Kaelith closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the soft golden glow of the candlelight reflected in his grey eyes.
He scanned everywhere, a little taken aback by the sudden change of environment. He was back in his mother's room, and he was lying in his crib.
He sat up before reaching for the railings of the crib, pushing himself up. His gaze fell on his mother, who was still lying unconscious on the bed. He pursed his lips together in irritation.
'White Lotus, why must you interfere in my business? Do you really think it is easy to seal my powers?'
'You are really exceptional—at least you managed to seal my powers. Which is the first time since two existences combined.' He sighed. 'However, you have suffered a backlash. You were smart to use the blood from your heart, as I was reborn with your blood coursing through my veins.'
He sighed again. 'I must say, you are worthy to be my mother in this lifetime. But I need to take my revenge. I need to take back what they have stolen from me, and I need to burn down their legacies and everything they hold dear.' His eyes swept over her frame.
'If you are good, and don't interfere with my plans, I'll spare your life because of the bond we share.'
He sat down in his crib. 'That must be my domain. However, it has been locked away, creating a mirage—a world that is neither real nor fake. Does this mean my powers are not fully sealed?'
His brows furrowed. 'So a piece of the Chaos artifact had been inside me all this while, and I didn't even notice. The artifact of Chaos is a bridge between life and death. It has the power to destroy the universe, but it also has the power to create one. This must be the reason why I was able to reincarnate again.'
The door creaked open. He snapped his head to the door as Plum hurried inside, her long dress sweeping over the floor.
"Kael! You are awake!" she cried in joy, hastening her steps toward him. She carried him in her arms, pinching his cheeks gently.
'Stop that! And put me down! Do you think I'm a baby that you carry around as you deem fit? I am older than your father! And stop pinching my cheeks! Or I will burn you to nothing but ashes!'
He spoke in a language Plum could not understand, his hand pushing hers away.
"Oh, I see you are a little grumpy. I'll get you some warm milk. Mama is sleeping, so Godmother will take care of you." She chuckled, pinching his cheeks more.
'Liar, don't you hate me for putting your lady in that state?' His eyes narrowed at her.
"Why do you always make expressions of adults?" she paused, her brows knitted together. "Can you understand what I'm saying?"
Kaelith stared at her unblinking, giving her a look of 'have you gone nuts?'
"There is no way that is possible. I must be overthinking. I know you don't like being touched, but I couldn't keep my hands to myself because I've missed you for the past three days you were unconscious." She carried him, walking toward where Agnes was lying unconscious.
"Wait here, let me bring your food," she said, putting him down beside Agnes.
Kaelith stared at his mother's face. Her lips were chapped, and her skin was pale. She hadn't recovered from the stab to her heart and the magical energy she used.
Plum stepped out of the room to get his food.
Kaelith's face was unreadable. 'Why did you do it when you knew you would be hurt? You didn't do this because you love me as your son, but because you want something from me, right?'
….
If anyone had told him he'd spend an entire year drooling, crawling, and being pinched on the cheeks, he would've burned them alive.
Yet here he was. One year old and still treated like a fragile porcelain doll.
At least they had stopped trying to feed him mashed peas. Now, they just stared in confusion whenever he flipped pages faster than a tutor.
The days had dragged, but Kaelith endured. And now... it was time to move.
…
"Kael!" Plum's voice rang through the empty corridors.
It was already nighttime, and Kaelith was nowhere to be seen.
Agnes came out from the other end of the corridor. "Have you found him?" Her voice was distressed; black bags had formed under her eyes.
Plum shook her head. "He always spends time in the library even though he has no idea what he is reading. But he never leaves there, and besides, there were maids who had been watching over him."
Agnes' chest heaved heavily. "Bring the maids to me!" Her eyes flickered with fear.
"My lady, do you think the Emperor and Lady Artherine might be behind this?"
"I can't say for now, Plum. They are not the only enemies we have. Bring the maids, while I prepare a tracking spell. We need to find him as soon as possible," Agnes said calmly, but behind that calmness, she was crashing inside. She clenched her fist at the thought of her son being kidnapped.
Plum nodded before running down the corridor. Meanwhile, Agnes turned around, heading back to her room.
The door flew open before she got to where it was. Her eyes burned gold. Immediately after she entered her room, the door shut with a loud bang. A gust of wind blew around her; her throat tightened.
A white light swirled around her. "Kael, where are you?"
Waves rippled through the air, carrying her voice across the Empire.
…
Meanwhile, far away from the palace, the hooves of horses carrying a carriage thumped against the ground as it ran through a dark alley.
Inside the carriage sat three men with buff bodies and scary tattoos over their skin. They stared in awe at a one-year-old boy wearing a navy blue sleeve with gold intricate thread design and black pants. His black wavy hair was slicked back with a few strands falling over his face.
He sat in the carriage with a large book on his lap. He was so engrossed in the book that his brows knitted in seriousness as he turned through the pages.
"What does he even know…"
"Shhhh." The boy shushed the man, placing his little finger over his lips.
"This little boy is too much. We should kill him now. The boss said he wanted him dead or alive," the other man, who sat opposite the little boy, said, his eyes dancing with madness.
"I said shush. I'm reading, and I'm not done yet." Kaelith narrowed his eyes at him.
"Who do you think you are to boss me around? Let me show what I'm capable of!" the man yelled, drawing out a dagger from his waist.
Kaelith shut the book closed, irritation dancing in his eyes. "Didn't I say you must be quiet and not disturb me while I'm reading?" He tilted his head at them.
"Shut up, you little bastard." He aimed his dagger at Kaelith's chest, but it was stopped by an invisible force.
"What… the… heck?" the man growled as he pushed harder.
Kaelith's face remained cold and unreadable. "Scram."
With his command, a force lashed at the man, sending him bursting out of the carriage. He bounced on the ground like a ball before coming to a stop.
"So annoying," he muttered under his breath, returning back to his book.
The two exchanged a look of fear and hesitation before glancing back at their comrade, who had crashed to his death.
"You little brat. I'll kill you right now!"