The morning sun filtered through the windows of the modest countryside home as Liora paced the living room, her long dress swaying with each worried step. Her ample bosom rose and fell with anxious breaths.
"Aeris… baby, where are you?" she called out, voice laced with maternal concern.
Just then, the front door swung open. Jace strode in with a cocky grin, followed by a stunning woman with cascading fiery red hair, dressed in a form-fitting maid outfit that hugged her curves in all the right places.
"Liora, look what I found," Jace announced proudly, gesturing toward the woman like he'd just dragged home a legendary artifact. "A maid. She's perfect for handling the housework… and our little troublemaker Aeris."
Liora's eyes lit up instantly. A bright, beaming smile replaced her worry. "A maid? Oh, that's amazing!"
The red-haired beauty bowed gracefully, her voice smooth and respectful. "My name is Elisia Volt. At your service, Mistress."
Liora clapped her hands together excitedly, her heavy breasts jiggling noticeably beneath the thin fabric of her dress. "Wonderful! Why don't you start right now?" She handed Elisia a frilly apron with enthusiastic energy.
Elisia tied it around her waist with practiced elegance. "I am ready, Mistress."
Liora pointed toward the kitchen, already half-distracted. "Perfect. Could you whip up something to eat while I search for Aeris again? He's always wandering off…"
With that, she hurried upstairs, calling his name softly.
Jace grabbed his sword from the wall rack and flashed a confident smirk. "I'm heading out with the villagers to cull some monsters. They've been getting bold lately." He winked at Liora before stepping out. "Don't wait up, love."
The door clicked shut, leaving Elisia alone in the hallway. She let out a long, dramatic sigh, shoulders slumping.
"Why does this shit always happen to me…?" she muttered under her breath, before reluctantly heading to the kitchen.
Upstairs, in the sunlit bedroom, five-year-old Aeris stood calmly by the window, staring out at the rolling hills with the patience of a man far older than his tiny body suggested.
"Alright, quick recap," he murmured to himself in a soft, mature tone. " Let's recall some important things. I died in my last life and was taken by the Goddess of Eternity, and she threw me into this fantasy world in a new family that is not my blood-related family; they just received me as a blessing from the Goddess of Eternity. According to my physical growth, I will become an adult in five years, and according to this, it has been eighteen months of me living in this world, and my age is five years old."
He sighed, stretching his short legs.
The door suddenly burst open. Liora rushed in with teary eyes, arms wide. "Aeris! There you are, my sweet baby!"
Before he could react, she scooped him up into a crushing, overly affectionate hug.
"Mmmph—!" Aeris's tiny arms flailed in panic. "I'm dying… again…" he wheezed, voice muffled against her chest.
A second later, Elisia appeared in the doorway like a red-headed guardian angel. She quickly pulled Liora back with surprising strength.
"Miss Liora! What are you doing?!" Elisia scolded breathlessly. "You're going to smother the poor boy to death. He's still a child, not a body pillow!"
Liora gasped, hands flying to her mouth, eyes glistening. "Oh no… I'm so sorry! I just… I worry so much!"
Aeris, now free, took a dramatic gulp of air. I have to play the part, he thought, forcing a sweet, innocent smile despite the near-asphyxiation. Five-year-old behavior. Not twenty-seven-year-old sarcasm.
He reached up and gently patted Liora's arm. "It's okay, Mama…"
Liora's expression melted instantly. "You're so cute, Aeris…" she cooed, brushing his hair.
Elisia rubbed her chin thoughtfully, adjusting her glasses with a serious look. "Perhaps it's time we start training him properly. Magic, combat basics… He's growing fast. We don't want him turning into a useless pretty boy who relies on his looks and mommy's hugs."
Liora nodded fondly, still gazing down at Aeris. "You're right."
Aeris gave them both an awkward smile, internally rolling his eyes so hard it hurt. Great. Just what I needed. Two overprotective women turning me into their personal project.
Later that afternoon, in the sun-drenched garden, Elisia stood before Aeris with her arms crossed, exuding strict teacher energy.
"Lesson one: Mana exists inside every living being. It's the fuel for magic. It replenishes naturally over time… or you can restore it faster with mana stones," she explained in a commanding tone, looking down at the small boy.
Aeris kicked a pebble lazily and sighed. "You're being way too strict, Elisia…"
Elisia rolled her eyes and crossed her arms tighter, accentuating her figure. "Listen, kid. The Goddess Lucia personally dumped me here to assist you. I can't go back, and I even lost my position as Grand Maid because of this little assignment. So yes—I'm going to be strict."
Aeris blinked in realization. "Wait… so I'm not the only one stuck in this mess?"
"Exactly." Elisia smirked, then suddenly flicked her wrist. A water balloon formed instantly and smacked Aeris square in the chest, sending him tumbling backward into the grass.
"Ouch! That actually hurt!" he yelped, sitting up drenched.
Elisia smiled sweetly. "Do you want to learn these skills or not?"
Aeris's eyes sparkled with genuine excitement. "Of course I do! Teach me everything!"
Elisia adjusted her glasses with a confident grin, then extended her hand dramatically. "Then watch this, kid."
With a flourish, she conjured a massive, roaring fireball above her palm. She hurled it skyward, where it exploded in a spectacular burst of flames and shockwaves that lit up the entire horizon.
Liora, watching from the doorway, clapped excitedly. "You're so strong, Elisia!"
Elisia blushed furiously and looked away, suddenly shy. "T-Thank you, Miss Liora…"
Aeris tilted his head, grinning mischievously. "Why are you hiding your face? It's all red."
Elisia peeked at him, still flushed. "Because… no one's ever complimented me like that before."
Aeris crossed his tiny arms and sighed theatrically. "Alright, enough talking. Teach me magic already."
Elisia cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure, then snapped her fingers. A towering stack of thick, ancient-looking books suddenly materialized and dropped heavily onto Aeris, nearly burying him.
"You start by reading these. Train hard. Come find me in the kitchen if you have questions," she said sternly, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
Aeris poked his head out from under the pile, eyes wide with reluctant fascination. "These actually look interesting…"
Elisia turned toward the house, hips swaying slightly in her maid outfit. "I'll prepare dinner. Try not to blow yourself up while I'm gone."
As she disappeared inside, Aeris muttered under his breath with a smirk:
"Stuck in a fantasy world with a adoptive mom and useless funny adoptive dad also with a strict grand maid… Could be worse, I guess."
He opened the first book.
"Could definitely be worse."
Aeris looked down at the books, his small fingers gently opening the pages. His eyes scanned the text with quiet focus.
"These things look complicated… but first, I have to understand how to use magic," he murmured thoughtfully, flipping through the pages.
Then he stopped.
Right in front of a spell.
"These… look like spells," he said, a spark of excitement lighting up his face.
He extended his hand forward, taking a slow breath.
"Flame that sleeps within my breath, awaken and gather—Ember Sphere."
A faint glow formed in his palm. A small fireball flickered into existence.
"That's a fireball!" Aeris grinned widely.
…but just as quickly, the flame trembled and vanished.
His smile dropped.
"…It disappeared."
Frowning, he quickly returned to the book, reading more carefully this time.
"According to this… I need to control the mana amount… and the size of the fireball. The duration depends on how much mana I use… so I need to manage it before it vanishes."
He nodded seriously—far too seriously for a child his age.
Then suddenly—
He stood up.
Looked around.
And ran inside the house.
Liora glanced at him, slightly confused, still mopping the floor.
"What happened, sweetie?" she asked.
Aeris rushed up to her, looking up with determined eyes.
"Mama, I want a wooden board!"
Liora blinked.
"A wooden board…?" she tilted her head. "Let me check. Maybe there's something from your dad's old woodwork."
She disappeared into the basement.
Aeris stood there, staring at the door like it held the secrets of the universe.
After a while, Liora returned, holding a circular wooden board.
"See? I found one!" she said with a proud smile.
Aeris grabbed it immediately.
"Thank you!"
And then—he ran off again.
"Go carefully! It's heavy!" Liora called after him, concern in her voice.
Outside, Aeris placed the wooden board in front of him. He stepped back, steadying himself.
"I can do this."
He raised his hand once more.
"Flame that sleeps within my breath, awaken and gather—Ember Sphere."
A fireball formed again—brighter this time.
"Go!"
He thrust his hand forward.
The fireball shot ahead at surprising speed—
Boom!
It struck the board and split it cleanly into two pieces.
Aeris' eyes sparkled.
"That's amazing!"
From the kitchen window, Elisia watched with a soft smile.
"He's doing incredibly well already… maybe having a child's body helps him learn faster," she said quietly before returning to her work.
Hours passed.
Aeris now sat on the grass, staring proudly at the small fireball dancing above his palm.
"This is amazing… If I keep learning like this, I can use water magic too!"
He smiled—
—but then the fireball suddenly vanished.
His vision blurred.
"Huh…? What's happening…?"
His eyelids grew heavy.
Before he could react—
He collapsed onto the grass.
"…Looks like my mana is finished… but I only used it four times… and read the book…" he mumbled sleepily before drifting off.
The front door opened.
Jace stepped inside, stretching slightly—until he noticed something odd.
"…Why is he sleeping in the garden?"
He walked over, gently lifting Aeris into his arms. His gaze shifted to the nearby books.
"Looks like he's learning magic already."
A faint, proud smile appeared on his face.
He carried Aeris inside.
Elisia noticed him and bowed respectfully.
"Welcome back, Mr. Jace."
In the background, Elisia quietly adjusted a few things.
Liora approached quickly, concern written all over her face.
"He fell asleep?"
Jace nodded.
She carefully took Aeris from him.
"I'll put him to bed."
As she walked away, Elisia glanced at Aeris' peaceful face and smiled warmly.
"He's learning incredibly fast…"
Jace sat down on the chair, letting out a relaxed breath.
"Elisia, could you get me a glass of water?"
"Of course, Mr. Jace."
She hurried toward the kitchen.