Dylan ran around the mansion, pushing his little body to the limit as he ran and trying to think about the mana entering his lungs like oxygen and then circulating throughout the rest of his body. The idea was abstract, very abstract at first.
"Son, don't run so fast, you'll fall!" Anelia said when she saw Dylan running gracefully from her perspective.
"This isn't so easy. I've been at it for a few weeks and I can't do it, but if I do, I'll get stronger and my chances will increase; the future will be at my feet. Yes, I mustn't give up," thought Dylan, who got up and walked over to his mother.
"But that's enough for today," thought Dylan as he received the cake and juice his nanny handed him.
••••
At night, in his room, Dylan woke up at midnight and began to think about mana.
"A power capable of crystallizing the imagination. It is an almost omnipotent power, but I have not seen it, I can only feel it as an energy that revitalizes my body even when it is inactive. And when mana is activated, it is capable of materializing the most amazing spells," Dylan thought as he made five magical drops of water float.
"These drops possess mana. But they only look like drops of water that move at my will. Even so, these drops of water follow my will because they contain a portion of the mana I possess. It means there is some kind of link," Dylan thought as he tried to gain an understanding that would allow him to achieve his goal of activating mana to temporarily strengthen his body.
The first thing Dylan did was close his eyes and try again to sense the mana. He managed to feel energy, an invisible energy that was similar. The energy was in him and in the drops.
"I must give color to the mana. Mana in its most natural form is invisible. If I can dye the mana, the possibilities will be greater." Time passed, but different colors flowed through Dylan's mind, colors with which he could try to dye the mana, which prevented him from concentrating. So he lay down to sleep, knowing he still had time.
••••
At night, in his bed, Dylan was already five years old. After several months spent exercising within the limits of his small body, he had already figured out how to manipulate mana.
"The color of the system was a sinister dark red, yes, let's call it the Red of Perversion," thought Dylan, who had created 20 magical drops of water that floated around his bed and above him.
Dylan first concentrated on the similar energy present in the magical drops and in his body. Then, when he had a clear perception of the energy, he imagined the mana dyed the color of the Red of Perversion.
The drops reacted, and so did the mana stored inside Dylan. Then he dispersed the water drops, leaving only a few red dots, and began to breathe, as the red dots entered his nose.
Dylan was beginning to understand how mana worked, little by little.
••••
Several nights later, the red dots transformed into tiny red particles that mixed with the oxygen according to Dylan's will.
The mana began to disperse through his bloodstream at the same time as the oxygen.
Dylan, who was sitting on his bed, felt the energy strengthening his body; now the mana was ready to follow his will.
Dylan got out of bed, put on his slippers, carefully opened his bedroom window, and looked outside at the night sky. He went outside and began running around the perimeter of the mansion.
"Come on, strengthen my muscles, my organs, my bones. Physical Enhancement!" thought Dylan, after which the mana slightly strengthened his body, as his spontaneous spell was not yet perfected.
"I must go out every night until the mana manages to enhance my body at will, and with the desired intensity. A little patience, and I will acquire the power to kill those at my level or below. The higher levels are not of interest to me. I just need to obtain Perverse Points, and in the end, there will be no one at my level," Dylan thought after deciding what to do next, and he ran back to his room.
••••
Shortly after Dylan turned six, he was running under the night sky, sometimes taking long leaps and testing the range of his vision.
The cold breeze was blowing, but the excitement of having increased his skills and mana handling was enough to keep Dylan warm.
Dylan was now able to create 30 magical drops of pressurized water, but that wasn't all. He was able to dye the 30 drops with the perverse red mana, giving the drops greater power and allowing Dylan to continue to perceive them at a greater distance.
"Next week my parents are going to a party organized by the nobles. While they're away, I'll just have to escape my nanny's watchful eye and head to the county town. I know that's where the Perverse Points I haven't been able to collect in a long time are located," Dylan smiled, but soon realized that dawn was approaching, so he ran back to his room.
"My beloved son, you must behave yourself and obey Lineth," Anelia told Dylan, who was standing in the mansion's foyer holding little Elena's hand. Elena just watched and listened quietly to what her mother was saying.
"Yes, Mother, I will obey you," Dylan said cheerfully, and finally smiled sweetly.
"You are so cute and obedient, my little son," Anelia said as she kissed Dylan on the forehead and then Elena.
Alenia said a few words to little Elena, then Demian looked at his children and, before turning away, said:
"Behave yourselves, and I will give you a reward when I return."
"Have a good trip, Father." I'll be waiting for that reward," said Dylan excitedly.
Shortly after, around 4 p.m., the wheels of the carriage could be heard moving away from the Gray family mansion.