EVoluTion Begins With A Cell

*Year three of being born, and I've lived nothing but a crappy life with no certain direction,* Aelorin thought, letting out a deep sigh. His tiny hands grasped the edge of the balcony, staring out at the vast expanse of the estate that seemed more like a prison than home.

For as long as he could remember, he hadn't been allowed past the walls of the great House of the Lord, which, despite its grand name, was nothing more than a gilded cage. The endless corridors, beautiful gardens, and high towers lost their charm quickly when you couldn't escape their suffocating hold.

Unlike other children his age, who ran around playing games and laughing, Aelorin had no interest in childish distractions. Time was precious, and he knew wasting it now could mean a lifetime of regret. His focus was on magic and the mysterious system that had awakened while being reborn into this world. Yet, despite his determination, he faced obstacles at every turn.

"Ruham, that bastard!" Aelorin muttered under his breath, pacing his small room. His father, the mighty Lord of the house, had kept Aelorin far away from anything remotely magical. All the books provided for him were about peace, elven etiquette, and how to properly appeal to the goddess. *Exactly the kind of saintly nonsense my father loves.*

The library—the very place that could unlock the secrets he craved—was strictly off-limits until he turned four. Four? Who had the patience for that? It was ridiculous, but a rule was a rule. And as much as it annoyed him, he couldn't break his father's decree outright. Not yet.

Still, the restriction hadn't stopped him from observing the sprawling estate with keen eyes. The gardens stretched far beyond what was visible from his window, with ancient trees and exotic animals roaming freely. But none of it mattered. He could have been in paradise for all he cared, and it still wouldn't change the fact that his father's eyes—or rather, his servants'—were always on him. The maids, his older siblings, even the family pets seemed to have been enlisted to watch his every move.

His sister, Arianna, and his elder brother, Faze, were the worst offenders. Their overbearing concern had made them his unofficial wardens, though they thought they were being subtle. But Aelorin had learned early how to act like an innocent, carefree child—while keeping his true intentions hidden beneath a mask of youthful exuberance. It wasn't hard to fool them, and with a little effort, he slipped past their watchful eyes more often than they realized.

Today, however, was different.

He had finally done it. For the first time, he had successfully given them the slip and snuck into the one place that could change his life: the library. The walls were lined with countless books, their spines worn from centuries of use. The air was thick with the smell of parchment, ink, and a hint of dust—a smell that filled him with excitement and anticipation.

His heart raced as he scanned the catalogue, his eyes locking on the shelf that held books about magic. *There it is. Finally, some direction.*

With barely contained excitement, Aelorin rushed to the indicated shelf, reaching for the most colorful book he could find—well, the most colorful one within his reach. Standing on tiptoe, he grasped the large tome, pulling it free from the shelf with a grunt. He quickly opened it, ready to dive into the mysteries of magic.

And then, disappointment. The elven language sprawled across the pages was so thick and convoluted it might as well have been a blend of French and Japanese, but written by a drunk spider. Aelorin squinted, trying to decipher even a single word, but nothing made sense.

*Seriously?* he thought, flipping through the pages in frustration. *All this, and I can't even read it?!*

The idea of going back to school—learning alphabets and basic reading—stung him worse than a slap across the face. "No way," he grumbled to himself, snapping the book shut with a thud. "I refuse to waste my time on that again!"

He shoved the book back onto the shelf and grabbed another. The same result. It was like every book in this place was written in an ancient dialect meant to torment him.

*What's the point of all this if I can't even read a word?* he thought bitterly. His sisters, Arianna and Elowen, had been teaching him ancient contexts and two different elven languages for years now, yet here he was, standing defeated by a stupid book. Maybe his father had been right—maybe he needed to be older, more prepared before entering the library.

Deflated, Aelorin turned to leave, his shoulders slumping. But just as he reached the door, something caught his eye—a flicker of light in his peripheral vision. He turned to see a notification floating in front of him.

*When did I last get one of these?* he wondered, his heart racing as he read the words.

{A compatible book has been sensed}

{User can make reference to this book for help on the system}

*Compatible book?* Aelorin's brow furrowed in confusion. He hadn't even known that was a thing. How was he "compatible" with a book? And more importantly, where was it?

The system seemed to sense his confusion, because a new notification appeared, guiding him toward a specific shelf. His feet moved before he even had time to question it, rushing over to where the system had indicated. He quickly scanned the spines of the books, his fingers brushing over them as he searched.

There it was. The book stood out from the others, not because of its vibrant cover or intricate detailing—no, quite the opposite. It was old, worn, and completely devoid of a title or author's name. Dust coated its surface, suggesting it hadn't been touched in years, if not decades.

Aelorin grabbed the book, ripping it free from its dusty prison. His fingers trembled as he opened it, half-expecting to face the same incomprehensible language as before. But to his surprise, the words, though difficult, flowed into his mind with ease.

A name on the first page caught his eye, decorated in elegant script: *Path to Beast Taming.*

"Beast taming?" he muttered, his brow furrowing. What was a beast-taming book doing in a section meant for magic?

His curiosity piqued, Aelorin flipped through the pages, his excitement growing. Just as he was about to dive into the text, a firm hand grabbed his wrist, yanking him backward. His heart nearly leapt out of his chest as a dark, enraged voice boomed over him.

"Young man, aren't you banned from the library until you're of age?!"

A chill ran down Aelorin's spine. He knew that voice all too well. It was his mother.

*Well, this is just great.* He gulped, a nervous grin spreading across his face.

*Someone's in trouble... again.*