Ao approached his tenth month in a flash, his physical growth and cognitive development became more noticeable now. He was a bit taller, with a sturdier build that caught Koi's attention. So with that, the day had finally come when his mother felt it was safe to let him try walking. She'd been waiting for this moment, her excitement bubbling over into a big smile across her face as she carried him to the living room, where Shiro was seated nearby, watching Ao closely as he rested his chin on the center of his palm.
Koi placed Ao gently on the floor, she had a firm yet gentle grip as she supported his tiny waist. Her wide, warm smile was as bright as the sun itself and her voice was quite encouraging to Ao. "Alright, Ao! Come to Momma! You can do it!"
Ao looked up at her, his round, round eyes flicking to Shiro, who was leaning forward in his chair with a grin of his own. Ao felt the pressure increase, the issue wasn't walking, far from it. It was the fact that due to Respira and Spirit Cycle, walking was far easier for Ao and he could do it for a while, he just chose not to show his parents to avoid suspicion. He didn't wanna appear as a monster and Ao didn't know at what age would be appropriate for him to reveal that he could walk or even run, he had to be careful. Every move needed to appear natural. Ao feared if his parents saw him as some kind of monster or threat that they would abandon him or even replace him.
Alright, just act like this is new. Don't go too fast. A stumble here and there might help sell it. Easy does it, Ao, he thought, his tiny coyote ears start to flick , something his body instinctively does when he thinks deeply to himself or feels stressed.
He took his first step, deliberately slow and shaky. Then another, wobbling just slightly to seem as if this was his first time ever walking. Koi's eyes lit up, her hands slowly releasing his waist as she clapped with delight. "Look at you, Ao! You're doing it! That's my boy!"
Shiro leaned back in his chair, arms crossed but a proud smile spreading across his face as his ears stood up like an alerted animal. "Look at that determination, that's my boy. A true Hinote through and through."
Koi's voice grew louder, filled with pure joy as Ao continued his careful journey toward her. "Ten months old, and he hasn't even fallen once! Shiro, our boy's a genius!"
Ao's heart sank as he froze. Genius? Oh no. Did I overdo it? I thought this pace was believable…What if they start suspecting something? His thoughts raced, as his ears began to flicker quickly. I messed up.. I messed up.. I messed up..
At that moment, his foot slipped on the wooden floor. He lost his balance and toppled forward, landing softly on his hands and knees. Koi gasped and rushed to his side, scooping him up into her arms. "Oh no, baby! Did you get hurt?"
Shiro chuckled from across the room. "Seems you jinxed him, love."
Koi shot him a playful glare, cradling Ao protectively. "Oh, hush. I just startled him, that's all."
Ao clung to her shirt, his small fingers curling into the fabric as he buried his face in her shoulder. His tiny heart was pounding in his chest at the thought of almost being discovered. I have to be more careful.. luckily, it didn't look like they noticed.. but next time I can't guarantee that they wouldn't again.
In the days that followed, Ao learned from his last experience with walking and decided to be far more cautious for something like speaking. He'd been studying their language, paying close attention to how words were used in different contexts. But this knowledge posed a new challenge: he had to balance his responses carefully, revealing just enough to seem like a normal baby learning to talk, appearing to not know what they're saying when he understood most of their words.
He waited for moments when Koi or Shiro would encourage him to speak. "Say 'Mama,' Ao," Koi would say and Ao would babble for a moment, then let the word slip out, hesitantly, as if he was trying it for the first time.
Koi's delighted laughter would follow every time. "He said it! Did you hear that, Shiro?"
On the other hand, when Shiro tried to get Ao to say Papa or dada, Ao didn't. This killed his mood a lot but Ao only did this to make Shiro try and spend more time with him in order to gain a stronger bond with his dad. While it did work, Shiro spent more time with Ao, hesitantly holding him in his lap, though he looked like he was holding a trophy trying to do everything in his power not to drop or get dirty more than a baby. But overtime, Ao figured out that Shiro didn't spend as much time with Ao compared to his mother or even hold him because of Shiro being scared that he would end up hurting Ao, he never held a child before let alone spend time with one so it was a learning experience for them both.
This strategy for speaking and balancing to get time from Shiro seemed to work, and Ao breathed a mental sigh of relief each time. So far, so good. As long as I pace myself, speaking only when asked and spending more time with my dad.. all will be well.
Same with his speaking and walking, Ao's progress with spiritual energy was advancing steadily as well, though one problem gnawed at him constantly. Despite his growing mastery over controlling pure spiritual energy, he still couldn't manifest any elements. He could mimic the flow and behavior of wind or earth even trying fire or water, but the effects were superficial, limited to coating his skin or objects he touched.
At night, lying in the bed with his mother, he stared at the ceiling in frustration, trying to decipher the problem.What am I missing? I can make spiritual energy mimic wind, make it feel light and whispy, but it doesn't become actual wind. Shiro uses elemental energy like it's second nature—why can't I?
The steps for controlling and or manifesting spiritual energy was a simple two step process, not including the mental process and steps that played into it. Step one: withdraw spiritual energy from his core. Step two: shape and measure it to fit his intended purpose. Yet no matter how many times he repeated these steps, the elements refused to manifest.
By day, he observed Shiro closely, watching as his father used elemental magic for mundane tasks—cleaning, cooking, or moving objects. Shiro's ease with the elements only deepened Ao's annoyance for his bottleneck. It's like breathing to him. There has to be something I'm overlooking. Maybe I'm not imagining the element properly? Or is it something else entirely? Is there a whole different process for manifesting the element that I don't know of?
Ao then decided to change up his game plan and returned to the basics. He practiced manipulating spiritual energy in its raw form, experimenting with its flow, density, and movement. Taking in spiritual energy from the environment, circling it through his essence and pushing it out to be controlled. Even then, there was no luck, which Ao assumed he just needed to reread the manual for spiritual manipulation, but he was positive that he knew that book like the back of his hand at this point.
A week after his first steps, Koi began allowing Ao more freedom to explore the house. She'd set him down and watch as he toddled around, her watchful eyes ensuring he didn't wander too far or get into trouble. For Ao, this newfound freedom was both a blessing and a curse.
A blessing due to the fact that this gave him more room to explore his confines, even use spiritual energy on items he haven't before, needing to adjust and calculate how much is required to lift up something like a pillow or a small statue than a wooden stick he usually lifted. A curse because of the fact his parents stared at him with expectant looks, waiting for him to explore the house and be shocked or curious about everything. Which wouldn't be a problem if Ao didn't already know this house like the back of his hand due to how many times he looked at it while practicing his spiritual manipulation.
Great. Now I have to act like I don't already know where everything is, they expect me to be shocked by every single thing.. this house is so small and bland that this is gonna be a pain… he thought, crawling towards a low old oak wood shelf and pretending to be fascinated by whatever was on it, he simply decided that he would reach for whatever was the first thing he saw.
Koi chuckled as she watched closely behind as Ao wondered around. "Curious little thing, aren't you?"
Ao looked back at her, feigning innocence with his wide, blue eyes before reaching for a wooden trinket on the shelf. He held it up, babbling nonsense like he was showing it off in triumph.
Koi smiled, as she knelt beside him. "That's a carving your father made. Careful, it's sharp."
Ao tilted his head at his mother's words before he sat on the floor, examining the wooden carving in his hands. The figure intrigued him. It was an odd creature—standing on all fours, with a wild mane, elongated fangs that looked like jagged daggers instead of canines, and claws tipped with talon-like curves. The craftsmanship was impressive, but what truly caught Ao's attention was its form.
What is this thing? Ao wondered, turning the carving over in his small hands. I've read a bit about animals before in the history book, but none were described like this. Maybe it's something unique to this area. I could ask Mom… no, Dad. He seems like he'd know more, after all he is the one who crafted this.
He looked up from the carving, his large light-blue eyes locking onto Shiro, who was sitting cross-legged a short distance away, casually observing him with a faint smile. Shiro's white, piercing eyes softened whenever they rested on his son, but there was still something in his gaze that was almost threatening, if he wasn't Ao's dad without a doubt Ao would've feared even touching him.
Ao decided to act the part. He raised the carving toward his father, babbling incoherently as if asking what it was.
Shiro's brow arched, his smile widening slightly. Rising to his feet, he crossed the room in a few steps and crouched beside Ao, resting his forearm on one knee. Despite crouching, he still loomed over Ao like a massive wall.
"That," Shiro began, pointing to the wooden beast with one finger, "is a spirit beast. They live all around the forest." His tone shifted, becoming more serious. "But listen to me, Ao. If you ever see one, never go near it. They're dangerous. Bad. Understand?"
Ao tilted his head, as his small mind processed the warning, it was rare that anything made Shiro get serious, honestly, Ao never saw his dad her serious. Even during the times when something like a bear came into the yard or another person with some kind of weapon. He always had a calm expression, simply taking them out by knocking them out and dragging them off of the yard and continuing with his day like he was dealing with a spider.. Spirit beasts?... Whatever that is, it's dangerous enough for Dad to look that serious. I'll need to learn more about these things. If they're that much of a threat, knowing about them could save my life someday.
Before Ao could pretend to respond, Koi's voice cut in, gentle but it was firm enough for Ao to understand that she was serious. "Shiro, there's no need to scare him like that! He's still a baby!" She appeared at Shiro's side, hands on her hips and a soft frown on her lips.
Shiro straightened slightly but didn't retreat from his stance. "It's better to teach him now," he replied evenly. "The spirit beasts are a real threat. He should know to avoid them early. I'd rather him know than think it's okay to pet one."
Koi's narrowed eyes told him all he needed to know—he wasn't winning this argument. Shiro let out a resigned sigh, his shoulders loosening as he lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Fine, I'm sorry for being that serious with him…"
Koi's frown melted into a smile as she leaned in, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. "It's alright, love. I know you mean well."
Carefully, Ao set the carving back on the shelf and waddled away from it. His curiosity shifted toward the window. He realized he'd rarely paid attention to the world outside their home, focusing more on watching Shiro train than the environment itself. The thought of exploring the little details—bugs, plants, even animals—sparked a new interest in him. Spirit beasts.. I wonder if we have any outside, I barely ever paid attention to the bugs and animals in our yard. This made me kinda curious.
He made his way toward Koi's chair by the window, his tiny hands reaching for the edge of the seat, he began to climb up, but his small legs struggled to find the right grip. Before he could tumble backward, Koi was there in an instant, her hands catching him and pulling him close.
"My goodness, I take my eyes off you for one second, and you're already trying to get into trouble," Koi exclaimed, pressing a hand to her chest as if to calm her startled heart. She glanced over her shoulder at Shiro, narrowing her eyes playfully. "He definitely gets that from you."
Shiro raised a brow, his tone skeptical. "What? I don't run off into danger."
Koi's laugh was soft but pointed as she adjusted Ao in her arms, settling him into the chair by the window. She held his waist firmly, keeping him stable as he leaned against the frame to look outside. "Oh, please. Every time you left this house, you came back with a broken bone, a punctured lung, or worse. And that was after you retired! Imagine how reckless you must've been beforehand."
Shiro opened his mouth to argue but quickly realized she was right. His jaw closed, and his hand scratched the back of his head in defeat. "Touché," he muttered, glancing away.
As his parents exchanged banter, Ao pressed his tiny hands against the glass, marveling at the view outside. Ao's wide eyes scanned the sky, locking onto a bird gliding effortlessly above the garden. At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but as it dipped closer, he noticed it wasn't a typical bird at all. It had four legs tucked neatly under its feathery body, and when it opened its beak to chirp, he glimpsed sharp teeth that made it look more predator than prey. Its long, flowing feathery tail shimmered in the rays of the sun with a soft orange hue, flickering like flames.
His gaze shifted downward, landing on the garden his parents cared for. Vibrant plants of varying colors and shapes filled the space, some growing fruits that glowed light blue and pulsed faintly like lanterns. Among the garden, Ao spotted an animal resembling a rabbit, though it was larger. Its fur was jet-black, but the tips of each strand glimmered with tan patterns and Its claws were sharp, flexing as it nibbled at one of the glowing fruits.
Everything looks so unique, Ao thought, awe-struck. And this yard… it's beautiful. I can see why my family tends to it so much..
A movement caught his eye, drawing his attention to a nearby flower. A large insect buzzed lazily around the bloom, landing delicately on the petals. It was massive, nearly the size of Ao's tiny fist, with four translucent wings that reflected the sunlight like shards of glass. Its elongated body was striped in bold shades of yellow and blue, a long abdomen with a sharp stinger that looked more like a miniature needle, Its bulbous red eyes scanned its surroundings as it probed the flower for nectar.
Holy smokes... there's so much I need to understand, Ao thought, his head swirling. The vivid colors of the outside—along with the odd looks of the animals and insects, began to overwhelm him. His tiny hands pressed against the window frame as if trying to hold himself steady. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, leaning back into Koi's steady hold.
Noticing his movement, Koi gently brushed her fingers through his soft hair. "Tired already, sweetheart?" she asked softly, tilting her head to look down at him.
Ao opened his eyes briefly, looking up at her with a small, tired smile. He didn't have the words to express how overwhelming all of that was, mostly when he was so used to staying in the house.
"Looks like he's had his fill of the world for now," Shiro said.
Koi smiled and adjusted her hold on Ao, pulling him close to her chest. "It's a lot to take in for such a little one," she murmured, swaying gently side to side as she held him. "There's plenty of time to explore, Ao. No need to rush."
Ao nestled against her, closing his eyes again. His mind was still alive with thoughts as he was starting to doze off. Were those spirit beasts?.. no, they were too common to be spirit beasts, if normal animals looked like that.. then what did spirit beasts look like?.. I have to read about them and ask Dad as much as I can. But for now, I'll need.. to.. before Ao could finish the thought, he was fast asleep against Koi's chest.