Path Ahead

Two more quiet years passed, gently shaping Kaelan's early childhood. At nearly three years old, Kaelan quietly observed and absorbed, deepening his understanding of the world around him while carefully maintaining the guise of innocence expected from a child.

One bright afternoon, sunlight streamed softly into Lorian's study. Kaelan sat quietly on the plush carpet, surrounded by scattered wooden blocks, but his true attention was fixed entirely on his father. Lorian carefully tinkered with a small rune-inscribed device, his brows furrowed deeply in frustration.

"This rune stabilizer refuses to activate," Lorian murmured, sighing. "But every rune appears correct. What am I missing?"

Kaelan subtly stood and walked over, pretending curiosity. "Daddy, what wrong?"

Lorian smiled warmly, lifting Kaelan onto his lap. "It's nothing, Kael. Daddy just can't seem to get this device to work properly."

Kaelan's small fingers reached out, tracing the runes with innocent fascination. His sharp eyes quickly spotted the tiny misalignment in the rune pattern. Carefully controlling his actions, he pointed to the misaligned rune, quietly asking, "What this?"

Lorian blinked, focusing intently on Kaelan's finger. Suddenly, realization flashed across his face. "You found the error? How did you even—?"

Quickly correcting himself, Lorian chuckled affectionately, shaking his head in amazement. "You're quite special, Kaelan. Maybe you'll surpass even your old man in runic engineering someday."

Kaelan giggled, maintaining his innocent persona. Internally, however, he felt satisfaction. His careful manipulation of the situation provided valuable confirmation of his intuitive mastery over rune structures, even without formal training.

Later that evening, as Elena tucked him into bed, she gently spoke of his approaching future. "Kaelan, you know you'll have your Awakening Ceremony when you turn nine. Depending on your talent, you'll enter a preparatory academy to start learning mana manipulation and runes."

Kaelan listened carefully, eyes wide with feigned curiosity.

She smiled warmly. "If your talent turns out especially strong, perhaps you'll attend somewhere prestigious—like the Luminis Preparatory Academy. It's one of the best junior academies in Aurelia, you know."

"Luminis…?" Kaelan repeated softly, carefully committing the name to memory.

"That's right," Elena said gently, brushing his hair lovingly. "They say children who graduate from Luminis often enter the elite Astraeus Academy later. Maybe you'll be one of them."

Kaelan nodded quietly, maintaining his innocent childlike expression. Internally, excitement surged. Now he understood clearly—he would first enter a junior preparatory academy to refine his skills discreetly before finally joining the prestigious Astraeus Academy at age twelve.

That night, as stars glittered outside his window, Kaelan lay awake, reflecting deeply on the day's revelations.

"First, the Awakening Ceremony at nine," he reasoned carefully. "Then, a junior academy like Luminis until twelve, and finally, Astraeus Academy. It's a clear path forward, logical and natural."

Satisfied by this newfound clarity, Kaelan gently closed his eyes and turned his focus inward, carefully drawing the mana around him into his developing body. Each practice session refined his control and expanded his pathways subtly yet effectively.

Over the months, this nightly training had become second nature. His talent continued quietly growing, always careful not to betray signs of extraordinary development openly. Still, subtle ripples formed around him—gentle, unnoticed shifts in the ambient mana that hinted at the extraordinary talent lying dormant within.

As sleep approached, Kaelan recalled the overheard rumors regarding dimensional rifts and increasingly strong mana beasts appearing at the kingdom's borders. These whispers concerned him, but he turned his unease into quiet determination.

"I must master my abilities fully before those threats reach us," he silently vowed. "I won't allow my past failure to repeat itself."

Outside, Aurelia slept quietly, unaware of the tiny yet significant steps unfolding within a modest home—a silent beginning of an extraordinary destiny patiently waiting to be fulfilled.