Ao's gaze flickered between Kuro and the old woman, his mind racing as he tried to piece together why she seemed so familiar. Something about her struck a chord deep in his memory, but no matter how hard he reached for it, the answer remained just out of grasp—like trying to recall a dream after waking up. And then there was that name she used…
Baby Blue?
His ears twitched at the affectionate yet unfamiliar nickname. No one had ever called him that before. Still, his unease pushed him to speak. "Are you sure you don't have the wrong person?" he asked, tilting his head slightly in feigned innocence.
Mrs. Kori's eyes widened ever so slightly at the fluency in his speech, she had tended to many children in her day, none of them had a good speech, maybe small sentences at best. Her soft smile didn't falter, but there was a flicker of surprise in her expression that told Ao he had just made a mistake.
"Of course, I know I don't have the wrong person," she said smoothly. "The real question is—are you sure you're Shiro's child? Because you don't talk like any toddler I've ever met."
Ao stiffened, internally cursing himself for his slip-up. Dang it! I got too comfortable! He had grown so used to speaking naturally with his parents that he completely forgot to mask his intelligence in front of others. He needed to fix this. Fast.
His mind scrambled for a recovery before he forced an awkward, childish pout onto his face. "Ith my Englith really that gwood?" He made sure to fumble his pronunciation, deliberately tripping over the words in an exaggerated manner. "I worked really hard trying to… pronounc—pro… say… my words correctly! But only short sentences."
Kuro arched a brow, clearly unimpressed by Ao's performance. He knew how the boy spoke, he didn't really understand why Ao would try and act dumb since it was quite common for cubs to speak fluently at his age and this attempt at dumbing himself down was laughable. But for whatever reason, Ao seemed intent on keeping his true intelligence a secret, so the spirit beast decided to keep his mouth shut.
Mrs. Kori, however, wasn't so easily convinced. She studied Ao with her slightly fogged eyes as if she could see every detail he had despite the partial blindness, the soft curve of her lips never wavering. If she saw through his act, she didn't say so, instead choosing to play along.
"Well, you certainly do speak quite well, regardless," she said, resting her hands on her cane. "I've been meaning to check up on you, you know. Haven't seen you since your mother popped you out."
Ao blinked. Popped me out? That was one way to put it.
Mrs. Kori chuckled at his reaction. "Most parents bring their little ones back to me by now. You wouldn't believe how often newborns and toddlers come down with something—whether it's a fever, a weak constitution, or some odd little affliction. But you? Not a word. Not even a whisper about you getting sick or injured. Strange, wouldn't you say?"
Ao forced a nervous laugh, though inwardly, his mind was racing. Of course, she was the woman that helped my mom with birthing me, the first woman I saw! That explained a lot, but still, it didn't explain why she was so... weird. It made perfect sense why she'd be keeping tabs on the children in the area, expecting to see him at some point. But she hadn't—because his body had never once fallen ill.
Respira and Spirit cycle.
That was the only explanation. The way he cycled spirit energy through himself must have kept his body in perfect condition, preventing illness and strengthening his constitution far beyond normal limits. And considering that Shiro and Koi had also remained healthy despite everything, it was entirely possible that his use of Respira had somehow influenced them too.
Still, he couldn't exactly explain that to her.
So instead, he forced a beaming, childish grin. "Oh! I don't geth sick that much, ma'am!" he declared, puffing out his chest for extra effect. "I have a weally stwong body! Mommy always says I do for my age! It must be mommy's cooking!"
Mrs. Kori raised a brow at his theatrics, clearly unimpressed but mildly amused.
Kuro sighed. He wasn't sure what Ao's angle was, but the kid was really trying to sell the whole "innocent toddler" thing. If Mrs. Kori wasn't convinced before, she certainly wasn't now.
The older woman tapped her cane against the dirt, letting out a thoughtful hum. "Mmm. Is that so?" she mused. "A mother's cooking can do wonders… but even the strongest children have their weak moments."
Ao kept his forced smile intact, even as the weight of her words settled over him like an unspoken challenge.
Something told him that this woman wasn't just here for casual conversation.
Mrs. Kori's sight may have been dulled by time, but her ability to sense spiritual energy was as sharp as ever. As she quietly appraised Ao, she took note of his unnaturally developed essence.
For a child barely over a year old, his essence should have been minuscule—barely a spark of life. Yet, here he stood, brimming with refined energy. His spiritual essence was already the size of a small tennis ball, something more suited to a child four or five times his age. Even more telling was his aura; it was steady, controlled, as if he had already begun to temper it. No mere toddler should have such mastery. And then there was his hair—dark and wild, yet streaked with the faintest hints of light blue at the tips, just barely, almost untraceable to the human eye. A sign of an awakening element.
The old woman let out a soft hum, her grip tightening slightly on her cane.
Ao, in turn, felt his heartbeat hammering against his ribs. He could feel the weight of her scrutiny, the way her expression, though mild, carried unspoken thoughts. She knows something is off.
He clenched his fists, his mind racing. I don't know enough. I don't even know how kids my age are supposed to act. Kuro was right—I need to go to the village. I can't keep playing this blind.
Mrs. Kori tilted her head slightly, a knowing glint in her cloudy eyes. "You're quite the fascinating little thing, aren't you?" she murmured, her tone light, but there was something beneath it—something probing.
Before Ao could respond, salvation arrived in the form of his mother.
"Ao! Breakfast is ready!"
Koi's warm, cheerful voice cut through the tension like a knife through silk, and Ao barely resisted the urge to sigh in relief. He turned just as his mother stepped outside, her usual bright energy filling the space. But the moment she laid eyes on Mrs. Kori, her expression shifted to one of recognition and warmth.
"Oh my!" Koi quickly descended the steps, approaching the older woman. "Mrs. Kori, it's a pleasure to see you again!"
Mrs. Kori chuckled, shifting her focus to the woman before her. "And you, my dear. It's been some time, hasn't it?"
Ao, still recovering from his near slip-up, took the opportunity to school his expression into something more neutral. Saved.
For now.
Ao quietly observed the exchange, letting the tension in his body ease now that the attention had shifted away from him. His mother's warm embrace and effortless conversation with Mrs. Kori made it clear that they were more than just acquaintances.
"And here I thought you had forgotten about little old me."Kori said with a teasing smile, her tone light and playful.
Koi let out a laugh, squeezing the older woman a bit tighter before stepping back. "Forget about you? Never! How have you been? I heard your daughter recently became a professor at one of the big-name academies—at only twenty years old!"
Kori chuckled, resting both hands on her cane as she shook her head. It was clear that she was proud of whoever her daughter was achieving such a feat. "Flattery will get you nowhere, child. But yes, my baby finally reached her goal. A professor at Solis Academy, no less." Her smile softened. "She aims to become a headmaster one day. That isn't going to be easy for her at all, but stubbornness runs in the family."
Kuro, who had been silently watching the exchange, flicked his ears, his expression one of mild confusion. He had never seen Mrs. Kori interact with anyone outside of her medical duties, let alone exchange pleasantries like this. But before he could dwell on it too long, his sharp nose caught another scent—the rich, savory aroma of food wafting from the house. His stomach growled loudly in response, earning a snicker from Ao.
Kori raised an amused brow. "Hungry, are we?"
Kuro huffed, flicking his tails. "Well, I was in the middle of taking Ao for some training before you showed up, and now I'm stuck here listening to you two gossip while my stomach screams for mercy."
Koi giggled at Kuros words. "Oh, you big baby. Come inside then, we have more than enough for everyone. You should join us, Kori!" Koi offered with a warm smile, placing a gentle hand on Kori's back to guide her inside. "And while you're here, you can check up on Ao, since I assume that's why you came?"
Kori let out a soft chuckle, her grip tightening slightly around the cane as she walked. "I am a bit hungry, and getting a two-for-one deal doesn't sound bad at all." Her voice carried a teasing lilt, but there was an undercurrent of something else and whatever it was put Ao on high alert, it was clear that if he messed up she would unravel him like a knot without much effort.
Trailing behind them, Ao kept his gaze fixed on the older woman, his mind turning over his thoughts. Something about her makes my skin crawl… He hadn't missed the way she had caught Kuro's attack without hesitation, nor how she had found her way to them despite her supposed blindness. If she truly was blind, then she was relying on something else but what? Spirit sight? But wasn't that just enhancing the vision of the user?. He'd need to be even more careful. I can't be careless around her. I have to hold back, play the part.
His fingers curled slightly as he walked, his eyes drifting to the cane in her grip. It was thick, polished dark oak, sturdy enough for use, yet… her movements were smooth, her balance impeccable. Why does she even need that cane? She moves just fine without it. He tucked that thought away for later.
Once inside, the scent of freshly prepared food filled the air. Koi had already set out wooden plates, and bowls filled with steaming portions of food lined the table. Everything was meticulously prepared, the vibrant colors of sautéed vegetables and roasted meats making the meal look just as inviting as it smelled.
Kuro wasted no time, plopping down beside the table. With a flick of his tails, he used wind manipulation to lift himself just enough to comfortably reach his plate. His ears twitched as he inhaled deeply, his stomach giving an impatient growl. "Finally," he muttered.
Just as everyone was settling into their seats, the back door creaked open.
Shiro stepped inside, the dim light catching the droplets of water sliding down his skin. His long silverish white hair was damp, a thick cloth in his hands as he used it to dry himself off. He wore nothing but loose-fitting pants, his upper body bare, revealing a physique so perfectly sculpted it looked more like a divine warrior's than a simple villager's. His muscles were honed and battle-worn, each line and contour refined through years of relentless training and discipline.
Ao blinked. This is the first time I've seen Dad without a shirt… He hadn't expected anything less from his father, but it was still surprising to see up close. His gaze lingered for a moment on a small mark on Shiro's upper arm—something barely noticeable, like a birthmark or a faded scar, at least that's what he thought though it looked to be coming in, not fading away.
Koi, on the other hand, was far less composed. Her tail wagged behind her in an obvious display of delight, and a faint blush dusted her cheeks. She didn't look away. Not even a little as she licked her lips at the sight before her.
Shiro, toweling off his hair with a worn down cloth, finally noticed the heavy silence that had fallen over the room. His white eyes flicked from one face to another, his expression blank. "...What? Did I miss something?" His gaze landed on Kori, and his face immediately brightened. "Oh! Mrs. Kori! It's a pleasure to see you again!"
Without a second thought, he strode over and took her hand, bowing slightly before pressing a light kiss to the back of it.
Kori chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "Oh, please, child. No need for all that formality. You know everyone in the village calls me 'Grandma' or just 'Kori.' Take your pick."
There was humor in her voice, but as she looked at Shiro, something in her expression shifted. Her nearly blind eyes narrowed—just a fraction, almost imperceptible.
To anyone else, it might have seemed like she was simply admiring his well-built frame, but Ao caught the subtle way her brows pinched together, the way her grip on the cane shifted just slightly. She's not looking at his body, Ao realized. She's looking at something else, did she notice something? Was Shiro getting sick?.
If Ao had learned anything today, it was that nothing slipped past that woman.