Sebast Myrvandis stood in the dimly lit room, holding the baby close to his chest. His mind was a whirlwind of memories, each one a fragment of his dark past, filled with pain, regret, and the shadows of decisions he wished he could erase.

The baby’s innocent eyes seemed to pierce through the fog of his thoughts, bringing him back to the present moment. A tender smile broke across the baby's face, and in that moment, Sebast felt a surge of resolve. He knew he had to protect this child, to steer him away from the path of darkness that had consumed so much of his own life.

With a voice thick with emotion, Sebast whispered, "I will not let you be led to the path of evil." His words were more than a promise they were a declaration, a vow to himself.

As if in response, the baby giggled, a pure sound that seemed to lighten the air around them. Sebast held the child at arm’s length, studying him carefully.

"You must be about a year and seven months old," he murmured, his eyes scanning the baby's features, trying to find any clues that might reveal more about him. A sudden realization hit him like a cold wind. "Wait, I'm being an idiot now. I don't even know your name."

Panic flickered in his eyes as he began to search through the baby's clothes, hoping to find some scrap of paper, some hint that would tell him who this child was.

He found nothing. "Oh, that's bad. I'm not even your relative," Sebast muttered, guilt gnawing at his conscience.

He thought of Aric and Elera, and his heart ached with sorrow. "Aric and Elera, I'm sorry. I have no choice but to register him in my name."

The baby gurgled happily in his arms, oblivious to the turmoil in Sebast's heart.

"One day, I will tell you about me as a child and much more," Sebast promised, his voice a mixture of regret and hope.

"But for now, I must keep you safe. I have forgot to Tell you my changed name. It’s Ataru Anatolios... yes, that's a good name, isn't it, cutie?" He tickled the baby's belly, eliciting a joyful laugh that momentarily lifted the heavy fog from his mind. Just then, something extraordinary happened.

The baby's forehead began to shine, casting a glow that filled the room. Sebast's eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

"What in the world...?" His voice trembled as he quickly placed the baby in a nearby chair and sprinted up the stairs, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I can't believe what I'm seeing," he thought frantically, each step echoing his disbelief.

Reaching the top of the stairs, he burst into an old, mysterious room cluttered with ancient books, swords, armor, clothes, and chests. The room was a testament to his many years of searching, fighting, and surviving.

His eyes scanned the room until they landed on a dusty bookshelf in the corner. With a sense of urgency, he bent down and pulled out a green book.

The Cover Shows swirling patterns of ink that seem to dance across the parchment. In the center, a majestic symbol emerges, glowing softly as if infused with ancient magic. The symbol, a delicate yet powerful design, is meticulously detailed, its lines etched with the precision of a master craftsman. Around it, faint traces of silver shimmer, hinting at the latent energy contained within.

The light on the baby's forehead. A chill ran down his spine as he opened the green book titled Mindkeeper and began to read.

***

The first page described the Mindkeepers, an ancient and elusive clan with a power unlike any other. Their abilities had nothing to do with physical strength, elemental control, or conventional magic. The Mindkeepers had the power to store any object within their symbol, a mark that glowed when used and remained invisible otherwise.

This mark was located on their forehead, revealing itself only when their power was activated. The book detailed the clan's history, a grim and brutal tale of exploitation and suffering.

The Mindkeepers' abilities made them highly sought after, coveted for their potential to acquire wealth and recognition. However, this potential also made them targets. Greed and dark intentions turned the Mindkeepers into slaves, treated as mere objects and containers for others' desires.

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Those who possessed these powers often went into hiding, deactivating their marks to escape persecution. Over time, the clan's members became increasingly rare, their abilities whispered about in fearful.

***

The words on the page filled Sebast with a profound sadness. "Elara," he thought, his heart heavy with worry. "Is this what you faced? Is this the danger you were running from?"

Cradling the book to his chest, he dashed back down the stairs, his mind racing. But when he reached the bottom, the baby was gone. Panic surged through him, his heart skipping a beat. "Wait, am I really this disgrace as a caregiver? How could I leave a one-year-old alone?"

Desperation gripped him as he looked frantically to the right and left, his eyes darting around the room.

"Wooosh."

The sound of rushing energy filled the room. Sebast felt a pulsing thread of magic, am line of energy that seemed to call to him. "This is magic," he whispered, his voice filled with awe and fear. "A line of energy... but how?"

Determined to find the baby, he focused his mind, tapping into his inner reserves of power. "Chronomancy," he muttered, the name of a power echoing in the whole house.

***

Chronomancy is a magical discipline created by one of the most powerful energy users in the world, Valeria xxx. She achieved mastery over this power through lifelong training, being born into one of the strongest families and destined to be the strongest herself. Valeria reached an elite level by gathering 10 fragments, placing her among the most formidable in all of Veridian.

Humans can possess a total of 12 Fragments so far only non-human species have managed to have more than 12, these fragments are scattered across the body.

Energy users must gather these fragments and bring them as close together as possible to enhance their power. For example: If an energy user with 2 fragments fights against one with 3, the user with 2 fragments can win if their fragments are more closer together than the 3 fragments user, and vice versa. This is called Concentra Core.

However, Chronomancy is unique. It requires at least 5-6 fragments to be effective, though a user with fewer fragments is considered a genius if they can manage it. Chronomancy harnesses half the energy from all the user's fragments, combining this energy to create a temporary sphere.

This sphere significantly enhances the user's senses, strength, perception, and speed. This rarity of Chronomancers is due to the high fragment requirement, making practitioners of this technique exceptionally rare and powerful.

***

Sebast's mind raced as he increased his Chronomancy, feeling the fragments within him surge with energy. "I have to find him," he thought, urgency driving him forward.

Following the line of energy, he was led to the kitchen, where he found the baby emitting a radiant glow of magic. The sight both terrified and amazed him.

"You little mischievous boy, you scared your grandpa half to death," Sebast exclaimed, scooping the baby into his arms.

Relief washed over him as he saw the child was unharmed despite the intense magical energy flowing from him.

"I can't believe what I'm seeing," he marveled.

"How can a baby possess such power?" Sebast wondered aloud. "Normally, someone can only expand their energy at 6 years old.

"You... you are a natural talent." With a mixture of awe and determination, Sebast gently touched the baby's face. "You will turn the world upside down," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

"This path of honor will guide you to the path of heaven." He knew he had to protect the child, to teach him to control his immense power. "But for now, I must reduce this expanded energy. It’s too dangerous." Sebast touched the child's forehead, channeling his Chronomancy to calm the raging energy within.

The baby slowly drifted into a peaceful sleep. "Normally, someone would vomit after expelling that much energy," Sebast mused. "But you... you are truly exceptional."

As he held the sleeping child, a thought gnawed at him. Suddenly, a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.

The artifact he had given Aric and Elara was supposed to teleport them to safety, to his home. It was designed to transport two or three people, but somehow, only the baby had arrived.

"It doesn't make sense. Was this my lack of care? Damn it, damn it, damn it!" His frustration boiled over, and he slammed his fist onto the table.

The residual magic pulsed around him. He felt a mix of anger, guilt, and sorrow swirling within him, nearly overwhelming him. He couldn't believe he had been so careless, so blind to the potential danger. The baby's soft, rhythmic breathing was the only thing that kept him grounded.

"I better calm down," Sebast said, taking a deep breath. After thinking it through, he came to a conclusion.

Eric had likely intended to teleport the baby and his wife to safety. Sebast was certain the father had planned to sacrifice himself for his family.

However, the attempt had failed because the child's energy was too overwhelming. The father's concentration faltered under the intense energy, and the teleportation went disastrously wrong.

He looked at the child, the small, innocent baby who now held such a significant part of his heart. "Even if you don't understand me now," he said softly, his voice trembling with emotion, "the time has come to show you the world we live in." Cradling the baby protectively, he opened the door to the outside world.