Chapter 4: The Prodigy's Early Years
The years following Kiyoshi's birth passed in a blur of whispered rumors and cautious hope. The Bael estate, once a place of quiet grandeur, now thrummed with a new energy—one that radiated from the young heir at its heart.
A Childhood Under Watchful Eyes
Kiyoshi's earliest memories were of gentle hands and careful voices. Magical wards shimmered faintly on every doorway and window, their runes glowing softly in the twilight. Servants moved with reverence and a hint of fear, always bowing low when Kiyoshi passed, their eyes lingering on his silvery-black hair and deep violet eyes.
One morning, as the sun's pale light filtered through enchanted glass, Kiyoshi sat in the nursery, surrounded by toys that danced and sang at a word. He watched a wooden gryphon flap its wings, his laughter echoing through the room.
Venelana entered, her presence warm and commanding. "Good morning, Kiyoshi. Practicing your magic again?"
Kiyoshi grinned, holding up the gryphon. "Look, Auntie! He can fly now."
Venelana knelt beside him, inspecting the toy. "Very impressive. But remember, true strength is knowing when not to use your power."
Kiyoshi's smile faded a little. "Everyone's always watching me. Even the walls."
Venelana's gaze softened. "That's because you're special. But it can be lonely, can't it?"
He nodded, his small fingers tracing the runes on the gryphon's wings. "Sometimes I wish I was normal."
Venelana hugged him gently. "Normal is overrated. You have a gift, Kiyoshi. One day, you'll understand why it matters."
Kiyoshi looked up at her, searching her face. "Do you ever wish you were normal, Auntie?"
Venelana laughed softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "Sometimes. But then I remember—being different is what lets us change the world."
Lessons in Etiquette and Magic
Kiyoshi's days were filled with lessons—history, etiquette, and, most of all, magic. Tutors from the finest houses arrived, each eager (and a little nervous) to teach the prodigy.
In the grand library, Kiyoshi sat at a polished desk, his feet barely touching the floor. Across from him, Master Orpheus, a stern old devil with a silver beard, recited the laws of the Underworld.
"Repeat after me, young master: 'With great power comes great responsibility.'"
Kiyoshi dutifully echoed the words, but his mind wandered to the magical wards outside the window, shimmering like distant stars.
After the lesson, Orpheus leaned in, lowering his voice. "You must learn to control your magic, Kiyoshi. The world fears what it does not understand."
Kiyoshi looked up, his eyes serious. "Will they always be afraid of me?"
Orpheus hesitated, then smiled kindly. "Perhaps. But fear can become respect. And respect can become trust."
Kiyoshi frowned, fiddling with the edge of his book. "What if I make a mistake?"
Orpheus's eyes softened. "Everyone makes mistakes, even Satans. What matters is that you learn from them—and never let fear rule your heart."
Later, during etiquette lessons, Venelana would guide him through the intricacies of noble manners. She would correct his posture, gently reposition his hands, and teach him how to read the subtle cues in a crowded room.
"Watch their eyes, Kiyoshi," she whispered during a mock reception. "A true leader listens more than he speaks."
Kiyoshi nodded, glancing at the assembled servants and tutors. "What if they're lying?"
Venelana smiled. "Then you smile back and let them think you believe them. Power isn't just magic—it's knowing when to speak, and when to stay silent."
The Weight of Awe
Despite his isolation, Kiyoshi's gentle nature won over many in the estate. Servants brought him treats and whispered stories of his kindness. Visiting nobles, at first wary, found themselves charmed by his quiet curiosity and polite manners.
One afternoon, as Kiyoshi wandered the gardens, he encountered a group of visiting children. They stared at him, wide-eyed, whispering behind their hands.
A bold girl with golden curls stepped forward. "Are you really as strong as they say?"
Kiyoshi shrugged, embarrassed. "I don't know. I just like making things fly."
The girl grinned. "Show us!"
With a shy smile, Kiyoshi lifted his hand. A cluster of petals rose into the air, swirling in a gentle dance. The children gasped, then burst into applause.
A boy with a mischievous grin nudged him. "Can you teach us?"
Kiyoshi nodded, delighted. For a moment, he felt like any other child—just a boy with friends, laughing in the sunlight.
They spent the afternoon playing, Kiyoshi showing them simple tricks—making stones skip across the pond, weaving light into shapes, and even creating a tiny raincloud that sprinkled them with cool mist. The children's laughter was infectious, and for a while, Kiyoshi forgot the weight of expectation.
As the sun set, the golden-haired girl tugged his sleeve. "Will you play with us again?"
Kiyoshi smiled, his heart light. "I'd like that."
Conversations with Flower and Zekram
That evening, Flower sat with Kiyoshi by the fire, brushing his hair as he recounted his day.
"They liked my magic, Mama. They weren't scared."
Flower smiled, her eyes shining. "You have a gift for making people see the good in you, Kiyoshi. Never lose that."
Kiyoshi hesitated, his voice small. "But what if I hurt someone by accident?"
Flower set the brush aside and cupped his face in her hands. "Then you apologize, and you try to do better. That's all anyone can ask."
Zekram entered, his expression thoughtful. "Remember, son, your power is a responsibility. Use it to protect, not to intimidate."
Kiyoshi nodded solemnly. "I promise, Father."
Zekram ruffled his hair, a rare smile breaking through his stern demeanor. "That's my boy."
He sat beside them, the firelight casting warm shadows on his face. "You know, when you were born, I was terrified. Not of you, but for you. The world can be cruel to those who stand out."
Kiyoshi looked at his father, wide-eyed. "Will you always protect me?"
Zekram's voice was steady. "As long as I draw breath. But one day, you'll have to protect others. That's what it means to be strong."
Yet, as the years passed, Kiyoshi could not escape the sense of being different. He noticed the way some adults flinched when his magic flared, or how whispers followed him in the halls.
One night, unable to sleep, Kiyoshi wandered to the balcony overlooking the estate. The Underworld's stars glittered above, cold and distant.
Venelana found him there, wrapping a cloak around his shoulders. "Couldn't sleep?"
Kiyoshi shook his head. "Do you think I'll ever be normal?"
Venelana sat beside him, her voice gentle. "You're not meant to be normal, Kiyoshi. You're meant to be extraordinary. And that's a lonely road sometimes. But you're never alone—not while you have family."
He leaned against her, comforted by her warmth.
They sat in silence for a while, the night air cool and still. Finally, Kiyoshi spoke. "Sometimes I wish I could just be a regular boy."
Venelana squeezed his hand. "You can be, with the right people. But don't ever hide who you are to make others comfortable. The world needs your light, even if it doesn't know it yet."
As the estate settled into quiet, Kiyoshi gazed out at the night, determination flickering in his violet eyes.
He whispered to the stars, "I'll make them proud. I'll make them all proud."
And so, under the watchful eyes of his family and the wary gaze of the Underworld, Kiyoshi's legend began to grow—not just as a prodigy, but as a boy determined to find his place in a world that both feared and needed him.