A few more days had gone by since Ray had once felt his core. He had kept up his meditation outside the house, sitting beneath the open sky, doing his best to gather as much nature energy as he could.
Over and over again, without rest or complaint.
With every passing day, he could feel his core becoming more vivid and complete, like a faint outline slowly being filled in. And finally, just as he was about to give up his meditation for the day, he felt something… different.
The warmth in his stomach felt more distinguished this time.
It was gentle yet clear, light yet undeniable, and it sent a subtle rush through his body, making him feel strangely energized.
It was as though his gut was pouring out energy into his entire body, spreading through his limbs and veins, making his whole system feel altered, but still the same, only in a special, unfamiliar way.
"Wow… is this it?" Ray's eyes grew wide in surprise as he raised both hands up to his gaze, a smile slowly brewing on his face. "Have I really awakened my core?"
The question lingered in his mind, unanswered. There was no way for him to confirm it on his own, and so he knew there was only one person he could ask.
His father, Derek.
Rising from his sitting position with excitement bubbling in his chest, Ray hurried over the fields and back into the house.
His small feet carried him straight to the fireplace, where his father sat, warming himself by the brimming golden dance of the flames. After all, winter was creeping closer with each passing day.
"Daddy! I think I did it!" Ray exclaimed, completely forgetting to rein in his excitement.
Derek's eyes widened as he hurriedly placed a hand over Ray's mouth, cutting him off before he could say another word.
The damage, however, was already done.
From the kitchen, Ria popped out, holding a large wooden bowl filled with a sticky mixture she was in the middle of preparing. She furrowed her brows, her sharp eyes moving between father and son with practiced suspicion. "What did you do, Ray?"
Ray gulped.
So did Derek.
"Shit?!"
"Hmmm… it's father-and-son business," Derek stammered, his voice shaky as he forced out the excuse, hoping, no praying, Ria would let it slide.
She was a wise woman. Maybe too wise.
Ray knew that better than anyone, and he was certain she could see straight through Derek's poor attempt at a lie.
But today was different.
She simply shrugged, clicked her tongue once, and turned back toward the kitchen without another word.
Seeing this, both of them stood frozen for a few seconds, waiting to confirm whether they were actually safe. Only when they heard the faint clatter of utensils did Derek finally let out a satisfied sigh, removing his hand from Ray's mouth.
"Nice save, Dad," Ray teased quietly.
Derek mustered a shaky grin. "I know."
"I think I finally got my core," Ray said, pride filling his voice as he winked at his father.
The expression on Derek's face shifted into something between confusion and excitement. Truth be told, he had never truly believed Ray would awaken before the age of five. He had only entertained the idea because he wanted to be the kind of father who always supported his children, no matter what they believed they could achieve.
This, however… this was a major surprise.
"Wow… I don't even know what to say," Derek replied honestly, his hand moving to his jaw as he rubbed it in disbelief. "You are amazing, Ray."
He patted young Ray on the head a few times, his touch gentle and proud.
"I wish we could talk more about this, it's incredible. But I need to run some errands. We'll talk after that, alright?" Derek grinned again as he rose to his feet, throwing a thumbs-up at Ray.
The gesture alone warmed the young lad's heart.
Finally, Derek stepped out of the house to handle his business.
Ray wasn't bothered by it in the slightest. In fact, he had been planning to make a request of his father anyway, but since he was busy, Ray already had other plans.
He quickly scurried away, climbing up the flight of stairs to his room. Opening the door, he shut it behind him and rushed to his bed, shoving his hands underneath it.
After a moment, he pulled out a book.
The book was dusty and smaller than the usual ones he read. Unlike his other books, this one had been stolen...
No borrowed!
From one of the tutors who had taught him earlier on.
Its title read: The Basics of Fire Magic.
Staring at the pristine, wooden-like cover, Ray ran his fingers over the slick, intricately carved surface. Just holding it made his heart beat faster. He could only imagine how many spells he would be able to pull off from this book.
'I could start by burning a wild boar. Their meat is so tasty!' He patted his stomach, being the child he was and having a deep love for meals that were… not exactly nutritious.
(Vegetables, to be precise.)
He prepared to open the book and—
The sound of the door opening echoed through the room.
In stepped none other than his mother, unannounced, her eagle-like almost demonic—eyes sweeping through his entire room in a single glance.
The shock nearly made Ray jump out of his skin. He hastily shoved the book under his bedsheets, even though he knew deep down she had probably already seen it… or at least he hoped she hadn't, in his defense.
Surprisingly, she didn't mention it.
Instead, she clicked her tongue, drawing Ray's attention as she gestured for him to look at her.
"All you do is sit here reading books all day. You might be brilliant and talented, but you need friends, Ray!" she complained, walking over to him before suddenly lifting him by the armpits and hoisting him onto her shoulder.
"Ayeee!" Ray grunted, struggling to break free. But with his tiny frame, it was nothing more than a dream.
"Put me down! You're embarrassing me, Mum!" he protested.
Ria ignored him completely.
She carried Ray out of his room, through the house, past the fields, and all the way to the large set of double doors that led outside. Setting him down at last, she tapped him lightly on the nose.
"You need to make at least one friend today—unless you want me to take away your book privileges. And when I say friends, I don't mean you flirting with girls around town. I mean a boy. A boy that is a friend!"
Ray's mouth hung open for a moment before snapping shut. He clenched his fists, puffed out his chest, and with the manliest voice a four-year-old could possibly muster, he declared—
"You monster."
Ria burst into giggles at his pathetic excuse for a manly tone. "You can have as many wives as you want when you're grown, but right now, find a boy to be your friend. Now run along, my little man, or I'm going to turn into a real monster! Grrrrr!" she growled playfully at the end.
It worked—though not in the way she expected.
Ray frowned shaking his head in disappointment then turning away from her. He shoved his hands into the warmth of his pockets and stared out at the scenery beyond the open gates.
Then he muttered through clenched teeth,
"Boys, not girls… I suppose."