The words echoed through the candlelit chamber, carrying an almost divine weight.
The gathered warriors—knights, monks, samurai, mercenaries—stood frozen, their gazes locked onto me as if I were some unnatural creature. Their eyes flickered with curiosity, doubt, and, in some cases, fear.
Even the woman who held me close previously now seemed tense, her fingers gripping the fabric of her dress so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
"What the hell does that even mean?" I thought, frustration bubbling inside me. "I just got here, and they're already acting like I'm some kind of freak?"
A scoff broke through the silence. A man—a noble, judging by his richly embroidered cloak—stepped forward, his face contorted with disbelief.
"Surely you jest, sir. He is just a human child."
The air shifted.
Slowly, the elf turned, his piercing gaze settling on the man who dared to question him.
"Do you doubt my words?" His voice was calm, yet it carried a weight that made the room feel smaller. "Do you know who I am?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd. A palpable pressure descended, pressing down on everyone present. Some warriors stepped back in fear, others stood frozen, their throats bobbing as they swallowed nervously.
"I am Captain Vaelith Sylvaris, Commander of the Elven Division of the Continental Peacekeepers' Alliance." His gaze sharpened, daring anyone to challenge him. "It would be wise not to doubt my abilities."
Silence.
The noble who had spoken turned rigid, eyes darting to the floor. No one else dared utter a word.
Satisfied, Vaelith returned his attention to me.
"This child's mana is thick." He studied me with something between fascination and caution. "Thicker and purer than any newborn should be capable of harboring."
A murmur spread through the room like wildfire. The tension had shifted, no longer fear of Vaelith's authority but fear of me.
"A miracle born," Vaelith concluded.
I felt the woman holding me tense even more. Her heartbeat was pounding against my back.
"This is insane. They're acting like I'm some divine phenomenon." I shifted slightly in her arms, uneasy. "Why is she so scared?
A loud cough rumbled out of my tiny body, shaking my lungs.
Vaelith's eyes snapped toward me, his curiosity deepening. "What an interesting child," he murmured before turning to the room.
"It is time to begin the ceremony, don't you all agree?"
Another wave of murmurs spread through the warriors, but none dared to object.
Vaelith raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, a black silk bag adorned with silver studs appeared in thin air.
"Dimensional storage magic," I noted, watching him pull the bag toward him. "This guy really is something else."
I let out a yawn, my tiny body betraying me as my eyelids grew heavier.
Vaelith let out a small chuckle. "Now, now, little one. Try to stay awake for me."
He placed me gently on the polished wooden table, keeping one strong yet careful hand on me. From his bag, he pulled out a small blue orb that pulsed faintly, like the dying embers of a fire.
The moment it was set before me, something ignited within its depths.
A tiny blue flame flickered, no larger than a match's spark—then, as the orb was drawn closer, the ember grew.
It was hungry.
Before it could roll over my thumb, Vaelith lifted my hand and guided it to the orb.
The moment my skin made contact—
—the flames erupted.
Blue light flooded the room as warmth spread from my palm, filling my tiny limbs, crawling through my veins, seeping into my very core. It wasn't just heat—it was purity.
A fire that didn't burn. A warmth that cleansed.
I wanted more.
The flame roared higher, cracks splintering across the orb's surface.
A sudden force yanked me away, shielding me just as the orb shattered.
BOOM.
A shockwave of mana burst outward. A great blue flame swept over the room, its glow flickering like a phantom before fading into the air.
As the chaos settled, I was gently placed back onto the now-blackened table.
Silence.
Then—
"THIS CANNOT BE POSSIBLE!"
The noble from before practically screeched, his face twisted in pure disbelief.
Vaelith turned to him, his gaze sharp as a blade. "If you do not silence yourself, I will strip you of your title as a Baron."
The noble flinched. His hand had instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword.
"Take your hand off your weapon. Now."
"Yes, sir!!" He jerked his arm back, standing stiffly.
Vaelith exhaled, his attention returning to me. "As far as I know, this child just manipulated mana. His talent is… monstrous."
The elf reached into his bag once more, this time withdrawing a small ceramic dish and a vial of crimson liquid.
"…That's blood." My stomach twisted. "Why the hell does he have blood in a bottle?!"
Uncorking the vial, Vaelith poured the thick, red liquid into the dish. As soon as it settled, runes along the edge of the dish lit up, ancient symbols glowing with eerie radiance.
Norse script. Old Futhark.
My eyes squinted as the runes grew brighter. I could barely make out the words before they faded into pure, blinding light—
Blood. Line. Awaken.
Vaelith pulled out a slender needle.
"Apologies, little one. This may sting."
The sharp prick barely lasted a second. I glared at him in irritation.
"That hurt, you bastard." I thought to myself yet again irritated at my disability to speak.
Vaelith smirked at my reaction before turning to the dish. A single drop of my blood fell into the crimson pool.
The runes ignited once more.
The light—
—exploded.
A blinding pulse engulfed the room. A gust of energy surged outward, rattling windows, extinguishing candles. Warriors staggered back, shielding their eyes.
Then—
Nothing.
Silence.
Everyone stood frozen, their expressions a mix of horror and disbelief.
Vaelith's fingers tightened around the edge of the dish. His lips parted as he whispered the impossible:
"This child… his blood is rejecting the ritual."
He turned to the room, his voice now laced with something close to fear.
"He is not fully human."
A breathless murmur spread through the chamber.
"He must be partially divine."
A fresh wave of tension crashed over the crowd. Even the seasoned warriors—men who had stared death in the eye—looked shaken.
And then—
Vaelith's expression darkened. His gaze locked onto my tiny form, his voice quiet yet unyielding.
"…And he has an ability."
The dish in his hands trembled slightly.
"His body… is infused with something unnatural. Something microscopic—no, something mechanical."
He hesitated before whispering the final words.
"This child carries an ability unlike any I've seen."
"These aren't parasites. They aren't magic constructs."
"…These are nanobots."
The room stood paralyzed.
My thoughts raced.
"…What the hell did you just say?!