Morning chores at Hearthwood Haven were as lively—and chaotic—as ever.
Elya stood in the yard, hands on her hips, glaring at Kain, who was carrying buckets of water to the garden. "You're spilling half of it!" she snapped, pointing to the wet trail he was leaving behind.
Kain paused, setting the buckets down with an audible slosh. "I'm doing the best I can, okay? These things are heavy!"
"Maybe if you didn't walk like a lumbering ox, you wouldn't spill so much!"
"Lumbering ox?!" Kain bristled, flexing his arms. "You think you can do better? These buckets weigh more than you!"
Elya smirked. "Watch me."
She grabbed the buckets and hoisted them with exaggerated ease, taking a few graceful steps before stopping and setting them down. "See? It's not that hard."
Kain crossed his arms. "Oh, sure. Let's see you carry them all the way to the garden without spilling a drop."
"Fine!" Elya shot back, picking the buckets up again and marching toward the garden.
The Blade King watched the scene unfold from the porch, sipping his tea with quiet amusement. "They're at it again," he remarked to Rina, who was hanging laundry nearby.
"It's like this every day," Rina replied with a sigh. "You'd think they were siblings with how much they bicker."
"Bickering is just another form of bonding," the Blade King said, his tone light. "At least they're learning teamwork. Sort of."
---
Elya made it halfway to the garden before disaster struck.
One of the buckets, unbalanced by her quick movements, tilted slightly, spilling water onto her foot. She stopped abruptly, her face turning red. "Kain! You overfilled these!"
"You said it wasn't that hard," Kain retorted, grinning.
Elya whirled around, jabbing a finger in his direction. "This is your fault!"
"How is it my fault that you're clumsy?"
"I am not clumsy!"
"You're holding the evidence right there!"
The other orphans, sensing an impending explosion, began to gather at a safe distance. Lin leaned against a tree, munching on an apple. "Five copper says Elya wins this one," he said, smirking.
Mira shook her head. "I don't think anyone wins when they argue."
---
Elya's frustration boiled over. Without thinking, she raised her hand, her fingers curling into a tight fist. "You are so—so—infuriating!"
Something inside her shifted—a spark, a pulse of energy—and before she could stop herself, she thrust her hand forward.
A wave of invisible force shot out, catching Kain square in the chest. He staggered backward, his eyes wide, before toppling into the water barrel with a loud splash.
The yard went completely silent.
Kain sat up slowly, water dripping from his hair and clothes. He blinked at Elya, who was staring at her own hand in shock.
"I... I didn't mean to..." she stammered.
The other orphans erupted into laughter.
Lin doubled over, clutching his stomach. "Oh, that was amazing! Did you see his face?"
Mira's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "That was qi, wasn't it? Elya, you used qi!"
Kain climbed out of the barrel, shaking water from his hair like a dog. "What was that for?!"
"It was an accident!" Elya protested, her face turning red.
"Accident or not, you pushed me into a barrel!"
"Maybe you deserved it!"
"Deserved it?!"
The Blade King stood, setting his teacup down and walking over to inspect the scene. He crouched near the now-empty water barrel, running his fingers along the rim. "Interesting," he murmured.
"Master, I swear I didn't mean to do that!" Elya said quickly, her voice rising.
"Oh, I believe you," he said, straightening and giving her a calm smile. "But there's no denying what just happened."
"What... what did happen?" she asked hesitantly.
The Blade King clapped his hands once, the sound sharp and decisive. "Congratulations, Elya. You've just unlocked the Splashing Palm Technique."
Lin immediately burst into laughter again. "The Splashing Palm? That's perfect!"
"It's not funny!" Elya snapped, glaring at him.
"Oh, it's very funny," Lin said, wiping tears from his eyes. "You sent Kain flying into a barrel! You're the queen of splash attacks!"
Elya turned to the Blade King, her expression desperate. "Master, please tell them this isn't a real thing."
The Blade King's lips twitched with amusement. "The technique may be unorthodox, but it's undeniably effective."
Kain crossed his arms, still dripping wet. "Effective at making me look like an idiot."
"Sometimes, the best lessons come from unexpected moments," the Blade King said. "Elya, do you remember what you were feeling right before you used the technique?"
Elya hesitated, her brow furrowing. "I was... angry. And frustrated. But it wasn't like normal anger. It felt... bigger. Like it was coming from somewhere else."
The Blade King nodded. "That 'somewhere else' was your qi. Emotion can be a powerful catalyst for cultivating energy, but it must be balanced with control. Otherwise, you'll end up pushing more than just barrels."
Elya's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "So... what do I do now?"
"Practice," he said simply. "Channeling qi requires focus and patience. With time, you'll learn to direct it more precisely."
Lin raised his hand. "Can I learn the Splashing Palm next? I've got a list of people I want to send flying!"
"No," Elya and the Blade King said in unison.
---
For the rest of the day, the orphans couldn't stop talking about Elya's accidental breakthrough.
Mira asked endless questions about how it felt to channel qi, while Lin kept reenacting the moment, pretending to be Kain and dramatically flopping into imaginary barrels.
"You're all ridiculous," Elya muttered, trying to ignore them.
"Ridiculously impressed," Lin said, winking at her.
Kain, still slightly damp, muttered something about "revenge" and returned to his chores.
---
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Elya sat on the porch, staring at her hands. The memory of the qi surge still lingered, a strange mixture of power and fear.
The Blade King joined her, sitting down with a cup of tea. "Still thinking about what happened?"
She nodded. "I don't know if I'm ready for this."
"No one is ever truly ready," he said. "But readiness comes with action. Today, you took a step forward."
"Even if it was by accident?"
He smiled faintly. "Sometimes, accidents lead to the greatest discoveries."
Elya looked at him, her expression uncertain. "Do you really think I can get better at this?"
"I don't think," he said, his voice firm. "I know."
Her lips quirked into a small smile. "Thanks, Master."
"Now, go get some rest," he said, patting her shoulder. "Tomorrow, we'll work on channeling your qi—without water barrels."
Elya laughed softly, the tension in her shoulders easing.
As she headed inside, the Blade King sipped his tea, gazing at the stars. They're starting to bloom, he thought. Soon, the whole world will see.
---