Tides of the Hidden garden

Morning light streamed into Zian's room, bathing it in a soft glow. For the first time in days, he felt truly rested. As he opened his eyes, a thought crossed his mind: *"It's been so long since I've slept so peacefully."*

Before he could get lost in his thoughts, the cheerful sounds of children laughing and playing reached his ears. Curious, he walked to the window and opened it. Below, near the training grounds, a group of children was playing and laughing together. Among them stood Master Jiang Xian, smiling warmly.

As Jiang Xian glanced up, his eyes met Zian's. Waving to him, he called out, "Come down, Zian. Join us."

Zian quickly straightened his clothes and headed downstairs. When he reached Jiang Xian, the master called the children over.

"Everyone," Jiang Xian said, "this is Zian. He's your new friend. Be kind to him and help him settle in."

The children stared at Zian with curiosity, but he remained quiet, avoiding their gazes. He wasn't used to such attention and didn't know how to respond. Jiang Xian patted him gently on the shoulder.

"It's alright," Jiang Xian said kindly. "You'll get comfortable in time."

The group then moved to the study room, where the children began their lessons. The room was calm, with only the sound of pages turning and Jiang Xian's steady voice guiding the students.

Suddenly, a loud voice echoed from outside. Jiang Xian had stepped out and seemed to be scolding someone. Zian glanced up from his book and saw the master speaking sternly to a younger boy—his son, Jiang Yu. The boy had likely been up to his usual mischief again. After a brief reprimand and a small punishment, Jiang Xian returned to the room, his expression calm once more. He resumed teaching as if nothing had happened.

Zian, however, couldn't help but wonder: *"Why was Master so angry? Does his son always cause trouble?"* But he pushed the thought aside and refocused on his book.

As the day progressed and the lessons ended, a few of the children approached Zian.

"Hey, Zian! Come play with us!" one of them said enthusiastically.

Zian froze. He had never played with anyone before and didn't know what to say. Unsure of how to respond, he lowered his gaze, feeling awkward.

Before the silence could stretch, Jiang Xian walked over, his warm smile easing the tension.

"You all go ahead and play," he told the children. "Zian has some studying to do for now."

Relieved, Zian quickly nodded in agreement. "Yes, I need to study. Sorry…" he mumbled.

Jiang Xian's smile deepened as he patted Zian's shoulder. "Stay as you are, Zian. The world will learn to understand you. Now, let's get back to some important lessons."

Feeling a little more at ease, Zian followed Jiang Xian back to his books. As he focused on his studies, a small sense of belonging began to take root within him. It wasn't much, but it was a start—a step toward finding his place in this new world.

Though his heart was still heavy with thoughts of Hua An, a quiet determination flickered inside him.