all that time, I hadn’t dared to use it. Sure, the Sense and Perception stats had proven useful—helping me learn more about the strange world I now called home—but the sheer power promised by the book felt overwhelming.

  After all, I was barely eleven months old.

  The thought of wielding Shadow Magic, of holding such destructive potential, was thrilling… but terrifying. I didn’t fully trust myself to use it responsibly. A single mistake could bring unwanted attention or worse.

  Still, the book sat hidden under my bed, a constant reminder of what I could become. If only I had possessed this kind of power in my old life… maybe I wouldn’t have ended up dead.

  I sighed, pushing away the dark thought. There was no point dwelling on what I couldn’t change.

  "But… maybe after my birthday, in secret… I'll try it," I muttered under my breath.

  No one could know about the Book of Shadows. It was my secret—one I wasn’t ready to share with anyone, not even my parents.

  Speaking of my birthday, I couldn’t help but wonder if my parents were planning something special. Over the past few days, I had overheard whispers between Claire and Caross—plans for some sort of surprise.

  Meanwhile, in the living room, my parents were deep in conversation.

  “Hey, Caross, got any ideas for Sam’s birthday present?” Claire asked, glancing up from her paperwork.

  Caross, who had been lounging on the couch, raised an eyebrow. “I mean… a cake?”

  Claire rolled her eyes. “Obviously, a cake. But what else? Something meaningful?”

  Caross scratched his head, his rugged face furrowing in thought. Gift-giving wasn’t his strong suit, but this was for Sam, and he wanted it to be special.

  After several minutes of silence, Caross’s face lit up with an idea.

  “I’ve got it!” he said, sitting up straighter.

  Claire leaned forward, intrigued. “Go on…”

  “We write down a list of skills Sam might want to learn—swordsmanship, magic, emotional control, stuff like that—and let him pick. Then we hire someone to teach him.”

  Claire’s expression softened, a smile spreading across her face. “For once, you’ve actually said something sensible. No wonder I decided to marry you.”

  Caross grinned, basking in the rare compliment. “Told you I’m full of good ideas.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Claire chuckled before adding, “Maybe we should also make him something personal—a stuffed animal, perhaps? Something he can keep forever.”

  Caross nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah. Let’s ask him what kind of animal he likes tomorrow.”

  The next morning, I was startled awake by Claire and Caross standing over me, their faces bright with anticipation.

  “What’s your favorite creature, Sam?” Claire asked, her tone gentle.

  I blinked groggily, still half-asleep. “Penguin,” I mumbled without hesitation.

  My parents exchanged confused glances.

  “Penguin?” Caross repeated, his brow furrowing. “What’s a penguin?”

  I froze. Of course, they wouldn’t know. Penguins didn’t exist here.

  Sighing, I grabbed a pencil and scrap of paper from my bedside table. With my limited motor skills, I scribbled a crude drawing of a penguin, complete with a little beak and stubby wings.

  Claire’s eyes softened as she looked at the sketch. “It’s adorable,” she said. “We’ll make it just like this.”

  Caross nodded, though he still looked a little puzzled. “A flightless bird, huh? Well, if that’s what he wants…”

  Satisfied, I crawled back under my blanket, already imagining the stuffed penguin they would make.

  That night, as I lay in bed, the Book of Shadows pulsed faintly under my bed. Something had changed. The pages seemed to hum with energy, urging me to open it.

  Unable to resist, I pulled it out and flipped it open.

  While I celebrated my small victory, miles away, an ominous force stirred.

  A brigade of demons—twenty in total—marched through the forest, their cruel laughter echoing through the trees. At their head was a towering figure clad in jagged black armor, his eyes burning with malice.

  “The mana source grows stronger,” he growled, his voice deep and guttural.

  “Ulaz Village,” one of his subordinates confirmed. “That’s where the energy is coming from.”

  The leader smirked, revealing sharp, jagged teeth. “Good. By tomorrow, that village will burn. Prepare the teleportation circle. We strike at midday.”

  Oblivious to the impending danger, I spent the next few days experimenting with my new abilities. My control over the shadows was improving, and I felt more confident with each passing day.

  But something lingered in the back of my mind—a sense of unease, like the calm before a storm.

  I shook off the feeling and focused on the present. My birthday was approaching, and for the first time in both my lives, I felt truly cared for. Claire and Caross had poured their hearts into preparing something special for me, and I didn’t want to ruin it with my anxieties.

  Little did I know, that peaceful life was about to be shattered.