CHAPTER 23: FIVE YEARS OLD

A loud explosion shook the entire Mooncrest Mansion, alarming every single maid. But they didn’t seem too surprised as this had become a daily occurrence by now.

They simply continued with their work, unfazed, knowing someone else would take care of this matter. They had grown used to their young master’s strange actions that always resulted in something bizarre.

Smoke rose from one of the silver spires as two young boys stumbled out, coughing their lungs out. Their faces were covered in black soot, and their clothes were half torn.

With a swoosh of wind, the smoke dispersed as if it had never been there, and a woman in her mid-twenties walked out from the side of the spire.

Her honey-brown eyes fixed on the two boys, and under her gaze they instantly straightened up. The older one among them was eight years old while the younger was just five.

These little troublemakers lowered their heads, pretending to look ashamed of their actions, but Xiu knew it was all just an act. She rolled her eyes at them.

Shame? And these two? Such a thing didn’t exist.

But no matter how much she wanted to scold them, their cute and innocent expressions always slipped past her defenses. They really had a way of breaking through her guard.

Still, she steadied her will and asked, "What are you two doing here when it’s clearly Little Sun’s awakening day?"

Aegon scratched his head sheepishly and said, "We were just trying out something and it exploded."

As she narrowed her eyes, he quickly added, "But I added precautions. That’s why only the smoke managed to do this to us. Otherwise, we’re completely fine."

Xiu looked at their state and could tell he wasn’t lying. Well, it wasn’t like Aegon ever lied to her anyway. Sometimes she even wished he would learn to lie, but he never did, especially not to her.

’He’s getting crazier with his experiments... but he also takes more precautions. I guess that’s something,’ Xiu sighed inwardly before saying, "Enough for today then. Weren’t you excited for your Awakening? What happened to that?"

"Of course, I’m excited. I was just easing my mind before the Awakening," Aegon replied before turning towards his friend. "Xav, you can wash up in the other room. Then we’ll meet in the Awakening Chamber."

"I’ll be waiting then." Xavier waved his hand but stayed quiet otherwise.

Although Xiu doted on him because of how close he had become with Aegon, she was still terrifying when angry, so Xavier didn’t want to risk saying anything that could set her off.

Aegon nodded before following Xiu. She tried to pick him up, but he darted away, saying he was too dirty to be carried.

As he neared the hot springs, his thoughts drifted. Five years had passed since he reincarnated into this world, and it didn’t even feel that long.

He had so much fun that the years slipped by in the blink of an eye.

As he had promised himself that day, he didn’t waste time overthinking and simply focused on enjoying his childhood and that was exactly what he did.

Though, he still ’invented’ a few things he received from the system. Mostly in his free time, and also because they made life easier for everyone.

For example, this hot spring he was heading towards now. They had magic-powered hot springs before, but Aegon managed to create a natural one that anyone could use.

The maids were overjoyed with it, as they needed something to ease their exhaustion after long days of work.

But none of these inventions stopped him from playing around with his friends. He also learned to let loose instead of always acting overly sensible.

In his early years, he behaved like that unconsciously, desperate for his family to like him. But now he understood they would love him regardless, so why bother being so restrained?

Now he was free, and he truly enjoyed his life with friends who loved him just as much. Even though he didn’t see Elara as often as Xavier and the others due to the distance, she was still just as important to him as the rest.

’But now I need to think about my future.’

He hadn’t forgotten his true goal just because he was having fun in this second childhood. He still wanted to explore the world, to experience everything this life could offer. For that, he needed strength.

His grandpa would never allow him to leave the mansion otherwise. And the journey toward that strength would begin today...with his Awakening.

’The Awakening is the most important part because it decides the path one will walk on,’ Aegon thought as he stepped into the hot springs. But before he could relax, a rush of wind blew against him, and he sighed.

Xiu had picked him up and was already scrubbing his face and hair. He let her be. After a few minutes of her thorough cleaning, they finally sat together in the steaming water, feeling their nerves unwind.

"Your company has become a sensation even in other Kingdoms," Xiu said, closing her eyes as she soaked in the warmth. "Everyone wants to meet the mysterious owner and inventor of all these miraculous things."

Aegon was left speechless.

That company wasn’t even his idea. It was something Xiu opened because she wanted the world to see his supposed greatness.

It started with soaps, then expanded to other things he developed over time, like these hot springs. Soon, it became well-known throughout the Moonrise Kingdom, which remained mildly cold for most of the year.

One of the reasons for its success was simple, Aegon’s inventions targeted both commoners and nobles.

Like the soaps. Some were made with rare ingredients and sold at high prices for the nobility. But many were made with simple, common materials, making them cheap and affordable for ordinary people. Since Aegon didn’t really care about profit, he allowed them to be sold at low prices.

That was why his company became so famous. It satisfied everyone.

Of course, Aegon wasn’t naïve. He knew it wasn’t really so simple, but Xiu never let him worry about the complicated side of things. She only told him what he needed to know while she managed the rest.

In truth, without her help, his company wouldn’t have succeeded at all.

She was truly the pillar of his existence.