Chapter 5 – The Prodigy Child
Life in the hidden elven enclave passed slowly, steeped in silence. Deep within the forest, the remnants of the elves had built a settlement from living trees—simple halls and dwellings, far removed from the eyes of humans, orcs, and beastmen. At its center, within a cradle carved from roots and polished wood, the infant Valdyn Thalorian grew.
From the beginning, everyone who cared for him sensed he was different. There was something unusual about this child—something that stirred even the forest spirits around him, as if the world itself whispered in his presence.
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One morning, when Valdyn was only a few months old, a handmaiden watching over him gasped in shock. As the baby laughed, flowers in a clay pot by the window bloomed all at once, their petals unfurling under no sunlight.
"This... this is impossible..." the maid whispered, her eyes wide. "He's only a baby... how can nature magic respond to him?"
Valdyn's infant eyes followed the blossoms, and deep inside he sensed it—an unfamiliar yet intimate current of energy flowing through him. Is this... nature magic?
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As weeks passed, Valdyn's strangeness became undeniable.
While most infants took years to form words, Valdyn already recognized tone and meaning within months.
When his mother sang, he seemed to understand the song's meaning, not merely its melody.
Once, when a maid dropped a jug of water, Valdyn cried—and the spilled water swirled back into the jug on its own.
"He... he cast magic without a spell," one maid whispered, trembling in awe.
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The elven elders began visiting more often, peering into the cradle with wary fascination.
"Never has an infant channeled natural energy before maturity..."
"Could this be the prophecy made flesh?"
"Perhaps he truly is... the Elf Emperor foretold."
Queen Serenea only smiled faintly. "I do not know... but I can feel it. He is no ordinary child. The blood of Thalorian runs strong in him."
Valdyn, though tiny, caught the tone of their voices. Elf Emperor... they really believe I am their last hope?
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That night, as Valdyn slept, the mechanical voice returned once more.
[DING!!]
> New Quest Unlocked:
"Activate one basic element before the age of 5."
Description:
– Master one basic elemental affinity (Water, Fire, Wind, or Earth).
– Prove your magical potential as heir of Thalorian blood.
Reward: +10 Magic, +10 Intelligence.
Valdyn stirred, his tiny eyes fluttering open. So... I must awaken an element before I reach five years old? That means I need to start learning right now.
A faint grin tugged at his infant lips. Fortunately, I still have my knowledge from my old world. I studied theories of magic from novels and anime. I only need to... try them in reality.
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The next day, when left alone in his chamber, Valdyn tried something simple. He recalled a meditation technique he had read about—quiet the mind, feel the flow of energy.
Calm... focus... imagine the wind...
The air around him trembled faintly. The curtains swayed, though no breeze came from outside.
[DING!!]
> Progress: 10% toward Quest completion.
Valdyn's eyes lit with excitement. It worked... only a little, but it worked. I can truly wield magic.
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When Queen Serenea entered and saw the curtains still moving, she froze. Valdyn stared back at her, his emerald eyes gleaming strangely.
"Valdyn... have you already touched magic?" she asked softly, though knowing he could not answer.
She sighed, gathering him into her arms. "If it is true... then time will reveal it. But I fear for you, my child. This world is cruel to those who stand above others."
Valdyn gazed at her, silent but resolute. Don't fear, Mother. I will grow strong. I will protect you, and our people.
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Word spread quickly. The "prodigy child" became the talk of the scattered elves. Many came just to glimpse him.
– When he smiled, flowers bloomed.
– When he cried, the wind stirred around him.
For a race on the edge of despair, his presence became a beacon.
"The prophecy is real..."
"He will save us."
"Look—nature itself bends to him."
But others were uneasy.
"If humans or orcs hear of this, they will come to kill him."
"We must keep his existence secret."
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Deep in the hidden forest, a child grew—a child who stirred magic without trying, who brought hope simply by breathing.
He was not merely an heir. He was the spark of rebirth.
In his cradle, Valdyn Thalorian gazed upward, eyes far too sharp for an infant.
The System chimed once more.
[DING!!]
> Quest Active:
"Activate one basic element before age 5."
Thus began the first step on the long path toward the revival of the elves.
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