A few years pass in the Aldryn household

The next few years were fairly quiet in the Aldryn household. The shop did well enough, Bellsi fed and played with Rexus everyday, and Rexus... Did baby things. Humans and elves aren't so different, in the early years: the only thing that stuck out about the boy was that his ears didn't.

It was a happy life for everyone, though Rexus's constant curiosity created plenty of work for his adoptive parents. The boy wanted to know everything. He loved to ask questions, and his new mother and father were happy to answer them. They felt like they were raising an inquisitive genius... One who would grow into a great scholar and leader someday.

One day Rexus had been asking his parents about their history. Rexus wasn't very interested in human history, so instead asked his mother about elven culture and their past.

He found it fascinating. His mother told him stories of the ancient wars, tales of legendary heroes, and the Nine Sagas of the Erstwhile Kings. She talked at length about their people, their culture, their society, and their customs. She showed him books she'd acquired detailing their history, their politics, and their current situation. In particular, Bellsi took special care when talking about The Goddess and her role in their lives. She also spent some time discussing the various other gods of their ancient, convoluted pantheon.

She explained that their patron deity was known simply as "The Goddess," who watched over them from above. She was kind and forgiving, rewarding those who lived a good life with equally-good fortune. Those who sought to do harm to others would find their wishes granted, but never in the form they expected. In short, their goddess favored kindness over malice. While elves revered many dieties, the Goddess was their true and greatest protector.

Naturally, Rexus was intrigued by the idea of a benevolent goddess, and wanted to know more about her connection to the elves in particular. Bellsi explained to him that there was a creator god for each major race: humans, dwarves, orcs, and dragons each had one, at the very least. She went further explaining that each god had a set of believers who followed their teachings. While they weren't all good or evil in nature, they all had a different set of beliefs and values they adhered too.

But this era of inquisitive, innocent curiousity wouldn't last forever. Around the time Rex hit puberty, Bellsi started to notice changes in the human boy.

At first it was just little things... He stopped wetting himself at night, and stopped needing to sleep in her lap. He started becoming aware of his body and his own needs. His voice started changing, and he began to develop a little muscle tone.

Then one day, he came home and asked her if he had any sisters or brothers.

Bellsi stared at her son for a moment before answering: "No sweetie, you are an only child," she responded with a smile.

Rexus looked at her with confusion. "But I want siblings" he said with a pout.

Bellsi tried to hide her embarrassment. "I'm sorry, sweetheart... I'm afraid your father and I can't have any children," she apologized with a sad sigh.

Rexus looked upset as he turned that information over in his mind. "If dad can't help... Can I?"

Bellsis face turned red, and she looked away from her son for a moment before replying. "No, Rex. You can't help us have a child. You are my treasure, and I love you, but that's just not--That's not how it works." She gave him a small smile. "We'll have to pray to our Goddess for help, mm? Like I showed you?" He nodded, and she pulled him into a hug before chuckling lightly. "Now go wash up for dinner. You must be hungry!"

It was around that time that Rexus's behavior began to change. He was still polite, in a sense, but his confidence and assertiveness grew exponentially.

"Hey, Mother?" Rex called out to Bellsi as she prepared to make dinner.

"Yes dear?"

"I want to have that steak you got yesterday for dinner. Make sure to season it well."

Surprised, Bellsi blinked a few times. "Rex... I was going to use that to make stew for everyone."

"I'll be the only person eating it. You and dad can have the stew," Rexus replied matter-of-factly.

Bellsi blushed and looked down. "If you want it that badly, then... I suppose we can do that, just this once."

"And if I want it again?"

"I--Well, I'm your mother, and it's important that..." Bellsi trailed off, staring into his eyes.

"You'll give it to me, right? I like it--I like you when you do what I want."

"...I... You shouldn't talk to me that way, it's not..." Bellsi began to tear up. She was confused at the way her son was acting... But more importantly, she couldn't bear the thought of losing his favor.

Rex's eyes went wide as he saw her reaction. "Mother..." Moving closer, he put an arm around her and began stroking her hair. "...I'm sorry, I don't..."

Bellsi shook her head and wiped away her tears. "No, baby... I'm fine. You're just making me realize that we have a growing young man living here with us... A human--Not that that makes you different, b-but it's--" She sighed. "I'm sorry, Rexus. I just hope that we've taught you well, and..."

"You have." He hugged her tight. "I promise to do everything I can to... To become the best man I can be. I won't cause any trouble."

Bellsi smiled, and kissed her son's forehead. "Promise?"

"I promise" he answers solemnly, still holding her tight.

"Aah, my dear little Rexus--Mommy loves you," she whispered back, before finally releasing him.

"I love you too, Mother--Even when you get mad at me," he adds with a smile. "But I'm not little anymore, you know."

"Okay, big-strong-Rexus," she giggled. "Let me fetch you that steak."

A couple of years later, Rexus and Bellsi walked into Nol's alchemy shop.

Nol gave Rexus a huge smile as he walked in. She had been watching the young man for some time, happy to see how well Bellsi was managing to raise her adopted human child.

"Hello, Rexus! Are you feeling better? Have you been taking the herbs I sent you?"

Nol had provided quite a bit of assistance with Rexus over the years. She was far from an expert on raising human children, but she was the best resource Bellsi had.

"Yes, ma'am--Thank you!" Rexus answered happily.

"Oh! Don't mention it. Just a thing or two for your nutrition, to help you get over that cold... But today I have something a little more long-term for you!"

Reaching into a nearby cabinet, she retrieved a vial of iridescent blue liquid. Tipping it into a cup, she passed it over to Rexus.

Trusting his mother's friend implicitly, the boy immediately chugged the medicine. It was warm--Almost hot--And smelled vaguely of limes.

"Uh..." Bellsi looked more concerned than Rexus as he put down the cup. "What are you giving him, Nol?"

"Well, human nutrition is a little tricky. I just want to make sure our favorite boy has everything he needs--So I brewed up this all-purpose supplement! Should do wonders for his health and stamina."

Kissing Rexus on the cheek, she said goodbye to the mother/son duo and settled in for the night. It wasn't until they were long gone that she realized the potion was dosed for an elven metabolism.

"Hm. Well, humans mature faster, and he's almost eighteen... Should be fine."