“Magic is imagination, and imagination is infinite, and infinity is power.”

Power in this world I was born into is one of the most revealing themes, because the moment you’re born, destiny assigns you a specific gift. And if you’re born into the lower class, you’ll already have enough work cut out for you.

In my case, it’s very different. I was born a bastard with impure blood.

[NARRATOR]

A new day begins. María lies on the bed as Pedro enters with food for her.

“How’s our daughter?” Pedro asks.

“It’s a boy, Pedro!” María replies.

“Seriously? You’re not thinking this is what I actually wanted, are you?”

“If you want to spend time with your kids, start by dropping your obsession with training them to exhaustion. Look at Nazael and Sacha—all they do is fight and test every spell that pops into their heads.”

“What? That’s not on me. I’m just too strong and a father. They got it from the factory, so don’t blame me. I’m teaching them to control their strength.”

“Stop bragging about your strength. Their magic talent comes from their biological mother. And I hope you’ve told your kids we’re expecting a child together, right?”

“Heh… about that…” Pedro hesitates.

“Pedro!” María says, shocked.

“It’s just… complicated. I know my kids well enough. Sacha’s practically no issue, but I’m worried how Nazael would take it. He tries, but I don’t think he ever got over me being with you after his mother’s death.”

“You’re the strangest father I’ve ever seen, honey. He’s your son—go talk to him. He’ll understand.”

“What? Do I have to do it right now?”

“Our son is due in a month, Pedro. So yes, do it now!”

“How about tomorrow?”

María immediately shoots him a piercing glare, warning him to act now—or she might just kill him.

By chance, Sacha had been eavesdropping behind the door. She crept away to the living room.

“Gotta tell my brother,” she mutters.

Night fell. During dinner, María placed a delicious chicken dish on the table and left to fetch the fried fish she’d forgotten in the kitchen. Nazael, Sacha, and Pedro remained at the table.

Suddenly, Pedro began:
“My children! I have great news: you’re getting a new baby brother.”

Hearing this, neither child reacted or looked up. Pedro pressed on:
“María and I are having a child together.”
“We heard you, Dad,” Nazael says flatly.
“Aren’t you happy about a new sibling?”
“Already knew. Her belly made it obvious,” Nazael replies.

Pedro chuckles.
“You’re so much like your mother!”

The room tensed with awkward silence. Nazael pushed his chair back.
“Not hungry anymore. Goodnight!”

He teleported away instantly.

“Brother! Brother!” Sacha shouted, but got no reply.

María returned, glanced at Pedro, and mocked:
“Sometimes I wonder how a clueless man like you became Earth’s protector. Shocking, really!”

Sacha giggled before asking:
“Have you picked a name for the baby?”

María and Pedro exchanged looks.
“A name?”
“Right, Pedro. What are we naming him?”
“What? You hadn’t thought about it?”
“You’re his father—he’ll take your name, won’t he? Think of something, you imbecile!”
“…”

“Guess you’re both clueless,” Sacha concluded, teleporting to the moonlit hilltop. At the cliff’s edge, Nazael sat staring at the sky.

Sacha approached slowly. Nazael spoke as she stopped beside him:
“How’d you know I was here?”
“Not hard when you’re radiating so much Ether.”
“This forest is dangerous. Go home.”
“Look behind you!”
“What? I don’t see anything.”
“Exactly—nothing. You’re scaring everything off. And with you here, I’ll be safe. You’ll protect me, right, little brother?” She hugged him from behind.

“Ow! Careful, Sacha! We’re on a cliff! Besides, I don’t have to protect you. You’re the prodigy. You taught me to teleport, and you’re still a runt.”

Sacha happily slapped his back.
“Oh, please! Don’t talk bullshit.”

Unintentionally, she shoved him off the cliff.

“Sachaaaaaaaaa!” Nazael screamed as he fell.

“Oops! He sounds mad… You mad, bro?” Sacha yelled mockingly.

“Get me back up now, you spoiled brat! Don’t pull your shitty pranks on me!”

“What? Can’t do it yourself?”

“Get me out! I’m gonna die if you don’t, shit!”

Just before impact, Nazael screamed. Sacha snapped her fingers, and he reappeared face-down in front of her.

“You act all high-and-mighty, but now you’re like a damsel in distress!” she laughed.

“Hey!” Nazael scowled, danger now past. “You’ll see who’s the damsel, you evil brat!”

Sacha dropped him headfirst. Nazael tackled her, pinning her down to bonk her head. They brawled for hours before collapsing, breathless, under the stars.

“Hey.”
“What?”
“You think one of those stars is Mom? Like in the stories?”
“…Probably. If the stories are true, she’s watching and protecting us from up there.”
“I know you’re not happy about our new mom.”
“She’s not our mom.”
“But—”
“She’s not. End of story.”
“Don’t be selfish, Nazael. She’s the only one who eased Dad’s pain and endless thirst for revenge. Now he can smile without faking it—all thanks to her. Give her a chance, or—”
“Leave if you’re gonna rant all night.”
“You’re naïve. Anyway, I’m dead tired.”

She took three steps, then paused.
“It’s a boy, by the way. I’ll train him. He’ll have María’s kindness, not turn into a hollow-headed fool like you.”

“What’d you say?!” Nazael roared, his Ether surging so fiercely the forest trembled.

Sacha grinned sweetly.
“Nothing. Just excited,” she said, waving before teleporting away.

After she left, Nazael muttered:
“I won’t talk to a traitorous coward who abandoned everything. And I refuse to see a human-blooded bastard in my family.”
“Those damn humans… I hate them!”

His rage unleashed a ferocious gale, shaking trees for three kilometers.

Let me know if further adjustments are needed!