Evening came, and with it, dinner with the family. We ate in the main hall, a space that could accommodate dozens but felt intimate with just the four of us. The food was good, hearty and well-prepared. I'd learned to appreciate the cuisine of this world, so different from the processed convenience of my past life.
Julian was still buzzing with energy from the day's training, recounting his sparring session with Father in dramatic detail. Juan listened with patient amusement, occasionally correcting Julian's more embellished claims.
"And then I almost landed a hit!" Julian insisted. "Father had to actually try to block it!"
"I had to acknowledge your attempt," Juan corrected gently. "There's a difference between trying to block and actually needing to block."
Julian deflated slightly but not completely. "Still, I'm getting better, right?"
"You are," Juan confirmed. "Significantly better. Your form has improved considerably in the last month."
The praise brought Julian's smile back in full force.
There was a knock at the hall door, and a servant entered with a bow. "My lord, Sir John has arrived as requested."
"Ah, excellent," Juan said, setting down his wine cup. "Send him in."
I looked up with interest. Sir John? I didn't recognize the name.
The man who entered was probably in his early thirties, with brown hair tied back in a practical style and sharp green eyes. He wore the colors of House Baker and moved with the confident grace of a trained warrior. But what struck me most was the way he carried himself. There was respect there, clear deference to Juan, but also familiarity. This wasn't just any knight.
"My lord," Sir John said, bowing to Juan. Then to Lillian, "My lady." And finally, with a warm smile to Julian, "Young master."
"John!" Julian practically leaped from his chair. "You're back! Did you finish the patrol?"
"Just returned an hour ago," Sir John confirmed. "The northern border is secure. No sign of the bandits that were reported last month."
Juan nodded with satisfaction. "Good work. Please, join us. You must be hungry from the journey."
"I wouldn't want to intrude on family time, my lord."
"Nonsense. You're as much a part of this family as any of us." Juan gestured to an empty chair. "Sit."
Sir John did, and I watched the interaction with interest. This wasn't just lord and servant. There was genuine friendship here, tempered by respect and duty but unmistakably real.
"Sir John is Father's retainer," Julian explained to me, even though I hadn't asked. "He's been serving House Baker since before I was born. He's one of the best knights we have!"
Sir John chuckled. "Young master flatters me. I'm competent at best."
"You're a Fourth Star warrior," Juan said. "Don't diminish your accomplishments. Fourth Star by your age is impressive."
Fourth Star. That meant he was only three ranks below Juan, and Juan was considered one of the kingdom's strongest. The power scaling in this world was starting to become clearer. Most people never made it past Third Star or Circle. Fourth was impressive. Fifth was exceptional. Sixth and above were the realm of the truly elite.
Sir John's eyes landed on me, and his expression softened. "And this must be young Master Quin. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting him yet."
"Quin, this is Sir John," Lillian said. "He's been managing your father's affairs in the eastern territories. He's only just returned."
"Hello, young master," Sir John said warmly. "I've heard many good things about you. Your parents speak of you often."
I gave him my best adorable smile. "Hello!"
"Sharp eyes," Sir John observed. "He watches everything, doesn't he?"
"He does," Juan agreed. "I suspect we'll have to be more careful what we discuss in his presence soon. He's picking up language faster than Julian did at this age."
Great. More attention on how unusually advanced I was. I needed to be more careful, appear more childish.
Dinner continued with Sir John recounting news from the territories he'd been overseeing. Trade was good. Harvests were solid. The people were content. Everything a noble would want to hear about their lands.
But underlying the mundane reports, I caught hints of larger concerns. References to tensions with the Solan Empire. Mentions of increased military activity near the border. Comments about other kingdoms preparing for "whatever comes next."
This world wasn't at peace. Not really. There was stability, but it was the kind of stability that came from strong leaders keeping chaos at bay through force of will.
"How is the king?" Lillian asked at one point. "We haven't been to the capital in months."
"King Klaus is well," Sir John replied. "Though I hear he's been focused on training lately. Preparing for something, perhaps, though what, I couldn't say."
"An Eighth Star warrior is always preparing," Juan said. "At that level, standing still means falling behind."
The conversation drifted to other matters, but my mind snagged on that comment. Even at Eighth Star, one of the highest ranks possible, King Klaus still trained. Still pushed himself. Because at that level of power, complacency meant vulnerability.
If I wanted to reach those heights, if I wanted to be truly extraordinary, I couldn't afford complacency either. Every day I waited was a day someone else used to grow stronger.
After dinner, Sir John took his leave, but not before ruffling my hair and promising Julian a sparring session the next day. The family retired to the sitting room, where Julian finally crashed from his day's exertions, sprawling on a sofa with his eyes half-closed.
I sat with my building blocks again, stacking them absently while my mind worked.
Today had been enlightening. I'd felt my mana core for the first time. I'd watched warriors and mages use mana in completely different ways. I'd seen the levels of power that existed in this world, from competent knights like Sir John to exceptional warriors like my father to legendary figures like King Klaus.
The gap was enormous. The challenge was immense.
I was a two-year-old with a plan to awaken seven years early, to master both warrior and mage paths simultaneously, to become the kind of anomaly that this world had probably never seen.
The rational part of my mind said it was impossible. The odds were astronomical. The difficulty was beyond anything I'd ever attempted.
But the other part, the part that had spent seventeen years in a past life wanting desperately to be special, to matter, to be the protagonist of a story worth telling... that part was thrilled.
This was my chance. My real chance. Not playing hero in school hallways, not going through motions for praise and recognition, but actually becoming extraordinary through my own effort and determination.
I looked down at my small hands, at the block tower I'd built without thinking. It was taller and more stable than a two-year-old should be able to make. Another small slip in my disguise.
I knocked it over deliberately, making it look accidental, and giggled like a child would.
Juan glanced over and smiled. "Tired, Quin?"
I nodded, rubbing my eyes in exaggerated sleepiness.
"Come on, then," Lillian said, rising from her chair. "Let's get you to bed."
As she carried me to my room, as she went through the bedtime routine of changing my clothes and tucking me in, I let myself actually feel the affection there. The warmth. The care.
This family wasn't the hollow existence I'd left behind. Juan, Lillian, Julian... they were real, genuine, loving. And despite my cynical nature, despite my obsession with becoming the protagonist, I found myself caring about them too.
Maybe that was what this second chance was really about. Not just power and glory, but learning to value the things that actually mattered while pursuing the things I wanted.
Lillian kissed my forehead. "Sleep well, sweetling. Tomorrow is another day."
Tomorrow was another day. Another day to secretly train. Another day to learn. Another day closer to awakening.
I closed my eyes, but I didn't sleep immediately. Instead, I turned my focus inward, searching for that sensation from this morning. The warmth in my chest. The presence of the core.
It was easier to find this time, the path already familiar. I felt the small space, the lazy swirl of mana within it. Still slow, still passive, still waiting.
But not for much longer.
I would crack this code. I would learn to actively absorb mana. I would awaken early and shatter every expectation.
The challenge was immense, but for the first time in two lives, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be, doing exactly what I was meant to do.
The protagonist's journey had begun.
And I was determined to see it through to the end.