Rio sat on the cold floor, staring at his small palms in bewilderment, as if he found himself trapped inside a cage of flesh and blood that did not belong to him. He felt as though the world had suddenly shrunk... no, not the world, but him. He swallowed slowly, then whispered in a trembling voice:
"System... can you explain to me what exactly is happening here?"
The System replied in a calm, mechanical voice, as if the matter were not worth panicking over:
System: "I do not know. However, this is beneficial... it will grant you better control over your skills."
Rio's face contorted with features of tension and disgust:
"Beneficial? Have you lost your mind?!"
System (Coldly):
"When you transformed into different forms, your skills did not align with those bodies. Now that you have returned to your true body, the skills have begun to adapt to it... this will make your control over them near-perfect. However—"
Rio (Interrupting sharply):
"However what?!"
System: "Your small body cannot endure them yet. Your energy is limited, and your stamina is lower than it was before. Excessive use of skills may lead to... a total loss of control. And perhaps... a complete physical collapse."
Rio's expression froze for a moment. He blinked twice, then tilted his head to the side as if trying to comprehend the absurdity of it all.
Rio (Slowly): "Did you say... low energy?"
System: "Yes."
Rio stared into a void with a vacant gaze, then placed his hand over his small chest in a dramatic fashion, speaking in a sarcastic tone:
Rio: "Magnificent... I've become weak. Officially. A child who can't even produce a spark."
System (Coldly): "Psychological state recorded: 'Royal Drama.' Would you like an exercise to cope with frustration?"
Rio (Raising an eyebrow): "Are you suggesting I practice yoga?! I am in the body of a child! I can't even touch the ground without tripping over my own clothes!"
System: "I can play relaxation music."
Rio: "You'll play music?! While I am on the verge of exploding from helplessness?... You are officially my arch-nemesis."
He sighed, then asked in despair:
Rio: "How long will I remain like this?"
System: "I do not know."
Rio looked at the system with narrowing eyes, overcome by a look of suspicion:
Rio: "Are... are you sure?"
System: "Yes."
Rio (Sighing): "You are useless..."
Outside, Yui was watching from a distance, standing on her tiptoes, her heart pounding with increasing anxiety. She didn't know how to explain what was happening... nor how to hide it.
Suddenly...
Yui (In a terrified voice): "Rio! Quick! Hide! The Ice Queen is coming!!"
Rio dived under the bed like lightning; his small body fit the space perfectly... ridiculously so.
The door opened with a quiet sound... but the weight of the footsteps felt as if they were shaking the room. Elleria entered with her usual majesty, her long silver hair shimmering like threads of moonlight.
Elleria: "Greetings, Yui."
Yui (Smiling tensely, breaking into a sweat): "G-Greetings, Ice Queen... what a great honor... for you to come here!"
Elleria (Looking at her with suspicion): "Is there something you are hiding from me?"
Yui (Raising her hands quickly): "N-Nothing at all! How could I hide anything from you? Never!"
But suddenly...
A sneeze.
Elleria turned immediately toward the source of the sound, her eyes sharp as daggers.
Elleria: "Who is there?!"
Yui rushed to stand in front of her, stammering as she tried to cover the situation:
Yui: "H-How about we have some tea?! Outside? The weather is lovely, isn't it?"
But Elleria was not the type to be easily deceived. She pushed her aside with a deadly calm and leaned down slightly... to see the child hiding under the bed.
Elleria (Confused): "Who is this? A child? Have you... lost your way?"
Yui fainted from the stress.
As for Rio, he stared at her with a shocked face, then muttered:
Rio: "What?... What?!"
Elleria reached out, pulled him from under the bed, and sat the child down in front of her.
Elleria: "Now, can you tell me who you are?"
Rio hesitated, then exhaled loudly, having decided there was no point in further evasion:
Rio: "I am... Rio."
Elleria remained staring at Rio for several minutes without uttering a single word, her suspicious gaze piercing through him.
Rio said nothing, but sweat began to pour from him like a waterfall, and his heart rate began to accelerate at an extraordinary speed. Rio reached out his hand to move Elleria aside so he could leave.
"Excuse me, may I go—"
Rio did not finish his sentence; with just a simple touch, Elleria collapsed to the floor from the shock and whispered:
"A child?... The Hero of the Kingdom is just a child?!"
As she finished her words, she closed her eyes from exhaustion. Elleria fell from the shock next to Yui, her features unable to believe what was happening.
Following Elleria's collapse, Ren entered the room with excitement, but...
He looked at Rio with a long, analytical gaze, as if he recognized the person standing before him but wasn't entirely sure. His excitement vanished instantly.
To be continued...