Laying the First Stones

The crisp morning air filled Kaelion's lungs as he jogged back home, his breath steady and measured. His routine had been set in stone since he was four, a habit forged out of discipline rather than necessity. With Raphael guiding him, there was little chance of injury or miscalculation in his training.

Wiping a light sheen of sweat from his brow, he stepped inside, the familiar scent of cooking spices and freshly baked bread welcoming him. His mother was already in the kitchen, moving effortlessly between the pots and pans, her back turned as she worked.

Kaelion paused for a moment, taking in her appearance. Dark skin, warm brown eyes—features he had inherited, except for her petite frame. At 5'3", she was considered short, and he was silently grateful that, according to Raphael's calculations, he'd grow to be around six feet tall by the time he turned sixteen.

A smirk crossed his lips as he approached. "Morning, Ma."

She turned, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Back already? Didn't feel like pushing yourself today?"

He chuckled. "Nah, just hungry." He glanced at the pot. "Smells good. Need help?"

She waved him off. "Go shower first. You can help after. I don't want sweat in my food."

"Fair point."

As he headed upstairs, he couldn't help but reflect on how much he had grown to appreciate her. It had taken time—not as a mother, exactly, but as an aunt, a sister, a friend. No one could replace his first mother, but he still loved this one in his own way.

By the time he returned, freshly cleaned and dressed, his mother had set the table. They ate together, chatting about trivial things—the rising cost of vegetables, the unruly children stirring up trouble in the neighborhood, and her plans to mend the roof before the next heavy rain.

Midway through breakfast, Kaelion casually said, "I'll have some guests later today, so I won't be able to help at the clinic."

His mother raised a curious brow. "Oh? Who's coming over?"

"Some kids," he replied, taking a sip of water. "I've decided to start teaching them."

She set down her spoon, giving him her full attention. "Teaching them?"

Kaelion nodded. "Reading, writing, basic math—skills they can use to make an honest living. I figured I'd start small, see how they learn, and adjust my approach."

His mother studied him for a long moment before breaking into a broad smile. "Kaelion… this is wonderful!" Before he could react, she nearly lunged across the table, wrapping him in a tight embrace and peppering his face with kisses.

"Ma—!" he groaned, squirming.

"I'm just so happy you're finally making friends!" she gushed, squeezing him. "Even if it's in your own weird way."

"It's not weird," he muttered, finally prying himself free. "Anyway, I plan to buy that old cot near our house and renovate it for the school."

Her eyes widened. "You're serious about this?"

"Yeah," he said simply.

She exhaled, shaking her head in amazement before her expression softened. "Alright. But before that—don't forget, today's your appointment with Maester Arthur. He finally got you access to the Citadel's library."

Kaelion's eyes gleamed. "As if I'd forget. I've been waiting for this for years."

---

In the slums, a group of children huddled together in an alleyway, their expressions tense.

"Are we really doing this?" one of the older boys, a lanky child with sharp eyes, asked.

"We're already here," another muttered.

"But what if it's a trap?"

Maera, the girl leading them, crossed her arms. "He let me go. He let all of us go. If he wanted to turn us in, he could've done it already."

A younger boy scoffed. "And you actually believe he just wants to 'teach' us? What kind of rich brat does that?"

Maera frowned. "I don't know. But what I do know is that stealing doesn't always work. This might be our best chance at something better."

Silence fell over the group. Then, begrudgingly, they all nodded.

"Fine," one of them muttered. "But if this goes sideways, we leave."

Maera smirked. "Obviously."

---

Kaelion leaned against a low wall, arms crossed as he watched the group approach. He could see the tension in their movements, the way their eyes flickered between him and potential escape routes. Caution. Good. That meant they weren't fools.

Maera stepped forward, chin raised. "Alright. We're here. What's this all about?"

Kaelion let the silence stretch before answering. "I'm offering you something better than stealing—a way to make money that doesn't rely on luck or running from guards."

One of the boys scoffed. "And you expect us to believe that?"

"Believe what you want," Kaelion replied smoothly. "But I can prove it. I'll teach you to read, write, and develop skills that people will pay for." His gaze swept over them. "But first, I need to figure out what you're good at. Give me a month."

"A month?" one of the younger boys frowned. "That's too long!"

Kaelion smirked. "Is it? How long have you been struggling just to eat?"

The boy shut his mouth.

"I'll make it simple," Kaelion continued. "For one month, I study you. In return, you'll be fed twice a day, every day, for free."

Maera narrowed her eyes. "And what do you get out of this?"

Kaelion tilted his head. "A future investment."

The group murmured amongst themselves. The offer was tempting. Too tempting.

One of the younger kids hesitated before asking, "Just food?"

Kaelion's smirk widened. "Food, knowledge, and a future. All I ask is that you listen and follow my teachings."

Still, there was doubt. He could see it in their eyes.

"Look," Kaelion said, his voice dropping slightly. "You don't have to stay. If, after a month, you think I'm wasting your time, you can leave. No strings attached." He stepped forward slightly, letting his presence press into them. "But if you take this seriously, I promise you—you'll never have to worry about your next meal again."

That finally sealed the deal.

Maera nodded. "Fine. One month."

The others hesitated but, one by one, nodded in agreement.

Kaelion grinned. Step one—complete.

---

Back at home, Kaelion's mother stood before the run-down cot next to their house, arms crossed as she haggled with its owner.

"Forty silver stags," she offered.

The man scoffed. "Fifty."

"Forty-five, and I won't mention that time you tried to water down your ale to the city watch."

A pause. Then, a defeated sigh. "Deal."

As the agreement was settled, she exhaled softly, glancing at the cot. It would take work to fix, but Kaelion was determined—and she had never seen him fail at anything he set his mind to.

Besides, money wasn't an issue. Not anymore.

Ever since she had discovered antiseptics—or rather, what the world believed was her discovery—their income had surged. Nobles and healers alike sought her out, eager to purchase the miraculous solution that prevented infections before they even started.

She smiled to herself.

Her son's genius was already changing the world, even if no one knew it was him.

And this?

This was just the beginning.

...

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Now that we are approaching 10 chapters I'd like if you guys can leave a review as well as comments to let me know your thoughts on the story so far thanks 👍 😊.