Chapter 9 — First Appearance
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Kael Grenfort:
Ahhh... I'm feeling strange after yesterday's incident.
To be honest, I'm embarrassed.
From that helpless state of mine — destroying the room, not being able to stop the wind, looking like a fool in front of Mother.
Hehehe... — a slight blush appeared on my face, as if Mother could see me, even though I was alone in my room.
Well, what difference does it make? — I told myself. I'm still a child. Children do this kind of thing. Everything's normal.
Huhhh... — I took a deep breath, trying to convince myself.
But still...
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I went downstairs. Ate breakfast.
And I couldn't look Mother straight in the eye.
For some reason, this was very strange. She didn't say anything, but her gaze — that amused, slightly mocking look — made me blush even more.
Why am I so embarrassed? — I thought. She's my mother. She's seen me in every state possible.
But still.
I finished eating. Slowly, quietly, without a word, I began moving toward the stairs. Like a mouse trying to sneak past a cat — silently, slowly, trying not to be seen.
"Oh, Kael? What are you doing?" — Mother's voice came from behind me.
I froze. Stopped dead.
"Nothing..." — I said without turning around. — "I'm going to my room. Then... I'll get dressed and go outside."
This time I turned around and put on my most innocent smile.
Mother looked at me for a moment. That same amused expression appeared in her eyes again — but she said nothing.
"Okay, do as you like," she said.
I ran off.
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I left the house.
I left the town.
I went near the forest — to a place with no people. I was outside the city walls. The walls were about 10 meters high — thick, sturdy, built from ancient stones.
Hmm... — I stopped and looked at the walls. What are these walls here for? To protect against someone? Or to hold something in?
Interesting, but now wasn't the time to think about that.
I needed a quiet place. Somewhere with absolutely no people, where no one would watch me, no one would disturb me.
Hmmmm...
I looked at the forest.
Yes, I think if I go a little into the forest, nothing will happen.
In my hands, I held the spellbook — clutched tightly to my chest, so no one would see it.
And I entered the forest.
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I found a quiet spot by a stream.
A small stream, clean water, trees all around, sunlight filtering through the leaves above. A beautiful scene. And most importantly — no one was there.
"This should be the place," I said aloud, as if confirming it to myself.
I opened the book. Flipped through the pages.
Should I try fire magic?
I thought for a moment.
No. — I shook my head. — That would be stupid. Going into a forest and using fire magic — the best way to burn down the entire forest.
I chuckled at my own foolishness.
Then I'll try water magic.
I searched the book for the water magic section. One-star spells — simple, beginner-level.
"Okay... water dagger, water ball... and what's this? Water wrap? No, that's second level."
Water dagger.
What kind of thing is this?
I tried to imagine it. A dagger — a small knife. Made of water. What would that look like?
I closed my eyes. I thought about water. Its flow, its clarity, its coolness. Through memories of my previous life, I felt water — rivers, lakes, rain, dew.
And without using magic — without any spell, without words, without any movement — a water dagger appeared in my hand.
I opened my eyes in amazement.
Wow.
It was incredible. In my hand was a dagger made of clear, blue water. It sparkled in the sunlight, didn't drip at all — like ice, but not ice, pure water.
I didn't cast a spell. So this is it — something connected to imagination.
I smiled.
How powerful could this be? How sharp?
I needed to test it.
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I looked around. I spotted a larger tree — thick, tall, old.
I gripped the dagger firmly. One strike. Two strikes. Three strikes.
Nothing happened to the tree.
Looks like it didn't do anything, — I thought.
And at that moment —
Creeeak...
The tree creaked.
My eyes widened.
No...
The tree began to fall on me.
With agility — my previous life's reflexes kicked in — I dodged in the direction away from the falling tree. I rolled several times, throwing myself to the side.
I'm safe!
I thought.
But at that moment —
SSSSSSSSSS!
Something enormous emerged from the tree branches.
A snake.
About 20 meters long.
Its body was as thick as a tree trunk, and its eyes burned like fire. Two fangs protruded from its mouth — each as long as my arm.
This... this is beyond my level.
It was clear. If this creature bit me just once — it would be over.
I was terrified. Completely terrified.
My legs trembled. My heart was beating so fast it felt like it would burst from my chest.
When you have much to lose, you fear. Even death.
This thought passed through my mind. And it was true. I had a family. Mother, father, an unborn brother or sister. A life waiting for me.
The snake looked at me. Its cold, emotionless eyes locked onto me.
And it attacked.
Its enormous mouth opened — to catch me in one strike.
Time seemed to slow down.
I couldn't move. My legs felt frozen. The snake's mouth was approaching me — slowly, but inevitably.
This is it. The end.
I thought.
And at that moment —
A red light appeared from above.
Bright. Crimson. Like the color of blood.
And it appeared in the path of the snake lunging toward me.
The snake — that enormous, 20-meter, terrifying creature — was torn to pieces in an instant.
Blood rained down on me like a fountain. Hot, sticky, foul-smelling blood. My eyes closed shut — from the mixture of blood and other things.
I hastily wiped the blood from my eyes with my hand.
The next second —
A man stood before me.
Tall. Wearing a hood. His beard was pure white, his eyebrows also white. An old man — but in his posture, his stance, his presence, there was a strength belonging to the young.
And I felt that sensation once more.
That sensation from my birth.
That feeling of fear.
He glanced toward me. At that moment, the sensation of death engulfed my entire being. Breathing became difficult. My heart seemed to stop for a moment.
He looked at me.
"Hey, kid," he said in a cold tone, with a tired face. "What are you doing here?"
There was no emotion in his voice. No interest, no anger, no kindness. Just... emptiness.
"I-I..." — I stammered. "Nothing..."
His gaze felt like it was piercing through me. I was completely naked, completely defenseless before him.
"Hey," he said again. "Don't be afraid. What's your name?"
I thought for a moment.
He's not an enemy. He saved me. If he were an enemy, he would have killed me along with the snake.
I took a deep breath. Tried to compose myself.
I bowed my head. Greeted him.
"Hello, sir. I am Kael Grenfort. Thank you very much for saving me."
He looked at me for a moment. Then:
"Heh," he said, nodding his head. "Maybe I want to kill you or kidnap you. Aren't you afraid now?"
And at that moment — he attacked me.
Fast. Unexpected. With one hand movement — to grab me.
But —
SHING!
A sound like a sword screaming in the wind was heard. And someone blocked the incoming attack.
Father.
Sedric Grenfort.
He appeared from somewhere — as if he'd grown out of the ground. Sword in hand, fury on his face.
"Who are you?!" Father shouted loudly.
The hooded man slowly withdrew his hand. Looked at Father.
"Well," he said in a cold tone. "He's your son, is that it? Sedric Grenfort."
Father's face paled. He looked at me, then back at the hooded man.
"Hey, kid," that man said, anger in his voice. "Do you know your mother's full name?"
I was surprised. "What? No, I don't..."
"Shut your mouth!" — Father shouted at the hooded man. "Don't drag the child into these matters!"
And he attacked.
I was watching Father use magic for the first time. He raised his hand, and wind — terrible, powerful wind — shot toward the hooded man.
This magic was clearly at least gold-level.
Hundreds of trees were destroyed in an instant. The ground cracked. The air exploded.
But the hooded man dodged every attack. He barely even moved — just took a step, and the wind passed by him. Another attack — he bent, and the force passed millimeters from him.
He was powerful too. That was clear.
I watched in amazement. The battle between these two was far beyond anything I could understand.
And from a distance, the hooded man spoke.
But his words — no matter how noisy everything was — sounded as if he were whispering right into my ears.
"Your mother's full name is Joanna Grimjaw. Hehe."
These words were etched into my mind. Joanna Grimjaw.
Then he raised his hand.
"We'll meet again," he said.
And the next second — he vanished.
Into nothingness.
All that remained around us were destroyed trees, blood, and silence.
Father stood for a moment, breathing, watching the surroundings. Then he turned to me.
There was seriousness on his face — a seriousness I had never seen before.
"Are you okay, Kael?" he said.
I nodded. I couldn't speak.
He came to me, placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Looks like we need to have a serious talk," he said.
I looked at him. There was something in his eyes — fear, anger, or... something else?
"Father," I said slowly. "Who was he? And what... what does he know about Mother?"
Father sighed deeply.
"This isn't something to discuss here. Let's go home. And you don't need to know this right now — you'll find out for yourself later."
He offered me his hand. I took it.
And we headed home.
Behind us remained the destroyed forest, the giant snake's blood, and a night full of questions.
Joanna Grimjaw.
This name swirled in my mind.
Grimjaw... What kind of family name is that? And why did he know Mother?
There were no answers. Only new questions.
And for the first time in my life, I felt fear in my father's hand.
He was afraid.
And that terrified me.
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