The day and weather was great and the night was cool. Cale, who was chilling and sipping his warm milk, planned on going back to the Royal Library tonight as well. But a sudden question made his back ran cold and felt like his heart was about to burst out from his chest.

"There is something I would like to ask, Young Master. I respect everything you do as long as you are safe but where were you going every night?" the old butler asked which made Cale almost spit out the milk he's drinking. I was found out?! his mind was in a mess as he looked at the old butler with shaking eyes.

The butler sighed seeing his Young Master's expression like he could not believe he was found out. As an assassin himself, he can notice things even a slightest change in his surroundings. One of it was the disappearance of his Young Master from time to time in the middle of the night. Sometimes, his Young Master comes back early and most of the time late. He was worried for his Young Master's safety since he doesn't know where he goes. 

"Um, R-Ron," his Young Master with a shaking voice called out. Ron kneeled and leveled his eyes to Cale.

"Young Master, it's no use hiding it from me. I knew you were going out from time to time, I haven't reported it to the Count since I don't know where you go," Ron replied, Cale suddenly clung to him which surprised him.

"Please don't tell Dad!" he said, his voice and eyes were still shaking. Ron, tried to remove Cale's clutch to his clothes but it made the redhead hold on to it tightly. Before he could reply, Cale spoke first.

"You may not believe it but I always go to the Royal Library at night," he continued. Ron couldn't believe what he had just heard. Young Master goes to the Royal Library which was located at the Capital? How?

"You may be wondering how I go there, but this was supposed to be a secret. Promise me you'll keep it a secret," Cale said as he lifted his pinky finger to create a promise to the old man. He remembered this gesture when he got lost as he went back to the past. Confused, the old man also raised his pinky finger and Cale interlocked his to the old butler.

"Pinky swear, ten thousand punches, whoever lies will be made to swallow a thousand needles," Cale chanted while swaying lightly up and down their pinky fingers. Ron was quite perplexed but he found this gesture cute. If you tell a lie, you have to swallow thousand needles. Such a vicious punishment but it fits.

"Now, you are not allowed to tell whatever I will say to you right now," Cale reminded as the old butler nodded and chuckled which made the redhead blushed from embarrassment.

"Anyway, it is true that I go to the Royal Library every night. As to how I get there, there was once a time I accidentally teleported myself and woke up in the King's bedroom, that was when you saw me one morning falling from the balcony," Cale started.

"You teleported and woke up in the King's bedroom? You have magic, Young Master?"

"Strange enough, I do not have as my body is weak. It can't hold any mana nor I have a magic core. After discovering how this ability works, I went back to the King and asks permission to use the Royal Library since I finished reading all the books here in the estate."

"So, that is how you get there and the reason was you want to read more books? You should have asked the Count if you want more titles."

"I find it fun to randomly pick books to read, I don't have any specific preference. And there are titles where you can only find at the Royal Library. The people there were kind enough to give me snacks whenever I was there." Cale proudly said but made the butler worried. 

"The people there knew you were there?"

"Yes, they said they will keep my presence a secret since it was ordered by his Majesty." Ron felt like his mind was swirling from the information his Young Master had given. It was an unbelievable story. Just from the teleport thing and that his Majesty gave permission to a boy, who wasn't even related to them. Cale, who was looking at his butler's reaction, just sighed.

"It seems that you don't believe me, I don't lie. And if you don't believe me, maybe if I show you, you'll finally can say I am telling the truth," Cale smugly said as he held his butler's hand.

"Wha—" before Ron could say something, a bright light enveloped both of them and when he opened his eyes, they were on top of the Royal Palace. He immediately held on to something to balance himself and carried his Young Master in his other arm—since Cale looks like he would fall.

"See, Ron! I am telling the truth!" his Young Master proudly said as the redhead wrapped his arms around Ron's neck. The old butler sighed.

"Yes, you are right. Young Master doesn't tell lies." Ron, who still couldn't believe what had happened, stared at the view below them. He just wondered where Cale got this ability.

The lights were flickering in the distance and the wind gently rubbed their faces. He looked at his Young Master who was smiling at his face. After enjoying the view for a while, they went back to Cale's room. Ron helped his Young Master clean up, since they got a lot of dust from going outside, and dressed him his night gown. He also helped the redhead tidied up his hair.

"That was fun," Cale giggled, who's now sitting on his bed.

"Yes, Young Master. It was a rare experience," Ron humored his puppy young master, but soon widened his eyes when he saw Cale bleeding from his nose. He immediately took out a clean handkerchief and placed it on the redhead's nose and made him keep his head down.

"It looks like I reached the limit of my ability," Cale lightly shrugged.

"Don't use your ability all the time, Young Master. As you have said, your body is weak and your ability takes up a lot of toll on your body," Ron advised. As soon as Cale stopped bleeding, the butler tucked him in to sleep.

"Hmn, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you. Good night, Ron," Cale sleepily said.

"Sleep well, Young Master," he said and went out of Cale's room.

.oOo.

A whole year passed, Cale's little sister was born. He was getting along well with his mother, brother and, of course, his father. It surprises Cale when his father was paying attention to him. After he told Ron about his ability and told him to keep it a secret even to his father, he occasionally visits the Royal Library and often meets the first prince. He just listened to the prince's stories and sometimes talk to him too, since he looked lonely. They always just talked about trivial things, and some important discourse. By using his gift a lot, he could feel it was getting stronger, which was good for him.

Cale Henituse, now an eleven years old boy, decided to start collecting the Ancient Powers. The notes he had had information about it, he visits the libraries to know their stories. The first page of his notes were actually instructions on where and how to get them. At first, he thought that he owned the notebook originally but he was wrong. This notebook appeared near him the moment he came back. 

The first Ancient Power near him was the [Indestructible Shield] which was located to the black tree in the slums. He immediately went to his father to ask permission to go out and ask for money. After getting permission and money, he immediately went out. Now, he was standing in front of a bakery.

"I want bread, pack ever baked bread you have," Cale said as he casually handed the baker a gold coin which was an excess amount to what he was buying and a spatial bag—he got it from his father when he asked him. The baker blinked a few times before looking at the young master in front of him.

"Hm, if you don't want to sell me bread, I can go to another store," he continued, the baker immediately put the bread inside the spatial bag and handed it to Cale once he's done. 

Cale, then went to every bakery he saw and bought all their breads and stuffed it inside the spatial bag. After wiping out the bread, he went to the slums and he could see the hungry gaze of the people there. Cale sighed and called them out to give them bread as the children there looked famished. Once he's done, he went straight to the black tree and feed it. Since he gave a lot of bread to the tree, he could see the difference from the beginning and after he had given it bread. Is it only limited to bread? Can't I give this tree, meat? he thought and went home after that. He could see Basen working and studying his lessons hard, even after his tutor went home he still continued to study. Cale, who stopped getting tutored, approached Basen who looks like he was having a hard time.

"Is this problem giving you a headache?" asked Cale, Basen immediately turned his head towards his brother. 

"Hyung! What are you doing here? I thought you're going out?" his younger brother asked back.

"Well, I'm done with my tasks. Do you need help?" Cale responded, Basen, who was still shy to ask for anything, just nodded his head lightly. 

Cale laughed at his younger brother and ruffled his hair. He sat beside him and taught him how to answer his assignments properly. On the other hand, Basen felt happy as his hyung was spending his time with him since after getting lessons from his tutors, he barely spend his time with his hyung. Basen listened carefully to his brother and wrote the things he learned, Cale also checked his younger brother's answers and corrected him if he was wrong. Hyung has more patience than my tutor and he's good at teaching too and he doesn't hit me when I'm wrong, Basen thought as he had discovered a new admiration towards his older brother. After that, Basen thanked his brother for his help and Cale left and went back to his room.

The following days, Cale continued feeding the tree with bread and on the last day

It was good!

This surprised Cale, he didn't expect something like this to happen. He didn't know that Ancient Powers will speak to him when trying to obtain it. The Ancient Power, namely Indestructible Shield continued to speak and it looks like it was evaluating the bread he had fed.

I guess even food develops as time progress. There were no breads like this during my time! That's why I'm full, it was delicious!

The Ancient Power continued to blabber about food and how its food during its time were awful and tasteless. Cale was a good listener, so he listened to the Indestructible Shield's evaluation and rants.

"Yes, it was amazing and professional evaluation but—"

You understand my evaluation! You're a really good guy! Thanks!

Cale was about to speak when the black tree started becoming white and grass sprouts as the darkness disappeared and a small light appeared in front of him. This must be it. Amazing. He reached out to the light and he felt it entered his heart. The warm sensation circling around his beating heart felt nice.

This power will protect you until the day you die.

Once the power settled in his heart, he closed his eyes and tried to summon the shield. A bright silver shield with wings appeared in front of him. 

Indestructible Shield obtained!

Cale went back to his home and Ron welcomed him. He was given a lemon tea to refresh, but what Cale felt was opposite as he hates sour things. Still, he drank all of it and handed the teacup to his butler. Once Ron was out, he took his notes and put a check mark beside the name [Indestructible Shield]. His next target was the [Energy of the Heart] which was located at Puzzle City, and he decided to go there tomorrow. My gift really is convenient! he thought. But unbeknownst to him, his gift was not teleport. Cale looked at his reflection in front of his full body mirror. It would be nice if I could have a copy of myself, he said and as soon as he finished his sentence, an exact copy of him emerged from his mirror. Cale took a step back and watched his copy stood on its own.

"Woah, what was that? I could actually create a copy of my own self?" he said as he carefully study the individual in front of him. 

"Does it only copy my appearance?" he continued as he touched his copy.

"Nope, I could also talk and move," his copy replied.

"Wow! With you, I could sneak out more!" Cale rejoiced. This way he could do what he was planning on doing. He couldn't do it as his family might panic if he disappeared for a long time. Having a copy of yourself was really convenient for him and his plans.

.oOo.

The next day, Cale actually planned on getting the [Energy of the Heart] and [Sound of the Wind] since he had Cale 2.0—whom he started to call Summer— to cover for him. Summer could just pretend to be him and stay in his room until he came back. Cale just hoped that no one would suspect a thing, after all Summer was an exact copy of his inside and out except for his gift and ancient power. The only ability his copy had was the ability to communicate with him, well it was better than nothing. This way, Cale will be notified and informed of what was happening to his copy here in his home and vice versa.

At night, Cale prepared his departure, he took his spatial bag, a bag of gold coins, his notebook, and a cloak. He reminded Summer to act just like him and he'll be back immediately and his night excursion was a secret that's exclusive to them only. 

Cale immediately teleported to the Puzzle City and directly went to the cave where the [Energy of the Heart] was located. But upon seeing the small entrance, he backed away and decided to get it the next morning after buying a change of clothes. For sure, his clothes will be a mess after rolling there. He went back to the city and looked for an available inn. Luckily they let him check in, since he had money.

The following morning, Cale checked out the inn and immediately looked for a boutique. He asked the seamstress that he need the clothes he picked straight away, and gave her ten gold coins to finish the adjustments to the clothes he chose. After getting what he wants, he went back to the cave and crawled to enter. 

Cale felt the raging wind as soon as he entered and he used the shield to protect him as he walked closer towards the stone tower mentioned in his precious notebook. He continued his steps even though the wind was getting stronger as time passes. I need to hurry. I might not be able to block the wind if I dilly-dally here.

I regret it.

Hmm? The wind got stronger after the voice spoke! he silently yelled as he was surprised from the voice. He kept going forward.

The one with the power I am familiar with, I hope you do not obtain this power.

I need it though? he commented in his mind. He was too focused on walking towards the stone tower.

I pretty much betrayed my comrades! All of them died and I was the only one stayed alive until I reached old age! How shameful I was!

Cale knew it fully well, as he was too. All of his family died, his father, his mother Jour & Violan, his younger brother Basen and his younger sister Lily. He watched them die miserably and he was left alone alive until it reached a thousand years. Cale suddenly felt emotional to the voice he heard but he continued walking.

I was always hoping for them to come back to life! However, my wish was something that couldn't be granted! All I could do was lament and cry, that's why I couldn't finish my rock tower.

Wishing someone to come back to life is something that cannot be granted, especially if they were destined to die, he thought. Cale knew well crying over your loss will only ease your pain for a while. In the past, Cale also cried himself at night knowing that his dead family will not come back, ever again. But he was aware he couldn't just cry, he needs to move forward to keep his loved ones memories alive. He continued to walk as he recalls those painful memories he had to endure who knows how many millennia.

Restoration power is a curse.

As he got closer, the wind became stronger but he persevere and it paid off. He reached the rock tower.

I chose to throw everything away and continued to live.

There's nothing wrong with that, after all being alive is the best, he commented but chose not to voice it out. He crouched down and took a rock to continue stacking the half-finished rock tower. At the last rock, the rock towered flashed and the wind stopped. Cale continued listening to the old man, he somehow sympathizes with him as he experienced something similar.

I piled them up in hopes of turning back the time, hoping that I could be happy, but then I destroyed it. I hated myself for being selfish and only thinking about my own happiness after betraying my friends.

"It is a human's nature to be selfish and if they are truly your friends, they might have understood you as people will always choose their own life over anything," Cale finally spoke to the old man. Suddenly, the old man stopped talking. Is it over? or so he thought. The old man started crying and talked about trivial things. It took the old man a couple of minute to calm down.

Break it. Then you will 'overcome' your limits.

As soon as the old man said that, Cale followed through and kicked the rock tower. After completely destroying the rock tower, a white light appeared and entered his body. He closed his eyes and felt the new power swirling inside him. Hm? He strengthen the shield? .. or they merged? he wasn't sure, but it's between the two. 

Energy of the Heart obtained!

Cale changed his clothes right away after getting out of that cave and went back to the city to get something to eat. He strolled around and saw that there were a lot of rock towers in front of people's houses, even in the center plaza, big rock towers were formed. Unbeknownst to him, someone was watching him roam around the city.

"Hm? Isn't that red-haired child, Cale, the son of Count Henituse? What is he doing here alone?" a boy, with pale blonde hair that hangs around his shoulder and a pair of green eyes who looks older than the redhead, asked the priestess with him.

"I don't know, is that really him?" the priestess asked back. They could see the red-haired child smiling at what he's seeing and enjoying the food he bought. They looked worried since they saw a  wealthy looking child strolling around a city without a company or a guardian.

After filling his stomach, Cale went back to the forest where the cave was located and teleported himself to the next location of the ancient power [Sound of the Wind] which was located at Ubarr Territory.

//TBC ...

A/N: Thank you for reading and thank you for your votes too! ☆