After that long reflection in the great lord’s office, a full year passed since the birth of the young master. The words Caria and Laret received about Kael were more than enough; so much so that they did not even attend the execution of the nobles involved in the kidnapping case.

  A full year of laughter, affection, and happiness…

  and above all, true terror.

  —GUARDS! —a maid shouted in desperation—. WHITE CODE!!! THE YOUNG MASTER ESCAPED AGAIN!!!

  The shout cracked through the mansion like a whip. Servants and guards began running in all directions, crashing into each other, kicking up dust, and knocking over small pieces of furniture. Chaos took over the hallways.

  And the guardians?

  Tana watched Enta with a mix of affection and sympathy, gently patting his head while he knelt on the floor, lamenting as if the world had ended.

  —Come on, Enta —she said softly—. Don’t take it so personally…

  —The only way I see the young master not escaping his crib is by putting the crib in prison! —Enta exclaimed, grabbing his head—. How can he bypass all my methods!?

  While Enta continued complaining, a figure calmly approached, listening to the last words. It was Ken, with a mocking smile on his face.

  —Ahahahaha —he laughed openly—. The young master knows how to fool you very well. Ahahaha. Every day has been too entertaining since the young master arrived… He really knows how to turn this mansion upside down.

  Suddenly, a large fist appeared from behind and smashed directly into the back of Ken’s neck, sending him flying forward.

  —Enta’s super baby cell failed! —Holley shouted, frowning—. And your job as the young master’s guard failed too! It was your duty to check that the young master was calm in his crib!

  —Ouch! —Ken complained, holding his head—. Hey, that hurt!

  —And if you don’t move right now to look for the young master —Holley added, stepping forward—, you’ll get twenty more for every minute that passes.

  Ken swallowed hard.

  Meanwhile, in the garden…

  Kael was crawling through the grass, sunlight filtering through the leaves of the trees, and the fresh morning air surrounding him.

  —Pppaa… aaa… ppaaa… —he babbled—. Ma… mmmmm… aa… maaa… ma…

  // -- without a doubt, your vocal cords are developing well. Soon you’ll be able to say a full sentence without sounding like an idiot -- //

  Kael frowned, focusing.

  —My biggest challenge is walking… —he thought with determination—. Once I manage that, everything else will be easy. I need to walk to become independent.

  // -- not even close. You still need at least four more months to walk while wobbling -- //

  —My magic training is going very well —Kael continued mentally—. During these escapes, I can release more magic. By the way… my magic is very basic. When will I be able to throw fireballs like Lasan, or that amazing water whip like Redda’s?

  // -- when you stop being stupid -- //

  Kael opened his eyes in annoyance.

  —Hey, wait! If you said that, does that mean I’ll never be able to do it?

  // -- you’ll find out when you’re seven -- //

  —Don’t mess with me and tell me what’s going on.

  // -- according to my memory, any living being who reaches the level to use magic has only one main magical element. In the cases you mentioned, Lasan has fire element and Redda has water element -- //

  Kael stayed still for a second, processing the information, while a soft breeze moved the leaves above his head.

  —And can’t I know what element I have?

  // -- no. Your body needs to reach a certain level of maturity once it gets used to magic. At that point, your element will awaken, and you’ll know which one it is when you are seven years old -- //

  Kael slightly puffed out his cheeks, annoyed.

  —What a pain… —he thought—. I wanted to master all kinds of magic and become an amazing mage, and have girls go crazy for me…

  // -- well, you already have several of them going crazy for you inside the mansion, in both good and bad ways -- //

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  —They don’t count…

  // -- as extra information, so you don’t get too discouraged… after specializing in one magic, you can awaken its sibling element -- //

  Kael blinked, intrigued.

  —What do you mean?

  // -- before I explain that, you need to know the elements that make up magic here in Cerantos: neutral magic, water, ice, fire, wind, earth, life, light, and darkness

  And then there are affinities… more or less what you wanted. When you specialize in your element, you can awaken its sibling element:

  Water – ice

  Fire – wind

  Earth – life

  Darkness – neutral magic

  Light – neutral magic -- //

  Kael frowned.

  —Wait a moment… the last ones don’t really make sense. Shouldn’t it be light and darkness?

  // -- no. In fact, those last elements are the most dangerous from any point of view. Dark magic is extremely powerful and destructive… but it consumes your life energy.

  Light, on the other hand, is the opposite: it revitalizes and helps… and is usually attributed to healers -- //

  —Ah… —Kael thought—. That’s right, the guy who healed mom had light magic… the one they called Jervacio…

  // -- don’t be annoying, his name was Galen… but it doesn’t matter, because those two elements are the most problematic ones you can get -- //

  —Why?

  // -- on one hand, users of dark magic usually die at a young age due to losing control of their power. If they manage to control it, it is through the consumption of life energy… in a twisted way, since they can absorb the life energy of other users. That’s why dark magic users are often hunted for the atrocities they commit -- //

  Kael felt a small shiver run down his back.

  —That doesn’t sound good at all…

  // -- and what’s wrong with light? As soon as someone awakens light magic, they are recruited by the Sacred Empire… they attribute the rarity of light magic to a blessing from the goddess -- //

  —Wow… I think I’d end up burned alive with that.

  Long live Cristo Rey!

  After training his magic for a long time among bushes and trees, Kael prepared to crawl back to the mansion. His hands were already a bit dirty with soil, and his breathing had become heavier from the effort.

  However, as he got closer to the place where he had exited, the bushes began to move.

  The leaves rustled.

  From between them emerged a four-legged creature, larger than normal. Kael froze completely upon seeing it, and after observing it carefully, he knew immediately.

  —A dog…?

  The dog approached, sniffed him carefully, then raised its head and began barking loudly.

  A few seconds later, two figures appeared, clearly angry. It was Caria and Laret.

  —Uh… we’re already doomed, dear…

  Both parents looked at him with stern, serious expressions.

  —You’re in serious trouble, young man —Caria said, crossing her arms.

  —After the incident, I immediately knew what to do —Laret added—. And this was the best purchase: a trained search dog. This dog knows all your scents, little demonic doll. Now you won’t escape.

  // -- no… with this, you’re ending up sleeping in the dungeon. We’re done… -- //

  —Relax… —Kael thought, with a false sense of confidence—. I have my defensive weapons…

  Caria picked Kael up in her arms to take him back to the mansion. The moment he was pressed against her chest, the little one activated his most commonly used defense system.

  Manipulation.

  —Brrrrrr… adadada… abababa…

  The attack was direct and devastating. Babbling, drool, and a contagious laugh mixed together as Kael squirmed in his mother’s arms. Little by little, Caria began to melt, unable to keep her stern expression.

  —Kyaaaa! —she exclaimed—. Don’t do that, no… I want to eat you!

  —Caria! —Laret shouted—. Control yourself! Can’t you see he’s manipulating you!?

  Caria pressed her lips together and took a deep breath, fighting against her own impulses.

  —Oh, by the goddess!… that’s right… I must not fall… —she murmured—. No, young man, this time you’re in trouble… I won’t fall for your juicy, wonderful, delicious games of love…

  Kael opened his eyes in alarm.

  —This can’t be happening…! My tactics aren’t working!

  // -- you’re finished, give up… -- //

  Kael frowned with absolute determination.

  —I have no other option… I have to use my last card. My secret weapon…

  Remember this: this trick only works once…

  Meanwhile, Laret watched the dog, clearly satisfied.

  —Well, with this search dog we’ll immediately know how far this crawling ball of energy escapes.

  —He inherited that from you —Caria replied without looking at him—. This is your fault.

  —That’s not true! —Laret replied—. I remind you that when we were kids, you were the first one to almost fly away when father brought candy from the city.

  —That’s a low blow!

  Kael slowly raised his head, stared straight at Laret, and opened his mouth.

  —dd… da… daaa…

  —…DAD.

  …

  …

  …

  Laret froze completely.

  —Was that… Kael…?

  Caria grabbed Kael with both hands and held him out in front of her face, staring at him with wide eyes.

  —Kael… did you say dad…?

  Kael smiled, or at least tried to.

  —Mmmm… ooo… mmooooo…

  —…MOM.

  …

  …

  …

  The Sungley mansion was still slightly unsettled from the recent search for the young master when, suddenly, a thunderous crash shook the main entrance with such force that no one saw it coming.

  At the door stood Ken, Enta, and Holley, along with Lord Garbard, Tana, and Redda, waiting for the return of the young lords.

  Suddenly, the massive doors burst open violently.

  It was Laret and Caria, running desperately with Kael in their arms.

  —DADDDDD!!! —both shouted at the same time.

  Lord Garbard startled and stepped forward immediately, his face tense.

  —By the goddess! What happened!? —he exclaimed—. Did something happen to Kael!?

  Without the slightest delicacy, Caria placed Kael into Garbard’s arms and held him up in front of his face. A chubby ball of drool, laughter, and happiness stared straight at him.

  —Come on, Kael! —Caria said, breathless—. Say it! Say that you said mom!

  —No! —Laret interrupted—. Kael, say that you said dad!

  Garbard frowned, incredulous.

  —Did he really say his first word?

  —Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr… atatataaa… aahahh… ahahahahaha —Kael laughed, completely happy.

  —Are you sure you didn’t imagine it? —Garbard asked, still doubtful.

  Kael locked eyes with him and stretched out his small arms. Garbard carefully took him and looked at him closely.

  —What is it, boy? —he said with a restrained smile—. Did you really name your foolish parents?

  Kael stared at him, stretched his little arms, and grabbed Garbard’s beard with his fingers.

  —Rbrbr…

  —pa.. pap..… .

  —papa..…

  Caria’s eyes opened wide.

  —He just called you papa…

  —KYAAAAAA! —Garbard shouted, reacting in the most manly and masculine way possible.

  That night exploded with happiness. Kael had named the three most important people in his life: mom, dad, and his grandfather.

  …

  ..

  .

  .

  .

  // -- I can’t believe it… you managed to manipulate the three great lords of the house, you damn little manipulator… -- //