Tiny Mage

Kane rubbed his eyes a couple of times, blinking rapidly. "Is this a hallucination? Is this another trick from the mage?"

"No, dumbass, that's a real kid," Luther hissed.

Standing in the doorway was a little boy. He was no older than six or seven, and his hair was the first thing they noticed—a brilliant, fiery red that was so vivid that it seemed to glow in the dimly lit room. It flowed in thick, tangled waves, so long it pooled around his tiny feet and trailed on the dusty floor behind him.

The boy's eyes were large and golden, chubby cheeks smeared with dirt, and he was wearing nothing but a dirty, tattered white gown that hung loosely on his malnourished body. 

"Who are you guys?" The kid asked, crossing his arms with a frown on his face.

Kane and Luther looked at each other in bewilderment, then looked at Calix, who also looked equally surprised. 

"Who are you? How did you get here?" Calix asked.

"I asked you first," The red-haired boy snapped, visibly annoyed. "I live here. You guys are trespassers? Hmm," He walked closer, eyeing the knights and the Emperor. "No, you guys are wearing really fancy clothes. You're knights, and you're a noble!" 

Kane sputtered. "Hey, kid, who do you think you're talking to? Don't point at the Emperor like that!"

"I don't care! You guys are messing up the place! What if he comes back home and sees this? He's gonna take it out on me!"

The knights exchanged glances again. "Who are you referring to?"

"Who else? That crazy madman," The boy threw his arms up in exasperation, groaning. "Ugh, now I have to clean the place up exactly like before. Aelther's gonna kill me,"

At the mention of the dark mage's name, everyone stiffened, but the boy remained casual, still irritated by the whole situation. He walked over to the pile in the middle of the room. "This was all his stuff," He huffed, kicking a crystal with his bare foot. 

"Wait, you know him?"

The boy looked at the Emperor with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah. He's my dad,"

Kane gasped loudly, eyes widened in shock, and Luther was speechless. Calix, on the other hand, felt like the world around him became a blur. His mouth slightly hung open, but no words came out. 

"What...?" He finally whispered, voice coated with shock. 

The boy narrowed his eyes, looking back and forth between the knights and the Emperor. 

"Huh? You guys know him?"

"Uuhhh..." Kane looked over at Calix, looking at him like he'd grown two heads. "Your...Majesty?"

Calix tried to remember if Aelther ever mentioned anything about having a child. He had never seen that mage anywhere near a woman. Someone as evil as him shouldn't even have a child in the first place. 

"Aelther...is dead. I killed him," Calix responded carefully.

They waited for the boy's response.

But, his reaction wasn't what they expected.

"What? How?" The boy widened his eyes. "He always said that he's gonna rule the world. How come someone who said he wanted to rule over the world got killed so easily?"

Calix blinked. "You're, not upset?"

"Me? Why would I?"

"I killed your father,"

"Yeah, but he's crazy," The boy snorted. "That guy kept me here for years, and he always hurt me. I'm more upset that he lied to me! He said if he ruled over the world, I could do whatever I wanted. What am I gonna do now that he's dead? Live forever in this stinky place?"

Everyone went quiet again. Kane whispered to Luther. "I think this kid is messed up in the head,"

"Considering he's the dark mage's son, I'm not surprised," Luther whispered back.

"Wait, does that mean you're going to kill me too?" The boy suddenly asked, looking up at Calix.

Calix frowned. "What?"

"Well, you said you killed my dad. Are you going to kill me, too? I'm his son," The boy tilted his head to the side. "And since you guys are here trying to destroy everything, I'm guessing you guys gonna destroy everything related to him?"

Calix felt a chill creep up his spine at the little boy's words.

This child—small, dirty, and so skinny—stood before him as if death was nothing. 

It felt unsettling. But they realized that the boy was speaking the truth. 

He was truly the dark mage's son.

The knights shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to do with the situation. The Emperor remained still, eyes studying the boy closely.

"Hm. It depends. Are you going to follow in your father's footsteps?"

"What? Ruling the world? Sounds like too much work," The boy scowled. "And for what? What's the point of me ruling the world? I want to lay around every day and do nothing,"

Calix raised an eyebrow. "How would I know if you're not lying to me?"

"It's up to you if you want to trust me or not," The boy shrugged. 

"You're not afraid of death?"

"People die all the time, don't they? That's what he always says. It's just how it is," 

The way the boy said it so matter-of-fact was extremely disturbing. And because of that, Calix's hatred toward Aelther grew deeper. Just what kind of twisted teachings did Aelther tell this boy? How did he raise him?

"But, I guess since he's dead, you guys can go ahead and destroy his stuff. And you, uncle, step away from the altar! I'll get rid of the magic myself," The boy walked toward Calix. 

"U-Uncle..." Kane whispered, utterly bewildered. "That insolent brat-"

Calix didn't say anything and stepped away, feeling slightly amused that a little boy managed to tell him, the Emperor, what to do.

The boy raised his tiny hand, fingers curling slightly in the air. And then, his long, brilliant red hair shimmered as if reacting to the energy building up around him. And then, the room shook as the boy hovered his hand above the altar.

The knights took a cautious step back, unsure of what would happen.

Suddenly, a dark blue light flickered at the boy's fingertips. It was small at first, but then it quickly expanded into a glowing circle of energy with complex patterns. The boy's golden eyes looked bored as he kept murmuring spells, then flicked his wrist to send the glowing circle hurling toward the altar.

Everything was bright for a moment, and the altar was now nothing but a pile of blackened ash. The strange hum of magic that once blanketed the room suddenly disappeared. The pressure on their shoulders was lifted.

The dark mage's magic was gone.

"There," The boy hummed, seemingly satisfied. "All gone now,"

Calix stared at him in shock. "What was that?"

"Eh, just a little magic," The boy shrugged casually. "Aelther taught me few tricks. Also, I might've stolen some of his notes and read some magic books 'cause I'm bored,"

"Why can't I destroy it myself?"

"You can only destroy dark magic items with dark magic, silly uncle," The boy grinned, pointing up at Calix. 

The Emperor only stood amidst the crumbled debris, trying to comprehend what he had just witnessed. The boy, this small little kid, had wielded the same kind of power that Aelther once used. The power that could destroy the world. 

The knights must've known as well. They all just witnessed the boy's raw, unrestrained dark magic. 

Calix clenched his jaw, mind racing. He couldn't deny the boy's potential nor the danger it posed. If he left the boy unchecked, he might grow into something even more terrible than his father. 

However... if he could guide this child under careful guidance...

Maybe...

"You, what's your name?" Calix asked.

"Me? That man called me Senna,"

"Senna. Do you want to come with me?"