Evermon and Stargen, the top candidates from the male and female departments of the intelligence agency, walked through the long corridors of Naria's household, their boots echoing softly against the stone floors. They were silent at first, both absorbed in their own thoughts as they made their way toward the room where they would meet their new charge.
They were not accustomed to assignments like this—guarding a child. Normally, their missions involved espionage, reconnaissance, or even high-stakes combat. But a babysitting mission? That was new.
As they approached Niu's quarters, Evermon, the tall male officer, finally broke the silence.
"I don't understand why we're here," Evermon muttered, glancing sideways at his partner. "We're the top recruits. We've handled high-level missions, tracked dangerous targets. Why on earth are we being tasked with looking after a kid?"
Stargen, a beautiful short-haired young woman with a keen sense of humor, shrugged. "Beats me. It's probably some overprotective mother thing. Naria might be high-ranking, but I'm guessing she's one of those parents who thinks their child is 'special.'"
Evermon chuckled under his breath. "Well, she did pull some strings to get us here. I suppose she couldn't trust a regular housemaid."
They shared a look of amusement, both assuming this assignment would be straightforward and possibly tedious.
As they arrived at the entrance to Niu's living quarters, the door opened automatically, and they stepped inside. The room was comfortable, adorned with soft cushions and shelves lined with books. Sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting a warm glow across the room.
And there, sitting on one of the cushions, was Niu. The boy was small, no more than seven months old, but his gaze was far from ordinary. He watched the two officers with a calm and collected expression that seemed out of place on such a young child.
Stargen glanced at Evermon before stepping forward. "Oh, aren't you adorable," she cooed, her voice soft as she knelt down to pick him up. "So, you're the one we're supposed to babysit."
She lifted Niu into her arms, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she gently cradled him. "What's the big deal? Why couldn't a regular housemaid do this?" she asked, turning to Evermon.
Before Evermon could respond, a small voice interrupted their conversation.
"I'm not just cute," Niu said, his tone clear and confident. "I'm also quite charming."
Stargen's eyes widened in shock, and her grip on the child loosened as she gasped. "He… he can talk?"
Her shock was compounded when Niu gave her a playful wink, his lips curving into a mischievous smile. She nearly dropped him, her reflexes failing her as she stumbled back.
But Niu didn't fall. Instead, a gust of air surrounded him, gently raising him up from Stargen's arms and holding him aloft in the middle of the room.
Evermon took a sharp step back, eyes wide in disbelief. "What in the world…?"
A soft chuckle echoed through the room as Elder Orimudi entered, his robes flowing around him like a gentle breeze. He raised his hand, controlling the air that held Niu aloft, and with a simple gesture, he guided the child safely back to the cushion.
"You two seem to be under some misconceptions," Orimudi said calmly, his piercing gaze shifting between the two stunned officers. "This is not an ordinary child. And you should never assume your duties are simple."
Stargen and Evermon both straightened up immediately, clearly flustered. "Elder Orimudi," Stargen stammered, "we didn't realize…"
Orimudi cut her off with a wave of his hand. "That much is obvious," he said coolly. "You're here because the council deems you capable. But that trust does not extend to casual assumptions about this child's nature. Niu is far more than he appears. And if you cannot handle that, you may leave now."
Orimudi could not disclose the nature of the child as a reincarnate, it was above the officers clearance level. Only a handful of people knew the true nature of the child before them.
Evermon clenched his fists, clearly embarrassed. "We'll do our duty, Elder," he said firmly.
Orimudi nodded, though his expression remained stern. "Good. Then you should know to treat Niu like an adult. He has abilities that go beyond the scope of a normal child, and it is your responsibility to protect him—whether from external threats or your own ignorance."
Stargen, still wide-eyed, looked at Niu, who was now seated calmly on the cushion, watching the exchange with mild interest. "I had no idea," she whispered. "I mean… talking? At his age?"
Niu, sensing her surprise, smiled again. "There's a lot I can do. You just haven't seen it yet."
Evermon glanced at the boy, then back at Orimudi. "We understand now, Elder. We'll be more vigilant."
"See that you are," Orimudi said, his voice softening slightly. He approached Niu and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come, Niu. There's something I need to show you. We'll continue your lessons in private."
Orimudi created a cloud that lifted Niu to his side. Niu looked up at Orimudi with a mixture of curiosity and relief. He didn't entirely understand the officers' reaction—after all, he had always been able to do these things. To him, it was normal.
As Orimudi led him out of the room, he cast one final glance at the officers. "Take care not to underestimate the boy," he warned, his tone gentle but firm. "He has much to learn, and so do you."
Stargen and Evermon stood frozen for a moment, still processing what had just happened. It wasn't until the door closed behind Orimudi and Niu that they both let out a breath they hadn't realized they'd been holding.
"This… isn't going to be as simple as we thought," Evermon muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Orimudi sat cross-legged in the center of the room, his eyes glowing faintly with a mysterious energy. Niu, sitting across from him, sensed a shift in the air, a growing tension between them. Orimudi had been preparing for this moment, building up to something, and now it seemed the time had come.
"Close your eyes, Niu," Orimudi said softly. "This will feel different from anything you've experienced so far."
The child obeyed, his heart racing in anticipation. He had felt mind-links before—his mother used telepathy often to communicate with him—but Orimudi's presence already felt different. More intense. More… powerful.
Suddenly, it was as though a door had opened in Niu's mind. A flood of sensations hit him, stronger than anything he had ever experienced. His body tingled, and for a moment, he felt like he was being pulled out of himself, lifted and carried into another space. His vision blurred, then sharpened, and when he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the sanctuary.
Before him stood a grand temple, towering high into the sky, its entrance flanked by massive, golden-winged lions. The air was thick with a hum of magic, and the very stones beneath his feet seemed to pulse with life. Niu looked around, awe-struck. He wasn't just seeing this place—he felt it.
Orimudi and Niu stood at the entrance of an ethereal temple of stone and light, the golden-winged lions stared down at them, their watchful eyes following their every move. The walls glowed softly, lined with ancient scrolls and relics from forgotten times. Niu's gaze darted around, filled with curiosity and unease.
Niu glanced around again, taking in the vastness of the temple-like structure. The room was filled with a weighty silence, broken only by the occasional hum of energy.
"This… this is your mind?" Niu whispered, his voice shaky with wonder.
Orimudi stood beside him, his expression calm and composed.
"Welcome, Niu. This place is where I keep my thoughts, memories, and… truths. This is my mental space. Everything you witness here will be kept between us."
"It's a space where we can speak freely."
They walked forward, the golden-winged lions turning their heads slightly, as if acknowledging their presence. As they stepped into the temple, Niu noticed shelves upon shelves lining the walls—each one filled with books, scrolls, and various ancient artifacts.
Some of the objects glowed faintly, others seemed to hum with dormant energy. The air was thick with knowledge, and Niu felt like a small child in a vast library, overwhelmed by the sheer scale of it all.
"Your mind… this is all in your head?" Niu asked as his turned in circles inspecting the view around him.
"This place," Orimudi said as they walked, "holds everything I've learned in my lifetime. Every bit of knowledge I've accumulated, every battle I've fought, every technique I've mastered—it's all stored here. And now, you will have access to it."
Niu's heart raced. "All of it?"
"Not yet," Orimudi said, stopping in front of a massive crystal slate that stood at the center of the temple's inner sanctum. "There are things you're not ready for. But there is something I must share with you now."
"Tell me, Niu… do you ever feel like your body doesn't belong to you? Like your thoughts are… foggy? Lacking direction, perhaps?" Orimudi spoke with his eyes looking far into the distance."