Leon Leonhart stood at the nursery door, golden-dark hair shining in the sunlight. His red eyes were calm but commanding. "Adrian, we have visitors today."
Adrian looked up from the floor where he was stacking small wooden blocks. "Visitors?"
"Yes," Leon said. "A friend of mine—Duke Marcus Kastahn—and his son. You should meet them."
Adrian tilted his head, curiosity in his small blue eyes. "Duke? A boy?"
"Yes," Leon replied. "A noble, and someone you should know. Meeting other children of noble families is important, Adrian. Even at your age."
Celestia leaned down, silver hair glinting softly in the light. "Be polite, Adrian," she said gently. "Observe carefully. Speak when it's appropriate, and remember what we practiced."
Adrian nodded seriously. "Yes, Mama."
The door creaked open, and Duke Marcus Kastahn entered. He was tall, confident, and carried himself with the weight of a noble. His sharp features and serious expression made the room seem smaller, somehow, even with the high ceilings.
Trailing behind him was a boy slightly older than Adrian, with a proud stance and a mischievous glint in his eyes. Adrian immediately stopped stacking blocks and watched him closely.
"I'm Adrian," he said, his voice small but steady.
"I'm Felix," the boy replied, puffing out his chest. "Dad says I'm a great future noble… like a prince!"
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… we'll see," he said thoughtfully. Then he crawled a few steps closer, eyes sharp, studying Felix as if he were an interesting puzzle to solve.
Marcus Kastahn bowed slightly to Leon. "It's an honor, Leon. I hope our children will get along… or at least learn from each other."
Leon nodded. "I'm sure they will. Adrian… remember what we practiced. Observe, stay calm, and don't do anything risky."
Celestia placed a gentle hand on Adrian's shoulder. "Magic is too dangerous for you right now," she said. "Watch and learn. Understanding comes first. Power comes later."
Felix looked around the nursery, noticing all the toys, books, and blocks Adrian had arranged. "Do you know any tricks?" he asked, clearly trying to impress.
Adrian shook his head. "Not yet. But I can think faster than you," he said, tilting his head in a challenge.
Felix laughed. "We'll see about that! I bet I can build a taller tower than you."
Adrian's small smile curled up at the corners. "Towers don't matter. Strategy matters. Watch carefully." He pointed to the blocks, indicating where Felix should place his pieces.
Felix frowned but followed Adrian's subtle direction. Within moments, Adrian had orchestrated the blocks in a clever pattern—some leaning slightly to test Felix's perception, others stacked to create balance.
Marcus Kastahn observed quietly, arms crossed. "Leon, your son seems… precocious," he said.
Leon smirked faintly. "Precocious is an understatement. At three, he already understands observation and strategy better than most older children."
Celestia nodded. "And he understands caution. Magic is forbidden, but he learns through observation and careful thought. That's more valuable at this age than reckless displays of power."
Felix, meanwhile, tried to topple one of Adrian's blocks, grinning as he nudged it with his elbow.
Adrian's small hands flew to steady it. "Careful! That was a test," he said firmly. "You should pay attention, not just push things."
Felix blinked, surprised. "A test?"
"Yes," Adrian said. "Every move matters. If you rush, you lose balance. You can't win by strength alone."
Felix's lips pressed together. "You think you're smart."
"I am," Adrian replied, tilting his head. "But smart is different from strong."
Marcus laughed quietly. "I see. He's already teaching your son strategy, Leon."
Leon's red eyes gleamed with pride. "He observes, learns, and calculates. That is far more dangerous than magic at this age."
Celestia added, "And he's learning diplomacy too. How to interact with other children, how to assert himself without aggression. That is just as important as control over magic."
Felix glanced at Adrian again. "Okay… can you beat me in a race?"
Adrian's small smile widened. "Maybe. But first, you must listen to the rules. You cannot cheat."
Felix shrugged. "Fine. Rules it is."
Leon and Marcus exchanged amused glances, silently agreeing that the two boys were already testing each other in subtle ways—social, strategic, and playful.
Adrian set up a small path between two rugs. "First one to the other side wins. No pushing, no shortcuts."
Felix nodded eagerly. "Deal."
Celestia watched quietly, her blue eyes calm. "Remember, Adrian… this is about learning control, not just winning."
Adrian nodded. "I know, Mama."
The race began. Adrian crawled carefully, maintaining balance and speed, while Felix rushed forward with unrestrained energy. Felix slipped on the rug's edge, stumbling slightly. Adrian didn't laugh; instead, he slowed just enough to help Felix regain footing.
Felix's red hair (well, slightly darker than Adrian's blue eyes) flushed with effort. "Hey! That's… sneaky!"
Adrian shrugged innocently. "Strategy isn't cheating. You'll learn."
Marcus chuckled. "Your son is remarkable, Leon. At three, he already knows empathy and strategy—both essential for leadership."
Leon smirked. "And he knows caution. Magic is forbidden now, but his mind works faster than many who can wield it freely."
Celestia nodded in agreement. "We must guide him carefully. Too much power too soon could be dangerous. Observation, patience, and cleverness—those are the foundations."
Felix finally reached the rug, panting slightly. "I lost!" he said, half annoyed, half impressed.
Adrian smiled softly. "You didn't lose. You learned something. That's better than winning."
Felix blinked. "Learning is… better than winning?"
"Yes," Adrian said confidently. "A good ruler thinks ahead. Power isn't everything. Understanding is."
Marcus and Leon exchanged impressed glances. "He may be three," Marcus said softly, "but he understands lessons most children—and even some adults—cannot grasp."
Felix looked at Adrian again, a grudging respect forming. "Maybe… maybe you're not just smart. Maybe you're… tricky."
Adrian tilted his head. "Strategy is tricky. You'll learn if you pay attention."
Celestia smiled, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear. "Exactly. Observe, think, and act wisely. That is the path to ruling well. Power without wisdom is dangerous."
Leon stepped closer to Adrian. "Remember, even small decisions matter. Every choice teaches you something."
Adrian nodded solemnly, absorbing every word. At three years old, he could not wield magic, but he could already understand strategy, empathy, and observation.
Felix's grin returned. "Okay, Adrian. Next time… I'll win. And I'll watch every move you make."
Adrian laughed softly. "I'll be ready."
The nursery grew quiet again as the adults watched the boys interact. Even without magic, Adrian had made an impression. Observing, thinking, and understanding—these were already lessons in ruling.
Marcus leaned closer to Leon. "He's remarkable, Leon. At three, he already demonstrates the qualities of a future leader."
Leon's red eyes gleamed with pride. "And he does it safely. Observation, patience, and intelligence—those will serve him more than raw power."
Celestia's blue eyes softened as she watched her son. "He's learning that ruling is more than strength or magic. It's wisdom, strategy, and empathy."
Adrian looked up at Felix and said quietly, "Next time, we'll see who wins… but we both have to learn first."
Felix nodded slowly, a small smile forming. "Deal. But I'll be watching you."
The two boys sat together on the rug, a subtle rivalry forming but also a mutual curiosity. Even without magic, they had begun a game of strategy, observation, and leadership—a game only a child of three could play so seriously.
Leon, Celestia, and Marcus exchanged amused smiles, quietly acknowledging that the future rulers-in-training were already learning lessons far beyond their age.
And in the nursery, three-year-old Adrian already understood something important: power was not just what you could do—it was what you understood, how you acted, and how wisely you chose.