I woke again the next day. The room smelled of warm cloth and faint herbs. My body was still weak, but I could move a little more than yesterday.
I reached for my blanket. It was soft and smooth. Moving my fingers helped me understand how my body worked. I learned faster than I should for a newborn, but no one noticed. I moved slowly. Drawing attention would have been dangerous.
A woman, my mother picked me up. She smelled of warmth and safety. I stayed still. I wanted to observe her, to understand her. Watching her gave me information. It helped me predict her movements and tone of voice.
She cooed at me, spoke a name I had learned yesterday. I repeated a small sound back. Not a word. Just a sound. It was enough to let her know I was responsive. Acting this way kept her calm. Calm adults were easier to learn from.
Something inside me stirred. Magic. Power. It was quiet, like a calm river beneath ice. I tried to stretch it a little, just to feel it move. The air responded faintly. Nothing visible, but I could feel it shift. I stopped immediately. Using it openly now would draw attention. I had no reason to be reckless.
Later, a man entered the room. My caretaker he carried a small wooden toy and a cloth for feeding. He smiled but observed me carefully. I watched him move. He did not try to test me, because he understood basic common sense: a newborn cannot be pushed. That gave me freedom to study.
I grabbed the toy. My hand was clumsy, but I could feel weight and texture. That was enough for now. Practicing control slowly would make my body and mind stronger over time.
The caretaker smiled. "He's alert," he said. His tone was calm. He did not panic. He did not overreact. That meant it was safe to continue observing him quietly.
I learned my first lesson clearly. Power, no matter how strong, is only useful if used at the right time. Everything else is risk.
By the end of the day, I had moved more than yesterday. I had observed every adult in the room. I had felt the flow of my power and restrained it. I had learned how to respond to humans and objects around me.
I slept that night with a calm certainty. My body was small. My mind was far ahead. And I knew, even now, that I was already strong.
And one day, I would grow far beyond what anyone could measure.