Two Weeks Later
The east and west wings of the Academy rarely mingled. The mages considered physical training beneath them, while the aura users viewed magical theory as unnecessarily complicated. But four times a year, during the seasonal equinox and solstice celebrations, the entire Academy gathered for a day of demonstrations and friendly competitions.
Marcus hadn't expected to participate in the Summer Solstice Exhibition. At eight months old, he was at least four years younger than any other student. But Master Varrick had other ideas.
"The boy shows extraordinary talent," Varrick had argued to the Academy Council. "He's already performing at the level of a five-year-old trainee. Keeping him hidden serves no purpose."
And so, against all precedent, Marcus found himself in the central courtyard of the Academy, surrounded by students and masters from both wings. He sat on a special cushion in the junior aura users' section, trying not to fidget despite his enhanced dexterity.
[Status Update][Name: Marcus (aka "Phoenix")][Age: 8 months][Level: 12][HP: 28/28][MP: 95/95][Strength: 19][Dexterity: 22][Constitution: 19][Intelligence: 23][Wisdom: 17][Charisma: 15][Skills:]- [Aura Projection: Level 5]- [Aura Control: Level 4]- [Aura Enhancement: Level 3]- [Aura Sense: Level 4]- [Standing: Level 3]- [Walking: Level 1]- [Physical Prodigy: Level 2]- [Babbling: Level 6]
The past two weeks had been intense. With his stats boosted and his specialization chosen, Marcus had made extraordinary progress. He could now create multiple aura constructs simultaneously, maintain them for several minutes, and even take a few wobbly steps before falling on his padded behind.
Master Varrick had been relentless, working him through exercises designed for children five times his age. But Marcus had risen to the challenge, secretly allocating more stat points to physical attributes to compensate for his baby body.
"Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished faculty and honored guests," announced Archmage Zephyrian, who stood on a raised platform at the center of the courtyard. "Welcome to our 437th Summer Solstice Exhibition!"
Polite applause rippled through the crowd.
"As tradition dictates, we begin with demonstrations from our youngest students, showcasing the foundations of magical and aura disciplines before proceeding to our advanced practitioners."
[System Message: Oh goody, baby demonstration time. Try not to drool on your aura constructs.]
Marcus ignored the system's taunt. He'd learned to tune out its snarkier comments while focusing on his training.
"First, from the East Wing," Zephyrian continued, "I present Prodigy Lysander Thorn, age four, already showing remarkable aptitude in elemental manipulation."
A small boy with platinum blonde hair stepped onto the platform. Despite his age, he carried himself with unmistakable confidence, almost arrogance. His crisp blue robes bore the emblem of House Thorn, one of Emberfall's most prominent magical families.
"Great," Marcus thought. "Rich kid with a pedigree. Bet he's been trained since birth."
[System Message: As opposed to you, who's been trained since... oh wait, also birth. But you don't have fancy robes, just adorable onesies.]
Little Lysander bowed formally to the audience, then raised his hands. A ball of blue light formed between his palms, shifting and pulsing.
"At just four years old, Lysander has already mastered basic light manipulation," Zephyrian explained proudly. "A skill most children don't grasp until age seven."
The blue orb expanded, then split into three smaller spheres that began to orbit around Lysander's head like tiny moons. The crowd gasped appreciatively.
"Furthermore," the Archmage continued, "he has begun to infuse elemental properties into his constructs."
On cue, one sphere took on a reddish glow and emitted wisps of smoke, another became translucent like water, and the third shimmered with a breeze that tousled Lysander's perfectly styled hair.
The audience applauded enthusiastically. Even Marcus had to admit it was impressive for a four-year-old.
[System Message: Looks like someone's getting upstaged before they even perform. How embarrassing.]
"Thank you, Prodigy Lysander," Zephyrian said, beaming with pride. The boy bowed again, his little face showing a satisfied smirk as he caught sight of Marcus in the junior aura section.
Their eyes met briefly. Lysander's smirk deepened into something more dismissive as he registered that his "competition" was literally a baby.
[New Quest Alert!][Title: Rival's Challenge][Description: Demonstrate abilities that match or exceed Lysander's performance][Reward: 800 XP, Reputation with Academy, Lysander's Acknowledgment][Failure: Humiliation, Reduced Standing]
"And now," Master Varrick stepped forward, "from the West Wing, I present a truly unprecedented talent. Phoenix, age eight months, displaying aura projection skills that defy all known developmental patterns."
A murmur of disbelief rippled through the crowd. Eight months? Several people laughed, assuming it was some kind of joke.
Mira carried Marcus to the platform and set him down on the cushion placed at its center. The laughter died as Marcus immediately sat upright without support and looked calmly at the audience.
"What you are about to witness," Varrick said gravely, "may challenge your understanding of aura development. I ask you to observe with an open mind."
[System Message: No pressure or anything. Just redefine their understanding of human development. While wearing a diaper.]
Marcus closed his eyes and concentrated. His crimson aura flickered to life around him, gentle at first, then growing stronger until it outlined his entire body in a red glow.
A collective gasp went up from the crowd. An infant with visible aura manipulation was unheard of.
But Marcus wasn't done. He extended his tiny hand, focused his will, and created a perfect sphere of crimson energy above his palm. Then another. And another. Soon, five pulsing orbs of red light orbited around him.
[Aura Projection Level 5 Active][MP Consumption: 5 per minute][Current MP: 90/95]
The crowd had fallen completely silent. Even Archmage Zephyrian stood slack-jawed at the display.
Marcus glanced at Lysander, who was no longer smirking. The boy's eyes had narrowed, his small fists clenched at his sides.
Time to show off a bit more.
Marcus concentrated harder, shaping his aura constructs. One sphere elongated into a miniature sword, its "blade" pulsing with crimson light. Another flattened into a shield. The third took the shape of a tiny bird that actually flapped its wings.
"Incredible," someone whispered. "He's creating complex constructs with distinct functionalities."
[MP Warning: Complex Constructs Drain Increasing][Current MP: 82/95]
For his finale, Marcus drew all his constructs back toward himself, merging them into a single mass of crimson energy. Then, with a final push of concentration, he shaped the energy into a perfect miniature dragon, complete with scales, wings, and tiny glowing eyes.
The dragon construct flew a circle around Marcus, then bowed to the audience before dissipating back into motes of crimson light.
[MP Status: 70/95][Quest Completed!][Title: Rival's Challenge][Reward: 800 XP, Reputation with Academy increased, Lysander's Acknowledgment (sort of)]
The courtyard erupted in applause and exclamations. Master Varrick looked smug. Archmage Zephyrian appeared both impressed and troubled.
And Lysander Thorn looked absolutely livid.
As Mira carried Marcus off the platform, they passed Lysander, who was being led back to the East Wing section by his personal tutor.
"That was a neat trick," the boy hissed under his breath. "For a drooling infant. But light magic is just the beginning of what I can do. You won't be special for long, baby."
[System Message: Ooooh, playground trash talk from a four-year-old. How will you ever recover?]
Marcus would have responded if he could speak properly. Instead, he simply fixed Lysander with a steady gaze and released a tiny pulse of his crimson aura. Just enough to make his point.
Lysander flinched before his tutor pulled him away.
[New Relationship Established][Lysander Thorn: Rival (Hostile)][Level: 8][Class: Elemental Prodigy][Threat Assessment: Minimal (Currently)]
[Level Up!][You are now Level 13][All stats increased by 1][5 Stat Points Available]
"The boy is a marvel," Archmage Zephyrian said later that day as he and Master Varrick shared tea in the Academy's central garden. "I've never seen such precocious aura development."
"Indeed," Varrick agreed, trying not to appear too smug. "Phoenix is rewriting our understanding of energy manifestation in children."
"It makes me wonder," Zephyrian mused, "about the traditional separation of magical and aura disciplines. Perhaps they are more closely related than we've assumed."
"Perhaps," Varrick acknowledged cautiously. He'd been a staunch traditionalist all his life, but Phoenix's unprecedented abilities were causing him to question certain long-held beliefs.
"I propose an experiment," Zephyrian said, setting down his teacup. "I would like to expose Phoenix to magical theory, alongside his aura training."
Varrick frowned. "You know the old protocols. Attempting both disciplines simultaneously can lead to confusion, diluted progress in both."
"That's the prevailing wisdom," Zephyrian agreed. "But Phoenix is already breaking every developmental rule we know. What if those protocols are based on misconceptions?"
"What exactly are you suggesting?" Varrick asked.
"Let Phoenix attend basic magical theory lessons with Lysander," Zephyrian proposed. "Just an hour each day. We'll monitor both boys for any signs of interference between the disciplines."
"And the true purpose?" Varrick raised an eyebrow. "You've never shown such interest in cross-disciplinary education before."
Zephyrian smiled thinly. "Scientific curiosity, my old friend. Nothing more." But his eyes told a different story.
"And nothing to do with your great-grandson's apparent rivalry with my student?" Varrick asked pointedly.
The Archmage had the grace to look slightly embarrassed. "Lysander could benefit from some... humility. Competition drives excellence."
"So does proper guidance," Varrick countered. "The boys are children, not pawns in our old ideological battles."
"Of course," Zephyrian nodded. "But you can't deny the potential benefits of such an experiment."
Varrick considered the proposal. Phoenix was already advancing at an incredible rate. Exposure to magical theory might broaden his understanding of energy manipulation.
"Very well," he agreed finally. "But I will be present during these sessions. And at the first sign of trouble, we end the experiment."
"Agreed," Zephyrian extended his hand, and the two old masters shook on it.
Neither noticed the small crimson aura construct—shaped like a tiny ear—hovering just beneath the garden bench.
"So," Marcus thought as he lay in his crib that night, dismissing the listening construct he'd maintained for over an hour. "Magical theory lessons with my new rival, who happens to be the Archmage's great-grandson. Interesting."
[System Message: Nothing could possibly go wrong with putting a baby and a four-year-old with fragile ego together in an experimental magic class. Absolutely nothing.]
For once, Marcus agreed with his system's sarcasm. This arrangement had "disaster" written all over it. But it also presented an opportunity he'd been hoping for—access to magical knowledge.
"If I can understand how magic works," he reasoned, "maybe I can adapt those principles to aura projection. Create effects that mimic spells."
[System Message: Or accidentally blow something up because you're trying to mix two completely different energy systems. Either way, should be entertaining!]
Marcus allocated his new stat points while considering the challenges ahead:
[Allocating Stat Points][Strength: 20 → 21 (+1 point)][Dexterity: 23 → 24 (+1 point)][Constitution: 20 → 20 (+0 points)][Intelligence: 24 → 26 (+2 points)][Wisdom: 18 → 19 (+1 point)][Charisma: 16 → 16 (+0 points)][Unallocated Stat Points: 0]
He'd need that extra intelligence to grasp magical theories, and the wisdom to avoid dangerous mistakes. His physical stats were already far beyond normal baby parameters—he could now walk short distances without falling and manipulate objects with near-adult dexterity.
His biggest limitation remained communication. Despite his advanced cognitive abilities, his speech organs were still developing. He could babble recognizable syllables but not form proper sentences yet.
[New Quest Alert!][Title: Master of Two Paths][Description: Successfully integrate magical theory with aura projection][Reward: 1500 XP, Unique Skill unlock][Failure: Possible energy rejection, setback to development]
[System Message: Good luck with that. Maybe you can solve the "my mouth doesn't work properly" problem while you're at it. Nothing says "dignity" like trying to discuss magical theory while wearing a bib.]
Marcus closed his eyes, ignoring the system's needling. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, a new rival, and perhaps—if he was lucky—a bridge between the magical path he'd wanted and the aura path he'd received.
One thing was certain: Lysander Thorn was in for a surprise if he thought an eight-month-old baby would be an easy rival to dismiss.
[System Message: Sleep tight, don't let the magical training montage dreams bite. Or the diaper rash. Probably should check that too.]