Havel stood on the balcony, arms folded, eyes sharp as blades. Below, the courtyard thrummed with early morning life—banners fluttered, servants scurried, and young heirs took their positions for the day's lessons.
His gaze fixed on one figure, already unmoving, flawless in posture.
Damn…
The boy has been meditating for three hours straight. Not a twitch. Not a blink. His focus… it's literally unnerving. Almost unnatural.
This level of concentration rivals my own mental fortitude. And he just turned seven years old. The child isn't merely talented—he's different.
Havel narrowed his eyes. Every student had their strengths, their quirks. But Kaito? He exists on another plane entirely.
I wonder if he even notices the world around him while meditating…
---
Kaito's eyes were closed.
The world whispered. Birds chirped softly. The wind stirred the banners, carrying the scent of dew and stone. A distant guard shifted on the cobblestones, a faint ripple of intention brushing against Kaito's awareness. Someone was observing him.
He didn't turn. He didn't need to.
It wasn't malice. Only curiosity.
He breathed. The white mist curling through the courtyard seemed to respond. Mana.
It's beautiful.
Light pooled in his chest, making him feel lighter, freer. His heartbeat synced with the unseen currents.
I've been meditating since I was three… it's been four years already.
Memories surfaced,the early struggles, fleeting moments of failure. At first, my concentration lasted only few minutes, slipping like sand through fingers. But Mother… she never gave up.
She bore the weight of an entire empire yet sat beside me every day, teaching, guiding, playing.
How could I betray her efforts? How could I not repay her patience?
Thoughts of his father drifted in, distant shadows brushing the edges of his mind.
He remembered his fifth birthday. Until then, Reyzen Bloodcrest had been little more than a story whispered by Selena or Aria, a distant, untouchable figure.
But that day…
They had sat at the dinner table. Selena, Aria, Kaito… and the emperor. Reyzen Bloodcrest. A man whose name carried the weight of empires.
He didn't smiled. He didn't asked how Kaito slept, didn't questioned what he wants, nor did he teased him casually like Aria or Selena. Only:
"Happy birthday, my son."
Then took few bites of his food and said another few words.
"I hope you're training well."
Chew...Chew...
"Work hard if you want to achieve great heights."
And then he left.
Kaito just said Okay, Thank you and silence. This isn't how a father and son are expected to behave after meeting for the first time ever since his birth.
As if mere presence could replace years of absence.
Kaito let the memory fade, returning to the white mist and the hum of life around him.
Well I don't need approval. I don't need recognition. I only need… this. The flow. The pulse. The light of life itself.
He opened his eyes slightly. Golden light glimmered within them.
Across the courtyard, Darius moved with precision. Each breath drew him closer to mastery, energy threading through his body.
Then Kaito thought—
Darius… he sensed mana before I was even born. And now, he's already manifested his core.
Kael and Seren displayed their command of mana nearby. And then Aria,my sister,moved silently, radiating a presence that demanded attention.
She's already far ahead compared to them, just like Mother.
Aria's absorption method remained a mystery, even to the most learned instructors. Only Selena had achieved it, and Aria had received it directly. That's why she's untouchable.
Unlike the others, Kaito's heart clung to her. She had always protected him, stood by him, played with him when she chose. Every month he waited, counting the days until her presence returned.
She's my anchor… my protector… my standard.
Then there was Lyra. Born to a mid-ranking concubine, she had yet to sense mana, her weakness plain. Bullied, ignored, discarded by those who respected only strength.
It doesn't matters to me.
To me, only two names held weight: Aria and Mother. Everything else—bragging, bullying, hierarchy—was irrelevant.
He inhaled slowly, letting ambient mana brush against him. Every sibling a note in the courtyard's symphony, every movement a ripple in the flow. He observed. Calculated. Learned. Waited.
Aria and Mother were enough.
He closed his eyes, diving back into meditation. Focus. Patience. Observation. Every detail mattered. Every breath. Every heartbeat.
---
Days passed. Kaito remained near motionless, eyes closed, attuned to the faint hum of the world. Birds, wind, banners—every vibration carried mana. Slowly, imperceptibly, he began sensing it beyond meditation.
This is it… I can feel it.
Opening his eyes, he saw sunlight tracing gold across banners. Guards' movements were no longer just shapes; he sensed their aura, the flow of their energy. Even servants sweeping left ripples in the mana around them.
A small smile curved his lips.
"I can… feel it. Without meditating," he murmured.
Later, in the semicircle of young heirs, he spoke calmly, precise, almost factual:
"Master Havel… I can sense mana perfectly now. Even without meditation. I can feel it everywhere."
Havel's eyes narrowed.
"Everywhere?"
Kaito nodded, serene. "Air, banners, people… everything."
A stunned hush fell. Darius shifted uneasily. Kael's jaw tightened. Even Seren blinked. None had achieved anything close.
Havel lingered, calculating. Seven years old… sensing mana perfectly? Only Aria had done this. This boy… wasn't merely talented. He was extraordinary.
The energy flowed around him, through him. For the first time, Kaito smiled.
So this is… the pulse of life.
---
Rage exploded from Darius. "Feel it, you little brat? You're just trying to show off! You'll never sense mana like us! You're nothing but trash!"
A sudden chill swept the courtyard making even Havel feel cold whereas Darius started shaking.
"Don't be jealous you shit," Aria said, her voice cold, protective, power crackling at her fingertips. "Kaito won't lie. He isn't like you bastard son. Speak again, and I'll tear you apart."
Seren, who had thought of mocking him, shut her mouth before a word escaped.
Darius clenched his fists. Damn that prodigy… I can't even relieve my stress now. If I challenge him, she'll kill me…
Lyra felt her burden deepen. Even the smallest sibling could do what she couldn't.
There's only one way to survive… she thought. Swordsmanship. Father must let me enroll in Zyburg Academy when I'm of age. It's my only hope.
Aria stepped forward, hugging Kaito, ice magic shimmering around her. "Congratulations, my brother. You're now one step closer to our level. I'm so proud of you."
Kaito's chest warmed. Seeing Aria by his side, unwavering, made him feel… safe.
---
Hours later, the news spread like wildfire. Whispers became shouts, shouts became awe.
"Another prodigy… born of the Bloodcrest family."
"And again… a child of the War Goddess herself."
"I heard he's just seven years old and already sensing mana perfectly just like Aria Bloodcrest."
The courtyard buzzed. Servants paused mid-step. Older heirs glanced toward the nursery with unease.
Then,a flash of golden light tore through the halls. Selena moved faster than anyone could track, sweeping into the courtyard. Before anyone reacted, Kaito was lifted, cradled in her embrace.
"My childddd…!" she exclaimed, her voice vibrating with pride. "You've done it! Mommy is so proud of youuu!"
She pressed kisses to his forehead, cheeks, and hair. Her golden eyes shone brighter than the sun. "I knew it! I knew you were a prodigy… you're my child, after all!"
Kaito blinked, slightly embarrassed but calm. The heat of her aura was familiar, empowering.
"Now," Selena said with a mischievous grin, "show me your meditation. I want to feel what you're sensing."
Normally, no one could experience another's perception. But Selena wasn't normal. War Goddess, Empress, mother—her senses transcended mortals.
Kaito closed his eyes, inhaling slowly. The white mist, the pulse of mana, the heartbeat of the world… he shared it with her. She dipped into his mind, tasting his perception, feeling the energy he'd woven around himself.
He opened his eyes. "Mama… I can feel it everywhere. The air, banners, guards… everything hums with mana."
Selena's eyes widened. Laughter—soft, amused, victorious spilled from her lips.
"My child… my prodigy… you're already far beyond your years. Far beyond even my expectations."
She clapped her hands. "Send letters. We'll hold a banquet in three days to celebrate my son's achievement."
For a moment, nothing else mattered. Not siblings, not nobles, not scheming branch families.
Only Kaito… and his mother's radiant pride.