As Leo and Caden were finishing their meal, a sudden, subtle change seemed to come over Selene. She paused for a moment, her hand drifting slowly to her mouth, as if to steady herself. Then, she placed her hand lightly on her stomach, a faint look of surprise crossing her face.
Caden, noticing the change, immediately dropped his fork, his eyes sharp with concern. "Selene? Are you okay?"
Selene smiled softly but there was a trace of surprise in her eyes, as if something unexpected had just happened. "I'm... fine," she said, but there was a pause in her voice that made Caden's heart race.
Caden leaned forward, his brow furrowing in realization. "Wait... does that mean...?"
Selene's smile grew wider, and she nodded slowly. "Yes, Caden... I'm pregnant."
The words hung in the air for a brief moment before Caden, unable to contain his excitement, sprang out of his chair and swept Selene into a big, joyful hug, lifting her off the ground.
Leo, still trying to process, blinked in surprise. "Wait, does that mean..." he trailed off, his eyes widening with excitement. "Am I going to get a brother or a sister?"
Selene gently pulled away from Caden's hug and nodded, her face lighting up with happiness. "Yes, Leo... you're going to have a sibling."
Leo's eyes sparkled with excitement. In his thoughts, he couldn't help but think, Damn, Caden... you really are a real man, huh? He struggled to keep his face serious, but he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face.
Caden, still grinning like a fool, looked at Leo with pride. "You're going to be the best big brother, Leo! Get ready to help out!" He gave a playful nudge to his son.
Leo nodded enthusiastically, his heart full of joy. "I can't wait!" he said, though his mind was still buzzing with the thought of becoming a big brother.
And just like that, the family's happiness filled the room, the excitement of the moment impossible to contain.
After the joyful dinner, laughter echoed through the house. Caden was still humming happily, Selene was glowing more than ever, and Leo—he just felt full. Not just from the food, but from something warm in his chest he couldn't quite explain.
Soon, everyone went to their rooms. The house quieted down under the gentle cover of night.
Leo laid down on his bed, hands behind his head, staring at the wooden ceiling above. His thoughts wandered, drifting like clouds through everything he'd learned so far.
"So this world gives everyone two main skills... The rest, we can still learn, but they're never as strong as someone who's naturally gifted with them."
He remembered his parents' happy faces, the calm village, Lyra's smile, even the weird way Caden grinned when he teased him. "Everything's going so well... I never thought I'd have a life like this."
A small smile crept onto his face. He turned to the side, letting his thoughts slow down.
And just like that, with peaceful thoughts in his mind and hope blooming in his heart, Leo slowly drifted off to sleep
The sun peeked through the curtains, gently waking Leo from his sleep. He stretched, let out a quiet yawn, and jumped out of bed with a grin. Another beautiful day.
He helped Selene prepare breakfast, carefully setting plates and laughing at her teasing jokes. Caden joined in with his usual appetite and goofy energy, making the kitchen feel like the happiest place in the world.
After breakfast, Leo practiced reading and studied a few books about mana and history. Then, like every day, he grabbed his wooden sword and stepped outside with Caden. The air was crisp, perfect for training. Caden challenged him with new moves, and Leo, sharp and focused, matched him blow for blow.
As the afternoon sun warmed the village, Leo was wiping sweat from his forehead when a familiar voice called out.
"Leo!"
It was Lyra.
She stood at the gate, smiling brightly. But this time… something felt different.
Those words she said just now—the way she said "Leo"… it was the exact same voice he heard during that strange moment days ago, when he first got that weird headache. Back then, it felt like a whisper from the future. And now—she said it, in real life.
Leo's eyes widened slightly. "Wait… wasn't this supposed to be a skill that shows past events?" he thought. "Then why is it giving me glimpses of the future…?"
He stood frozen for a second, lost in thought.
Lyra tilted her head. "Hey, Leo? Are you alright?"
Leo blinked and shook it off, quickly putting on a smile. "Yeah, I'm good!"
But in his mind, he was already analyzing it.
"So my skill... it's not just about the past. Maybe it's incomplete. Maybe it's more than what the goddess told me."
He looked at Lyra, who was now talking about something cheerful, her hands gesturing with excitement.
"Alright," Leo thought, "I'll work on this skill later. But for now—let's enjoy today."
And with that, he smiled and walked beside her, the mystery quietly growing inside his heart.
After some fun exploring the village, Leo and Lyra had spent the afternoon playing—running, laughing, and enjoying the simple freedom of the day. When they finally grew tired, they flopped onto the soft grass beneath a wide blue sky, the wind gently brushing past them.
Lying side by side, they watched the clouds float lazily above.
"Hey, Lyra," Leo said, still catching his breath, "you know my parents, right?"
Lyra turned her head and nodded. "Mhm. Your mom's so kind, and your dad's funny."
Leo chuckled. "Yeah… But I've never seen your parents. Who are they? I kinda wanna meet them."
She smiled proudly. "My dad's the leader of this village."
Leo sat up a little. "Wait—really? The leader?"
Lyra giggled. "Yup. He works really hard to protect everyone. And my mom helps him out all the time."
Leo laid back again, smiling. "Wow… being the leader of a whole village must be tough."
Then Lyra turned toward him. "Hey, Leo… what should we do next?"
Leo glanced toward the trees. "Hmm… what if we go into the forest?"
Lyra's eyes widened. "T-The forest?"
Leo quickly noticed her worried look and softened his tone. "Ah, it's okay. We don't have to go if you're scared."
She nodded with a small pout, and Leo grinned. "Alright then. How about I tell you a secret instead?"
Lyra's eyes lit up. "Ooooh, a secret? Yes, yes, I want to know!"
Leo leaned in a bit and lowered his voice like it was the biggest deal in the world. "I have a special skill. It lets me… see future events."
Lyra gasped. "Whaaat?! Really? That's so cool!"
"Yup," Leo said proudly. "But don't tell anyone, okay? It's just between us."
She nodded excitedly, her hands zipped across her mouth like she was locking it shut. "Promise!"
Leo smiled and sat up, closing his eyes. "Alright… let's try again."
He focused, gathering mana just like he practiced. It was difficult. The flow kept slipping… until suddenly—click—something connected.
His eyes glowed faintly.
And then—he saw it.
A flash.
Smoke.
Screams.
Flames devouring homes.
The entire village, destroyed.
Leo's breath caught in his throat as the vision snapped away. He jerked slightly, sweat on his forehead.
"Leo?" Lyra's voice was gentle, worried. "A-Are you okay? What happened?"
Leo paused, then forced a calm smile. "Ah—yeah, I'm good. Just felt a little dizzy."
Lyra blinked, still unsure, but his smile eased her. "O-Okay then…"
To ease the tension, Leo quickly shifted the topic, pointing up at a funny cloud. "Hey, that one looks like a duck with a sword!"
Lyra burst out laughing. "A duck?! No way—it's totally a bunny with a crown!"
Just like that, she was back to smiling, her innocent heart easily lifted. But deep in Leo's thoughts, the warmth of the moment faded.
"No… this can't happen. That vision… the village—Lyra—everything. I have to stop it. Before it's too late."
Leo lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts tangled in what he had seen.
That vision… the village destroyed, everything in flames. It might actually happen. He felt a chill in his chest but reminded himself, at least now I know.
Thanks to the goddess, he had a skill—Echoes of the Forgotten—that revealed not only the past, but somehow glimpses of the future too.
And then there was his second skill, Void Reclaim. A rare, risky ability. With it, he could absorb the skills of others—whether human, elf, or even monsters.
He knew he had to be careful. Absorbing the wrong skill could change who he was. Still… if he wanted to protect the people here, if he wanted to stop that future from happening, he had to grow stronger. Much stronger.
Whose ability should I absorb…? he thought, eyes growing heavy. Which power will help me protect everything?
With that question echoing in his mind, Leo slowly drifted into sleep.
The next morning, Leo woke up with a sudden realization.
"I know now…"
If he could become strong enough while he was still young—strong enough to fight monsters—he could absorb their powers instead. Monsters had strange and powerful abilities. That would be his path.
"I just need to keep training. Swordsmanship, magic… everything."
A small smile spread across his face as he got out of bed.