Journey to Discovery

Thomas took Rei and Hanna to the same area to practice the next day. This time Thomas made them do some running and push-ups, after the first set of push-ups Rei started running a lap. This time Hanna sticks to the basic training because it was clear that Rei outshone her. As Rei struggles through another set of push-ups with Hanna, his arms trembling from the effort, Thomas watches him closely. His expression is a mix of pride and concern. He's impressed by Rei's determination and how his son has thrown himself into the training without any complaints. But in the back of his mind, the memory of the wind blast lingered—a phenomenon unlike anything he'd ever seen before.

After Thomas told Rei to take a break Rei stood up. "Rei," Thomas says suddenly, his voice soft but carrying an edge of seriousness. He kneels beside his son, waiting until Rei looks up at him. "About yesterday... that wind you created. How did you do it? It was... different from anything I've seen before."

Thomas's gaze is steady, expectant as if hoping this time Rei might give him an idea about the nature of his abilities. But Rei knows better than to reveal too much. He shifts his weight, sitting back on his heels as he considers his response acting like he was remembering the process.

"I don't know," Rei says with a shrug, his voice light and innocent. He tilts his head, pretending to search for the right words. "I just thought about something... like a top spinning fast above my hands. Then the wind started gathering around them, and... I just played with it, and it happened."

The explanation is vague and deliberately simplistic. Rei is careful not to mention the precise mechanics—the compression of air, the creation of a vacuum to draw more wind, and the explosive release that acted like a missile. At four years old, he knows he can't possibly describe such advanced concepts without raising suspicion.

Thomas listens intently, nodding slowly as he processes Rei's words. He studies his son's face, the innocence in those wide eyes, and the way Rei presents the event as nothing more than a child's game. It's alarming, but Thomas's instincts tell him there's more to it.

"I see," Thomas murmurs thoughtfully, his brows furrowing. "So, it's all about the movement—the spinning."

Straightening up, Thomas steps back, a pensive look on his face. He closes his eyes, focusing inward, reaching for his own Qi molding it into a small space. Drawing from his experience with Spirit Arts, Thomas attempts to replicate what Rei described. He imagines a top spinning above his hand, its momentum pulling the wind into a swirling motion.

At first, nothing happens. The Qi resists Thomas's efforts, stubbornly refusing to shape itself the way he envisions. He furrows his brow, adjusting his approach, and tries again. Slowly, a small gust of wind begins to form, swirling weakly around his hand.

Thomas opens his eyes, staring at the faint whirlwind with a mixture of surprise and frustration. It's far weaker than the force Rei unleashed yesterday—barely a fraction of its power. But it's a start, proof that Rei's description wasn't just a child's fantasy. Thomas then looks at the Qi he is losing and notices it to be quite small as well.

"Interesting," Thomas mutters to himself, his gaze shifting back to Rei. His eyes are filled with a blend of curiosity and pride. "Rei, you might not realize it yet, but what you've done... it's extraordinary. It's not something just anyone can do. Your way of thinking, of imagining the movement... it's unique."

He straightens, the small gust dissipating from his hand, and smiles faintly. "For now, let's focus on your training. The stronger your body becomes, the better control you'll have over that wind of yours."

Rei nods obediently, hiding the flicker of satisfaction in his heart. As he returns to his exercises, he can feel Thomas's gaze lingering on him, the weight of his father's thoughts almost palpable. Thomas doesn't know the full truth—about Rei's reincarnation, about the knowledge he carries from another world—but his belief in Rei's potential is clear.

Hanna, still determined to gain her brother's acknowledgment, pushes herself harder beside him. She glances at Thomas, her expression filled with hope. But his attention remains fixed on Rei, his youngest child, the brother who hates her but she believes she could change that.

"Wow, Father, you can do it too!" Rei exclaimed, his voice full of excitement as he watched Thomas conjure a swirl of wind with ease. Hanna, who had been watching in awe, misunderstood and chimed in, "Wow, Father, you can also do magic? I didn't know that!"

Thomas quickly shook his head, a small frown forming. "No, I can't use magic, Hanna. This is just..." He paused mid-sentence, trying to find the right words. His mind raced as he searched for an explanation that wouldn't confuse them further. What was this? Using Qi to manipulate elements?

Before he could answer, Hanna's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Yes, what is it?"

Thomas hesitated, then sighed, realizing that there was no easy way to explain this to his children. He finally settled on the simplest explanation. "Oh, it's Spirit Arts."

Rei, ever the eager learner, grinned widely. "Father, you can do the same! How exciting!"

But inside, Rei felt a little surprised. Understanding the centrifugal force of a top had been easy, and replicating the wind manipulation with such an intuitive grasp of physics felt like second nature. For him, the mechanics of it all were simple, almost mundane.

But Thomas, on the other hand, was not as sure of what had just happened. His hands still tingled with the faint energy of the wind he had summoned. He had expected something more... difficult. His mind kept returning to how hard it had been when he first learned Qi, how it had taken months of struggle just to create a spark or a weak gust. And yet, what he had just done felt different—easier.

Thomas glanced at Rei, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and concern. "I... I don't understand," he muttered, almost to himself. "When I first learned to use Qi, it took so much effort just to create a spark, a small gust of wind. But this... this was different."

He stared at the swirling gust in his hand, then looked back at Rei. There was a new light in his eyes—a realization that something about his son's ability was not quite the same as his own. The way Rei had described it, the way he controlled the wind with ease—it didn't align with anything Thomas had ever learned or experienced.

"Rei... how did you learn to do this?" Thomas asked, his voice growing serious, tinged with both concern and wonder. "It's like you're not even trying to 'grab' the wind, and yet it responds to you so easily."

Rei smiled innocently, pretending to think it over for a moment, though internally he already knew exactly why his father was so perplexed. The knowledge from his previous life, and the understanding of the natural laws, made things so much simpler. But he kept his thoughts to himself, keeping up the act.

Thomas's gaze lingered on Rei, an unspoken question hanging in the air between them. It was clear to him that his son did not know what had happened, but he knew that Rei was still a prodigy. Still, for now, there was little he could do but keep training and try to understand the mysterious power that Rei seemed to wield so effortlessly.

"I just looked at a book saying something about the power to get whatever you want, and I wanted a top, and this happened," Rei said, his tone innocent, a perfect lie for a 4-year-old boy who had "accidentally" discovered his powers. Thomas nodded slowly, accepting the explanation. He understood that children often had vivid imaginations, and he felt relief at having a simple, plausible answer for Rei's unusual abilities.

"I see," Thomas said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Well, it's good that you've found a way to have fun with your Qi. Just remember, it's important to be careful with it. We don't want any accidents."

He reached out and ruffled Rei's hair affectionately. Despite his lingering concerns, he was proud of Rei—amazed by his creativity and resourcefulness. Thomas was determined to help him develop his abilities in a safe, controlled way.

Hanna, who was training nearby, perked up and said, "Hey, if you want a top, I could give you mine!" Her voice was filled with eagerness, a transparent attempt to play with Rei and win his favor. However, she quickly noticed her effort backfired as Rei turned to her with a cold glare, his expression filled with unmistakable hatred and disgust.

Hanna's enthusiasm faltered, her smile disappearing as she became visibly sad. Sensing the tension, Thomas quickly tried to diffuse the situation. "How about, after a few days, we start some sword training? Hanna knows swordsmanship too, so she could show you," he suggested.

Hanna's face brightened instantly. "Yes! I know swordsmanship very well. I could even teach you!" she exclaimed, brimming with excitement and eager to bond with Rei.

However, Rei was unimpressed. With a dismissive tone, he replied, "I don't like swordsmanship. It's boring.". For Rei swordsmanship was nothing but brute strength that achieves nothing.

Hanna's excitement crumbled, her hopeful gaze now downcast. She glanced at Thomas with watery eyes, silently pleading for reassurance. Thomas sighed and said, "Well, to truly master Spirit Arts, you need to learn swordsmanship. It's an essential skill, Rei, so you don't have a choice. And Hanna can show you the ropes."

Rei clicked his tongue in annoyance but didn't argue further. Meanwhile, Hanna's spirits lifted again. Determined to show her worth, she clenched her fists and vowed to impress Rei with her skills. Her mind was filled with visions of earning his praise and finally gaining his respect.

But Rei's cold indifference remained. For him, swordsmanship was nothing more than a stepping stone to greater power. Yet, he accepted the inevitability of the training, knowing it was something he'd have to endure. Hanna, oblivious to his thoughts, smiled brightly, ready to pour all her energy into proving herself to him.