Chapter 3: First Steps and a Little Secret
Castle of Argelion. Night.
The moonlight lace filtered through the narrow window of the nursery, carpeting the stone floor with a silvery blue carpet. Romulus lay in silence, listening to the ghostly whisper of candles dancing in the hallway.
"Everyone's asleep... It's a good time to try it."
With the care worthy of an experienced thief, he lifted himself up, careful not to disturb the creaking of the old bed, and reached for the night table, where a metal mug was modestly nestled.
"Come on... Move."
Concentrating, he imagined an invisible thread stretching from his fingertips, connecting his will and the object. The system responded like a faithful servant:
[ ACTIVATED: "Telekinesis (Rookie)" ]
■ Mana consumption: 1 MP/sec
■ Current stock: 2/2 MP
"Mana is scarce... But it should be enough."
The mug shuddered, as if at the touch of the wind, and crawled tentatively upward, barely a couple of centimeters off the surface.
"I did it! Unbelievable!"
But at that moment the door creaked treacherously, breaking the fragile magic of the moment.
As if caught red-handed, Romulus dropped his hand, and the mug returned to its place with a thud.
- "Romych, what are you doing up?"
Alicia, his little sister, stood in the doorway. Six years old, in a long nightgown, her brown curls disheveled, she looked like a little woodland elf.
"Damn it! Did she really see it?"
- "You... you made the mug fly! No hands!" - she whispered, opening her already huge eyes wide. There was surprise in them, mixed with childish delight.
Romulus froze like a rabbit in front of a boa constrictor.
"If she tells her father...there will be trouble."
But Alicia didn't make a sound. Instead of fright or surprise, she rushed to his bedside and grabbed his arm.
- "How did you do that? Teach me, please!"
Her eyes shone with genuine interest, not a hint of fear.
Negotiations
Romulus took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts.
- "Only you mustn't tell anyone about this, okay?"
- "No one!" - she immediately covered her mouth with the palm of her hand, as if locking the secret away. - "I swear on dragons!"
"Dragons... Yes, for these places it is the most serious oath."
He nodded uncertainly and reached for the mug again.
- "Look closely..."
He moved her slower this time, allowing Alicia to fully enjoy the wonder.
- "Wow..." - she watched every movement mesmerized, as if watching a butterfly fly. - "Is that magic? But you're only a year old!"
"If she knew I was actually thirty-two, she'd totally out..."
- "It's... our secret," he said, choosing his words carefully. - "Only you and I know. Deal?"
Alicia nodded with such energy that her hair swept over her shoulders like fall leaves in the wind.
- "Can I do that, too?"
- "Someday... You definitely will."
He wasn't sure what he was saying, but the System suddenly gave out:
[ Discovery: Magic Potential ]
■ Alicia von Argelion
■ Affinity: Water/Ice (tentative)
"So she has a gift too... Amazing."
First lessons
They spent the following weeks practicing secretly at night, turning the children's bedroom into a secret laboratory.
Romulus was explaining the basics to her:
- "Magic is like... a muscle. The more you train it, the stronger it gets."
- "But I can't do it!" - Alicia pouted like a little hurt angel after her tenth unsuccessful attempt to move the quill.
- "You're in too much of a hurry," he placed his hand gently on her forehead, as if trying to convey his concentration to her. - "Close your eyes. Imagine the quill is a boat and your thoughts are the river that pushes it."
Alicia concentrated, trying her best to visualize the picture.
And suddenly, the quill twitched, as if it had come to life.
- "I did it! I DID IT!"
- "Shh! They might hear us!" - Romulus clamped a palm over her mouth, but he was smiling, unable to contain his joy.
"She's incredibly capable... Much faster than I could have expected."
Danger
But one day their secret lessons took them by surprise. Their father caught them in the middle of a "lesson."
- "What's going on here?" - His voice came from the door like a thunderclap.
Alicia shrieked, dropping the book to the floor in surprise.
Romulus instantly jumped up, covering his sister with himself, ready to take on the full wrath of his father.
"It's over. We've been found out."
But the earl did not scream. He walked slowly into the room, picked up the book from the floor... and saw the quill on the table, still quivering with residual magic.
- "So that's why Alicia started falling asleep during the day..."
Romulus swallowed, feeling his throat go dry.
- "I'm sorry, father. I talked her into it."
The Count froze like a statue, then suddenly laughed like a spring brook.
- "You're teaching your sister magic... at a year old. That's just incredible!" - He shook his head, unable to hide his admiration. - "You're an amazing child, Romulus."
"He's... not angry? No way."
- "But no more night classes," the earl looked at them both sternly, as if trying to quiet their fervor. - "If you want to study, do it during the day. And only under my supervision."
Alicia fluttered her arms happily, as if she had released a flock of butterflies.
- "So we're allowed?!"
- "You can."
Romulus couldn't believe his ears.
"He authorized... Why did he authorize it?"
But the answer came instantly. The system said:
[ COUNT LUCIAN VON ARGELION ]
■ Status: Pride
■ Thought: "My son is a true genius. I must help him develop his gift."
"So everything is going according to plan... As it should be."
Romulus' thoughts:
"I have found a loyal ally in Alicia. But if she has a magical gift... perhaps the other children in this castle have it as well?"
"Dad didn't just let us do magic. He knows something... I sense there's some mystery behind it."
"Why did the System show me his thoughts? Does that mean I can read other people's minds?"