‘This time might be different’, thought Kael.

All this time he was constrained by his inability to use magic. But now, the possibilities pile up, and he reconsidered his other plans that would otherwise not work with his former self.

He wasn’t able to use magic for a very long time. He needed to refresh, and relearn how to use it. And so, he spent several months exercising his magic, delaying his escape even further. He didn’t mind it though, as he has hope that he can get out of the castle in his current state. He focused his mental energy on controlling magic with his current body.

However, he discovered a problematic situation. His magical ability was limited due to his body’s young age. Once again, he was reminded that he’s in a regular person’s body. He remembered his former self, someone who can easily demolish his way out of any fortified castle.

After all the practice he did, he felt the need to test his current limits against the castle walls. He might’ve been motivated by his excitement, but he thought it wouldn’t hurt to play around while he’s at it. Besides, he will run immediately before his flame attack hit and make a sound.

At midnight, he went in a wall obscured from the sight of most guards. He touched the thick wall, and felt the rigidity of the solid structure. He knocked on it, producing a sound akin to what a person hears when knocking at their own knee. He looked around confirming that no one can see him.

He wanted to test his strength first, by punching the wall itself with the help of enhancement magic. His body allowed only five units of mana to be used in an instant. He will need to wait to regain his mana after his strength test, before he can do the actual test he wanted to pull off.

And so, he used five units, three for strength enhancement, and two for protecting his hand. He hit the wall, and an unexpected thing happened.

A loud rumble was heard. Kael was repelled, blown back from the solid wall. A barrier appeared at the walls that vanished just as quick as it appeared. The time stopped for him in that instant, knowing that he could not continue the test.

Kael was horrified, as the booming disturbed the whole castle. There’s no time to heal his damaged hand. He looked at his room, and it was too far. Without another pause, he started running.

One second, he runs, he zooms past the stone walls. Two seconds, he stumbles, scraping his knee, but that doesn’t matter. He stands, he runs again, approaching the hall of the castle. There are guards running. He hides himself, his heart pounding fast, narrowing his chest. Three, then four, then five, the guards scramble looking for anyone suspicious. He can’t go in, his mind repeating “No” as fast as his beating heart. He’s out of options. He runs back, and see one thing in his mind. He can only use his room’s window to return.

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“Speed Boost”

He tried enhancing himself, but he wasn’t able to, as he didn’t recover enough mana just yet. Eventually, he’s under his room’s window. It was high up, but it’s the only way. He heard the guards approaching, and so, he started climbing.

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In the middle of the night, the Earl was sitting, reading a letter of command. He was being summoned again to the battlefield. He held the letter firm, gripping it harder as he looked at the words “three months”. He folded the letter and put it in his desk, and was about to go to sleep.

Then, before he can even touch his bed, he heard a loud rumble from the outside. He went out of his room fast, as he knew what caused the sound. A magical attack hit the castle walls.

He ordered the numerous guards outside his room to look and investigate. He commanded them to cover every ground as they can. He commanded them to look for intruders, and apprehend anyone they can see as suspicious. After the guards were all mobilized, he rushed to Kael’s room.

[Speed Boost]

The long way to the child’s room took the Earl merely two seconds to travel. He saw that the door was closed, just as it is when he left Kael. He opened the door, and inside, Kael was sitting, blanketed in the corner of the bed, hearing the chaos outside.

The Earl looked out the window. He saw his guards scrambling around, hoping to find any intruder. He looked at the child again, and released his restrained breath.

The commotion was over after several minutes. The Earl called for Seqina, who, at the time of the confusion, was on a mission outside the castle. She was tasked to stay in Kael’s room until sunrise. She made the child to fall asleep.

But Kael couldn’t fall asleep. His heart was still pounding with fear that he might get caught. He pretended to fall asleep, and waited for his caretaker to doze off. When Seqina did, he started healing the wounds he got from his misadventure.

While healing his wounds, he began thinking about what just happened to him. The thing he just learned was probably the worst revelation he could imagine. He’s lucky that his attack was too weak that it didn’t give any mark to the castle wall, but he still thinks that the Earl will discover the truth in no time.

He needed to decide. Will he stay and hope for the best, or will he escape as soon as tomorrow night? The first choice might be the best option, but it will cost him his life with his family. The second choice will give him what he wants, but dire consequences can happen to him if he fails. The situation was against him. He can’t have what he wanted.

In the morning, he completely healed his wounds without any scars left. Seqina checked on him, and invited him to have some breakfast. He accepted the offer, trying to distract himself from his predicament.