Chapter 2: Sparks of Discovery

Five years had flown by, and the industrial city of Dustrae continued its relentless pace. Ruen, now a curious and bright-eyed five-year-old, found himself captivated by the mesmerizing machinery that surrounded him. His youthful gaze fixed upon the intricate gears, the rhythmic pulsing of steam engines, and the towering smokestacks that reached towards the sky.

In a corner of their humble home, Ruen sat engrossed in his play, his small hands manipulating toys that mimicked the mechanisms of the world outside. Each day brought new discoveries as he marveled at the wonders of engineering. His mother, Elina, moved about the house, fulfilling her daily chores of cleaning, tidying, and washing the worn garments that bore the marks of toil and labor.

As the evening sun began its descent, a familiar sound reverberated through the air—a sequence of three short knocks on the door. Ruen's eyes widened with excitement, recognizing the signal. He darted towards the door, his little feet barely touching the ground, eager to greet the one who awaited on the other side.

"Father!" Ruen exclaimed, his voice brimming with anticipation. With each turn of the doorknob, the door swung open, revealing Marvick, a tall and slender figure standing in the doorway. Though it was not unusual for Marvick to arrive home around this time, there was a distinct brightness in his eyes and a radiant smile on his face that set this day apart.

"Good afternoon, my dear," Elina greeted as she settled at the dinner table, her gaze shifting towards Marvick. "You seem unusually happy today. Is something special afoot?" she asked.

Marvick's pride swelled within him, his voice filled with elation as he replied, "Well, my love, I have reason to be happy. Today, I received a promotion at work!" His words hung in the air, a testament to his dedication and hard work in the factory.

Ruen's eyes widened even further, his attention fully captured by his father's revelation. He scurried over to the table, joining his parents, his young mind brimming with questions and boundless enthusiasm. "What does that mean, Father? A promotion?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and admiration.

Marvick's smile widened, a twinkle of pride gleaming in his eyes as he looked at his son. "It means, my son, that I have been recognized for my skills and dedication. I will now have more responsibilities and most importantly, I will earn more money.." He paused, his gaze shifting to the small package he had placed on the table. "In fact, Ruen, to celebrate this promotion, I have something for you."

Ruen's eyes widened, his curiosity piqued by the mysterious package. His tiny fingers gingerly unwrapped it, revealing a finely crafted toy—a miniature steam locomotive, complete with moving gears and a delicate whiff of magic infused within.

"It's a magic toy, Ruen," Marvick explained, his voice tinged with a touch of excitement. "I bought it for you on my way back from work."

Ruen's eyes widened with wonder as he gazed at the toy. With a mixture of excitement and curiosity, he cautiously ran his fingers across its surface. Suddenly, a jolt coursed through his finger, like a little zap of static electricity. His arm tingled with warmth, and the sensation slowly spread throughout his body. It continued permeating through his body until it condensed in his chest, where it slowly started to lessen in intensity.

"Is something the matter?" Marvick. asked cautiously as he saw Ruen staring at his toy in shock. Ruen quickly shook his head and continued playing with the toy.

Marvick thought about it for a second but shrugged it off. 'He's probably just not used to magic toys' he thought.