —I’ve used it quite a lot these past few days.

  Caria and Laret reacted immediately.

  —WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL US?! —they exclaimed in unison.

  —Uh… sorry —Kael said—.

  —It’s just that it wasn’t a skill that put me in danger…

  —How so? —Freya asked.

  —Look, I’ll show you.

  Kael focused his magic on his index finger, as if he were about to throw a small ball, and drew a square in the air.

  When he completed the shape, the space inside changed color… turning completely black.

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  Everyone was stunned.

  —But that’s just a square —Freya said, frowning.

  —No… —Kael replied—.

  —It’s a cube.

  —The rest of the cube is on the other side of that black part.

  —It’s another dimension… another space.

  Kael put his hand inside the cube and pulled out some rocks with copper veins.

  —This skill is used to store “inert” objects…, as far as I understand, in a space separate from our world…

  —A place where time does not pass.

  Everyone was left almost speechless.

  Ken was the first to react, completely impressed.

  —No way! That’s incredible!

  —With that skill, if you were an adventurer, people would fight over you!

  Holley immediately hit him on the head.

  —Don’t give him ideas like that!

  Freya focused on Kael again, more serious.

  —So, Kael… that skill is for storing objects.

  —It’s impressive, but does it have more characteristics or weaknesses?

  Kael stayed quiet for a second, thinking.

  —Mmm… strengths…

  —Since time does not exist in that space, I can store hot or cold food and it will stay in the same state and temperature I left it in.

  —It’s like, once they go inside, time stops for those things.

  Caria crossed her arms.

  —And the bigger you make the cube…?

  —Then it consumes more magic —Kael replied—.

  —The bigger I draw it with my fingers, the more magic it uses.

  —And if you put many things inside? —Caria asked—.

  —Does the weight affect you?

  —And how do you know what you want to take out if you can’t see inside?

  —The weight doesn’t affect me —Kael explained—.

  —Only the amount of magic I use for the size of the cube does.

  —And to know what I want, just by remembering it, my hand can pull out what I’m looking for.

  —I could put an entire house in there… but I would have to draw a gigantic cube.

  Laret frowned, intrigued.

  —And how do you know you can’t put living things inside?

  —Because when I try to put a living being inside —Kael replied—,

  —like a moth, a fly, or the dog Chocolo…

  —their bodies go in up to a certain point, and then they can’t go any further.

  —They always stop when a small part of the body remains outside. Though it’s not perfectly exact.

  Enta tilted his head.

  —Who is the dog Chocolo…?

  Holley answered without hesitation.

  —That’s the name he gave to the tracking dog that helped us find him when he escaped.

  As they better understood the real scope of Kael’s power, everyone began to relax a little.

  At first, they thought it was an offensive or dangerous ability… but it wasn’t.

  When everyone seemed calmer and was about to leave, Freya called Kael’s parents.

  —Laret… Caria —she said seriously—.

  —I want to make a request.

  Both looked at her attentively.

  Freya’s expression was unusually serious.

  —Kael is already up to date with all the basic and intermediate concepts of magic.

  —There is nothing more to teach him in that area.

  Kael opened his eyes.

  —Is there something else I need to learn?

  Freya looked back at Kael’s parents before answering.

  —There is something important I must teach him before leaving…

  —and you need to understand it.

  The silence became heavy.

  —Kael must learn how to fight.

  The words fell like a blow.

  Caria and Laret were horrified… but at the same time, they understood the harshness of that reality.

  What Freya said was, unfortunately, necessary.

  —To fight…? —Kael asked—.

  —To use my magic to defend myself?

  —That’s right, dwarf —Freya replied—.

  —No one knows what could happen.

  —And if you win the bet with your grandfather, you will go out into the world.

  —You must know how to defend yourself using your magic.

  That problem had inevitably arrived.

  The day their son would have to face the world… and survive.

  Caria lunged at Freya, grabbing her arm and crying like a child.

  —WAAAAAA!

  —Please, Freya, be gentle!

  —Don’t make my child suffer!

  —He’s still small!

  —Hey, Caria! —Freya complained—.

  —Please, you’re drooling on my dress!

  Laret took a deep breath and spoke in a deep voice.

  —I entrust Kael to you for these last months…

  —Teach him how to survive.

  Freya looked directly at Kael.

  —Will you be ready, dwarf?

  Kael held her gaze.

  His voice was firm, serious, and full of determination.

  —Show no mercy, teacher.

  …

  …

  …

  …

  …

  …

  …

  …

  The next day, the first combat lesson began.

  —Listen carefully, Kael —Freya said in a firm voice—.

  —The first lesson of magical combat is to take a magic stance.

  —Alright! —Kael replied—.

  —…and how do I do that?

  —Cover yourself with a layer of magic ten centimeters thick.

  —Understood!

  Kael began releasing his magic and let it flow around his body, forming an even layer ten centimeters thick.

  Freya watched him closely.

  When she saw the aura was stable, she approached… and without warning, kicked him straight in the ribs.

  Kael went flying.

  He rolled across the ground, coughing, the air escaping his lungs.

  —Ouch! … Ugh, ugh! —he gasped—.

  —That hurt a lot…

  —I think I needed more magic…

  —No —Freya replied coldly—.

  —You didn’t lack magic.

  —You controlled it quite well.

  Freya crouched beside him.

  —The layer stayed balanced even when you were sent flying and fell.

  —Check yourself.

  —Do you have any scratches or wounds from dragging on the ground?

  Kael carefully checked himself.

  —Oh… I don’t have anything.

  —The magic layer protected me quite well.

  —But still… that kick hurt a lot.

  Kael looked at her, confused.

  —And you looked so weak when you moved…

  Freya raised an eyebrow.

  —Weak…?

  She turned without saying anything, walked to one of the garden walls, and kicked it with the same strength and speed.

  The impact thundered.

  The wall disintegrated.

  —If you hadn’t been covered by the magic layer —Freya said—,

  —I would have split you in half with a single kick.

  Kael’s eyes went wide.

  —No way…

  —Did I really endure a kick like a horse!?

  —Who are you calling a horse, dwarf? —Freya growled.

  —No! I didn’t mean it that way!

  Freya took a combat stance.

  —Get ready, dwarf.

  —I’m going to throw a series of physical attacks at you.

  —Dodge, defend yourself…

  —or you will die.

  Kael had no choice.

  He activated his magic, forced his body to move faster, and began dodging and enduring the blows.

  From a mansion window, Ronan watched everything in silence.

  —Mom… —he asked—.

  —Why can’t I use magic like Brother Kel?

  Liora hugged him softly.

  —Because Kael was forced by fate to mature earlier…

  —I wish I had matured earlier like him…

  —Easy, son —she replied—.

  —Everyone has their moment.

  —Your time to awaken magic and train it will come.

  Liora sighed.

  —Besides… don’t think what Kael is living through is something amazing.

  —Isn’t it…?

  —No.

  —Because he awakened his powers so early, he has suffered a lot…

  —and his loved ones have suffered too.

  Liora looked at him tenderly.

  —Kael is very strong, yes.

  —But even stronger is his heart.

  —Despite everything, he keeps getting back up…

  —and he keeps smiling enough to share it with you and play.

  She smiled slightly.

  —I would love for his perseverance and determination to influence you more…

  —than his strength or his abilities.

  Ronan lifted his head, his eyes shining.

  —That’s true!

  —Kael told me I was a holy knight of the Taurus constellation.

  —That I had to be strong, disciplined, and never give up.

  —That I had to train to protect the weak…

  —especially Lysandra and Althea.

  Liora opened her eyes, surprised.

  —Wow!

  —What an incredible knight has just appeared here!

  Ronan puffed out his chest.

  —And he also said that, while Dad isn’t here…

  —I had to be your man and protect you.

  —KYAAAAAA! —Liora screamed—.

  —Smooch, smooch! (>*3*)>

  Liora completely melted and jumped on him, covering him with kisses.

  Something that had not yet been recorded…

  was that the second child of the Sungley house was also being cruelly tortured by his mother. Lovingly.