"Waaa, Mommy strong!" Kiara squealed in delight, chubby fists grasping at empty air.

Jayden, determined not to be outdone, puffed out his cheeks and stretched his arms wide.

"Yeah? I can do that too, just watch me. Dada! Daaadaaa!" he hollered, his frustration mounting when Elio didn't scoop him up immediately.

" Haha, see that honey, they already have a favor-" A chuckle rumbled through Elio's chest, but it died down quickly under Ruele's icy stare.

"H-ha, what was that, honey? Sounds like someone is calling for me," he stammered, backing towards the door.

Ruele's lips pursed into a thin line. "Leaving so soon, Elio?" Her voice was laced with a quiet disapproval that sent shivers down his spine.

Elio avoided her gaze entirely. He knew he was treading on thin ice, but the urge to unlock Jayden's potential was a fire burning within him. With a forced smile, he mumbled, "Just checking on things, my love. Won't be a minute." He cast a longing look at Jayden before hurrying out of the room.

After Elio's hasty retreat, Ruele sighed and turned her attention back to Jayden, who was looking up at her with wide, innocent eyes.

"You're quite the handful, aren't you?" she said with a small smile, gently patting his head.

While Kiara continued to babble excitedly, Ruele carried Jayden out of the room, her white aura shimmering as she moved. She couldn't help but cast a worried glance back at the doorway. Elio's impulsiveness was a constant source of concern, especially when it came to Jayden's safety. The safety of her children was paramount, and she would do whatever it took to protect them.

As several months passed, a small child, still in his crib with a determined frown etched on his face, was deep in thought. 'Crying for 2 weeks, checked, not working. Yelling dada endlessly, nope. Jumping over the crib and smashing my face on the floor, nope, and also stupid. Trying to cuddle with mother then tell the words Mana Core, nope, also father took a beating.'

Jayden sat on his bottom and crossed his tiny legs, mimicking the meditation postures he'd seen in some of the novels he read in his past life. In the past month, he had meticulously pieced together the puzzle – Elio was trying to awaken his mana core by channeling his own mana. But where did that mana come from in the first place?

'The body should be like a vessel to contain mana without letting it escape and someone should be able to control it at will. So, the most logical way is that mana is in the air and you can absorb it. But the question is, how do I do that?' Jayden pondered, deeply concentrating on the concept of harnessing mana from the air, his brow furrowed in intense focus.

He closed his eyes and took slow, deep breaths, trying to feel the energy around him. He imagined himself like a sponge, soaking up the mana from the air, filling every fiber of his being with its power. He visualized invisible tendrils reaching out from his body, searching for the elusive mana that he knew must be all around him. He pictured the energy flowing into him, filling him with a warmth and a tingle that danced across his skin.

After what felt like hours of intense concentration, Jayden felt a tingling sensation course through his veins, a current of energy unlike anything he'd ever experienced. Cracking open his eyes, he gasped in surprise. A faint, ethereal glow surrounded his hands, a testament to his newfound ability.

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'Yes! This is it! Don't get excited, Jayden, focus!' he reminded himself internally, his heart pounding with a mixture of exhilaration and trepidation. But the excitement proved too much to contain. He had successfully harnessed mana from the air and infused it into his body. With this newfound ability, he felt a surge of conviction and determination to explore its potential.

But just as quickly as the glow appeared, it vanished. His vision blurred, and suddenly he found himself cradled in Ruele's arms. 'W-what happened? One second ago I was trying to absorb mana in my bed.' He questioned inwardly, his voice a mere whimper.

"Oh? You are awake, little devil. You slept for 5 hours straight. Does something bother you, my love? Is your tummy hurting, my baby boy?" Ruele spoke to Jayden with a worried look, her voice laced with concern.

"Mama, I am not a baby! You are embarrassing me in front of Elora," he said with a pout on his face, trying to escape from his mother'

Ruele chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. "Elora is part of your family also, silly goose. You're safe in your crib." Her eyes crinkled at the corners, betraying a hint of amusement at his attempt at maturity. "But you're right, you're not a baby anymore. You're turning two in a few weeks, quite the big boy now, aren't you?"

Jayden puffed out his chest, momentarily forgetting his frustration. "Two whole years! That's practically an adult, wouldn't you say?"

Ruele's smile widened. "An adult, huh? Well, maybe not quite. But you are growing so fast. It seems like just yesterday you were a tiny bundle in my arms."

A comfortable silence settled between them for a moment, broken only by Kiara's happy coos from down the hall. Jayden, however, couldn't shake the memory of the tingling sensation and the faint glow. He yearned to understand what had happened, but the words remained elusive. How could he explain to his mother the feeling of mana coursing through him, the overwhelming power he'd glimpsed for a fleeting moment?

Sensing his internal struggle, Ruele ran a gentle hand through his hair. "Is something troubling you, Jayden?" she asked softly.

He hesitated, chewing on his lower lip. "Mama," he started, his voice barely a whisper, "do you know about... mana?"

Ruele's eyes widened a fraction, a flicker of surprise crossing her features. For a moment, she seemed to be on the verge of saying something, then stopped herself. "Mana?" she finally repeated, her voice carefully neutral.

Jayden nodded eagerly. "Yes! It tickles and makes you feel warm, and then..." he trailed off, unable to articulate the rest.

Ruele studied him intently, her gaze filled with a complex mix of emotions. There was a touch of amusement, a hint of concern, and a spark of something Jayden couldn't quite decipher.

"Jayden," she began, her voice low and serious, "there are things you should not worry about at your age. Even though we are all perplexed by your maturity for an almost 2 years old child, is too soon for you to learn about such things."

Disappointment washed over Jayden. That didn't explain anything about the feeling he'd experienced, the power he knew was real. But before he could protest, Ruele continued.

"Listen, Jayden," she said, her voice filled with a quiet intensity. "There are things you're too young to understand yet. But trust me, what you experienced... it's something special. And for now, it's best to keep it a secret, okay?"

Jayden blinked, unsure what to make of her cryptic words. He didn't understand why it had to be a secret, but there was a sincerity in Ruele's voice that compelled him to nod in agreement.

"Now," she continued, a playful glint returning to her eyes, "how about we find you some toys? Two whole years old, you need something to celebrate, right?"

Jayden, ever the playful child, quickly forgot his worries about mana and secrets. He broke into a wide grin, his earlier frustration replaced by the promise of new toys. As Ruele showered him with stuffed animals and brightly colored blocks, a tiny seed of determination bloomed within him. He may not have understood everything yet, but one thing was clear – his journey with mana had just begun. And he wouldn't let anything stop him from unlocking its secrets.

However, he couldn't ignore the major issue looming over him. Glancing discreetly into the corner of the room, Jayden noticed Elora's presence. Her usual gentle smile was absent, replaced by a thoughtful expression. A shiver ran down his spine. Did she know what he'd been doing?