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"Luca, make sure not to play too far!" Melissa said with a smile as she watched his 5-year-old son playing at the foot of the mountain.

It was a normal day for them.

Melissa went to the entrance of the North Mountain with her son to gather herbs and her son would play somewhere near like the usual. She was a well-known herbalist in the small town called Apex in the Breische Empire and the money she got from selling medicine was enough to get them by.

"Mother, look!" The five-year-old Luca showed the little sparks coming from his hand. "My little friend showed me how to create these pretty sparks!"

His innocent son grinned and the sparks continued like a mini-firework show. But instead of sharing the joy that his son showed, Melissa's eyes grew wide. She looked around to see if there was anyone around who saw what Luca did. When she was sure that no one was there, she immediately walked toward Luca, crouched in front of him, and gently brushed his hair with her fingers.

Her heart was beating fast. She was aware that Luca would be special, but she did not expect his talents to manifest at such an early age. She was nervous and worried for her son, but it would be hard for her to explain the situation to him at such an early age.

"Son, can you promise me not to show this to anyone?" she whispered as she looked straight into Luca's eyes.

"But why? Isn't it pretty?" Luca's pout made Melissa smile after letting out a sigh.

She looked at him with pleading eyes. She knew how Luca was able to hear the elementals at such a young age, but they needed to hide the fact that he could already use the mana around him. It was as dangerous as it was unprecedented. Though she wanted to brag about her son's talent, that would only lead them to their demise.

"It's beautiful, honey. Mother is just afraid that the bad guys will take you if they knew that you can do those pretty sparks." It was the easiest excuse that she could think of at that moment.

Luca smiled as he nodded. "Okay, mother. I won't show anyone. But can I continue playing with my little friends?"

The little one even pouted as if asking his mother to allow at least that. Melissa had no choice but to let him since they were the only people in that area. No one would be able to see him so he could at least play to his heart's content.

"Yes, honey. Just make sure not to play too far from me." Melissa smiled as Luca ran towards an old tree where his little friends were.

It was supposed to be a normal day for them. However, that day turned out to be the day that she dreaded the most…

Just a little far from their home, Melissa felt uneasy. She gasped when she realized the reason for her uneasiness when she stopped in her tracks meters away from their home. It was impossible not to notice the number of knights and the luxurious carriage waiting in front of her house. Her heart almost leaped out of her body and she trembled when she saw the crest at the door of the carriage. A roaring lion with flames as its mane and a crown at the top of its head— it was the imperial family's crest.

She immediately carried her son and walked towards the secret route that she set. It was a path that would lead to her brother's house just in case something unexpected happened. She started to run, not minding the branches and the leaves that cut her skin. She did not even take a short break even though she was out of breath.

She could not erase the crest that she saw earlier in her mind. She was somehow expecting that they would find her but she did not expect that it would be that soon. She made sure not to leave her tracks, but he still managed to find her!

What was she expecting? Did she really think that she could escape from him? If he wanted to, he could search even the whole continent for her!

"Mother, are we not going home?" Luca said in confusion when he noticed that they weren't taking the path to their house.

"Not today, Luca. Uncle Tommy said that he wanted to teach you something tonight," she whispered between her unstable breaths.

She continued treading the path towards Tommy's with no breaks. She could not stop there. She needed to hide Luca. That was the only thought running through her mind at that moment.

"Are you tired? You don't need to carry me, Mother." Luca's worried voice warmed Melissa's heart.

Indeed, her son was her everything. She'd rather die than have him taken away from her.

Melissa shook her head. "No, son. It's faster this way. Can you not ask me any questions until we reach Uncle Tommy's house?" She said in a sweet whisper. "I'm afraid the monsters will hear us."

Luca politely nodded as he hugged his mother tighter. Just a few more meters and they would be at the backdoor.

She gasped when she stopped in her tracks. She was just a few meters away from the backdoor—just a few meters and she could have hidden Luca inside. Why was he right in front of her?

While holding her son tight, Melissa dropped to her knees as all her hope disappeared at the sight of him. She was too late. He came for her—no, he came for her son. He would definitely take Luca away from her.

"I knew you'd be coming here, Mel."

Melissa held her son tighter when the blond man at the door smirked. His purple eyes were brimming with anger and longing as he looked at Luca from head to toe.

She hugged Luca tighter as if hugging him would make the man's eyes look away. She no longer knew what to do. She hid herself for more than five years. She thought that he would never look for her. She thought Luca would have a simple life with her.

However, all of those thoughts came crumbling when the emperor laid his eyes on Luca.