Gasping for air, the boy and the mother kept running while the darkness chased after them. As they ran further, the screams and cries of agony resounded behind them while they kept running. However, the boy tightly gripped his mother’s arm. Right now, he just gritted her arm and kept moving, paying no attention to the fatigue and pain in his exhausted legs.

Such scene continued for some time, the pair moved further, but the darkness followed, it continued until a pass, leading to the salvation that appeared before them. When they already wanted to step inside, a loud bang resounded, and pass disappeared. It was their only way.

Despair, fear, and terror appeared on the face of the boy while the woman caressed her son’s cheek and smiled at him. Her smile calmed down the boy before the woman took a sword and left a bracelet, turning at the figure who came after them.

They both stayed silent and soon the clash started. Their figures danced, swords met, and sparks appeared here and there. Though the woman was more experienced; she was weaker and the dark figure slowly suppressed her, inflicting one injury after another.

Eventually, after another clash, the woman kneeled with no ability to raise her sword as her blood kept bleeding. She lost the battle, and it meant only one thing, death to both her and a small son. The woman only turned and looked at him with so familiar, kind, blue eyes and a caring smile on her lips, while the dark figure slowly approached her with his sword.

“No! Mother. Stand up!” cried the boy, straining his throat, and attempting to approach her, only to realize he can’t move a finger.

That figure only threw a disdainful glance at him before a smirk appeared on his lips as he raised her by grabbing her hair.

“This is your fault. She tried to protect you from my sword,” said the figure before moving his sword and cutting her neck.

A moment and a dying body of the woman fell to the ground as the blood kept pouring. The dark figure just threw a mocking glance at him while the boy stood still, watching at his mother.

The boy fell to his knees as his face distorted in pain, and silent, agonizing scream. Tears fell to the ground as he watched how her blood slowly approached him.

While the boy sat there without moving, the dark figure approached him with his sword.

“That is because you are weak. This is the price,” said the figure before moving down his sword and piercing the boy’s heart.

But, before he reached the ground, the approaching darkness and everything else distorted, opening a vision to the familiar room.

Nero just rubbed his eyes before raising his back from the bed. It was another nightmare.

“Mother,” muttered Nero while his heart kept beating as he recovered his senses and fought with the remains of the dream.

As soon as Nero calmed down and threw several glances at the sleeping Ethel and Azreya, he raised from the bed and started dressing up. Though it was still night; he knew he won’t fall asleep again, not after such a nightmare.

Hence, after a short procedure, and several corridors, Nero stepped outside, and finally noticed the big change which he didn’t pay attention to beforehand. Nero stretched his arm and saw how a snowflake landed on his arms, melting moments later. Snow-covered everything around him right now.

Almost immediately, memories started flashing through his eyes.

It was the first snow, the snow which came on the day his mother gave him life.

...

..

.

The woman in the maid’s outfit quickly passed through the corridors. This woman had a habit of looking at the certain boy when he was sleeping. She usually visited his chambers in the early morning to enjoy the peaceful and relaxed face of the boy which she had never seen during the day. But today it was different. There was no boy in his bed when she came to his chambers.

Hence, she was now approaching the only place where she found him during such situations when he couldn’t sleep and plunged into the training. That’s why it wasn’t a surprise for Clara when she finally reached the training ground and heard clanging sounds in the distance. Clara only stopped and threw her glance at the boy.

Right now, Nero’s sword kept moving, attacking, and pairing the attacks of the semi-moving doll which reacted to his every thrust. Though his movements were fast and his training could easily attract attention, her glance focused only on his face. Even though the Young Master looked amazing with his furrowed brows and focused glance, Clara paid no attention to these things because there was another thing in that face.

Behind the concentrated facade hid a scar and injury which still bled and caused pain. The pain of losing a close person. She recognized that because she had the same experience in her life, and knew how it felt to lose such a person.

Even though she didn’t want to interrupt him and remind him about that feeling; it was her duty to take care of him. Hence, Clara bitted her lip and approached Nero with a company of the creaking snow. She had certain ideas about his current condition and omitted some information about this day, not to awake occasionally some memories and add several extra hours to his training. Her Young Master, who already behaved much elder, was a boy who just started growing up.

“Here are your warm clothes, Young Master,” said Clara and smiled brightly as if it was a typical thing to see a training boy in the early morning before sunrise.

Nero’s sword paused before he evaded from the doll’s counterattack and turned at Clara. He threw a glance at the clothes in her hands and quickly approached her and took a coat with wolf fur.

“Thank you, Clara,” said Nero before taking his wooden sword and returning to his training while Clara left other clothes nearby, bowed, and left under the sounds of the clanking wood.

...

..

.

Following his early morning training, the day was mostly usual except for the fact Nero had no training from Primus and lessons from Stein. They were busy and informed his maid about that beforehand.

Hence, when Ethel and Azreya woke up and threw glances outside, Nero just took them with him and started playing together with them. He threw snowballs at the small griffon and tiger who kept running and hiding in the garden. He also built snow circles before joining them into the snowman, which didn’t last long because Ethel and Azreya contended in destroying them while Nero playfully chased after the destructor.

In short, when Clara visited them, she saw a laughing Nero who was now laying on the snow with Ethel and Azreya, sitting on him and licking his face. Clara smiled because her Young Master looked happy right now.

“Young Master, the feast is ready,” said Clara.

Following her words, they all reacted, raising their heads as a certain sound resounded in Nero’s stomach while Ethel and Azreya exchanged glances, pinning each other with a warning and evaluating glances.

Nero didn’t even finish replying to Clara when his both pets jumped from him and started a race towards Clara, who caught them when they tried to bypass her.

“Not this time,” said Clara with a warning glance. “Young Master will be the first to try the food.”

Both pets could only lower their heads in disapproval while Nero stretched his body and approached Clara.

“Let’s go. I am starving,” said Nero.

...

..

.

Following their games outside, it was already midday when Nero and his friends finally sat in their seats, looking at the feast in front of them. There were many dishes, soups, salads, and even desserts. In short, Nero had never seen so much food in one place before and just couldn’t hold from looking at Clara with a clear question on his face.

“Family cooks prepared that Young Master for your birthday,” said Clara with a smile.

While both Ethel and Azreya ignored her words and started eating meat, Nero was different. A warm feeling appeared in his heart.

“Young Master, please try this soup. The main chief cooked it himself,” said Clara, pointing at the certain bowl.

“Okay,” said Nero with a smile on his lips before taking a spoon.

...

..

.

Half an hour later.

Nero inclined on his seat with a satisfied expression on his face. Today, he tasted and drank so many dishes. There were monster meat, medical soups, tasty nuts, sweet desserts, and even rare delices like seafood. In short, his stomach will memorize this day for a long time because it had never been as satisfied and filled as it was right now.

Besides, even always insatiable, Ethel was now laying on the table. A behavior mirrored by Azreya. Today, nobody won in their contest because there was still plenty of meat left on the table. Only plumpness in the stomach area was a common thing, uniting these two beasts.

Nero smiled when he drank another glass of juice when Clara, who didn’t eat much, approached him.

“Young Master,” said Clara, attracting his attention. “It’s time for the gifts.”

Following her words, a hidden curiosity appeared inside Nero because he didn’t expect to get any gifts today. Even grandfather’s gift might take some time until Wagner would finish it, and it was several days ago when Lord and Stein learned about his birthday during the procedure of joining the family.

“First, I will start with the gift our Lord prepared for you,” said Clara, taking a sword from her space artifact and showing it to Nero. “Wagner finished creating the Legendary sword yesterday. He asked to tell that this sword meets all your demands, but he also increased energy productivity in case you will choose the weapon direction after your first transformation.”

Even though there were some unfamiliar words, Nero threw them away and took a sword into his hands, and made several movements and thrusts before returning to his seat. In short, the sword was heavy and Nero could barely move with it in his usual rhythm right now.

“I should thank Wagner and my Lord,” said Nero before placing the sword into his bracelet. Two bright flames of the resolution were burning in his eyes. “Now, I must train hard to be worthy of such a gift.”

Clara smiled and nodded before taking another object from her artifact.

“This is are the gifts from the people who couldn’t come, but sent their gifts for you, Young Master,” said Clara, taking several objects from her artifact.

“First, this is a gift from the Grey Elder. A detailed guide to alchemy, written by the Great Alchemist Agalone, one of the most famous alchemists of the imperial period. That alchemist released only a thousand copies and this book is very rare, Young Master,” said Clara, giving the thick, and old-looking book to Nero who nodded and quickly put it into his bracelet.

“The second one is from the commander Grievous and your instructor Primus. It’s a combined gift,” said Clara, showing a certain fruit to Nero. “This is a Fruit of Transformation. A rare ingredient that can give many buns during your first transformation. Young Master, don’t forget to eat it when you will approach it. This fruit will make your transformation easier and more helpful.”

“The last one is from me, young Master,” said Clara, taking a scarf and a pair of gloves from her artifact.

“I made them myself, Young Master. At first, I hunted down several mountain apes, famous for their thick and warm fur, before making them for you. You will never feel cold with them, Young Master,” said Clara, giving her gifts to Nero.

This time Nero didn’t put gifts into his bracelet to keep it, but tied the scarf around his neck and put on gloves, trying them. Following those actions, he turned to Clara with a sincere smile on his lips. Her gift reminded him about life in the village where his mother and teacher would also give him similar trifles, but those trifles which could make him smile.

“Thank you, Clara,” said Nero, satisfied with her gift the most.

Clara also smiled, satisfied with his reaction.

“Don’t you want to try them?” asked Clara, pointing outside.

Nero nodded before taking her hand and leaving the room.