There are plenty of monsters out there which can change appearance to the one of small human children and then take their place.

Even the [Metamorphs] clan can do it.

But I’m fairly certain Alvin isn’t one of them.

I have watched over this child since the very moment he was born. Unless he had been camouflaging from the moment he got out of his mother’s belly he wouldn’t be able to trick me.

Still, is this the growth rate of a true Royal?

The old lineage was mediocre at best. The empress sure was powerful, but the legends told of much superior existences of the far past. Alvin has far surpassed her in all aspects of his growth.

He understands complex things and cultivating good relations for a goal, even if he’s only five.

He has already mastered spells most people would have trouble even remembering.

Maybe it’s the combination of skills.

An immortal reminder, or a defier of heavens with the spiritual power. Those two existences alone would already stir up the court in the old days. They would surely be pampered and spoiled since a young age in order to become useless addicts full of debilitating disease gathered in brothels.

And if one of them had immunity to sickness, then that would be even more of a challenge for the nobility to suppress.

Alvin has all of those talents and even more.

Maybe I should think on his growth as expected.

He doesn’t seem to have natural limiters on his growth. He finds it as easy to learn an advanced spell as it would be to learn a bunch of basic spells. It’s just a matter of time for him.

That is unheard off.

Someone able to learn something complex with the same easiness of learning a bunch of simple things.

Not his body. Not his skills.

His mind is the most powerful tool he has.

I should nurture it properly. It’s a shame I don’t have any of the old books here. I wonder… should I try and send him to an Academy? Maybe as an adoptive son of Lord Blackscale ?

…

No.

Alvin’s mind is far too advanced for his age. He would be unsociable, and amongst nobility there is nothing worse than being unsociable. It invites disaster.

I must nurture him as I can, and send him in a path of exploration by himself once he is old enough for this to be believable.

There are plenty of adventurers which are accepted in the Magic Associations of this continent once they gather achievements as explorers of dungeons with old formulas and rich history.

Once he’s accepted in one of the Associations he should be able to read quite a bit and expand his horizons.

I wonder if he will accept the future his grandmother chooses for him?

Of course he will.

He’s a good, obedient boy.

Besides, if he doesn’t then this grandmother needs only to stop teaching him. The little one is as curious as a kitten.

He will make his path to knowledge somewhat.