The aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked bread filled the room as the Nightvale family gathered around the dinner table. Poll was already halfway through his plate when Eryndor cleared his throat, the universal signal for "serious conversation incoming."
"Poll," Eryndor began, eyeing him over the rim of his cup, "remember what we talked about earlier?"
Poll paused mid-bite, his fork hovering near his mouth. "Oh, right." He swallowed quickly, trying to look serious but ending up resembling a chipmunk hoarding food. "Yes, Father."
Seraphina, sitting across from them, raised a curious eyebrow. "What's going on with you two? You look like conspirators plotting world domination."
Poll scratched the back of his head, nervous yet determined. "It's about that spell. The one I used when… everything went…"
"boom."
Seraphina's expression shifted, her fork now idle. "You're ready to talk about it?" she asked, her tone both stern and concerned. "Alright, start from the beginning. Where did you even learn a spell like that?"
Poll hesitated, his eyes darting between his parents. "Well… I don't exactly remember all the details," he admitted. "When I was, uh, captured by that wolf, everything started glitching in my head. Then suddenly It was like I was watching fragments of memories—knowledge—flashes of strange symbols and equations. stuff about atoms and nuclear fusion—"
Alright, I can throw them off by tossing few complicated words, he thought with a sly smirk.
Eryndor raised a skeptical eyebrow. " Glitching?"
"Wait, atoms?" Seraphina's voice rose an octave. "You mean those tiny particles that only high-level mages and scholars even theorize about?"
OK, they know about atoms, play along poll. he thought, his excitement deflating like a punctured balloon
Poll nodded, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah… and then I kinda… maybe… focused my mana on that? Next thing I knew, boom, explosion, and I woke up in bed."
Seraphina set her fork down slowly, her face a mix of shock and mild terror. "Poll, that's… not normal."
Eryndor sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Poll, what you did was beyond advanced magic. We're talking about sage-level theory here. Most humans at your age can't even activate their Manacore, and you're out here rewriting the laws of mana."
Poll blinked. "Wait, really? I thought it was just… basic science."
Eryndor sighed. "What is this science?"
Seraphina rolled her eyes, looking at Eryndor. "You know this as alchemy."
"Oh."
Seraphina leaned forward, her expression both stern and filled with concern. "Poll, listen to me carefully. The kind of magic you used isn't just dangerous—it's the kind of power that could attract… unwanted attention."
Poll gulped. "You mean like… assassins?"
"Worse," Eryndor said grimly. "Bureaucrats."
Poll's jump on table eyes widened in horror. "No… not the government and paperwork people!"
I can handle assassins, but if they put me on some wanted list… my life will be over!
Seraphina chuckled despite herself, then quickly regained her serious demeanor. "Exactly. That's why from now on, I'll be personally overseeing your magical training. No more rogue experiments."
Poll's face lit up. "You'll teach me? Really?"
"Yes," Seraphina said, nodding firmly. "But on one condition—you have to promise me you won't use that kind of magic again until you're older and fully understand what you're doing."
Poll thought a little then straightened up, placing a hand over his heart. "I promise. No more world-ending experiments… for now."
Seraphina's face softened, a small smile breaking through her stern demeanor. "Good. Tomorrow, I'll bring you a student's staff. It'll help you focus your mana safely during practice."
Poll grinned. "Thanks, Mother. I'll do my best!"
Eryndor, who had been quietly observing, gave an approving nod. "You're in good hands. And remember, discipline is key. Now, finish your food before it gets cold."
The next morning, Poll's training officially began. His mother guided him through the basics of mana control with the patience of a saint, while Lira, ever the enthusiastic mage, offered her own tips.
"Poll, you need to feel the mana flow," Lira explained, waving her hands dramatically. "Like a river! Or a really big, angry snake inside your veins."
"Right," Poll said, squinting at his glowing hand. "River-snake… got it."
On other days, his father and Kaida put him through rigorous sword training. Kaida often taunted him with playful jabs.
"Come on, Poll! Swing like you mean it!" Kaida laughed, blocking his wooden sword effortlessly. "You're not going to impress anyone with noodle arms!"
"These noodle arms are a work in progress!" Poll shot back, dodging her counterstrike with surprising agility.
Evenings were reserved for study sessions with Elowen. She took her role as his academic tutor very seriously, which meant Poll often found himself knee-deep in lessons about the kingdom's economic structure or political alliances.
Poll slumped over the table one evening, groaning. "Elowen, do we really need to know about grain trade routes? Can't we study something cool, like… dragon anatomy or how to tame a griffin?"
Elowen gave him a pointed look, her sky-blue hair shimmering in the candlelight. "Poll, knowing how a kingdom functions is just as important as knowing how to swing a sword. What if you become a leader one day?"
Poll sighed dramatically. "Fine, but if I fall asleep, it's on you."
True to form, Elowen was the one who often dozed off mid-lesson, her head landing on the open pages of a history book. Poll smiled as he draped a blanket over her. Those quiet moments of closeness became some of his most cherished memories.
As the days turned into weeks and months, Poll's life settled into a busy but fulfilling routine. Between magic lessons, sword practice, and academic studies, he barely had time to breathe. Yet, he found himself growing stronger, smarter, and more confident with each passing day.
[AFTER FEW MONTHS]
The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew as Poll and Eryndor sat on a wooden bench, sipping hot water. The golden hues of the rising sun painted the sky in warm shades, casting a gentle glow over the quiet landscape.
Poll took a slow sip, savoring the warmth before exhaling deeply. "Ahh... This place is pretty peaceful."
Eryndor nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "It sure is."
A moment of silence passed before Poll turned to his father. "Father… do you know where Kaida went? I haven't seen her in a while."
Eryndor took a thoughtful sip of his drink before replying. "Yeah… she got a promotion. She's on the job right now. The place she's working at is a bit far from here."
Poll blinked. "Huh… so that means she's an adult now."
that's how things work in this world too? Even though she's still young, shouldn't there be some kind of child labor law or something? he mused internally.
Eryndor chuckled, noticing Poll's expression. "Now you sound like a mature boy, huh? Anyway, how's your studying going?"
Poll shrugged. "Not much, honestly. Lira is busy working as an apprentice under some mage, Mother's the head teacher now, so she doesn't have as much time for me, and Elowen… well, she doesn't really know much about magic or combat. So, I'm studying on my own. I have access to a few books, so I'd say I'm doing okay."
Eryndor hummed in thought, nodding slightly. A comfortable silence stretched between them as they watched the sun inch higher into the sky.
After a few moments, Poll broke the quiet. "Father… I've been thinking. Why do we train so much? It's not like some great calamity is going to happen, right?"
I've been wondering about this for a while. In stories, there's always some dark force attacking—like a demon lord or something. Is this world the same?
Eryndor glanced at him with mild amusement. "What do you mean? Your mother and I never told you to become a mage. You chose that path yourself."
Poll hesitated. "Oh yeah… so that means nothing major is going to happen?"
A smirk tugged at the corner of Eryndor's lips. "Ahh, you're overthinking again. There's always danger in the world. The difference is in how you deal with it."
He swirled the remaining water in his cup before continuing, "If you're a mage, you can't cook like a master chef. But if you want to enjoy a good meal, you have to protect those who make it."
Poll frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Eryndor laughed heartily. "It means everything depends on each other. Nothing exists in isolation."
Poll stared at him for a moment before slowly nodding. "I am not sure about this…!"
The two returned their gaze to the horizon, watching as the morning light bathed the land in gold.
After a while, Eryndor turned to him. "So, tell me, why did you choose to be a mage?"
Poll leaned back slightly. "I didn't really choose it… I just enjoy doing things with magic."
Eryndor's smirk widened. "That's what it means to be a mage."
Poll's expression shifted, realization dawning on him. "Ohhh…"
Eryndor stretched his arms and let out a yawn. "Well, time for me to get to work."
Poll smiled. "Good luck with your day, Father."
Eryndor ruffled his son's hair before standing. "Take care of yourself too. And try not to blow anything up."
Poll smirked. "No promises."
Eryndor chuckled as he walked away, leaving Poll alone with his thoughts, the warmth of the rising sun washing over him.
Poll sat alone, gazing at the sun as it slowly climbed the sky. The air was fresh, the morning breeze crisp against his skin. This place sure is nice... with less pollution, the air feels cleaner. The mornings are more amazing than before.
He leaned back, letting his mind drift. I'm learning as much as I can, he mused. I even built my own laboratory where I conduct experiments. My basement? Well, it's a mini version of that. I've crafted a few tools, and right now, I'm working on something big—a perfect device, an operating system that runs on mana.
His eyes lifted toward the endless sky. Maybe one day, I could launch a satellite… No, wait. With mana, space exploration would be way easier and much more enjoyable
His thoughts spiraled into grander dreams. And if mana is universal... could there be life out there? Civilizations with their own forms of magic? What if I could establish contact? Exchange knowledge? The possibilities are infinite!
Poll laughed to himself, shaking his head. Tch. I'm getting way ahead of myself. First things first... I need an assistant. A simple AI model to handle basic tasks. If I can integrate mana into artificial intelligence... He trailed off, already visualizing blueprints in his mind.
He let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples. "Haah… And I have to do all this alone? What a hassle."
Still, as the day passed, Poll kept working, his mind brimming with possibilities, the spark of genius pushing him forward. The future he envisioned was vast, filled with endless opportunities—if only he could turn them into reality.
***