"Perhaps, whelp. Perhaps it is not all that bad. We will see where this leads."
Five years had slipped by since that night
Kieran was five years old now. He had grown into a sturdy little boy. His black hair fell in messy waves across his forehead. It always looked like he had just run through the wind. His eyes were a bright sapphire blue.
They matched his mother's exactly. Those eyes lit up whenever he learned something new or when he felt proud of himself.
Life in the Vale household had settled into a gentle rhythm for him. He had to act cute in front of the family every day. Little smiles. Soft giggles. Running up to hug his mother when she came back from meetings.
He did not mind it one bit. It made her face light up with real joy. That was worth every silly face he pulled.
His mother was Duchess Elara Vale. She ran the whole estate with quiet strength. And his father, Duke Harlan Vale, had died before Kieran was even born. An old wound from a border skirmish, the servants said.
No one talked about it much, but Elara kept his portrait in the main hall. Kieran would stare at it sometimes and wonder what kind of man his father had been.
And then there was the magic. That still caught Kieran off guard sometimes. He had thought it was rare when he first woke up in this world. But no. Every maid in the house could use it.
They cast soft spells to sweep the floors clean in one wave of the hand. They warmed bathwater with a quick murmur. They mended torn clothes with glowing threads of light. It was just normal life here. Kieran watched them work and felt a quiet surprise every time.
Magic was not some secret power. It was everywhere, like breathing.
The best thing in those five years, though, was the sword. Kieran had named it Auralis after a few months of talking. The old blade on the pedestal had become his secret best friend. They spoke every single day.
Sometimes in the quiet hours after dinner. Sometimes when Kieran snuck into the small side room where Auralis rested. The sword still grumbled about humans now and then, but its voice had softened. It sounded almost happy to have someone who listened.
They had grown close. Like real friends who shared everything. Kieran never told Auralis about his old life in California. He kept that locked away. But he shared everything else.
How the food tasted. How the training yard felt under his bare feet. How excited he got when his mother let him hold a real sword for the first time.
Now the sun hung low over the training yard behind the manor. Kieran stood in the grass with a wooden practice sword in both hands. His small arms already ached. Sweat made his black hair stick to his forehead.
Auralis leaned against a wooden post a few feet away. Its blade caught the golden light and gleamed like it was alive.
"Alright, whelp," Auralis said in that deep, gruff voice.
"Let us try the Resonant Blade Aura again. Slow this time. No rushing."
Kieran nodded. He lifted the wooden sword. It felt heavier than it had yesterday.
'This is really hard,' he thought. But he did not complain out loud. He wanted to get better.
He swung the blade in a wide arc. The motion was careful. His little legs stayed planted.
"Like this?" he asked quietly so no servant walking by would hear.
Auralis answered right away.
"Close. Feel the words between us. Let your breath sync with mine. The Resonant Blade Aura is not about swinging harder. It is about letting the aura hum along the edge. Talk to me in your mind. And let it build."
Kieran tried again. He pushed his thoughts toward the sword.
'I'm trying, Auralis. I feel a little warmth in my hands. Is that it?'
The blade gave a low chuckle.
"There. That is the start. Keep going. The aura should start to wrap the sword like a faint glow. You are only five, but you have heart. Most kids your age cannot even hold a stick straight."
Kieran swung once more. His arms burned. Sweat ran down his back under his loose tunic. The wooden sword whistled through the air. For a second he felt it. A tiny spark. A soft vibration that ran from his palms up the wood. It was not much. Just a flicker. But it was there.
He grinned wide. His sapphire eyes sparkled with real pride.
"I felt something that time. It tingled."
"Good lad," Auralis said. The voice sounded pleased.
"That is the Resonant Blade Aura waking up. Keep practicing like this every day and it will grow stronger. You and I together. That is how it works."
They kept at it for a long while. Kieran swung. He listened. He adjusted his grip when Auralis told him to. Each time the spark came a little easier. His body grew tired, but his mind stayed sharp. He liked this feeling. The slow work. The small wins. It made him feel like he belonged here.
When the sun dipped behind the trees, the yard turned soft and orange. Kieran lowered the wooden sword. His chest rose and fell fast.
He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and left a streak of dirt.
"Enough for today," Auralis said gently.
"You did well. Better than last week. Rest now."
Kieran nodded. He walked over to the post and picked up Auralis with both hands. The real blade felt warm and solid. He carried it carefully to the bench under the old oak tree. Then he sat down. His short legs dangled off the edge.
He pulled a soft cloth from his pocket. It was the one his mother had given him for polishing. Kieran started to wipe the blade slow and steady. The metal shone brighter with every pass.
Dust and smudges from the training yard disappeared. He worked in small circles. His black hair fell forward as he leaned in close.
The yard was quiet now. Only the evening birds called in the distance. Kieran felt peaceful. His small hands moved with care. He had done this many times before. It had become their little ritual after every lesson.
'Thanks for training me today,' he thought to the sword. 'Even when it is hard, I like doing it with you. Feels like were really getting somewhere.'
Auralis stayed quiet for a moment. Then its voice came soft and warm.
"You're welcome, whelp. Keep polishing like that. It keeps the edge true. And keep talking to me. That is what makes the aura grow."
Kieran smiled to himself. He kept wiping the blade until it gleamed like new. The sapphire blue in his eyes caught the last light of the sun. He felt tired but happy. Five years in this world, and every day with Auralis made it feel more like home.