Kian Goldmaul POV

  I’m currently two years old, and I’ve noticed that my core has almost finished forming. From the pace it going I think it might even finish today.

  I should probably tell my dad about this just in case something happens. I think to myself as I head toward his office.

  But as I peek inside I don’t see him in his usual spot.

  I start making my way towards the living room and spot my mom knitting what looks like a small hat. A hobby of her.

  “Mom! Do you know where Dad is?” I ask as I get closer to her.

  “Your dad? He’s in the backyard testing some kind of magic.” she says, setting the knitting aside and reaching out to gently ruffle my hair.

  “Testing magic? What kind of magic?” I ask, my curiosity kicking in.

  She shakes her head. “I don’t know, I didn’t ask and he didn’t tell me exactly what he was testing. Anyway, why are you looking for him?”

  “I have something to tell him.”

  “Is that so? Then go to the backyard and ask him.” She pull back her hand from my head.

  I head to the backdoor and push it open, and step outside. There he is in my line of sight Dad standing still with a focused expression.

  His arm is lifted to around his chest height, palm facing outward, the other hand held the same position and posture with a small gap between them.

  The air in front of him bends strangely, like light being warped in several places at once.

  It’s rare to see him serious unlike his usual goofy self. I think, stopping by the door to watch without interrupting.

  I stay silent for several minutes until he frowns turning his head and finally noticing me.

  “Oh, Kian, you were watching? Why didn’t you say something?” he asks as he walks toward me.

  “I saw you so focused, so I didn’t want to interrupt,” I reply. He kneels down so our eyes are level.

  “Anyway, I have something I want to tell you!”

  “Hmmm? What is it?” he asks, his eyes lighting up with the usual childlike curiosity.

  “Well, I feel like my core is almost fully finished forming. If nothing goes wrong, it might finish today. I just came to tell you just in case I need to prepare for anything.”

  His eyes widen in surprise, then brighten with joy. “Oh! Your core’s about to be formed? Well, there’s nothing you really need to prepare for, but it will hurt a little. Once your core finishes, it will connect to an airway-like channel as well as vine-like conduits so you can store Veythar and use it.” He pauses. “Don’t worry about the pain it’s just like a small headache, but near your heart.”

  I breathe out in relief my shoulders relaxing. After getting my answer I remember what he’d been testing earlier.

  “By the way, Dad, what exactly were you doing just now? You looked so focused.”

  “Oh, that?” He scratches his cheek. “Well… it’s not finished yet, so it’s hard to explain. Unlike normal magic, where you shape elements, I’m shaping Veythar itself. That makes it much more complicated. It is common to shape Veythar, but creating an entirely new structure based only on theory is… difficult.”

  Shaping Veythar? I do remember reading about such a thing in the book he gave me, but it was never mentioned again in any book other than the first one. I wonder why.

  “Anyway, you don’t need to think too hard about it. You won’t be able to replicate what I’m trying until you have an extremely deep understanding of Veythar. In maybe fifteen years, you could try, but not now.” He waves his hand dismissively. “I’ll keep testing this spell. You can sit a bit further back and watch.”

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  I nod, stand, and start to move away, but pause.

  “By the way, Dad! I want a bow and some arrows.”

  “Huh?” He pauses mid-step, giving me a curious look. “A bow? Why a bow?”

  “I want to train with it once my core is formed.”

  “Why a bow and not a sword? Why specifically a bow?” His gaze sharpens, more serious than usual.

  Huh… he’s more intense than normal today.

  “Well, it’s because I think a bow suits me more.”

  He studies me for a moment, then his usual cheer returns. “I doubt there are bows for two-year-olds on the market… hmm, what a problem.” He scratches his chin. “I guess I’ll just create one for you instead.”

  He measures my height with his eyes, then raises his right hand. Slowly a small bow takes form out of thin air and after a few seconds it’s finished.

  “Well, here you go.” he says, handing me the bow.

  I stare at it, still astonished by how it just formed from the air without any visual effects.

  “As for the arrows you have to wait until your core is fully formed, okay?” He pats my head before returning to his earlier spot to resume testing.

  I walk farther away from him until I think I’m at a safe distance even though I have no idea what hes doing, sitting down I watch him still curious about what exactly he’s working on.

  For the next ten minutes I was just watching him standing motionless, eyes wide, clearly deep in thought.

  I’m starting to get bored watching him just stand there. My gaze shifts to the bow lying beside me.

  I should probably get used to this thing.

  I stand moving to the other side of the backyard and begin practicing drawing the bowstring.

  After about twenty minutes of this, a sudden, slight pain blooms near my heart, making me frown.

  My core’s probably finished forming. Now it should be connecting to those channels Dad mentioned.

  The ache lasts for about three minutes before fading, replaced by a strange sensation like something is being stored inside me.

  “Dad! Dad! My core finished forming!” I call out, waving toward him as he’s sitting on an outdoor chair scribbling in a notebook filled with words I can read but still can’t fully understand.

  “Oh it did? Let me see, let me see!” He instantly appears in front of me, placing his hand over my heart and closing his eyes.

  He channels Veythar into me slowly, in small amounts. I can feel my core filling with energy. After about five seconds, he opens his eyes.

  “Perfect fully formed, no issues at all.” he says with a satisfied nod.

  “In that case, can I use the bow now? I want to test it!” I hold out my hand toward him.

  “Yes, but be careful. I’ll watch you.” He waves his hand, creating a quiver filled with small arrows.

  Huh? He made them faster than the bow was made

  “Let’s test it on the dead tree over there.” he says, pointing at a dried-up trunk.

  I nod walking toward it and stopping about ten meters away.

  I would’ve gone farther but my two-year-old body despite being as tall and strong as a five-year-old from my past life can only handle this much, especially with a bow this size.

  “Are you sure about ten meters? That’s quite a distance for a beginner and a toddler at that.” he says with concern.

  “Mhm,” I hum in response, holding my hand out for an arrow.

  He sighs, handing me one. “Here you go. Be careful.” With a wave of his hand, an arrow target appears on the tree. Kneeling beside me, he places a hand on my back, channeling Veythar around my body like armor.

  “Go ahead start when you’re ready.”

  I nod as I set the arrow and draw the bowstring.

  It’s been so long since I’ve done this… I missed this feeling.

  I aim carefully holding it for eight seconds and then I release it.

  The arrow flies missing the bullseye by just a few centimeters close, my toddler body’s lack of muscle memory shows. Still, it’s a solid hit.

  “Oh!! Nice!!” Dad cheers clapping loudly with a wide grin.

  “Can I get another arrow?” I ask.

  He nods and hands me one.

  This time my shot lands closer to the center. On the third try I hit the bullseye dead-on.

  “Hahahaha! It’s Just like I thought my son’s a natural!” he laughs dropping the quiver before scooping me up and spinning me around in the air.

  “Ugh, Dad, stop! You’re making me dizzy!” I groan fighting back the urge to throw up.

  “Oh, right sorry, sorry,” he says still grinning from ear to ear.

  For the next ten minutes I kept shooting until I was too exhausted to even lift the bow.

  “Nice job, little guy. At this rate you’ll surpass your old man in you’re twenties.” he says proudly, still smiling.

  After that, I head back inside to rest for the day.

  I really missed shooting arrows. I think with a content sigh.

  Chapter End