"You wouldn't believe it," Elise said, holding her hand about four feet from the ground. "He's already this tall."
Nowick's hand, stroking his hair, froze. Surprise flickered in his eyes. A three-month-old infant was four feet tall? That was beyond "unusual."
"He's just a fast developer," Nowick said, trying to rationalize it. "He did survive a city-leveling explosion. A little rapid growth is understandable."
"No, it's not just that." Elise shook her head. "What I'm truly afraid of isn't his height. The boy can eat at least a hundred pounds of meat a day, so his rapid physical growth makes sense. It's his mind that terrifies me."
"In just three months—two months, really—I ran out of things to teach him. He's already read one-fifth of the ancient texts in the Grand Library, and he can recite them backward."
Elise rose from her position on the ground and knelt on the grass, looking her husband in the eye. "Nowick, my King. His learning speed and his unique qualities frighten me. They say there's a fine line between a genius and a madman."
His wife's words struck Nowick hard. He stared at the stone table, his mind a million miles away, lost in thought.
Elise's worries were justified. Knowledge was a double-edged sword. The texts in the library contained humanity's greatest achievements, but also its deepest, darkest secrets.
She waited patiently, knowing her husband would find a solution. She had been tormented by this for months, but now she was no longer alone in her worry.
After a long silence, Nowick finally spoke. He looked down at her. "From now on, you don't need to teach him, or fear him. You only need to love him. Truly, unconditionally love him."
"Love?" Elise asked, confused. "I like him very much, Nowick. Everyone who has met Blazkowicz likes him." She tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear. "I don't understand what you mean."
"Does Blazkowicz respect you?" Nowick asked, bypassing her question.
"He is very sensible and well-behaved," Elise said, thinking for a moment. Aside from the primal fear, she couldn't find a single fault with the boy. "He is also very obedient. Everything I teach him, he thinks about and then executes perfectly."
A smile lit up her face as she spoke. "His ability to act on things is exemplary." What mother wouldn't love a child who was so outstanding? "But I'm worried about his hobbies. He's already developed a love for fried food and video games, you know. The kind of bad habits that give mothers headaches."
Nowick let out a boisterous laugh. His stern face split into a wide, toothy grin.
"Nowick!" Elise playfully glared at him, letting out a relieved sigh.
"You don't need to worry or fear," Nowick said, taking her hand in his. "He has love for you, interest in the outside world, and things he likes. Everything you've told me proves he possesses humanity and complex emotions, not a monster in human skin."
He kissed the back of her hand. "You have taught him well, preventing a pure, blank slate from being tainted. Don't fear him. Humanity is the basis for telling good from evil, and you have given him a solid foundation."
"You should be proud. To be the mother of a prodigy, you need the courage to accept his unique nature. In your heart, you must not see him as some kind of superman. Even if he could smash a planet with one punch, he is still your son. The talent he has is not something he can control. His core is a child who needs love and guidance."
"I understand," Elise said, her worries melting away. "I will do as you say. I will love him without reservation and accept his extraordinary nature."
"Honestly, sometimes I feel helpless and lost," Elise said, a gentle smile returning to her face. "I was worried I couldn't teach him what he needed to know. Now I understand that if I cannot give him guidance, I will give him love. Love is the most important thing we can give our children."
"Your wisdom is a constant guide," Elise said, leaning her head on his lap. She cherished this peaceful moment. She knew that after a brief reunion, he would be gone again, off to fight the Orcs, a persistent disease that kept springing from the earth.
Research had shown that the Green-skins could reproduce asexually. They were a fungal-like species; a simple piece of hair or dander could take root in the soil and grow a full-fledged Orc. Eradicating them would be a long, difficult task.
"Nowick," Elise said softly, her voice filled with sadness. "Ennio and Flano… is there really no chance for them?"
He gave a heavy, firm sigh. Nowick and Elise had two sons, Ennio and Flano. Before Doom, Ennio was Nowick's preferred choice to be his heir and lead the Sentinels. He would follow in his father's footsteps and lead the people back into space.
But now, Nowick had seen true hope, a chance to break free from humanity's shackles.
"I feel heartbroken for Ennio," Elise said, her voice choked with emotion. "He has been striving for decades, day in and day out, to be worthy of you. To meet your expectations."
Hot tears fell onto his armor. Nowick's hand clenched into a fist, then relaxed. He had wondered if his decision was a hasty one. But not anymore.
"Have you seen Blazkowicz's talent?" Nowick said, stroking her back. "Can Ennio catch up to him? Where Ennio hopes to be is just his starting point."
"I think you, who have had the most contact with Blazkowicz, should understand my choice."
Elise's body trembled. "This is too unfair. Will Ennio accept it?"
"The world is unfair," Nowick said. "If Ennio truly understands me, he will know my choice is the right one. The Novick family's oath isn't for the throne room, but for the vast universe."
A moment of silence passed between them. Elise stopped crying and fell asleep on his lap.
Suddenly, a court lady ran into the garden, her expression frantic. "Your Majesty, the Third Prince has run off to the arena!"
Elise's eyes snapped open. She stood to leave, but Nowick's large hand stopped her. "I'll go with you," he said. "I haven't seen Blazkowicz since the Siege War."