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Chapter 4: Time Passes

  The soft glow of morning lightwooden creaks of the window

  As the first ray of sun touched his faceeyes flickered open instantly

  With a slight motion of his handlight bent slightly upward

  Ryfel (thought):

  

  He inhaled deeplysmall but strongerdeveloped

  Five years of consistent training

  But more importantly, no one suspected a thing.

  Without hesitation, Ryfel rolled off his bedearth magic

  His feet touched the floor, but with a tap of his toesolid clay

  Ryfel:

  

  He transitioned seamlessly into slow Tai Chi movementsshifting fluidlyair and earth around him

  Ryfel:

  

  His fingers curled slightly, feeling the faint energy of mana flowing beneath his skin

  Ryfel (pondering):

  

  After a few more movements, he pushed small bursts of airpropelling himself lightly forward

  It was training.

  But to anyone watching, it was just a child playing.

  With his body warmed upwaved his handwater from his drinking container

  He let it hover just for a secondmouth for a drinka small stream to cleanse his face

  Satisfied, he walked toward the bookshelffoottiny pulse of earth magicreach the shelf effortlessly

  His fingers danced over the spines of the books

  The 12th book from the left.

  He descended smoothlymoved toward the desk

  A snap of his fingerslamp beside him

  Ryfel:

  

  For the next thirty minutessilently read

  Language, history, noble structures, magic theory

  He turned a page, mentally mapping out the connections between different noble houses.

  Ryfel (reading):

  

  His lips twitched slightly.

  Ryfel:

  

  As he continued, soft footsteps echoed from the master bedroom

  His family was waking up.

  Ryfel:

  

  He shut the bookleapingback to normal

  With expert precisionblanket over himself

  And just as the door creaked open…

  Ryfel let out a small, adorably sleepy yawn

  Elda peeked into the room

  Elda:

  "Good morning, my little Ry!"

  Ryfel, already awake but pretending otherwise, let out a slow groggy sigh

  Ryfel:

  "Mmmh… five more minutes…"

  Elda gasped, clutching her chest.

  Elda:

  "Kyaaa! Look at my baby boy growing up so quickly! So cute!"

  Ryfel internally sighedallowed himself to be scooped up

  Ryfel (thinking):

  

  She swayed him slightly as they walked toward the master bedroomRyker was sprawled out face-down

  Elda:

  "Good morning, my dear husband! Our little Ry is awake! Say hi to your papa!"

  Ryfel yawned exaggeratedly

  Ryfel:

  "Morning, Papa… You look like you lost a battle against the bed."

  Ryker gruntedmess

  Ryker:

  "Mmm… morning, Little Ry…"

  Another yawn

  Ryker:

  "Y’know… I always prepared myself for sleepless nights before we had a kid… but by the gods, you’re the easiest child ever."

  Ryfel smirked slightlyhid it wellreached toward Ryker

  Ryfel:

  "Papa, do you want me to carry you this morning?"

  Elda snorted, covering her mouth, while Ryker cracked open one eye.

  Ryker (smirking):

  "Oi yoi, I might be tired, but I’m still your father, kid."

  He ruffled Ryfel’s hair with one large hand

  Ryker:

  "Ready for another exciting day of being adorable?"

  Ryfel grinned backplaying along as usual

  Morning in the Redimir householdwarm and full of lifebread and roasted grainsMilal prepared breakfastearly chatter

  Ryfel sat at the table readingswinging slightlycheerful five-year-old

  Inside his mind?

  For these five years, he had carefully hidden his intelligencesimple wordsadvanced magictoo much attention

  But today, he would begin showing just a fraction

  Something smallproudsuspicious

  Ryfel:

  

  Milal approached, setting a wooden cupclear water

  Milal:

  "Here you go, Young Master. Fresh water from the well this morning!"

  Ryfel grinned

  And then, with calculated precision"slip."

  The cup tilted mid-airwater inside spilling out

  Except it didn’t fall.

  The liquid hoveredbetween the cup and the table

  Then, with a small, effortless motionsmoothly backspilling a single drop.

  For a moment, nobody spoke.

  Then—

  Elda’s eyes widened in shock.

  Milal’s hands trembled, nearly dropping the serving tray.

  Ryker… just stared.

  Elda:

  "Did… Did you just…??"

  She turned to look at Ryker, then back at Ryfel, her voice shaking between disbelief and excitement.

  Ryker:

  "Son, did you just use water magic, "

  Ryfel tilted his head

  Ryfel:

  "Huh? What do you mean, Father?"

  Milal clutched her chest.

  Milal:

  "Young Master, yo-you just controlled water without learning it? And with—"

  She paused

  Milal:

  "—perfect control."

  That was when Ryker stood up so fast that his chair nearly toppled over.

  Ryker:

  "…No. No, that’s not possible."

  The air in the room felt different

  Ryfel sat quietlycalmsharp

  Elda and Ryker weren’t just surprised.

  stunned.

  Ryker exhaled sharply

  Ryker:

  "This can’t be right."

  He grabbed the cup of water

  Ryker:

  "Let’s see for ourselves."

  He hovered his hand over the cupfurrowing in deep concentration

  The water trembled

  It shifted slightlysloshing against the sides

  A single drop

  Elda covered her mouth.

  Even Rykercouldn’t control the water as preciselyfive-year-old son

  He stared at the cupRyfel

  Ryker:

  "This is insane."

  His voice was almost breathless

  Then, his gaze snapped to Elda

  Ryker:

  "Dear. Try it."

  Elda hesitated for only a moment. Unlike Ryker, she had always been gifted in water magic rather than earth

  She rolled back her sleeveshovering over the cup

  A soft pulse of manawater obeyed.

  It rose delicatelyspiralsettling back into the cup

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  The difference was clear.

  Ryker:

  "Hah. I knew it."

  He chuckled, shaking his head, looking at his wife in admiration.

  Ryker:

  "You always were better at this than I."

  Elda gave him a knowing smirk, but her eyes never left Ryfel.

  Then she gently took his small handsgentle but firm.

  Elda:

  "My love… do you even know how you did that?"

  Ryfel blinked innocentlythinking hard

  Ryfel:

  "Uhm… I just didn’t want to spill it?"

  A long silence.

  Then—

  Ryker laughed, loud and full.

  Ryker:

  "AHAHAH! Elda, do you hear this?! He’s so damn smart, he doesn’t even realize it!"

  Elda, however, was still watching Ryfel closely.

  Her mother’s intuition

  She knew what natural talent

  And this?

  This was far beyond

  She reached out again, brushing a strand of Ryfel’s hair from his face

  Elda:

  "You’re special, my little Ry."

  She looked at Ryker, her voice firm

  Elda:

  "We start training tomorrow."

  Ryker:

  "Damn right we do."

  And just like that—

  The next phase

  A New Routine

  Over the next few days, Ryfel's routine had changed. He used to be in the house all the time with Milal taking care of him while Ryker does his daily district work and Elda tends their House farmland.

  Now, after his own morning routine, Elda takes charge of education for the morning, Milal teaches magic for house chores and cooking in the afternoon, and Ryker comes home to teach history and magic for farming. On the weekends, instead of play and fun, Ryker takes Ryfel throughout the district to familiarize himself with the locals and area.

  Ryfel, now five years oldcenter of the roomslow breathflow naturallyjust enough

  He placed a palm against the wooden floor

  A low hum

  The earth stirred.

  Slowly, the floor shifted and moldedminiature replicaMinas-Coldetailed landscape

  As the land took shapereached outwaterflow into small riverspools

  He narrowed his eyes slightly, controlling the refraction of lightturning the streams into vibrant colors

  Green for the Outer CourtBlue for the Inner CourtAnd a faint red shimmerKing’s Court.

  Finally, with a gentle push of airwarm steam risemisty fog

  Ryfel leaned back, satisfied.

  Ryfel:

  "Kingdom... Minas-Col."

  The room once again fell silent.

  Elda’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  Milal covered her mouth, staring in shock.

  Ryker… blinked twicechuckle

  Ryker:

  "…That’s not normal."

  Elda finally snapped out of her daze, her voice half whisper, half stunned exclamation.

  Elda:

  "That’s… incredible."

  Ryfel tilted his head slightly, pretending not to understand

  Ryfel:

  "Did I do it wrong?"

  Elda shook her head immediately.

  Elda:

  "No, no, my love—you did it perfectly! But… but children your age——can barely form basic shapes, let alone control multiple elements at once!"

  Milal, still frozen in shock, slowly approached.

  Milal:

  "Young Master… do you… feel tired?"

  Ryfel thought carefully.

  If he answered , they would be too suspicious.

  If he acted , they might think something was wrong.

  He let out a small, deliberate exhale

  Ryfel:

  "A little bit… but it was fun!"

  Ryker let out a low whistle, shaking his head in disbelief.

  Ryker:

  "Hah! The boy doesn’t even realize how insane this is!"

  He turned toward Elda.

  Ryker:

  "This isn’t just talent, Elda. He’s doing things that mages struggle with. I’ve seen grown men take years just to control two elements properly, and he’s sitting here like it’s just another day!"

  Elda placed a hand over her cheststeady her thoughts

  Elda:

  "I knew he was special… but this?"

  She turned to Ryfel, her expression soft yet serious.

  Later in the evening, Ryker clapped his hands together

  Ryker:

  "Alright then! Let’s put that little mind of yours to the test!"

  Milal rushed into the next roomsmall wooden traystones

  She set it in front of Ryfel, giving him a quick thumbs-up

  Milal:

  "This is a standard test, Young Master. Every noble child is given a set of raw stones to see how well they can manipulate earth magic."

  She gestured toward the stones.

  Milal:

  "You only need to mold one for now."

  Ryfel glanced at the tray.

  Granite. Basalt. Sandstone. Marble.

  He could shape all of them easilywould be too much.

  Ryfel (Thinking):

  

  He reached forward and picked up the granite

  The room fell silent as he cupped the stone in both hands.

  A moment of pause.

  Then, the granite began to shift.

  Slowly, Ryfel shaped it into a small, smooth cup

  The room held its breath.

  Ryfel:

  

  But just as he was about to place it downinside him stirred.

  A faint whisper of mana

  His fingers twitched—

  And before he realized it, the water in his previous miniature morning modelrosetoward the cup

  The moment it happened, Ryfel froze.

  Ryfel (thought):

  

  The room exploded.

  Elda gasped, nearly dropping her tea.

  Ryker slammed his hands on the table.

  Milal’s tray actually slipped from her fingers.

  Ryker:

  "Did you see that?! He didn’t just shape the granite—he instinctively pulled the water into it! That—That’s a level of control you can’t just teach!"

  Elda, still staring, looked at Ryfel with both pride and concern.

  Elda:

  "This… this confirms it. We have to be careful, Ryker. We can’t just throw him into training like any other child."

  Ryker paused, nodding slowly.

  Ryker:

  "You’re right. If we don’t guide this properly, he’ll either become unstoppable… or he’ll burn himself out before he even reaches his prime."

  Milal, still in shock, suddenly spoke.

  Milal:

  "Young Master… do you even know how you did that?"

  Ryfel, still recovering from his slip-upshook his head.

  Ryfel:

  "Uh… no? I just… thought it would be nice if the cup had water in it."

  Silence.

  Then, Ryker let out a deep, proud laugh.

  Ryker:

  "AHAHAH! Gods, this kid is gonna and he doesn’t even know it!"

  Elda sighed, rubbing her temples.

  Elda:

  "At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if he learns more advanced magic on instinct alone…"

  However, Ryker beamed

  Ryker:

  "Don’t forget, though, it isn’t just about magic and intelligence. He has to prove himself in so many other areas! Contributions, leadership, inventions—"*

  He ran a hand through his hair

  Ryker:

  "Hah! I really don’t think we should push it too much. These past few days have been quite tiring for us too."

  Elda nodded, her voice softer.

  Elda:

  "That’s what worries me, Ry. He’s growing so fast… If we push him too hard, we might put expectations on him that no child should bear."

  Their conversation faded into the backgroundquietly

  His mother’s cautious love.

  unstoppable ambition.

  He understood them both

  But this—this was his moment.

  A small smileassorted stones

  Ryfel (thinking):

  

  Without hesitation, Ryfel reached forward

  He took a deep breath—

  And moved.

  The granite shifted firstsmall, hollow container

  Then, with a flick of his fingersheated the bottomfire magicboil a few drops of water

  The steam rose

  But he wasn’t done.

  He guided the steam upwardwhirl and danceair currents

  Next—light.

  Ryfel adjusted the refraction of lightbendingscattering

  The soft hues of red, blue, and green blended

  A delicate, shimmering auroradancing against the ceiling.

  A silence descended

  Both Ryker and Elda stopped mid-conversation

  Their words vanished

  The room’s entire lighting had changed.

  A soft, twilight glowmystical, shifting colors.

  They turned their heads upwardjaws dropping

  And then—

  They looked down.

  At Ryfel.

  Their five-year-old son

  He was controlling it all

  Casually.

  Effortlessly.

  Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

  Ryker and Elda collapsed onto the sofa simultaneouslystunned

  Ryker:

  "Elda… tell me I’m not dreaming."

  Elda:

  "I… I don’t think I’ve ever seen something like this before."

  They both looked at each other

  Elda slowly exhaled, nodding.

  Elda:

  "Okay… I won’t doubt you ever again."

  Ryker, still staring at the aurora, muttered in awe.

  Ryker:

  "Yeah, I don’t think I’ll doubt myself ever again either."

  A sudden wet splat

  They turned their heads toward Milalsnacking in the background

  Her mouth hung openplopped onto the floorshock

  Ryfel, still half-dazed from mana usesmall, sleepy smile.

  Ryfel:

  "Auro… Aurora Lights. You seen before?"

  His voice was soft, curious.

  His entire family shook their heads in unison.

  Ryfel grinned.

  Ryfel:

  "I used all the elements… t- to make dancing lights for you!"

  His body swayed slightlycatching upso much mana

  His eyes fluttered shut.

  And just as he began to tip sidewaysElda rushed forwardplopped onto the floor.

  She held him close, brushing his hair gently.

  Elda (whispering):

  "You, my son… are truly something else."

  Ryfel, barely awake, curled into her warmthtake him.

  All Aboard

  Eldasleeping Ryfel

  She brushed a few stray strands of his dark hair with golden-streaked tuft aside and pressed a delicate kiss onto his forehead.

  Elda (whispering):

  "Sleep well, my little miracle."

  She lingered for a moment, simply watching him—this child who had changed everything.

  Then, with quiet steps, she made her way back to their bedroomRyker

  As soon as she slipped under the covers, she sighed, rolling toward him.

  Elda:

  "Okay, Ry… I have something to say."

  He turned his head, raising a brow.

  Ryker:

  "Hmm?"

  She hesitated for a moment, then let out another sigh.

  Elda:

  "It's been six weeks only. Only six weeks of a change in schedule—late nights, early mornings, pouring everything into training Ryfel. I just… I want to say I’m sorry if I ever seemed like I was doubting you. Or him."

  Her voice softened.

  Elda:

  "I just wanted to make sure we weren’t pushing him too hard."

  Ryker chuckled

  Ryker:

  "Oh, my El-dear, I never thought that at all."

  He reached over, brushing his fingers lightly against her cheek.

  Ryker:

  "You were always the one keeping my feet on the ground. Your caution, your care—that's what makes us strong. I never assumed you were doubting me… or our son. You’ve only ever protected us."

  She bit her lip, her fingers curling slightly into the sheets.

  Elda:

  "Really? I always thought you didn’t like me getting in the way of your excitement and plans."

  Ryker laughed, a deep, warm sound, before reaching out to pull her into his chest

  Ryker:

  "My love, you are the perspective I need. The piece of reality that keeps me from getting too reckless. And yet, even I didn’t think Little Ry could create something like that today."

  She hummed against him, resting her head against his chest

  Elda:

  "So… you forgive me?"

  Ryker:

  "Forgive you? I never even thought you were wrong."

  She lifted her head slightly, tilting her gaze up at him, her deep blue eyes glimmering under the soft candlelight

  A slow smirk

  Elda:

  "You know… it's the first time in a long time since we ended the day this early."

  Ryker raised a brow, recognizing the shift in her tone

  Ryker:

  "Mmm?"

  He sprawled in a sturdy wooden chair by the hearth, legs stretched out, tunic loose and rumpled from the day. Firelight flickered over his broad shoulders, casting a warm glow across the stone walls. Elda edged closer, her breath soft and warm against his ear, fingers trembling as they brushed his thigh—tentative, slow, barely grazing his breeches.

  Elda (whispering, shyly):

  "I. Hope. You. Know. What. I’m. Talking. About."

  Her words came out halting, unsure, each one paired with a hesitant inch higher, her fingertips light and shaky. She stopped short, hovering, eyes wide as she peeked at him, cheeks already pink.

  A rough growl rumbled from Ryker’s throat, low and hungry. His hand slid down her back, settling at the curve above her hips, fingers pressing through her thin shift—just enough to feel her shiver, her breath catching in a tiny gasp.

  Ryker (husky, teasing):

  "Oh, I know exactly what you’re talking about."

  His grin was slow and wicked, but he didn’t rush her. He tugged her gently to stand between his thighs, hands resting on her hips, thumbs brushing under her shift to stroke her skin—soft, warm, quivering under his touch.

  Elda:

  “You—you do?”

  Her voice was small, eyes darting to the floor, then back to him. He fumbled behind her, picking up a smooth earthen wand from the table—polished, Ryker gently quivered it through his mana. He held it out, then pressed it lightly to her neck, rolling it slow. The vibration sank in, and she groaned, head tipping back.

  Ryker:

  “Starting with this, just. for. You.”

  His voice was rough, playful, as he took the wand from her shaky grip.

  He dialed it up, the hum sharpening, and traced it down her arm—slow, gentle, watching her skin prickle.

  Elda:

  “I—I didn’t remember thi—oh, that’s… nice.”

  Her words stumbled, a soft squeak slipping out as he slid the wand to her lower back, pressing it where her spine dipped. The buzz tingled through her, and she swayed, hands fluttering to his shoulders, clinging lightly. “Ry, what are you doing?”

  Ryker:

  “Just warming you up, my dear. You’re trembling already.”

  He grinned, pulling her into his lap, slow and careful, her knees settling on either side of him. The wand hummed as he ran it up her side, teasing the edge of her shift, brushing the soft curve beneath her chest. Her breath hitched, eyes wide, a flush creeping down her neck.

  Elda:

  “Ry—it’s—it’s too much, I—I don’t know what to do!”

  Her voice cracked, half a giggle, half a plea, she grabbed the wand back with shaky hands. She pushed at his chest, guiding him deeper into the chair, climbing atop him clumsily—her shift riding up, baring pale thighs. She pressed the wand to his chest, sliding it down his abs, hesitant but curious, watching them tighten.

  Ryker:

  “Too much? You’re doing fine, El—damn fine.”

  His hands found her thighs, sliding under the shift, kneading gently—firm but not rough, feeling her tense then melt. Snatching back the wand, the hum buzzing against his belly button, he turned it back to her, slowly sliding down.

  Elda:

  “Ry—I—I didn’t think it’d feel like this.”

  He spread open her thighs wider. The wand buzzed against her skin, sliding slow and deliberate over the soft mound above her clit—close, so close—its vibration pulsing through the thin shift. Her hips twitched, a tiny whimper slipping out, and he pressed it lower, letting the rounded tip graze the edge of her most sensitive spot, the hum sinking in deep.

  Elda:

  “Ry—oh—w-what’s that—?”

  Her words broke into a gasp, high and shaky, her hands clutching his shoulders, nails biting in as the sensation hit. Her thighs quivered, clamping around him, and her wide eyes locked on his—startled, pleading, a flush blooming from her cheeks down her chest. The wand’s hum thrummed against her clit now, light but relentless, and she squirmed, half-pulling away, half-pressing closer.

  Ryker:

  “That’s it, El—right there, huh? You like that?”

  He smirked, voice thick with heat, holding her steady with one hand on her hip while the other guided the wand—circling slow, teasing the swollen bud, then pressing just a little harder. The vibration rippled through her, wet heat seeping against his fingers as he nudged the shift aside, baring her to the firelight. Her breath came in short, frantic bursts, hips rocking instinctively against the buzzing wood.

  Elda:

  “I—I don’t—it’s—Ryker, please!”

  Her plea was a jumble, innocent panic laced with need, her body trembling as the wand’s hum pushed her higher. She buried her face in his neck, muffling a soft cry, her thighs slick and shaking against his breeches. Her hands clawed at his skin gently but surely, clinging as the sensation overwhelmed her—new, wild, too much and not enough.

  Ryker:

  “Please what, my dear? Tell me—or I’ll keep going ‘til you can’t talk.”

  He growled low, shifting the wand to slide along her clit again—up, down, a slow drag that made her jolt with every pass. His free hand slipped under her shift, cupping her arse, lifting her closer so the vibration hit just right. Her gasps turned to whimpers, her innocence unraveling in the fireglow, and he watched her fall apart, eyes dark with hunger and triumph.

  Elda:

  “Please Ryyyyy. I can’t wait any more! Please take me…”

  Ryker:

  "And I also know… that I’ve been waiting way too long for this."

  Flinging away the vibrating wand for a bigger meat-ier wand right between his legs.

  Distant into the night, the master bedroom creaks loudly, Ryfel awakes from the noise. He turns to find out what happened.

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