Late one evening, as Rei sat amidst the quiet hum of the second floor, a sudden idea struck like lightning. What if it was possible to create a vacuum—a space devoid of air—to draw wind inward? If the gathered wind could be compressed into a tight, volatile sphere, it could act as a bomb of unimaginable force.
The concept was exhilarating. Dangerous, but exciting.
Rei wasted no time. The air began to shift as Rei began the experiment. The Qi running through the body molded to create a domain Rei created a vacuum but nothing happened. Rei wondered why was nothing happening then he suddenly realized that while creating the vacuum he had to envision the wind drawing away from it but he needed to create a vacuum to draw the wind it was like an egg and chicken problem, for some days Rei made countless drawings. Thomas and Lily were glad by this because Rei was acting like his age.
After days Rei finished his perfect blueprint it was a sphere inside a sphere to put it simply Rei would create a vacuum from the outer sphere by compressing the entire wind inside of it which would not only attract wind from outside but also concentrate it in a spherical form. Rei again used his Qi drawing wind inward with precision and intent. The air around Rei grew heavier and denser, a swirling vortex of unseen energy.
Now Rei went to the next stage of his experiment creating several whirlwinds to compress while the idea of it sounded easy Rei faced many difficulties implementing it, sometimes the winds would cancel each other and sometimes it would explode right away. Thomas, Lily, and Hanna who were working downstairs would continuously hear the sounds within their house however whenever they came they just saw you throwing some books so in time they stopped caring about it. It took Rei some days before he was able to understand how to put complementary whirlwinds together to create a wind ball.
Now Rei was in his Final stage launching the wind ball into a wind blast but it was a very simple stage for Rei. The best option was to create another wind ball behind the wind ball to launch it. Rei went with it. He started drawing in the winds and created a wind ball, then he created another wind ball.
Down in the Yard, Thomas and Lily paused their work. A strange disturbance rippled through the air, faint but unmistakable. Hanna, practicing nearby with a wooden sword, stopped mid-swing, her instincts alerting her to the same unease. They saw wind going through the window of the 2nd floor.
The family hurried toward the house.
Upstairs, Rei reached the climax of the experiment. The compressed wind, now a tightly bound sphere of raw energy, pulsated in the palms. With one final, focused burst of intent, Rei released it.
The explosion was immediate.
A powerful gust of wind erupted outward, sending Rei hurtling backward into the wall. The room started cracking under the force, the walls were breaking and cracking as debris flew in all directions. Dust filled the air. Rei remembered that he forgot to consider the recoil of the attack.
Moments later, Thomas, Lily, and Hanna burst into the room. Their wide eyes took in the destruction—the shattered walls, the rubble destroyed across the floor, and the missing wall in front of you.
And there, laid Rei slightly injured.
The family stared their shock mixing with fear and awe. The winds slowly died down, leaving an eerie silence in their wake.
For the first time, Rei's presence demanded recognition—not as a powerless child, but as someone capable of wielding an incredible force.
As Thomas and Lily rushed into the shattered room, their faces reflected concern and confusion. Thomas immediately went to Rei, his steps quick and purposeful. Lily hung back, hesitant, her maternal worry evident, but she remained wary of the scene before her. Hanna too was with Lily not knowing what might have happened
Rei instinctively shifted closer to Thomas, avoiding Lily's gaze. The ingrained fear and distrust from a past life clung stubbornly, even though Rei knew logically that Lily had done nothing to warrant it.
Thomas knelt beside Rei, his sharp eyes scanning the wreckage before settling on the book that laid in one of the destroyed corners. "Rei," he began, his voice steady but edged with suspicion, "what happened here?"
Rei hesitated for a fraction of a second before holding up the book. "I saw this book and... I was interested in the diagrams," Rei said, voice soft but measured. "I tried copying them, and then... this happened."
Thomas took the book, flipping through its worn pages until he found the section detailing Qi manipulation. His brow furrowed as he read, his gaze darting from the text to the chaotic remnants of the room.
"Just diagrams, you say?" His voice carried a note of skepticism. "And this destruction... an accident, was it?"
Rei nodded, maintaining the facade, knowing full well that the truth would sound unbelievable coming from a child so young.
Thomas closed the book with a sharp snap, his expression serious. "Rei, this isn't just child's play. The Spirit Arts aren't about idle curiosity—they're a discipline, a lifelong pursuit requiring mastery of one's body and mind. What you've done here..." He gestured to the damaged room. "This is not ordinary. Spirit Arts are meant to enhance swordsmanship and to counter magic, not create explosions. This..." He was speechless as to what even call this
Lily, who had been watching silently from the doorway, stepped forward. Her movements were cautious but not hesitant. She placed a hand gently on Rei's shoulder, her worry evident.
"Your father is right, Rei," she said softly. "The Spirit Arts can be dangerous. We don't want you to hurt yourself... or anyone else. You're still so young. There's time to learn, but it must be done carefully."
Thomas looked at Lily, their eyes meeting in a silent exchange. He gave a small nod, a decision made.
"Rei," Thomas said, his tone softening further, "we need to talk. About your abilities and the dangers they bring."
He stood, placing a reassuring hand on Rei's shoulder. "Come. Let's go where we can speak without distractions."