That same night, after the strategic meeting ended, already lying in a deep bed, Kael remained awake, analyzing the situation with a restless mind.

  Kael (thought):

  So, based on the information you gathered from that meeting… it seems there will be many problems soon…

  // -- damn it… the goddess of this world is useless… she has two failed creations and a cult of idiots who worship her and, at the same time, want to do stupid things with those defective creations… do they even have brains? -- //

  Kael (thought):

  Can someone be more miserable than that…?

  The worms did not help in the great war, they go wherever they want, and on top of that they do things that could put the entire continent at risk… damn it… they are…

  Well, that’s enough…

  As the king said, we have to prepare…

  // -- you seem quite focused on this… -- //

  Kael (thought):

  If they want to destroy this city, it will cost them… a lot…

  // -- and do you already have a plan? -- //

  Kael (thought):

  The best way to train and prepare… it’s time to reinforce and prepare this city.

  The initial objective: improve this mansion…

  // -- fine, and what will you do in this house first? -- //

  Kael (thought):

  A DAMN PROPER BATHROOM!

  I HATE THOSE DAMN LATRINES!

  …And one very important thing to achieve: I must prove that I can have a damn room all to myself.

  Why the hell do I have to sleep next to these three kids?

  // -- well, you are a good babysitter. While the others relax, you have to endure it… -- //

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  The next day, at dawn, all the adults were preparing to begin their day. The maid who had stayed in charge of the children went to check on them as she did every morning, but as soon as she entered the room, she realized there were only three.

  One was missing.

  He had gone to the bathroom for a moment… and when she came back, the young master was gone. There was no need to ask who was responsible. Immediately, the white code began the tasks of a new day in the Sungley house.

  —Guards! —the maid shouted, her voice filled with alarm—. White code!!!

  The search, as fast as it began, ended almost immediately.

  The young master was in the courtyard, completely focused, buried up to his waist inside a hole he had dug using garden shovels. The dirt was piled on both sides, and several stones of different sizes and colors rested around him.

  Kael (thought):

  If I was able to clean the sap from that tree, which was practically rubber… then I should also be able to do it with other elements.

  // — What do you mean? Separating materials with magic? — //

  Kael (thought):

  Exactly. Neutral magic does not create anything; it is spirit waves that interact with matter.

  But my knowledge from the other world… is still useful here.

  Inside almost any stone, there are always traces of minerals.

  What did you say that thing with iron was called?

  // — Limonite or hematite. They are the most common oxides — //

  Kael (thought):

  That’s it. Even if it is a minimal amount… it is still there.

  And I felt it.

  When I touched mama Tana’s iron pan using my magic, I was able to recognize how iron responds. It has a pattern, its own vibration.

  If I can feel that pattern… then I can move it.

  My magic touches elements at a microscopic level.

  I can separate one component from another if I distinguish them properly, just like when I cleaned the sap.

  If I train this repositioning again and again… I could develop a real technique to separate materials.

  And if I perfect it… I could shape them.

  If I manage to move iron molecules and give them form, I could turn a spoon into a small knife, or a piece of metal into a useful tool.

  It would be simple… but enough to start creating things on my own.

  Kael remained inside the hole he had dug, carefully gathering rocks, examining them one by one, as if he could see beyond their surface. At some point, the commotion attracted Caria, Laret, Tana, Freya, and the three guardians.

  —By the Goddess, Kael! —Caria exclaimed when she saw him—. What are you doing!? What did I tell you about going out without warning!?

  —I’m sorry, mom! —Kael replied quickly—. I needed some rocks!

  Tana, confused, carefully observed the pile and then noticed something that felt far too familiar.

  —Young master Kael… —she said hesitantly—, why do you have my iron pan there?

  —I need it for the experiment! —Kael replied without hesitation.

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  —An experiment? —Freya asked, stepping closer.

  —Yes —Kael answered—, the one from the big book. “The basic con-seps of al-che-my”!

  —… Basic concepts of alchemy? —Freya corrected him.

  —That’s the one!

  Ken approached cautiously and looked closely at the hole.

  —And why do you need stones?

  Kael climbed out of the hole with his hands full of rocks. He placed them on the ground, put one hand on the pan and the other on the pile.

  —Magic feels one way in mama Tana’s pan… —he explained—, and I can feel that same sensation in these stones… even if it is very, very small.

  —Are you saying that your magic waves can recognize the structure of iron? —Freya asked—.

  And that you are looking for that pattern inside the stones?

  —Yes! That! That’s it!

  Laret frowned, thoughtful.

  —Freya, that makes sense… but it does not fully match what I think Kael is trying to do…

  Kael took a deep breath. He covered the stones with his magic, and the air vibrated softly, as if something invisible had been pulled tight.

  —Magic is like waves… —he said with focus—, waves that come out of the body and collide with other things.

  When the wave bounces back, it changes… and depending on how it changes, I can know what element it touched.

  If I feel the deformation… I can move that element.

  I can extract it!

  Everyone froze. It was an explanation far too precise, far too technical, for such a small child.

  Kael increased his concentration. Magic completely covered the stones and the pan. A drop of sweat ran down his forehead… and then, a drop of blood fell from his nose.

  —Kael, stop right now! —Caria shouted—. You are still too young to manipulate that much magic! You are going to hurt yourself!

  But Kael did not hear her.

  Kael (thought):

  Magic… magic… it is waves… and if they collide… if they collide… I can… I must… extract…

  His pulse accelerated. The pressure in his head suddenly increased. Another drop of blood slid down his lip.

  Caria could not take it anymore. She rushed forward and hugged him tightly, cutting off the magical flow completely.

  —KAEL, STOP IT! —she screamed—. YOU ARE HURTING YOURSELF!

  Laret reacted immediately.

  —Tana, the medical kit! Enta, go get the doctor! I’ll take him inside!

  Holley, calm Caria down!

  While everyone moved in an explosion of panic, Kael raised his right hand with difficulty.

  —I DID IT! IT WORKED!

  He slowly opened his small left hand. In the center, a tiny metallic pebble rested… shiny… pure.

  A fragment of iron.

  —TEACHER, LOOK! —Kael exclaimed with a smile—. I TOOK THE IRON OUT OF THE ROCKS!

  Freya took it with extreme care, completely pale. The small mineral was clean. Real. Impossible.

  Kael smiled once more…

  and another drop of blood fell from his nose before his body finally gave in and collapsed, unconscious.

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  By dusk, Kael slowly woke up, his head feeling heavy and his vision blurry. The world seemed to spin slightly as he tried to orient himself. The ceiling looked familiar… he was in his room.

  As soon as he fully opened his eyes, something lunged at him from the side of the bed.

  —My young master! —Tana exclaimed, her voice breaking as she hugged him tightly—. Does anything hurt? Do you feel unwell!?

  —If you squeeze me any more… —Kael replied with difficulty— I might suffocate…

  Tana immediately let go, bringing a hand to her mouth, tears still gathered in her eyes. She looked at him closely, searching for any sign of pain, and when she saw that he was conscious, she breathed a little easier. At that moment, another maid who had been watching over him hurried out of the room to inform everyone that the young master had woken up.

  —My young master… —Tana said, her voice trembling—. Why did you do something so dangerous? You could have been seriously hurt…

  —I’m sorry… —Kael replied, averting his gaze slightly—. The world of magic was so mysterious and fascinating… I got too excited when they were teaching me about alchemy…

  He did not manage to say anything else.

  The door burst open, and with almost absurd speed, two furious and deeply worried parents rushed into the room, followed by Freya and lord Garbard.

  —KAEL! —Caria shouted—. What you did was extremely dangerous!

  —I understand your desire to learn and experiment with new things —Laret added, frowning—, but you are still far too young to do something like that.

  Freya and lord Garbard stayed to the side, silently watching as the parents released their fear and anguish in the form of a scolding.

  —From now on —Laret continued in a firm voice— it is completely forbidden for you to read books about alchemy and nature. Not until you have greater control and your body is more prepared…

  —That’s not fair! —Kael protested, clutching the sheets—. It was my first time doing that… that’s why I didn’t know what would happen… it won’t happen again!

  —We are not doing this as punishment, Kael —Caria said, her voice breaking—. You put your life at risk, and that matters more to me than anything else. That is why we are forbidding it.

  —How am I supposed to grow if I can’t experiment!? —Kael shot back, his eyes wet—. If you want to improve, you have to practice!

  —Your lessons are exceptional —Laret intervened—, Freya has made sure your body remains in good condition, but you do not need to become a warrior or a mage.

  Freya stepped forward.

  —Kael, you have shown an incredible capacity to mature and evolve —she said seriously—. While my daughter still sucks her thumb and barely speaks, you already have full control over your awareness and your surroundings… something I have never seen in a child your age.

  But that does not give you a free pass to do whatever you want just because you are a prodigy.

  —From now on —Laret declared— you will focus only on stimulating your magic and on basic exercises. Nothing more!

  And you will not leave this house without a guardian at your side!

  With his eyes full of restrained tears, Kael spoke softly, but with anger behind his words.

  —Then bring some chains… —he said—. Attach them to the wall of this room and leave me here so you can feel safe.

  Because there is no other way… I would rather dry up inside this room than be prevented from growing and improving.

  That final outburst brutally ignited the parents, who only wanted to protect him. The tension in the room became almost unbearable. Just as they were about to explode, the great lord of the house stepped forward, placing himself in an intimidating position in front of the three.

  Garbard, with a severe expression, pointed directly at Kael.

  —KAEL! —he roared—. You may be my beloved grandson, but everything has a limit. You cannot disrespect your parents like that!

  That kind of behavior will not be tolerated, and it is certainly not fitting for a member of House Sungley.

  Kael, shocked, immediately lowered his head, aware that he had gone too far with his words.

  —Now then —Garbard continued, his voice more controlled—, I understand your frustration. Based on what happened, you did something unprecedented that clearly demonstrates the great level of mastery you have achieved in handling magic.

  I see an unquenchable fire of determination in your eyes… but I stand with your parents.

  He stepped a little closer.

  —If the cost of your growth is your suffering, I will not tolerate it. Your parents and everyone in this house do not care about you only because you are the young heir… they care about you because they deeply love you.

  The world out there is dangerous for you, and I ask you, please, to understand that we only want what is best for you…

  Kael listened to those words and, little by little, managed to calm down. He realized that he had acted like an immature child, reacting purely out of frustration.

  —I… —he murmured—. You are right…

  I apologize for saying that. I got too excited about the lessons teacher Freya was giving me… all those books explaining nature and the shape of the world made me want to know more and experiment.

  He took a deep breath before continuing.

  —I had a storm of ideas… things I wanted to try to do something incredible that could help you… and help the people…

  Laret, his anger already fading, looked at him carefully.

  —Help us? —he asked—. Why?

  Kael lifted his head and looked at each of them, one by one.

  —Because you all have the same look… —he said honestly—. I feel the same emotion in you.

  I feel that you carry an enormous weight that is slowly consuming you… and I wanted to help you…

  Everyone fell silent, visibly affected by the child’s answer.

  —You said it yourself, papa —Kael continued—, that family is the most important thing… that we must always look after family.

  So… am I not part of the family if you do not allow me to participate and support you?

  The room turned into a knot of mixed emotions. There was no clear path toward anger, joy, forgiveness, or acceptance.

  —You have certainly presented a very solid position —Garbard finally said—, but it is not enough for us to forget what happened and allow you to do whatever you want, Kael…

  At those words, Freya stepped forward and spoke firmly.

  —I feel responsible for this outcome —she said—. It was because of me that Kael became so eager to investigate more, and I did not know how to set a limit in time.

  I am fully and completely responsible for this, Sungley family…

  She took a breath before continuing.

  —I believe there is too much tension right now to make a fair decision. I ask that we postpone this resolution and discuss it more calmly, based on the results obtained.

  If we think things through carefully, I believe we can reach an agreement. Attacking Kael at this moment will only create more problems.

  Please, I ask for a private meeting with the great lord and the two parents tonight, after dinner, to address this matter…

  Garbard slowly nodded, maintaining a serious and neutral tone.

  —As a father and as a grandfather, I understand your feelings —he said—, but even as the lord of this house, I am still only a relative of Kael, not one of his true parents.

  I ask that we consider this proposal and analyze the situation calmly to reach a resolution.

  The tension was still present, but little by little it began to dissipate. Laret looked at Caria and, with a determined gesture, stood up.

  —I understand your position —he said—. I will not force you to change your opinion… but it is also true that we must better understand the situation and find the best path forward.

  Caria, with helplessness and resignation, accepted with a look, then approached Kael.

  —I hope you understand that for me, you are everything —she said softly—. You are my new reason for living… I would never do anything to make you suffer.

  We only want what is best for you. Now rest, please. Tomorrow we will talk about this more calmly.

  One by one, everyone left, leaving the room in silence. Tana stayed by his side, attentive, without saying a word.

  Exhausted by the outcome and the emotional weight, Kael closed his eyes. Fatigue finally overcame him, and as he drifted into sleep, he silently reflected on everything that had happened.