Morning light filtered into the modest workshop through narrow windows, illuminating drifting motes of dust. Though a humble space, this forge was the heart of the Ashborne household – an extension of Father's calloused hands and earnest spirit. I lay nestled in a wicker cradle pushed up against a nearby bench, swaddled in warmth. The low rumble of the bellows and the ring of steel on steel were a daily lullaby.
Despite my infant body, I was anything but idle. In the week since my birth, I'd come to realize just how crucial every moment of this early life could be. My mother's gentle singing in the next room, the rhythmic pounding from Father's anvil—each sound and sensation shaped the mosaic of my new reality. Now that I had a name, Kael, it felt more and more real. This wasn't a dream. This was my second chance.
Still swaddled, I carefully slipped a strand of mana through my budding mana circuits. The sensation was fragile and trembling, akin to threading a needle with shaky hands. In my past life, I could conjure arcs of lightning or crush foes with telekinetic force. Now, making a single ripple of energy across my palms was a victory. But I had patience – a virtue hammered into me by experience and regrets. Each day, I tested my infant limbs, coaxing them to accept more mana without overwhelming them.
Clang… Clang…Father hammered a glowing iron rod, forging it into the shape of a hinge or bracket. Despite the monotony, subtle pulses of mana flitted in the metal each time his hammer fell. He was no mage, but like many blacksmiths in Aurelia, Father harnessed faint elemental runes within the forge. That synergy allowed him to craft sturdier implements. I watched carefully, absorbing the knowledge: runic forging might be simple, but it was a stepping stone to grander magitech creations.
Mother's voice drifted in from behind: "Kael, love, are you awake?"She gently approached, leaning over the cradle. Her smile warmed me even more than the forge's heat. "You always watch your father so seriously." A playful chuckle escaped her lips as she brushed her fingertips across my cheek.
I cooed, blinking at her. It was an odd dance—knowing exactly what I wanted to say but lacking the mouth coordination to speak. Still, my mother's presence was like a soothing lull in the swirling energies around me. Father set his hammer down momentarily, wiping sweat from his brow, and peered over.
"He's got a sharp gaze, that one," Father mused. "Sometimes I swear he's studying my every move."
I managed a small sound in reply, part curiosity, part infant reflex. If only they knew.
Late Morning Routine
After a while, Mother lifted me out of the cradle and carried me into the adjacent living area. Sunlight painted patterns on the wooden floor, and the crackle of the hearth provided a comforting backdrop. She settled onto a rocking chair, gently humming. Meanwhile, I focused on regulating my breathing, cycling mana from my tiny core outward to each limb, recalling the old methods from my past life.
A faint golden text flickered at the corner of my vision. I'd become used to this phenomenon over the last few days.
Status Window
Name: Kael Ashborne
Talent: SSS
Age: 1 week old
Core Grade: Unawakened
Physique: Omni-Element Physique (Sealed)
Level: 1
Strength: 2
Intelligence: 10
Spirit: 8
Agility: 1
Constitution: 2
Skills:
Mana Sense (Novice, Lv.2)
The panel hovered briefly, only visible to me thanks to my awakened senses. My brows furrowed in mild satisfaction: it hadn't changed much, but I was confident even small steps would become leaps. At times, I recalled my old core shining like a miniature star inside my chest, but that was in another life. For now, Red Core status—once I fully awakened—would be my first big milestone.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Exhaling a strand of mana, I turned my attention to the forging aura that lingered on Father's clothes. That warm, metallic tang teased my senses, urging me to keep practicing so that one day I could manipulate runic forging as casually as he hammered steel.
Just then, a swirl of energy fluttered within me. My left hand reflexively clenched, and my fingertips glowed for the briefest moment—like a tiny spark. Surprised, I tried to replicate the sensation.
[Notification: Minor Mana Circuit Activation. +1 Spirit Through Practice!]
A subtle pulse reverberated through my body, followed by a faint swirl of contentment. My Spirit stat inched up from eight to nine. Exhilaration filled me—progress, however small, reaffirmed my path.
A Visitor's Arrival
Later, while Mother attempted to feed me, a gentle knock sounded at our door. Father put aside his tools and answered. A middle-aged neighbor—Mister Fallow—stepped in, wearing a warm grin. He carried a small basket of herbs and simple gifts to celebrate my birth. Mother thanked him with a smile.
"Wanted to greet the newest Ashborne," he said, peering at me with friendly curiosity. "Looks healthy and alert."
I returned his gaze, though from an infant's vantage point. He had the faintest flicker of mana around him—like most villagers, mostly unused potential. But I could sense the neighborly kindness in his aura.
Father and Mister Fallow chatted about the upcoming harvest festival, while Mother excused herself to lay me down for a nap. She set me on a padded mat near the hearth. The warmth lulled me, but I refused to drift off completely. Instead, I let their muffled voices wash over me as I continued subtle mana exercises.
"He's got a strong pair of lungs," Mister Fallow joked, referencing the occasional cries I let out at night. "He'll be forging right alongside you in no time, Ashborne."
"Let's hope," Father replied, though I could sense his pride. "We'll see if the boy follows in my footsteps or tries something different."
A part of me felt affection for these simple moments of normality. In my previous life, I seldom had the chance for such familial peace. The war overshadowed everything. Here, small talk and neighborly visits were precious.
Afternoon Sparks
Hours later, once the neighbor departed and lunch was done, Father beckoned me over—well, beckoned Mother to bring me within sight. He was testing a newly inscribed rune in the forge's anvil base. A faint crackle of energy sparked across the metal's surface.
"Look at this, son," Father joked, fully aware I couldn't respond with words. "A local mage scribed a Reinforce Rune for me. Suppose it'll last a good while before the glow fades."
I stared, enthralled. The rune lines were rudimentary but stable—like a child's drawing of ancient glyphs. I wanted to prod the rune with my budding Mana Sense, but Mother's gentle hold limited my angle. Instead, I reached out with intangible awareness. The forging aura leapt to life, showing me the swirl of elemental energies locked in those runic shapes.
Throb.My heart (and dormant mana core) responded, a low hum echoing in my ears. I tried to replicate the pattern. The forging environment thickened with energy. My tiny body heated up from the inside—just enough to make me squirm with excitement, but not enough for my parents to notice.
[Notification: Hard Work Has Increased Constitution!]
Constitution +1
A wave of warmth pulsed through me. My mother, feeling my wriggle, laughed softly. "Kael dear, you're such an active little one." She kissed my forehead.
My Status Window flickered again, revealing the small but meaningful change:
Status Window
Name: Kael Ashborne
Talent: SSS
Age: 1 week old
Core Grade: Unawakened
Physique: Omni-Element Physique (Sealed)
Level: 1
Strength: 2
Intelligence: 10
Spirit: 9
Agility: 1
Constitution: 3
Skills:
Mana Sense (Novice, Lv.2)
Constitution had ticked up from two to three. Even minimal improvements now would pave the way for future leaps once I formally awakened. I let out a quiet gurgle, half-laughing at how thrilling these micro-advancements felt. So different from the lofty peaks of my previous life, yet all the more precious for it.
Twilight Reflections
As dusk approached, the forge's fires dimmed and Father carefully banked the coals. Mother rocked me in her arms while the golden light from the setting sun stretched our shadows across the workshop floor. I listened to their gentle banter about the day's tasks, local gossip, and the small joys of the village. Sleep tugged at my eyelids, but I forced them open. Even these mundane moments carried hidden lessons.
Mother's soft lullaby carried me toward the threshold of slumber. Letting her voice guide me, I summoned the last bit of focus to run a final cycle of mana through my limbs—delicate threads weaving patterns akin to a slow, methodical dance. Each cycle strengthened the link between mind and body, a foundation for the spells I would one day wield. My father's rhythmic footsteps, mother's lullaby, the memory of the forging sparks—they all provided a comforting anchor to this life.
In the fading light, I decided that tomorrow I would try a new routine: perhaps harness a wisp of Fire elemental energy near the hearth, or replicate Father's forging rhythm with a swirl of Earth mana. Such experiments had to remain small—any slip could alarm my family, or worse, catch the attention of those who might exploit a child with advanced gifts. Patience, Kael, I reminded myself. The future is vast.
And thus, with the forge's warmth on my back and Mother's gentle hum echoing in my ears, I drifted to sleep, content in the knowledge that every spark of effort moved me one step closer to the mage I would become.