The grand banquet had ended without incident, and the halls of the Valenhardt estate slowly returned to their usual tranquility. The night's laughter and chatter had faded, replaced by the soft rustling of the morning breeze through the palace gardens. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow over the estate as the servants resumed their daily routines.
The morning sun bathed the Valenhardt estate in a warm golden hue, but Arinay found no comfort in its embrace. His mind lingered on the voice he had heard the night before—a deep, knowing whisper that had slipped into his thoughts amidst the grandeur of the banquet.
"Enjoying the party, my king?"
The words had been smooth, laced with an eerie familiarity, as if the speaker had been watching from somewhere unseen. Even now, as he lay wrapped in soft blankets, he could recall the tone perfectly—amused, taunting, yet carrying a weight that sent a chill down his spine.
Had it been a hallucination? A trick played by his still-developing senses?
No.
He had spent lifetimes in realms where unseen forces whispered from the shadows. He knew when something was real. This voice had not been born from his imagination—it had been something else. Someone else.
Later that night, after the guests had left and the estate had settled into silence, he had tried reaching out to it, calling into the depths of his mind.
"Who are you? Why did you call me king?"
But there had been no answer. No whisper in the dark. Only the steady rhythm of his own heartbeat, the quiet rustling of the night wind against the curtains. Whoever—or whatever—had spoken to him had vanished without a trace, leaving only questions in its wake.
Arinay exhaled slowly. He would find the answer in time. But for now, he had other things to focus on.
A new day had dawned, bringing with it the gentle songs of birds and the crisp scent of morning dew.
In the heart of the estate, the palace garden stretched vast and vibrant. Blossoming trees swayed with the breeze, their petals falling like whispers onto the cobbled paths below. A tranquil pond reflected the sky's soft blues, while distant flower beds bloomed in vivid shades of red, gold, and violet. It was a scene, carefully nurtured through generations.
Under the shade of a grand oak tree, Lady Evelyne Valenhardt sat upon a cushioned bench, sipping tea from an intricately designed porcelain cup. She wore a flowing ivory dress, its silk catching the sunlight as she gazed fondly at her son. Arinay, wrapped in soft blue fabric, lay in a cradle beside her, his expression unreadable as he observed the world with silent intensity.
Around them, the palace maids moved with practiced grace. A few had gathered around Arinay, their eyes sparkling with adoration as they spoke amongst themselves.
"Look at him! Our young master is already so handsome!" one of the maids cooed, gently adjusting the silken blanket around him.
"Not just handsome," another added with a giggle. "With those eyes, he's bound to steal the hearts of many noble ladies in the future."
"Ah, but it's not just his looks! He is the son of Lord Caldris himself! There is no doubt he will become a great man," a third maid chimed in, smiling warmly.
As they continued their chatter, their gazes fell upon the necklace adorning Arinay's small frame—a beautifully crafted pendant imbued with mana, gifted by the King of the Second Dimension.
"The king's gift suits him well," one maid mused. "But… it will be years before he can even use it."
Another nodded. "Yes, even the most talented mages don't awaken their mana until at least five or six years of age. Our young master will have to wait a long time."
Arinay listened in silence, their words sparking a quiet thought in his mind.
"Years, you say?"
He glanced at the pendant resting against his chest, feeling the faint hum of mana within.
"If only you'd leave me alone for a little while… I'd prove you wrong."
As the morning passed, Evelyne gently dismissed the maids. "You've worked hard enough. Go and take a short rest."
The maids hesitated, casting longing glances at the adorable infant, but they bowed respectfully and stepped away.
Once they were gone, Evelyne turned to Arinay and lifted him into her arms. "Finally, some time for just the two of us," she murmured, a playful smile on her lips.
She carefully placed him into a luxurious child cart lined with soft cushions, its design fit for a noble heir. With a light push, she strolled along the cobbled paths, leading them deeper into the garden.
"You know, my little one," Evelyne continued, her voice carrying warmth, "you're being quite unfair to your mother."
Arinay blinked up at her, feigning innocence.
She sighed dramatically. "You've bewitched everyone with your cuteness. The maids, the knights, even the visiting nobles—they're all drawn to you. And because of that… my personal time with you keeps getting stolen away."
A small chuckle escaped her lips as she glanced at him. "Tell me, Arinay, are you secretly plotting against me?"
If only she knew.
As Evelyne became lost in the beauty of the garden—the fluttering of birds, the sweet fragrance of blooming lilies—Arinay seized his chance.
His fingers curled slightly around the pendant.
He had already analyzed its function—this was no mere decoration. It was a medium, capable of drawing in the purest mana from the environment and channeling it into the wielder.
But for him to use it… he needed something first.
A mana circuit.
In ordinary cases, a child would take years to sense mana, and even longer to form a mana circuit within their body. But Arinay was no ordinary child. He had once ruled the cosmos itself. He had grasped the most profound mysteries of magic, reaching heights unattainable to most.
And now, he would do what others could not.
Closing his eyes, he focused. The necklace pulsed with latent energy, its core brimming with pure elemental mana.
Slowly, carefully, he drew in a fraction of that power.
A warm, ethereal current entered his heart, threading through his veins like liquid light. He guided it with practiced precision, embedding the mana delicately into his core. His infant body protested, struggling to contain the force, but he persisted.
The energy spread—first through his heart, then branching outward into his bloodstream. Like the delicate weaving of silk, he laid the foundation of his mana circuit, crafting the unseen pathways that would one day allow him to wield unimaginable power.
Minutes passed. His small body trembled under the strain, sweat forming along his forehead.
Then—success.
A spark ignited within him, subtle yet undeniable.
He had done it.
Before a week had even passed since his rebirth, he had created his mana circuit.
But just as relief settled in, a sharp wave of exhaustion crashed over him. His infant body, frail and untrained, could not withstand the exertion. His skin burned, his vision blurred, and his breath came unsteadily.
A concerned voice broke through the haze.
"Arinay?" Evelyne's expression shifted from peaceful contentment to sudden alarm. She knelt beside the child cart, her hands hovering uncertainly over his flushed face. "Why are you—?"
Panic seized her as she felt the heat radiating from his skin.
"Someone, bring the doctor!" she called, gathering him into her arms. Her heart pounded against her ribs. "Arinay, my dear, stay with me!"
His mind teetered on the edge of consciousness as she cradled him tightly. The world around him blurred, but even in his haze, he could hear her frantic whispers.
"Thank the heavens… it's only a fever," the doctor later reassured her. "His body is simply adjusting. He'll recover with rest."
Back in her chambers, Evelyne held him close, her warmth soothing his aching body. "Don't scare me like that, my little one," she murmured, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "You're far too precious to me."
Arinay, too exhausted to move, could only listen.
(…I should be more careful next time.)
As his mother held him close, he let himself sink into the warmth of her embrace.
For the first time in this new life… he allowed himself to rest.
Today, he had taken his first step.
And soon, he would take many more.
Yet, in the silence of his sleep, the voice returned—smooth, knowing, and laced with amusement.
"Oh? Now that the mana circuit has been established… let's chat when you wake up, O King of Cosmos."
To be continued....