It was late at night.

  The mansion rested in deep silence, immersed in the stillness of the late hours, when almost everyone was asleep. However, little Kael remained awake, lying in his crib, eyes open and mind restless.

  The room was dimly lit by moonlight filtering through the curtains, casting soft shadows over the furniture. To one side, in a bed prepared especially for her, the night maid slept peacefully, completely unaware of the storm of thoughts occupying the baby’s mind.

  Kael could not fall asleep.

  Inside him, a heavy feeling clung to his chest. It was an uncomfortable mix of frustration and determination, a constant pressure that he could not dispel no matter how hard he tried.

  I can’t help feeling bothered by the words my new grandfather said… he thought.

  There’s nothing to gain from regretting it now or acting like a coward… I have to overcome this and improve.

  That thought was important. He knew it clearly.

  However, there was something else demanding his attention with urgency.

  But now there’s this other problem… this heat… this heat I can’t explain…

  What is going on?

  It had all started when that man, Galen, emitted that light using his magic. Then, when his grandfather held him in his arms for the first time, that internal sensation had intensified. Since then, the heat had only continued to grow, slowly spreading inside him, as if something dormant had begun to awaken.

  Remember… this world has magic and many strange things…

  And this heat… I feel like I can move it…

  With extreme concentration—something unusual even for an adult, and almost absurd for a baby only a few weeks old—Kael began to focus on that sensation. He had no real control over his body; his movements were clumsy and limited, appropriate for his age. However, his mind worked with unsettling clarity.

  Little by little, he began to experiment.

  At first, the heat responded erratically. It moved without a defined shape inside him, like energy with no direction. But with each attempt, Kael began to better understand its nature, as if he were learning to move an invisible muscle that had always been there but that he had never used.

  After several failed attempts, something finally changed.

  “I almost got it…” he murmured softly. “I’m guiding my heat toward the palm of my hand…”

  In the tiny palm of his hand, a bluish light began to form, faint but unmistakable. It was weak, almost fragile, but it was there, floating like a small living spark.

  I can feel it! he exclaimed mentally, euphoric. It’s magic! Small, but it is!

  And now… what the hell do I do with this…?

  With the little strength and mobility he had, Kael tried to throw that small extract of magic into the air. His arm barely moved, and the light remained attached to his hand, refusing to detach.

  “Ah! It won’t come off my hand!” he complained. “Wait…!”

  With extreme care and a patience that did not match his infant appearance at all, he began to guide the small magical core toward the tip of his index finger. The process was slow but steady, and when he finally succeeded, a proud smile appeared on his face.

  “I did it…” he whispered. “If I point with my finger, maybe I can launch it…”

  “Oh yes… I’ll do it in an epic way, like my finger is the barrel of a gun… wow, I’m so cool…”

  He stopped for a second, reconsidering the idea.

  “No… no. That kind of launch is ridiculous.”

  “Here goes my special magic throw. I’ll call it… BOOGER LAUNCH.”

  Bringing his fingers together, like someone shamelessly picking their nose to throw a booger, Kael propelled the small magical extract toward the ceiling of the room. Upon contact, the magic did not explode with destructive force. Instead, it burst into a soft and beautiful expansion of bluish-white light, illuminating the room for a few seconds before slowly fading away.

  “Incredible!” he celebrated. “I’m amazing!”

  “My booger light explosion was a total success!”

  At that moment, after performing his first conscious experiment with magic, something changed.

  Deep within his being, an invisible threshold was crossed.

  The prerequisite was completed.

  A small translucent window began to project itself in front of Kael, floating in the air. It was visible only to him.

  // -- Requirements completed -- //

  // -- Unique skill unlocked -- //

  // -- Personal assistant activated -- //

  “What the hell is that?” Kael reacted, startled.

  As he asked the question, the small screen responded immediately, manifesting clear and precise words.

  // -- I am your unique skill as a transcendent traveler. I am your knowledge assistant -- //

  // -- As my name indicates, I can help you understand and learn about the world you are in, giving you the guidance needed to better face the problems you will encounter in your daily life -- //

  Kael frowned, not very impressed.

  “A personal assistant with a lot of knowledge…?”

  “Wow… what a disappointing skill. I would have preferred to fly, turn invisible, or have incredible strength…”

  // -- Do you not know that knowledge is power, you spoiled little idiot? -- //

  “And you even insult me, rude assistant!” Kael replied indignantly.

  // -- Did it not occur to you that, with my knowledge, you could create a machine to fly, an artifact to turn invisible, or a training method to become stronger? -- //

  Kael remained silent for a few seconds.

  “Ah… no, honestly, I didn’t think about it…”

  “I guess I’m an idiot, and since you belong to me or are part of me, then you are one too…”

  // -- I have barely become aware of my existence, and I already have existential doubts because of a brat who can’t even control his body… -- //

  “My apologies,” Kael replied, “but I still can’t control my bladder, so you’ll have to deal with it.”

  “I would have preferred a kinder assistant… one that doesn’t complain so much to me.”

  // -- You should sleep. There is a lot to do. If you truly wish to become strong, we can start by training your magical core, since you still cannot train your body -- //

  “And how will we do that?” Kael asked curiously.

  // -- It’s simple. When we are in a safe place, we will perform as many… ‘booger launches’ as possible to stimulate your magic production -- //

  “Oh, I like that,” Kael responded enthusiastically. “I like that strategy.”

  // -- I have no gender or sex. I am only an entity, an extension of your power… -- //

  “I don’t care,” Kael replied. “I prefer to treat you as if you were a female entity.”

  “It would be pretty strange to say: ‘I have a power called assistant… it’s a tough guy living inside me.’”

  // -- Not even the worst absurd stories dared to say so much nonsense… well, let’s leave it like that… although I’m starting to notice your humor rubbing off on me -- //

  And so, Kael’s new ability began to take shape little by little. As questions arose in his mind, the assistant fed him information, helping him understand more and more about that new and strange world.

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  Five months passed.

  Five months filled with care, patience, and constant affection surrounding little Kael. During that time, the mansion became a place of routine and calm. The maids took care of keeping the room spotless, well ventilated, and warm, always adapting it to the needs of the young master.

  That afternoon, as the sun slowly descended and dyed the sky in golden and orange tones, Tana walked little Kael through the gardens of the mansion. The air was fresh and filled with the scent of freshly cut grass and the flowers growing along the stone paths.

  At a certain distance, walking with steady steps and an attentive gaze, Enta escorted them, watching every corner with the natural ease of someone accustomed to protecting.

  After a while, Tana placed Kael in a small portable cradle, carefully settling him so he could rest. Then she and Enta sat on a bench in the garden, under the shade of a leafy tree, ready to talk calmly while the child dozed.

  Kael, although he kept his eyes closed, remained completely awake at a mental level.

  Alright… he thought enthusiastically.

  These last months have been truly impactful.

  Let’s review everything that has happened, my elegant and reliable assistant.

  // -- Very well. Let us begin from the start of your parents’ story -- //

  Kael organized his thoughts carefully, as if reviewing an old book whose information he already knew, but which needed to be rearranged more clearly.

  One of the most transcendental changes in this world occurred with the crusade that involved my parents and their friends…

  It had all begun with an attack and an attempted coup in the Kingdom of Taratios. A faction of conspiratorial nobles assassinated King Domen and tried to seize power by force. However, the uprising was quickly repelled by another faction, led by his grandfather, Garbard, who was a loyal ally of the king.

  Together with his followers, Garbard managed to overthrow the treacherous nobles and completely destroy their lineages, eradicating the threat at its root. Afterward, Lord Garbard temporarily placed the nobility of the city of Filagoria in charge, while he himself took responsibility for raising Prince Rowan, ensuring his education and training as a future ruler.

  While all this was happening, on the other side of the continent a deep resentment was beginning to form, accompanied by excessive ambition. The Demon King, Fentossias, driven by his desire for conquest, began to plan the domination of the entire continent.

  “When my father and Rowan turned eighteen,” Kael continued, “they embarked on a crusade together with half of the army of Cautares, Taratios, and Filagoria.”

  That army marched first through the Elven Kingdom, then through the Beast Kingdom, and finally through the Dwarven Kingdom, gaining allies in each territory. The objective was clear: to face the army of the Demon King. The great war finally erupted at the border between the Demon Kingdom and the Dwarven Kingdom.

  Kael paused mentally, aware that there were important details that could not be overlooked.

  “There are very important points to highlight here…

  “If the Demon Kingdom wanted to invade other realms, why did it not cross the Indomitable Forest and directly invade the Human Kingdom?”

  The answer was not simple, but it was revealing.

  “If the Indomitable Forest did not exist, that would have been the most logical option,” he reflected. “Trying to break through the dwarven fortifications would be almost suicidal…”

  “And why? Because the Dwarven Kingdom is not underground by coincidence.”

  In reality, the entire Dwarven Kingdom lay beneath a gigantic mountain range. A natural wall of colossal proportions, covered in eternal snow and sharp peaks, stretching across the entire territory.

  “In simple terms,” Kael thought, “it would be as if two large countries were one, and a mountain range similar to the Andes covered all that land… an impenetrable wall of frozen mountains.”

  Despite the extreme nature of the attempt and the obvious difficulty, due to how the map was laid out, this was still the best option for the demons.

  “Because crossing the Indomitable Forest would truly be absolute suicide.”

  That forest had existed since the very origin of the world and had remained intact thanks to the presence of wild and colossal beasts. Creatures capable of annihilating entire armies if their territory was disturbed.

  Kael continued linking the events.

  “And why make such a massive journey just to reach the Dwarven Kingdom?”

  The answer lay beyond that.

  “The great mountain range that covers the Dwarven Kingdom ends in a massive mountain that rises at the center of the continent…”

  “That mountain is called the Mount of the Gods.”

  According to ancient writings, the creator goddess of this world and all its species rested at the summit of that mountain. No one had ever managed to reach it. Those who tried either froze to death or were slain by the dragons guarding the place.

  “And according to my assistant,” he added with a touch of humor, “no one could reach it either because this mountain almost reaches the first layers of the atmosphere, exceeding ten kilometers in height.”

  For that reason, reaching the summit was simply impossible.

  Kael returned to the main thread of the story.

  “Returning to the war…”

  With the arrival of the allied army at the gates of the Dwarven Kingdom’s border, the great battle was fought on the barren and withered land of the Demon Kingdom. It was there that the names of heroes began to be forged, engraved forever in history.

  Under a sky darkened by smoke and demonic corruption, those names began to be spoken with respect and reverence.

  Kael reviewed them one by one, with the solemnity of someone who understands that these figures were not just legends, but real people who had changed the course of the world.

  Laret Sungley – The Swordsman of the Dawn

  He led the final offensive on the demonic front. His precision with the sword and his unbreakable resolve were decisive in the confrontation against the Demon King himself, to whom he delivered the final blow. When the morale of the troops wavered and defeat seemed inevitable, it was his leadership that kept the soldiers standing until the very last moment.

  Caria – The Crimson Fist of Taratios

  She was the first to break the demon lines during the assault on the Black Fortress. Her close-quarters combat opened the breach that allowed the allied army to enter. Her ferocity was such that even greater demons retreated before her, fearing the brutality of her strikes.

  Freya Val’Thir – The Mage of Eternal Light

  Freya was the most brilliant mage of the Great Academy and the only one of her era to master the fire element in its pure form.

  Her magic did not only destroy.

  It purified.

  On the battlefield, her celestial flames consumed entire armies of the Demon Kingdom, reducing darkness to sacred ashes and cleansing the corrupted mana that infested the land.

  Galen – The Monk of Light

  During the bloodiest battles, he was the one who kept the main heroes alive. His healing magic saved countless lives and neutralized demonic curses that would have doomed anyone else. Galen was the silent pillar of the crusade: without him, there would have been no heroes returning.

  Kael continued the review, maintaining the same solemn tone.

  Liora – The Dancer of the Wind

  Her ability to synchronize magical waves increased the power of the group’s spells and physical techniques. In the midst of combat chaos, her dance maintained harmony in the flow of energy across the battlefield. Invisible to many, her role was essential to sustaining the balance between magic and steel.

  Lucian – The Redeemed Shadow

  He acted as a spy and assassin within demon territory. He eliminated the lesser generals coordinating the infernal offensive. Thanks to his infiltration, the heroes obtained the blueprints of the fortresses and discovered hidden routes that led them directly to the Demon King.

  Rowan of Taratios – The Paladin of the Kingdom

  He commanded the human army and served as the shield that held back the demonic hordes during the final battle. His mastery of both sword and magic allowed him to withstand the fiercest assaults, buying the time needed for Laret and Caria to reach the main enemy. His strategy saved three kingdoms from total annihilation.

  Kael paused briefly before continuing.

  “But the crusade was not the work of humans alone…”

  ?? The Allied Heroes of the Crusade

  Larode – The Elven Archer

  From the eternal forests, Larode eliminated flying beasts and winged demons that threatened the army’s flanks. His enchanted arrows never missed their mark. It was he who brought down the black dragon guarding the Demon King’s fortress, clearing the way for the final assault.

  Thidriel – The Mage of the Ancient Circles

  An ancient mage of the Elven Kingdom and a master of repelling demonic magic. During the Great War, she erected the Circles of Light of Myrthalen, barriers capable of dissolving the corrupt energy of infernal spells. Without her purifying power, the allied armies would have fallen to dark mana.

  Lagarnir – The Lion King of the Beastmen

  He commanded the northern beast legions. His roar inspired allied troops and spread terror among the enemy. He was the one who destroyed the third demonic bastion, crushing infernal lines with a brutal, close-quarters offensive.

  Thanrak – The Wolf King of the Frozen Lands

  Monarch of the Wolf Tribe of the Beast Kingdom and blood brother of Lagarnir.

  Together, they united scattered packs and clans under a single banner, forming the most savage army of the crusade. While Lagarnir led the frontal charge, Thanrak attacked from the flanks with his tribe, executing coordinated maneuvers that shattered demonic lines. His synchronization with the Lion’s roar was key to breaking the second infernal legion.

  Thoron – The Winged Warrior of the Sky

  He dominated the skies during the war. From above, he guided troop movements and struck down greater demons with his spear as they tried to flee. His aerial vigilance ensured that no enemy escaped the battlefield.

  Darnur, Morin, and Gartha – The Three Hammers of the Dwarven Kingdom

  Although they did not fight on the front lines, their work was fundamental. They forged weapons and armor capable of resisting demonic magic. The labor carried out in the obsidian forges sustained the crusade as much as any victory earned with blood.

  Kael concluded his review with clarity.

  “Although the human factor was the most numerous, without the support of the other races the war could not have been won.”

  Thanks to that achievement, Prince Rowan proved himself a worthy successor to his father. At just twenty-one years old, he assumed the title of King of Taratios, sealing the beginning of a new era for the continent.

  With all this, Kael thought, my first understanding of this world is formed.

  I still have much to learn and investigate, but without a doubt, with the help of the assistant, each day will bring something new.

  “But look who is very awake and lively,” Tana suddenly said, breaking the silence.

  As she picked up the portable cradle, Kael was immediately covered in kisses by the maid, causing him to make a surprised infant expression.

  “I think it will start getting dark soon,” Enta commented. “Autumn is approaching, and the nights are becoming cold.”

  “Let’s return to the mansion so the young master can have dinner.”

  “Yes, of course,” Tana replied with a smile. “We must make this little treasure nice and chubby.”

  As they walked back, Enta sensed a faint presence. Something subtle, almost imperceptible, manifesting beyond the walls of the mansion.

  “Is something wrong, Sir Enta?” Tana asked, noticing his expression.

  “No… nothing is wrong,” he replied. “I was just thinking about something.”

  However, as they returned inside the mansion, that presence remained hidden, watching in silence from the darkness beyond the walls.