Chapter 56 — Awakening of the beast


    <strong><span ss="userText">[Aster]</strong>


    The creature let out a blood-curdling scream as it thrashed about, trying desperately to extinguish the mes that engulfed its body. It mmed into the cave walls and rolled on the ground, its burning fur coat sticking to its melting skin. The monster''s desperate attempts only seemed to make things worse, its screams growing louder and more frantic as it wed at its face and chest.


    Aster copsed to his knees, his bleeding palm clutched tightly against his chest. His eyes widened with shock, his pupils <span ss="aiText">shrunken to tiny pinpoints, and his jaw hung open in disbelief. <span ss="aiText">''What... was that?'' he thought, unable to understand what had just happened. ''What did I do? What the hell was that?!''


    <span ss="aiText">The world around him spun wildly, disorienting him. His lungs burned with each ragged breath, every muscle in his body was tense, and his heart pounded<span ss="aiText"> so hard that it felt like it might explode<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">Blinking a few times, trying to<span ss="aiText"> clear his blurry vision, he looked down at the creature again.


    <span ss="userText">The mes, once high enough to lick the ceiling, finished consuming the goblin''s body, turning it into a charred<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> ck<span ss="aiText"> mass of flesh and bone. Its eyes were gone, reced by empty sockets filled with melted jelly. <span ss="userText">Ity motionless, its screams finally silenced.


    "Ah-ast..." Nivalis stuttered, her voice trembling as she stared at the dead monster. "Wha... what did you..." she mumbled, unable to finish the sentence.


    <span ss="userText">— "I don''t... know..." Aster gasped for air, his lungs still burning with each breath. "I don''t know... what happened..." he muttered, his entire body shaking as he tried to get back on his feet. "Was it... magic? It has to be, right?" he<span ss="aiText"> asked, his throat <span ss="aiText">dry and scratchy.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis stared at her son in disbelief, her mouth slightly agape. "Yes... It has to be... Your eyes..." she mumbled, pausing momentarily as her gaze dropped to the bloody palm of his hand. "They glowed when that goblin came inside," she muttered, a worried frown <span ss="aiText">on her<span ss="userText"> forehead.


    <span ss="aiText">— "I have no idea how to do it again," Aster confessed, clenching his teeth to prevent them from chattering. The blood dripping from the wound on his palm<span ss="userText"> formed<span ss="aiText"> a small pool around his boots.


    <span ss="userText">"I... I..." Nivalis struggled to think of something to say. "Maybe they''ll run away after seeing this?" she whispered, shifting her gaze back to the creature. Her eyes stayed on its charred remains, smoke rising from its burnt flesh.


    <span ss="userText">— "Yeah... Good idea," Aster muttered, taking a deep breath and wiping his sweaty forehead. "Shit," he cursed under<span ss="aiText"> his breath<span ss="userText"> when he <span ss="aiText">identally rubbed his<span ss="userText"> forehead<span ss="aiText"> with his wounded hand<span ss="userText">,<span ss="aiText"> his palm<span ss="userText"> now aching<span ss="aiText"> and throbbing<span ss="editText"> even more<span ss="aiText">. "<span ss="userText">Ughh..." he<span ss="aiText"> groaned, clenching his fist to try and stop the bleeding.


    The sound of goblins shouting from outside, probably calling their dead leader, made them turn their heads toward the entrance. A small, much younger goblin, its eyes wide with terror, peered hesitantly into the cave but quickly retreated, not daring to venture further. Not after hearing the blood-curdling screams.


    <span ss="userText">Aster''s gaze involuntarily drifted back to the charred remains of the goblin leader. The smell was overwhelming; he felt his stomach churn in disgust at the sight of the melted flesh. Yet, the fear of more goblins entering the cave<span ss="aiText"> made him ignore<span ss="userText"> the urge<span ss="aiText"> to vomit. <span ss="userText">He had to act quickly, or<span ss="aiText"> else they would all die.


    "Are you okay?" Nivalis asked, noticing her son''s difort.


    <span ss="userText">Aster nodded, attempting to put on a reassuring smile despite the turmoil raging within him. "Y-yeah... I''m fine," he replied, trying to sound calmer than he felt. "Don''t worry, Mom. I know what to do. I''ll scare them off," he added, grabbing the goblin''s spear from the ground with his wounded hand. It was much better quality than his old one, though a bit shorter.


    <span ss="userText">With his healthy hand, he grabbed the corpse by the corbone, his fingers sinking into the melted, ckened flesh, and started dragging it toward the entrance. He left a trail of bloody slime behind him as he went.


    <span ss="userText">Aster, while trying to act confident and<span ss="aiText"> calm, was actually <span ss="userText">scared shit<span ss="aiText">less. <span ss="editText">And he wasn''t entirely sure about the shitless<span ss="aiText"> part<span ss="editText">;<span ss="aiText"> his <span ss="editText">pants<span ss="aiText"> fel<span ss="editText">t<span ss="aiText"> oddly wet and warm<span ss="editText"> from both front and behind<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">His legs trembled beneath him, and his mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Despite this, he knew he had to be brave. Their only chance to survive this day is to scare the monsters away.


    <span ss="userText">Fighting is not an option in his current state. Aster''s muscles felt incredibly weak, and his knees threatened to give way with each step. He could barely breathe; his entire body continued to sweat intensively like<span ss="aiText"> a waterfall, and his vision still spun around him. <span ss="userText">Whatever he did back there, it took a lot out of him.


    <span ss="userText">— "Stay back!" he shouted at the young goblin, who finally found the courage to take a few hesitant steps inside. Its tiny red eyes shimmered brightly in the dimly lit cave. Aster raised his blood-stained spear, taking cautious steps towards the entrance. The creature froze<span ss="aiText">, its small body trembling slightly, a faint whimper escaping its lips.


    <span ss="userText">— "Stay away, or you''ll end up like him!" Aster threatened, waving the weapon threateningly before the goblin''s face. The tiny creature produced a high-pitched scream and stumbled backward, its sharp ws scratching<span ss="aiText"> against the stone floor<span ss="userText">, trying to push itself further away.


    <span ss="userText">The little goblin pointed a sharp, crooked finger at the corpse, its tiny voice shrieking something<span ss="aiText"> Aster couldn''t understand. <span ss="userText">Aster''s eardrums<span ss="aiText"> felt like they were about to<span ss="userText"> pop<span ss="aiText"> from the noise<span ss="userText">, making<span ss="aiText"> his ears ring<span ss="userText"> painfully<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">"I said back!" he took another step forward, thrusting his spear toward the goblin, forcing it to retreat even further.


    <span ss="userText">Little by little, he slowly pushed the goblin back out of the cave, finally sending it running back into the pine forest with a loud, terrified shriek. The creature didn''t stop until it disappeared from sight, leaving Aster standing alone at the entrance.


    <span ss="userText">T<span ss="userText">he setting sunlight peeked over the cloud and blinded him momentarily, making his eyes water. Days of living in darkness made his eyes sensitive to the bright light, and he squinted his eyes tightly, trying to adjust to the<span ss="aiText"> sudden change.


    <span ss="userText">His heart raced wildly, and his pulse thumped loudly in his ears like a drumbeat. He readied himself, looking around, expecting more goblins to attack him at any moment, but nothing happened. When his eyes finally adjusted to the light, he saw a dozen or so goblins staring at him from a distance, forming a half-circle around the cave entrance. They all stared at him inplete silence, their crimson eyes filled with hatred and fear.


    <span ss="userText">Some readied their spears, others raised wooden clubs, but none dared to attack. Not yet, at least. Aster''s heart sank as he realized that his n<span ss="aiText"> might<span ss="userText"> not<span ss="aiText"> work<span ss="userText">. <span ss="userText">Scaring <span ss="userText">so many of<span ss="aiText"> them<span ss="userText">? Alone?


    <span ss="userText">''Oh god,'' Aster panicked, taking a step backward, almost tripping over the burnt corpse behind him. <span ss="aiText">''<span ss="userText">What<span ss="aiText"> am I supposed to do now?'' <span ss="editText">his mind raced<span ss="aiText">, looking at the monsters'' ugly, twisted faces<span ss="userText">, ring daggers at him.


    <span ss="userText">But h<span ss="aiText">e didn''t have much time to think. He had to act fast. If he didn''t scare them away right now, they might decide to rush at him all at once, and that would be the end of him<span ss="userText"> and the girls behind. ''Focus. There''s nothing else to do. Just scare them away,'' <span ss="userText">he told himself,<span ss="userText"> trying to calm his nerves. ''I need to look threatening, crazy even. Do something that will scare the shit out of them.''


    <span ss="userText">Gathering all the courage left<span ss="aiText"> in his trembling body, he took a deep breath and shouted, "<span ss="editText">Danger<span ss="aiText">! Fire! Magic! Death!" he roared, waving his spear<span ss="userText"> around wildly<span ss="aiText">, spitting saliva everywhere. "Burn! <span ss="editText">I will b<span ss="aiText">urn<span ss="editText"> you<span ss="aiText">! You! All of you!" <span ss="editText">the boy<span ss="aiText"> shouted,<span ss="userText"> trying<span ss="aiText"> his best to sound as angry and<span ss="userText"> dangerous<span ss="aiText"> as possible.


    <span ss="userText">The goblins exchanged awkward nces, unsure how to react to the screaming boy. For a few moments, they all watched him, waiting for something to happen, but nothing did. The only reason the silver-headed boy was still alive was because of the corpse lying on the ground.


    <span ss="userText">The sight of their leader''s charred and disfigured body is enough to convince even the bravest of them that the cave is a dangerous ce. What would emerge from the shadows if they dared to attack this strange, girlish-voiced kid?


    <span ss="userText">— "Go! Run! Leave! Save your lives before I take it!" Aster kept yelling, desperately trying to sound intimidating, waving the spear around. It was a miracle that the weapon didn''t fly out of his hands, considering how sweaty he was.


    <span ss="userText">''Why isn''t this working?! What the heck do I do now?!'' Aster thought, panic creeping in like a slow-moving fog. He tried his best to look intimidating, but it didn''t work. It was only a matter of time before the monsters decided to charge. He needed a n, and he needed it now.


    <span ss="userText">— "Flee! Or you will all die here! I warn you!" Aster screamed again, his voice cracking from the strain as he pointed the sharpened bone<span ss="aiText"> tip of the spear <span ss="userText">at the closest goblin. The creature didn''t even flinch.


    <span ss="userText">Suddenly, <span ss="userText">loud<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> heavy th<span ss="aiText">uds echoed<span ss="userText"> from<span ss="aiText"> the<span ss="userText"> cave depths<span ss="aiText">as if someone w<span ss="editText">ere<span ss="aiText"> throwing rocks at the walls. <span ss="userText">All at once, goblins turned their heads toward the noise, readying their weapons and shifting their stance.


    <span ss="userText">Not wasting an opportunity, Aster startedughing — a maniacal, mad scientist-type ofughter. "Hahahaha! Hahahahaha!" he cackled, his eyes shifting between the monsters. They were now clearly unsure what to do, looking at each other and then back at the cave. "Do you hear that? That is the sound of death!" Aster shouted, a creepy smile spreading across his face.


    <span ss="userText">The sound of metal scraping against the stone floor came from within the cave, adding a chilling emphasis to his words. It was probably his mother''s knife, and its rusty scratch made all the goblins take a step backward. Some even started running away, disappearing into the thick bushes.


    <span ss="userText">Aster, encouraged by this reaction, kept going, "Yes! I can smell your fear! The stench of your cowardice!" he cried, not noticing his embarrassing wet pants. <span ss="userText">Then, he knelt beside the burnt corpse and, without wasting a single second, grabbed the warm arm and started pulling it from the body.


    <span ss="userText">The process made him gag, and his eyes water even more than before. But he ignored the disgust and kept going, his injured palm throbbing in agony as he twisted and pulled the limb; the sickening crack and snapping sounds of skin and muscle tearing perfectly apanied the soundsing from the cave. It was a gruesome sight, but <span ss="editText">this <span ss="aiText">was precisely what he hoped for.


    <span ss="userText">Once separated, he climbed onto the charred body<span ss="aiText">, raising the arm high above his head and holding the limb upside down. <span ss="userText">Shaking and wiggling it around, he startedughing again, this time sounding even more insane than before. The blood dripping from the limb sshed onto his face, making the silver-haired boy<span ss="aiText"> look like a crazed murderer.


    <span ss="userText">— "Hahahahaha! Hahahaha!" heughed, his lungs burning with every breath, again and again, until he couldn''t do it anymore. With a loud thud, he fell from the corpse he stood on.


    <span ss="aiText">Thest thing Aster noticed before passing out was <span ss="editText">how<span ss="userText"> the remaining few goblins<span ss="aiText"> ran for their lives, disappearing among the trees and bushes, leaving<span ss="editText"> nothing but a <span ss="userText">smell of <span ss="aiText">yellowish<span ss="userText"> liquid behind.


    <span ss="userText">Was it<span ss="aiText"> their urine<span ss="userText">, or had Aster''s dder failed him again? Sometimes, mysteries are better left unsolved.


    ...


    <span ss="userText">When Aster woke up, it was already nighttime. <span ss="userText">His eyelids fluttered open slowly, allowing his golden eyes to adjust to the bright, flickering light of the fire nearby.


    <span ss="userText">It didn''t take long for him to realize he was lying inside the cave on the rough cavern floor, not too far from the bed. ''I must have fainted after... everything,'' he concluded, ncing down at his bandaged hand.


    <span ss="userText">— "Ugh..." Aster tried to sit up but winced as his entire body trembled with effort; his body felt incredibly sore and weak. "Mom?" he called out, his voice raspy and hoarse.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis'' gentle,forting voice reached him a momentter, "Right here, my sweet boy," she whispered from behind him. Her face came into view a momentter, gently cupping his cheek as she smiled at him. "How are you feeling, honey?" she asked, tucking<span ss="aiText"> a stray strand of silver hair behind his ear.


    <span ss="aiText">Aster blinked a few times, looking up at his mother. Her beautiful sapphire-blue eyes glistened brightly in the dim light, reflecting the mes <span ss="editText">of the fire<span ss="aiText">. "I''m alright... <span ss="userText">just really tired<span ss="aiText">," he mumbled, forcing a smile.


    <span ss="userText">"I bet. You had me worried for a second there," Nivalis whispered, adjusting a folded coat for him to lie on. "You have a fever, my love. Try not to move much," she said, putting a wet cloth that he hadn''t noticed before back on his forehead. "Here, lie down. Let me handle everything," she added, carefully helping him lie down and putting his head on the makeshift pillow.


    <span ss="userText">— "How long was I out?" Aster asked, leaning back and letting out a tired sigh.


    <span ss="userText">"A few hours," Nivalis said, getting morefortable beside him. Her flickering eyes gazed intently into his, continuing to shine brightly despite the dark circles under them. "You did so well today, honey," she whispered, wiping the dirt off his cheek. "If not for you, we would be... dead by now."


    <span ss="userText">Aster shook his head, "No, it''s thanks to you. I mean, without that noise from inside, they wouldn<span ss="aiText">''t have run away," he <span ss="editText">whispered<span ss="aiText">, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly.


    <span ss="userText">"Y<span ss="userText">ou<span ss="aiText"> were brave, Aster. Brave and<span ss="userText"> clever,"<span ss="aiText"> Nivalis said,<span ss="userText"> gently<span ss="aiText"> pinching his chin. "<span ss="userText">My<span ss="aiText"> sweet boy..." she whispered, leaning closer and pressing her soft lips against his. She kissed him tenderly, her warm breath tickling his nose as she continued kissing him. "You saved us all, honey. I''m so proud of you," she mumbled while<span ss="userText">her<span ss="aiText"> lips still touched his, her words barely audible.


    <span ss="aiText">Aster sighed, "Mhm," he muttered, kissing her back. His mother''s warmth,bined with her soft, wet lips,<span ss="userText"> felt heavenly<span ss="aiText"> against his own, and he closed his eyes and lost<span ss="aiText">himself in the kiss.


    <span ss="userText">After a few moments, Nivalis pulled away and smiled, caressing his cheek affectionately.


    <span ss="userText">— "What about the monsters?" Aster whispered, ncing around the cave just in case, but found only his unconscious sister sleeping on the bed nearby, tucked<span ss="aiText"> in nkets. <span ss="userText">"Did theye back?" he asked, returning his gaze to his mother.


    <span ss="userText">"No," Nivalis answered, shaking her head. She carefully took his wounded hand and inspected the bandages. "They ran away. At least for now, it''s all quiet," she reassured, putting the hand back on his chest. "I will stay on watch for tonight, so don''t worry, okay? Just rest as much as you can."


    <span ss="userText">— "Ughh... no, I need to figure out how to use my magic-" Aster spoke but stopped when he noticed a familiar metal pot on the fire. "H-how did you find it?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.


    <span ss="userText">"You mean the pot?" Nivalis asked, following her son''s gaze. "I found it outside when I gathered pine needles for your wound," she answered, smiling faintly.


    <span ss="userText">— "You did what?! No, no, no," Aster objected, shaking his head and trying to sit up. But Nivalis''s hand firmly held him down, preventing him from moving. He frowned up at her, struggling weakly, but she wouldn''t let go. "You are still weak, Mom. Have you seen how many of those monsters were there? And how did you even manage to walk so far outside?!"


    <span ss="userText">"Shhh," Nivalis ced a finger against her son''s lips. "No need to worry about me. I crawled—very slowly. It took me more than an hour to drag you inside and gather the needles," she exined, her voice quiet and gentle. "I haven''t seen or even heard anything outside. But we need to be a bit quieter, honey. Don''t raise your voice, okay?" she asked, her thumb tracing his lips.


    <span ss="userText">— "Sorry, I just... I''m sorry," Aster apologized, sighing softly. "I''m d you''re okay," he added, his expression softening.


    <span ss="userText">"Mhm," Nivalis hummed quietly, leaning down and kissing his cheek tenderly. "Thank you, my love. I am also very happy that you''re okay," she mumbled, her moist lips lingering against his skin. "My brave knight."


    "Now, just rx. Let your mother take care of you," she said, tone firm yet caring. She smiled warmly as she sat back up. "I''m heating the water right now so we can properly clean you up, alright?" she exined, ncing at the pot.


    <span ss="userText">— "Alright. Thanks, Mom. And for taking care of my wound, too," Aster whispered, looking at his bandaged palm. Only now, he noticed the smell of pine needles that filled the entire cave, making his nose tingle slightly.


    <span ss="userText">She nodded, her eyes still locked on his, as she gently withdrew her hand from his cheek. "Anything for you, my love," she whispered before her expression shifted instantly. The warm smile faded, reced by a look of effort and difort as she struggled to get into the crawling position.


    <span ss="userText">A soft groan escaped her lips as she began to move away from him, her movements slow andbored. "Just wait a few minutes, and we can begin," she said, ncing back at Aster over her round, swaying behind. The flickering firelight caught the subtle curve of her naked buttocks peeking from beneath her tunic.


    <span ss="userText">Aster quietly observed his mother as she crawled slowly and painfully across the floor. Every movement seemed to require tremendous effort on her part, and she couldn''t stop groaning with each drag of herself closer to the metal pot. Seeing the mes lick its metal surface reminded him of the magic he needed to learn. If goblins suddenly return, they could easily overpower his fragile, exhausted mother.


    <span ss="userText">He needs to<span ss="aiText"> learn how to control his magic as soon as possible.


    Closing his eyes, Aster focused on breathing, listening to the crackling of burning wood, the rustle of leaves outside, and the gentle hum of the wind brushing past the open entrance. Slowly, his heartbeat began to slow down, his body rxed, and his mind cleared. Remembering everything Silvia had told him about mana, he tried to sense its presence inside his body.


    Ten minutes passed in total silence, with nothing happening. Aster couldn''t detect the slightest change within himself. Aster sighed softly, opened his golden eyes, and stared at the ceiling. ''What am I doing wrong?'' he wondered, frowning.


    He turned his head and nced at his mother. The dim, flickering light danced across her delicate, pale face as she tended the mes, asionally adding more branches to the fire.


    <span ss="userText">"Is something the matter, honey?" Nivalis noticed her son''s stare and returned it with her sapphire-blue one. Being close to the fire made her cheeks appear slightly flushed. "Feeling alright?"


    <span ss="aiText">— "Y-yeah. I''m okay, Mom," Aster muttered,<span ss="userText"> sighing<span ss="aiText"> softly. "Just having trouble<span ss="userText"> figuring<span ss="aiText"> out my magic," he confessed,<span ss="userText"> rubbing<span ss="aiText"> his<span ss="userText"> eyes<span ss="aiText"> with the back of his healthy hand. "It''s...<span ss="userText"> not working for<span ss="aiText"> some reason."


    Nivalis hummed thoughtfully, tapping her chin with her fingers. "Perhaps you''re too exhausted? I think you fainted because you used all your mana in one big burst. I honestly thought you would be out for days, like Silvia. Ice is a lot harder to control thanmon elements, indeed... " she whispered, returning to tending the me. "Try again, and if it''s not working, just rest, okay?"


    <span ss="aiText">— "Alright," Aster agreed, taking a deep breath.


    Closing his eyes, he focused on the sensations within him, pushing away any thoughts and distractions, clearing his mindpletely. <span ss="userText">Free from<span ss="aiText"> the noise, the sounds of the outside world, the smells, the feeling of the floor against his body, and the warmth radiating from the fire,<span ss="userText"> only<span ss="aiText"> the feeling of the air entering and leaving his lungs remained.


    <span ss="userText">Lying<span ss="aiText"> there, concentrating on the rhythmic pattern of his breathing, <span ss="userText">he barely even noticed how his mother sat beside him and slid his pants off his legs. Nor did he pay much attention when his tunic was slowly pulled over his head., leaving himpletely naked on the rocky floor. The only thing that mattered right now was trying to find his mana.


    <span ss="userText">His body shuddered momentarily when a wet cloth brushed against his skin, followed by warm water trickling over his stomach and sides. The gentle touch of his mother''s hands, the damp cloth, the sensation of warm water flowing along his skin, and the scent of pine needles were all present yet distant, barely registering within his consciousness.


    <span ss="userText">...


    <strong><span ss="userText">[Nivalis]</strong>


    <span ss="aiText">— "<span ss="userText">Umm, Asty... I need to clean you down there<span ss="aiText">," Nivalis <span ss="editText">whispered<span ss="aiText">, breaking the silence. <span ss="userText">But Aster remained still, focusing intently on his inner world. Nivalis waited<span ss="aiText"> for a few moments, hoping her son would answer her, but when nothing came, she decided to continue without<span ss="userText"> disturbing<span ss="aiText"> him.


    <span ss="aiText">''My poor, brave boy,'' Nivalis thought, her sad eyes lingering on the silver-haired boy''s<span ss="userText"> face<span ss="aiText">. ''It''s a miracle he managed to pull that stunt off,'' she thought, ncing at his bandaged hand. ''He almost died right in front of my eyes... My son almost died...<span ss="userText"><span ss="aiText">We all almost did,''<span ss="aiText"> she thought,<span ss="userText"> shudder<span ss="aiText">ing at the<span ss="userText"> very<span ss="aiText"> memory.


    <span ss="userText"><span ss="aiText">— "Don''t worry. Your Mom will take care of you<span ss="aiText">," she whispered, cing her hands on his knees and slowly pushing them apart, revealing his limp member and the<span ss="userText"> small, pink scrotum<span ss="aiText"> hanging beneath it.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis hesitated, looking at his<span ss="userText"> incredibly cute<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText">pletely hair<span ss="aiText">less<span ss="userText"> boy parts<span ss="aiText">, unsure if she should proceed. Thest time she cleaned him like this, he was much younger. <span ss="userText">She nced<span ss="aiText"> up, meeting her son''s closed eyes and calm expression. "Aster, honey," she whispered, <span ss="userText">cing her soft hand on his naked thigh<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">He<span ss="aiText"> didn''t<span ss="userText"> react<span ss="aiText">, remaining motionless,<span ss="userText"> breathing slowly<span ss="aiText"> and steadily. <span ss="userText">Nivalis waited patiently<span ss="aiText"> for a minute, <span ss="userText">patting his<span ss="aiText"> leg gently, hoping he''d respond, but nothing happened. ''He really must be exhausted. I better not bother him. He needs all the rest he can get after using magic for the first time...<span ss="userText"> we need him to recover his strength. Who knows when those <span ss="editText">monsters<span ss="aiText"> will attack next?'' Nivalis thought, nodding to herself.


    <span ss="aiText">— "I''ll try to be as quick as possible, alright?" she informed him, reaching for the <span ss="userText">metal pot<span ss="aiText">. She dipped the cloth into the warm water and squeezed the excess <span ss="aiText">above his <span ss="userText">little<span ss="aiText"> boyhood, letting the liquid trickle down <span ss="userText">his skin<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="aiText">Then, she<span ss="userText"> brought<span ss="aiText"> the cloth down,<span ss="userText"> pressing<span ss="aiText"> it against h<span ss="editText">er son''s<span ss="aiText"> crotch<span ss="editText">,<span ss="aiText"> and <span ss="editText">began <span ss="aiText">gently rubbing away all the dirt and dried-up pee.


    <span ss="userText">''<span ss="editText">He<span ss="aiText"> must have been really <span ss="editText">s<span ss="userText">cared," she<span ss="aiText"> thought,<span ss="userText"> looking<span ss="aiText"> at <span ss="userText">the mess her baby boy<span ss="aiText"> made in his pants. <span ss="userText">Her movements were delicate and gentle as she feared hurting him identally down there<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">Her cheeks and ears turned slightly red as <span ss="editText">s<span ss="userText">he lifted her son''s member with a single finger, carefully washing the base of <span ss="userText">it by moving the wet cloth in slow, circr motions.


    <span ss="userText">Then, she lifted his tiny testicles, her palm cupping them entirely<span ss="aiText">, and<span ss="userText"> began<span ss="aiText"> washing them<span ss="userText"> carefully. Her blue eyes focused on her son''s smooth, pink<span ss="aiText"> skin, noticing the little creases and wrinkles, the delicate details.


    <span ss="userText">They were incredibly soft and warm, almost melting against her fingers as she held the most delicate thing she had ever seen. She couldn''t help but smile fondly at them, rolling gently each ball with her fingertips, pulling and squeezing them ever so <span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText">lightly.


    <span ss="userText">Smiling happily from seeing probably the cutest<span ss="aiText"> things in the <span ss="aiText">world, she quickly nced at her son''s face. His eyes were still closed, his lips slightly parted, and his chest rose and fell steadily, but otherwise, there was no<span ss="userText"> reaction<span ss="aiText"> whatsoever.


    <span ss="editText">S<span ss="aiText">he<span ss="userText"> looked<span ss="aiText"> down at her hand, his precious jewels<span ss="editText"> still resting on her palm<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">The weight<span ss="aiText"> of her baby boy''s testicles felt oddly pleasant, making her want to keep holding them for<span ss="userText"> a<span ss="aiText"> little longer. But she resisted the temptation,<span ss="userText"> reminding<span ss="aiText"> herself<span ss="userText"> how inappropriate<span ss="aiText"> it was.


    <span ss="userText">She let his testicles go, watching as they slowly settled into their natural position, shifting slightly when her son inhaled. ''How cute!'' she<span ss="aiText"> thought, <span ss="userText">covering her mouth with the same hand<span ss="aiText"> that had just touched his little balls, trying to muffle her giggles.


    <span ss="userText">''Alright, stop... That''s enough. Let''s get him cleaned up as quickly as possible,'' she told herself, cing the cloth over his groin, covering it entirely. She then started to rub it against him, cleaning away any leftover filth.


    <span ss="userText">''Now, let''s clean... umm...'' Nivalis trailed off, her gaze fixed on the skin that covered her son''s little shaft, hiding the head from his mother''s eyes. ''Foreskin, right. That''s what it''s called. I need to pull it down and wash everything inside of it properly. Thest thing we need right now is some nasty infection down here,'' she reasoned, nodding to herself.


    <span ss="userText">''Let''s just finish this. I''m already embarrassed enough as it is, and I still need to wash his hair,'' Nivalis sighed, rinsing the cloth thoroughly. Taking a deep breath, she leaned closer, her warm exhale brushing against the delicate skin. She moved her hand and carefully grabbed his tiny, limp penis with her thumb and index finger.


    <span ss="userText">Slowly, she began to slide her hand down, pulling her son''s foreskin along, revealing the shiny, pink tip. Once the whole head was revealed, she looked at the rough cloth in her hand and wondered, ''Is<span ss="aiText"> it a good idea to use this to wash his... umm... penis head? <span ss="userText">It''s <span ss="userText">quite rough<span ss="aiText">. Wouldn''t it hurt him<span ss="userText">?''<span ss="aiText"> she asked herself, staring at the material.


    <span ss="userText">After a moment of pondering, she decided to be extra safe and use only her fingertips. ''I''ll have to be really careful,'' she thought, biting her lower lip and furrowing her brows as she leaned down even further, bringing her face closer to Aster''s tiny member. Her<span ss="aiText"> nose twitched slightly when she <span ss="userText">inhaled<span ss="aiText"> his<span ss="userText"> sweet, natural<span ss="aiText"> scent.


    <span ss="userText">She pressed her thumb against<span ss="aiText"> his soft tip and rubbed it lightly, spreading the warm water over the exposed skin. Her thumb circled around his sensitive, delicate head,<span ss="userText">careful not to put too much pressure but enough to ensure everything got clean.


    <span ss="userText">— "So smooth," she muttered, her breathing tickling Aster''s sensitive tip. The soft, squishy feeling of her son on her fingertips felt <span ss="userText">oddly pleasant,<span ss="aiText"> making her want to squeeze<span ss="userText"> it <span ss="userText">yfully between her fingers. But she didn''t allow herself to do it, instead focusing solely on finishing her task.


    <span ss="userText">She moved her hand slowly, very carefully, afraid of hurting him by ident, and asionally nced up at his peaceful expression, checking for any sign of difort. It continued<span ss="aiText"> for<span ss="userText"> less than a<span ss="aiText"> minute until she finally decided he<span ss="editText">r baby boy<span ss="aiText"> was clean enough.


    <span ss="userText"><span ss="aiText">— "Mhmm," Nivalis hummed, admiring the adorable, tiny penis head, so perfectly smooth and cute, shining brightly under the flickering light of the mes. Giving him one more gentle,<span ss="aiText"> loving rub <span ss="userText">to make sure he was spotless<span ss="aiText">, she smil<span ss="editText">ed<span ss="aiText"> proudly<span ss="editText"> at the result of her work<span ss="aiText">. ''All done. All clean<span ss="userText">.''


    <span ss="userText">As she slowly began to slide up her son''s foreskin back in ce, something really strange happened.


    <span ss="userText">It twitched.


    <span ss="userText">...


    <strong><span ss="userText">[Aster]</strong>


    <span ss="userText">The boy waspletely<span ss="aiText"> oblivious to the world around him<span ss="editText">. He was in a half-asleep, half-awake state, lost deep within his own mind, <span ss="aiText">trying to sense the mana inside him. <span ss="editText">Or did he simply fall asleep and only dream<span ss="aiText"> about the magic? It''s hard to say.


    <span ss="editText">At first, there was nothing, no change, but slowly, very slowly, he began to feel something. It was faint, almost unnoticeable, like a gentle tickle. <span ss="userText">Most surprisingly, it was not inside his heart, as Silvia had previously described her feeling of magic. No, it was somewhere much lower, where the belly loses its proud name.


    <span ss="userText">What a weird<span ss="aiText"> ce to sense mana<span ss="userText"> in, truly. Aster ignored the weirdness of it<span ss="aiText">and concentrated even harder, trying to understand what he was sensing<span ss="editText"> and <span ss="userText">what kind of energy<span ss="aiText"> it was. <span ss="userText">One, he knew for sure — it wasn''t anything he had ever experienced before. ''It must be magic!''<span ss="aiText"> Aster<span ss="userText"> excited<span ss="aiText">ly concluded. ''Finally!''


    <span ss="aiText">As time passed, the tickling sensation grew stronger and stronger, bing more noticeable, intense, and<span ss="aiText">powerful. <span ss="userText">''How do I<span ss="aiText"> control it? <span ss="userText">Damn it..."<span ss="aiText"> he cursed mentally. ''Come on,<span ss="userText"> you<span ss="aiText"> have to work with me here. Don''t just randomly act on your own,'' he<span ss="userText">ined, feeling the circr<span ss="aiText"> motions<span ss="userText"> around<span ss="aiText"> his<span ss="userText"> private<span ss="aiText"> parts.


    <span ss="userText">Minutes tick<span ss="aiText">ed by, and his frustration grew. No matter how hard he tried, it<span ss="userText"> seemed<span ss="aiText"> impossible to<span ss="userText"> manipte<span ss="aiText"> his mana. <span ss="editText">''<span ss="userText">Come<span ss="aiText"> on, <span ss="userText">I am so close!''<span ss="aiText"> he groaned internally,<span ss="userText"> trying<span ss="aiText"> desperately<span ss="editText"> to <span ss="userText">reach<span ss="aiText"> for his magic.


    <span ss="editText">However, the itchy sensation refused to cooperate. It <span ss="userText">grew stronger, bing much more intense, almost unbearable. When this energy concentrated at the very tip of Aster''s little guy, he suddenly felt how it began to transform him down there.<span ss="aiText"> ''W-what is happening to me?!'' he panicked, struggling to understand.


    <span ss="userText">His breathing became heavier, and his heartbeat elerated<span ss="aiText"> rapidly, pounding loudly in his ears. <span ss="userText">At the same time, some strange heat rushed through his veins, making his whole being burn<span ss="editText">, forcing <span ss="aiText">him <span ss="editText">to <span ss="aiText">gasp for air. <span ss="userText">His muscles tightened, and his body shuddered involuntarily.


    <span ss="aiText">His<span ss="userText"> eyes<span ss="aiText"> shot open, and his<span ss="userText"> golden ir<span ss="aiText">ises shed brightly for a split second<span ss="editText">. A familiar ceiling greeted<span ss="aiText"> him<span ss="userText">, shadows<span ss="aiText"> dancing upon its surface, <span ss="userText">created by the fire nearby. <span ss="userText">For that split second<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="userText">his tired mind interpreted the dancing light and shadows as monsters. <span ss="userText">The <span ss="aiText">shapes morphed into those ugly, twisted faces of goblins<span ss="userText"> he fought only a few hours ago.


    <span ss="aiText">— "Ah!" a loud yelp escaped Aster''s mouth as he <span ss="userText">raised his hand protectively, just like<span ss="aiText"> earlier today when a goblin thrust a spear at him.


    <span ss="userText">Suddenly, an intense wave of heat erupted from Aster''s palm, and the entire cave was illuminated in a blinding orange light. The exhaustion hit<span ss="aiText"> him like a train, making him groan loudly and drop his arm.


    <span ss="userText">On the verge of passing out, he saw his mother sitting between<span ss="aiText"> his<span ss="userText"> spread<span ss="aiText"> legs, staring up at him<span ss="editText">. <span ss="editText">H<span ss="aiText">er eyes <span ss="editText">were <span ss="aiText">wide with horror<span ss="userText">, slowly but surely shifting down to look at his naked member. Erged by this weird and mysterious force, it stood proud right before her.


    <span ss="editText">He had never seen his little <span ss="editText">guy <span ss="aiText">in such a condition before. <span ss="userText">Even in his first life, where he spent most of his teenage years in hospitals<span ss="aiText">, he never once <span ss="userText">witnessed such a horrifying disease. It is not soft and squishy anymore, not <span ss="editText">how<span ss="aiText"> it<span ss="editText"> has always been and how it<span ss="aiText">''s supposed to be<span ss="userText">!


    <span ss="editText">He might not<span ss="userText"> be<span ss="aiText"> the most experienced<span ss="userText"> person when it<span ss="aiText">es to <span ss="editText">sex. Yes, he has never seen<span ss="aiText"> a porn movie in his entire life,<span ss="userText"> nor<span ss="aiText"> has he<span ss="userText"> mast<span ss="aiText">urbated<span ss="userText">. Thanks to the illness he suffered, he never really wanted to.


    <span ss="userText">When your organs start randomly<span ss="aiText"> shutting down,<span ss="editText"> and you constantly feel like you just ran a marathon,<span ss="aiText"> sex drive is the first thing that disappears. In Aster''s case, however, it simply never appeared. <span ss="userText">Back then, he put all his remaining energy and time<span ss="aiText"> into<span ss="userText"> practicing<span ss="aiText"> the piano and <span ss="userText">drawing.


    <span ss="aiText">He was just an ordinary<span ss="editText"><span ss="aiText">boy living a <span ss="editText">quiet, <span ss="aiText">lonely life<span ss="userText">. The <span ss="editText">dirtiest thing he ever did was identally see a picture of a naked woman on his brother''s phone. <span ss="aiText">That''s<span ss="userText"> pretty<span ss="aiText"> much<span ss="userText"> all the exposure<span ss="aiText"> he had.


    <span ss="aiText">And now, this very same, very innocent boy has somehow magically grown <span ss="editText">this<span ss="aiText"> huge, <span ss="editText">2-inch-long monstrosity, throbbing<span ss="aiText"> and pulsating right in front of his mother''s face<span ss="userText">, pointing directly at her.


    <span ss="userText">Right before Aster was about to panic,<span ss="aiText"> his eyes rolled back into his head, and he fell unconscious.