In the past, Shui was a researcher focused on cultivation; he wanted to develop body-focused cultivation even further as that's one of the aspects humanity lacks the most. Although he made some progress, it wasn't enough for him. As he grew older, he decided to retire and teach the next generations, hoping to find someone to fulfill his dream. Shui focused on teaching survival and fighting skills as a teacher, which could lay great foundations for the bodies of future generations. On his journey, he met many geniuses, but few could reach the satisfying levels, and those who could choose different paths.
The duo teacher and student spent most of their time on these lessons, but that didn't mean that's all they did. Except for Sundays, their rest day, Aaran could sleep at most 7 hours because of his busy schedule. In truth, Aaran slept at most 6 hours per day because of his greed for knowledge. That was enough for healthy people in times with everpresent Essence Anyway.
Because of his busy schedule, Aaran took over two and a half years to finish reading everything in his family library and thanks to his teacher, his biggest flaw was fixed: his lack of experience fighting and applying his knowledge, at least some of it.
In these five years, they gradually became less of a student and teacher and more friends, and at the end of their journey together, they even became fellow researchers.
When Shui first noticed these changes, he felt weird, but the more he got to know Aaran, the more natural it became. After all, you can't judge geniuses by usual standards.
...
Sheela has been looking after Aaran for eleven years and watched as he grows—from chubby baby to cute and interested in everything child, from curious child to hard-working and too mature for his age teenager. Right now she was standing at the doors of the gym, silent and with almost no presence as always, being the shadow of her young master that she was.
Aaran tried to make her open herself to him many times but with very little progress. Sheela felt it wasn't necessary for her work and might even hurt their employer-employee relationship. Still, after years of being next to him, she learned it was unavoidable. They agreed that Sheela would try to open up more after his awakening.
At the gym, a half-naked Aaran with finely defined muscles and almost no fat was sweating buckets under Shui's careful watch. All his moves were short and precise, following the abnormal rhythm of a beating heart. His shoulder-long silver-white hair strangely followed his movements smoothly, even without putting Essence into his practice.
'After all these years, she still hasn't told me almost anything about herself, although I could check it myself—that wouldn't be fun. I hope she can open up in the near future. With her loyalty, it's a shame not to help her reach new heights.'
With a strange expression, Aaran caught himself with unnatural thought.
'Weird. I never planned to teach anyone, but now that idea seems so natural. I'm curious if it's the impact of my previous lives or maybe it's Shui's influence.'
Aaran, after months of hard work with Shui, finally managed to create a new cultivation technique. However, Aaran could not utilize it fully and only used it as a set of exercises to build his body before awakening.
"Are you sure about being written just as an assistant instead of a co-creator? You know I wouldn't manage to create it without you so quickly, if ever." Shui already insisted on announcing that Aaran, who was less than twelve years old, was the co-creator of the Turtle Heart Technique. It would make Aaran's future easier, but Shui's friend himself was against it so he couldn't do anything. Shui understood Aaran's reasons, but in his opinion, the pros outweighed the cons.
"No thanks, I don't need it. Being an assistant is enough for a twelve-year-old kid, right? This technique can only guide you through the Tempering Stage, so it's not really a big deal."
Shui shook his head.
"As you wish, but if you need to correct it, just call me. Alright, it's enough for today. Tomorrow is your big day, so you'd better get some rest early."
After finishing his practice for the day, Aaran wiped himself with a towel and went to get a bath. On his way there, Shelaa came to pass a not-so-happy message.
"Young master, there is news from your mother."
'News? My mother isn't there? She managed to be on my every birthday and tomorrow, it's even the day of my awakening. I wonder if it will be just father with me this time.'
"So what's going on?"
Sheela hesitated a little before answering.
"Parents of your mother asked for urgent help, and both of your parents had to go there, so they won't make it here by tomorrow."
Aaran was taken aback. When he was surprised they would leave him alone on such an important day, what truly stunned him was that unlike his father who was one of the most important nobles in the kingdom, his mother was the daughter of one of the Elders in the Council of Alysians.
Unlike humans, who are divided into commoners, nobles, and royal families, Alysians are ruled by 36 Elders from the Council.
'If even my father was asked for help, the situation needs to be really dire.'
"Well, that's disappointing, but what can you do? Just keep going, as always. You will just have to help me eat that cake."
Aaran winked at his maid and went on his way. He had to prepare because he was leaving for the academy and wouldn't return anytime soon.
"Yes, young master." As Sheela watched the back of her young master, her month corners raised, if just a little bit.
'I promised to get closer to the young master, so tomorrow is a good day to talk one-on-one.' After watching Aaran disappear into the corner of the hall, she moved to do her chores in a much better mood.
...
A few minutes later, Aaran was already relaxing in the bathtub while thinking about his future.
'I wonder what my abilities will be. It's said that they can be used as indicators to define a person. For example, someone with a cold personality can acquire ice-based abilities, or someone temperamental can acquire fire-based powers. Then, some skills involve more abstract concepts than pure elements like madness or love. There was even one that was defined as a monster-based ability. But then, these skills can grow and change together with cultivators. So what exactly would define someone who has lived a few lives?'
The more Aaran learns, the more he understands that this world's cultivation differs from the usual. And humans are even stranger. Every person was a cultivator, even if they were talentless, not to mention that they could acquire skills similar to beast-innate abilities.
Aaran sighed and went to get ready for his academy years.
'Relaxing is fine, but time waits for no man, and I need to finish everything before midnight so we can have a pleasant party with Sheela.'
...
A few minutes before midnight, Aaran finished packing everything and went to the dining room. There was the usual long, highly decorated table on which the cake that Sheela had prepared had already stood. What was different today compared to his other birthday parties was the participants.
Aaran already knew Sheela would be waiting for him instead of his parents. Still, he was pleasantly surprised to find two more people sitting at the table: his teacher, Shui, and his grandfather, Richard Sirius.
Although Richard was currently seated in a chair, everyone could still see that he had a tall, imposing figure. His healthy and robust body was beaming with strength, and his silver-gray beard and hair falling to his shoulders showed the wisdom that comes with age.
'I saw my grandfather four times; I wonder why someone as busy as my ancestor decided to come today.'
"Don't stand in doors like that; it's your birthday, after all."
Aaran shrugged after being pulled out of his thoughts by his grandfather's steady voice and sat in his usual place.
Richard wasn't usually severe and stiff, but he acted to avoid losing face before his grandson.
Just as Richard was going to open his mouth, Shui rolled his eyes and interrupted him, "Old man, I know you are busy, but you should at least learn more about your grandson before coming here."
"Who are you calling old man, old man?" Richard glared but then promptly decided to ignore his old friend. In their circle, everyone who argued with Shui always ended up losing, even if they were right. That's just not worth it!
Without waiting for an answer from Shui, Richard asked.
"Alright, whatever. Just explain what you meant."
Shui looked at his friend weirdly. He couldn't understand why Richard had decided to come.
"If you don't even know how big the genius is of Aaran, then what are you doing here?!"
"Why can't I attend my grandson's birthday party? Or do I need your invitation to see him? And in the first place, what are you doing here when you aren't even his family?"
When two elderly men bickered, Aaran exchanged weird glances with Sheela.
'I knew they were friends, but they looked much closer than anticipated? And why did they decide to surprise me today just to bicker with each other?'
For the first time, Aaran felt that even with all his knowledge and training, he severely lacked social interactions. At that time, he decided to make some friends in the academy for future reference.