It had been three and a half months since the Book of Shadows had appeared in my life. In all that time, I hadn’t used it once. Sure, the Sense and Perception stats had come in handy more than a few times—especially when I was trying to learn about this world and its strange ways. But beyond that, the overwhelming power the book promised seemed almost too much to handle at my age. After all, I was barely eleven months old. Still, every time I thought about it, a part of me longed to unlock its secrets. If only I had this kind of power in my old life—maybe I wouldn’t have ended up dead.


    I sighed, pushing those dark thoughts away. It was foolish to dwell on what couldn’t be changed.


    "But... maybe after my birthday, in secret... I''ll try," I mused quietly.


    I had to be careful, of course. No one could know about the Book of Shadows. It would be my little secret—at least for now.


    Speaking of my birthday, I wondered if my parents were planning something special for me.


    Meanwhile, in the living room...


    "Hey Caross, got any ideas for what presents we should get Sam for his birthday?" Claire asked, glancing up from her paperwork.


    Caross, who had been lounging on the couch, raised an eyebrow and gave her a sarcastic look. "I mean... a cake, of course!"


    Claire shot him a look of disdain. "Are you thick? Of course we’re getting him a cake. What I mean is, what else? You know, something meaningful?" Her green eyes flashed with a hint of frustration.


    Caross rubbed his temple, thinking. He never liked thinking too much about presents—it wasn’t something that came naturally to him. But this was for Sam, and it was important.


    For the next ten minutes, the room was quiet except for the sound of Caross''s muffled thoughts. Finally, he looked up, a spark of realization in his eyes.


    "I’ve got it!" he said triumphantly.


    Claire sat up, eager for an actual idea this time. "Go on..."


    Caross smiled, leaning forward. "How about this: we write down a list of things Sam could learn—swordsman skills, magic, emotion enhancing, that sort of thing—and let him pick what he wants to learn. Then, we hire someone to teach him."


    Claire’s face softened, and she let out a small sigh of relief. "For once, you’ve actually said something sensible. No wonder I decided to marry you."


    Caross grinned, basking in the rare compliment. "Well, it took me a while, but I got there in the end!"


    They shared a moment of laughter before Claire turned thoughtful. "And maybe... we could make him something personal, too. A teddy bear, but not just any teddy bear—a custom one. We’ll make it to show him our love and joy."Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    "I like that idea," Claire said, her smile warm. "But we’ll have to ask Sam what he wants it to look like."


    "Agreed," Caross replied. "Let’s ask him tomorrow."


    The next day, Claire and Caross were up early, preparing for Sam’s special day. They wanted everything to be perfect.


    Backstory of Claire and Caross:


    Claire and Caross had met years ago in a party called Pentatriagon, a group of adventurers that had gone on many dangerous quests together. At first, it had been nothing more than a professional relationship. Claire had admired Caross’s decisiveness, his strength in battle, and his unwavering loyalty to their team. But over time, that admiration turned into something deeper.


    It wasn’t until one fateful dungeon run that Caross realized Claire had feelings for him. They had been ambushed by a horde of goblins, and in the chaos, Claire had been injured. Caross, frantic with worry, had rushed to her side, and in that moment, everything became clear to him. He had fallen for her too.


    They had spent the following months together, and eventually, they had settled into a peaceful life in Ulaz Village, where they had Sam. Their journey as parents had just begun, but their bond had only grown stronger with time.


    Back to the Present:


    As the days ticked by, Sam’s birthday was now just a week and six days away. He was fast asleep, dreaming of his future—his thoughts full of shadows, swords, and magic.


    Suddenly, Sam was jolted awake. He heard his name being called softly from somewhere distant.


    "Sam."


    His eyes fluttered open. Was this a dream?


    "Sam."


    It sounded like his mother.


    "Sam!"


    This time, he jumped out of bed, his heart racing. Something was wrong. Was there an emergency?


    He dashed to the door, but when he opened it, he was met by the calm, concerned faces of his parents.


    "What''s your favorite creature, Sam?" Claire asked gently.


    Sam blinked, still disoriented. "Penguin," he replied without hesitation, the word coming easily to his mind.


    There was a long silence. His parents exchanged confused glances, clearly surprised.


    "A penguin?" Caross repeated, genuinely baffled. "What’s a penguin?"


    Sam’s heart sank. He’d never considered that his parents might not know what a penguin was. But they had never seen one before—they had no idea what it looked like.


    With a sigh, Sam grabbed a nearby pencil and paper. He quickly drew a penguin, coloring it with the limited crayons he had, and handed it to his parents. "Here," he said, before crawling back into bed.


    Claire looked at the drawing, her expression softening. "Well, at least he drew what it looks like."


    Caross nodded, still perplexed. "I guess we’ll have to make it then."


    So, with a plan in mind, they set to work, crafting the perfect penguin plushie for their son. It was a simple but heartfelt gesture, a symbol of their love for him.


    One Day Before Sam’s Birthday...


    Meanwhile, miles away, an ominous force was beginning to gather. A small brigade of demons—twenty in total—was marching toward Ulaz Village. Their goal: the powerful mana source they had caught wind of.


    Demon 1, the leader, grinned wickedly as he led the group. "When are we getting to this mana source you speak of?"


    Demon 2, his second-in-command, sniffed the air. "I smell it. The mana is coming from Ulaz Village."


    "Ulaz Village?" Demon 1 mused, deep in thought. "It’s not just you then... good. Tell the others to prepare. We invade tomorrow, using the teleportation circle after midday. We’ll strike hard and fast."


    Demon 2 gave a sharp nod, already relaying the orders to the rest of the group. "Yes, my lord."


    As the demons continued their march, a sinister plan was taking shape. The attack on Ulaz Village would come swiftly, and Sam and his family would be caught completely off guard.


    It was a disaster waiting to happen—one that would change the course of Sam’s life forever.


    To Be Continued...