Mushoku tensei: A New Path

Chapter Title: The Schemer and the Spell

Zenith couldn't help but smile as she watched her one-year-old son, Rudeus, sitting on the floor with a thick book open before him. His tiny fingers traced the lines of script, his brows furrowed in exaggerated concentration. The text was far too advanced for him to understand, but he was utterly engrossed, babbling nonsense words as if mimicking incantations. Zenith's heart swelled with pride.

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"My little scholar," she whispered, stroking his soft, brown hair. "You're going to do great things, aren't you?"

Yet, a small pang of worry lingered beneath her happiness. Rudeus was so curious, so adventurous, and already so prone to accidents. Just this morning, he had tumbled off a low bench trying to "fly" with a towel around his shoulders. Zenith sighed. That daring streak was unmistakably Paul's influence.

Still, she marveled at his curiosity and intelligence. Most toddlers were barely stringing words together, and here he was, showing interest in books and, astonishingly, magic. That last thought sent a ripple of unease through her. Magic wasn't just a skill—it was a responsibility.

As Zenith pondered her son's future, Rudeus's thoughts were far less innocent. He glanced up at his mother, his heart beating faster. He had been sneaky, pretending to be an ordinary toddler fascinated by her magic books. In truth, he had already pieced together enough to know these books held secrets he desperately wanted to learn.

With practiced childish charm, he toddled over to Zenith, tugging on her skirt. "Mama! Magic! Show magic!" he demanded, his wide, sparkling eyes betraying none of his inner scheming.

Zenith chuckled, kneeling to pick him up. "Oh, you little rascal. You only want magic tricks, don't you?" She carried him to the garden, where Lilia stood at the doorway, observing them with a reserved smile.

As they stepped into the crisp afternoon air, Zenith set Rudeus down on the soft grass. "Alright, Rudy. What kind of magic do you want to see today?" she asked playfully, brushing her auburn hair from her face.

Rudeus froze. His excitement had betrayed him. Without thinking, he blurted, "Water Ball!"

The garden went silent. Zenith stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "How... how do you know that name?"

Rudeus's face burned with embarrassment. He scrambled for an excuse, but none came. Zenith shook her head, brushing it off as coincidence. "Well, if that's what you want..." she said slowly, a note of curiosity in her voice.

Lilia, still watching from the doorway, frowned slightly. She had seen much in her life—too much—and knew how rare these tender moments were. Her chest tightened with an ache she didn't care to acknowledge.

Zenith took a deep breath, her voice clear and steady as she began to chant:

"Let the great protection of water be on the place thou seekest. I call a refreshing burbling stream here and now. Water Ball."

In an instant, moisture in the air coalesced, swirling together to form a baseball-sized orb of shimmering water. It hovered for a moment before launching forward, splashing harmlessly into the bushes fifty meters away.

Rudeus was transfixed. His tiny hands clenched into fists, his lips tightly pressed together as he silently repeated the chant in his mind: Let the great protection of water be on the place thou seekest. I call a refreshing burbling stream here and now. Water Ball. Over and over, he rehearsed the words, determined to commit them to memory without speaking them aloud. He understood the risk. If he accidentally uttered the incantation, the spell might activate—and that would raise far too many questions.

He barely noticed his mother's proud grin or Lilia's astonished gaze.

Lilia's heart skipped a beat as she observed the scene. The intensity in Rudeus's expression was unnatural for a child his age. She had seen focus before, in knights preparing for battle or scholars engrossed in their studies, but this... this was something different. A strange sense of foreboding gnawed at her, yet she remained quiet, unwilling to ruin the tender moment between mother and son.

Zenith, however, was blissfully unaware. She crouched beside her son, her auburn hair catching the sunlight as she laughed softly. "Did you like that, Rudy?" she asked, brushing a stray lock of hair behind his ear.

Rudeus nodded, snapping out of his trance, though his mind was still racing. He had seen it—felt it. Magic wasn't just about words or gestures. It was willpower, focus, and understanding. He was determined to master it, no matter the cost.

As he shifted his gaze, his eyes met Lilia's. Her expression, a mix of astonishment and confusion, caught him off guard. Realizing his intense focus had likely betrayed his thoughts, he quickly relaxed his determined gaze and replaced it with a childish, innocent smile. Lilia blinked, then returned the smile, though the questions in her mind lingered.

Rudeus's thoughts, however, were already elsewhere. He needed Zenith to show him more magic. "Mama," he said, tugging at her sleeve, his tone laced with faux innocence. "Read the magic book to Rudy? Please?"

Zenith chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, Rudy, I'd love to, but I need to head to the clinic. You know how busy it gets. There aren't many healers in the village, and everyone needs me." She kissed his forehead gently. "Maybe later, alright?"

Rudeus pouted, but his mind was already formulating another plan. He had to find a way to get more time with the book.

Zenith, as if reading his mind, stood and walked to the house, the magic book in her hands. She glanced back at Rudeus with a knowing smile. "You're not getting into this while I'm gone," she teased, tucking it away in a high cupboard before closing the door firmly.

As she left, Lilia stepped forward and scooped Rudeus into her arms. "Come, young master," she said, her voice soft but firm.

"Let go!" Rudeus protested, squirming in her grip, but he was no match for Lilia's strength. A former Royal Asuran maid, she held him effortlessly.

"You'll hurt yourself if you wriggle too much," she said with a faint smile, though her gaze lingered for a moment on the cupboard where the book was hidden.

Rudeus huffed, ceasing his struggles. His tiny mind raced with plans and possibilities, but for now, he resigned himself to Lilia's hold. There was no escaping her. Yet, he couldn't help but notice the lingering sadness in her eyes, a sadness she quickly masked with her usual composure.

The afternoon light poured into the house, casting warm shadows on the walls. And in that moment, while Zenith healed the village, Rudeus silently vowed to learn the secrets of magic—even if it meant playing the long game.