Chapter 2920 Not Normal (Part 4)
When the babies were lonely, Shargein would bring them to the subject of their desire. Solus had added him to the apprentice list in the tower's mainframe so that the Wyrmling knew where everyone was at all times and could Warp straight to them.
"Bad Shargein. Bad! Keep sneaking behind me and I'm going to put a bell around your neck." Lith rushed to cover the blueprints of the DoLoreans when the Wyrmling brought Valeron to him.
The baby boy often felt the need to check on Lith and make sure he was alright.
'Dragon Eyes are supposed to be useless here since Shargein lacks the basics of Forgemastering, Light Mastery, and dimensional magic, but being the son of two Guardians, better safe than sorry.' Lith thought.
The Wyrmling snorted at Lith, sending two big puffs of smoke in his face. Lith was about to return the favor when he remembered that despite his size, Shargein was younger than Valeron.
"You are lucky to be so cute, or I would not teach you a lesson." Lith poked the Wyrmling's snout before taking the baby boy and handing Shargein "The Basics of Magic" book by Lochra Silverwing.
Valeron cooed happily as Lith rocked the baby in his arms while the Wyrmling opened the book at a random page and then started to turn it around, trying to make sense of it.
"What are... you can't read!" Lith snapped his fingers as Shargein glared at him in annoyance for stating the obvious. "Grandma, can I teach him or is it too dangerous?"
"Excellent question." Salaark took a break from her paperwork to ponder the dilemma. "On the one hand, sooner or later he's going to learn anyway. On the other, I'm afraid of what he could do."
She looked at Shargein as he turned the pages, rotated the book, and raked his brain in the attempt to crack its mystery. Then, he noticed her gaze and chirped at Salaark with what Lith assumed was a begging tone.
"You are right, I can't teach you responsibility without giving you something to be responsible for. Yet remember your promise. No magic and no Accumulation without my permission. Are we clear?" She asked and Shargein nodded, wagging his tail in excitement.
She handed him an alphabet book with illustrations depicting several objects of common use for each letter. The Wyrmling flipped through the pages like it was a restaurant's menu, finishing it in seconds.
He took the Basics of Magic, holding it the right way, but chirped again at the foreword.
"That's the author's name. It's not supposed to make sense, just like my name or yours." Salaark explained.
"Do you want me to read it?" Lith asked.
"Please. I'm tired" Shargein rubbed his Eyes. Learning so much and so fast had taken a toll on him.
"Dya! Dya!" Elysia and Valeron chanted, seconding the motion.
Lith conjured a chair and started reading the book that was animated. Literally.
Every time a new page was flipped, it would project a hologram of the current scene. Lith used air magic to increase or lower the pitch of his voice for each character he played.
He was at the scene where the big bad snake hissed and puffed to blow away the wooden cave when his communication amulet drew his attention.
"It's Faluel. Solus, read on while I take this call."
She nodded and took the book from his hands. Now the three little Wyrmlings had a less deep and more feminine voice, but the waving hair mimicking the storm and a tress acting as the hissing snake more than made up for it.
Kamila was upset with Lith's choice. She had been watching as well the whole time. She loved it when her husband gave life to stories and she admired the effort he put in doing even the most simple thing for the kids.
Valeron and Elysia were much smarter than the average kid and it was harder keeping them engaged when they failed to understand much of the story.
The use of holograms allowed them to associate an object with every word, making the story more captivating and increasing their vocabulary for when they would be capable of talking.
Kamila would have liked to be the one continuing the story, but she had to admit that Solus was doing a better job than she ever could. With her weak core and limited mastery of magic, Kamila was unable to change her voice much, let alone conjure holograms.
'It's fine. I can read them a second story once Solus is done. This is no competition.' She thought yet failed to convince herself.
Lith walked out of the room and conjured a small Hush Zone on himself to not disturb the story while he answered.