Concerns

As Thomas led Rei out of the room, Lily followed closely behind. The air between them was heavy with unspoken concerns and a quiet determination.

Rei's father, Thomas, couldn't hide the confusion on his face as he clasped Rei's small hands. A faint yet distinct flow of Qi pulsed beneath his fingers—neither overwhelming nor insignificant, but far more than he'd ever felt before in a child so young. It was perplexing. People were sometimes born with a natural abundance of Qi, but for it to manifest at such a young age was highly unusual.

Still, the idea that a four-year-old who could already practice Qi manipulation seemed absurd. Dismissing the possibility as mere growth potential, Thomas couldn't shake his curiosity. He tightened his grip slightly, his expression growing serious. "Rei, what have you been doing?" he asked, his tone low and probing. "I can feel your Qi... and it's not just a little. How is this possible?"

Rei blinked up at him, feigning confusion as he tilted his head innocently. Inside, however, his mind was racing. He couldn't possibly tell the truth—that he was a reincarnated man who had been training in Spirit Arts since the age of two. So instead, he put on his best clueless expression. "Dad, what is Qi?" he asked, his voice soft and filled with childish curiosity.

Thomas frowned, his eyes narrowing as he studied Rei's face. It didn't seem like the boy was lying, but the presence of Qi in his son was undeniable. He glanced at Lily, his wife, who stood nearby with an equally puzzled look. She shook her head slightly, silently signaling that she was just as baffled as he was.

The thought that Rei might have a natural affinity for the Spirit Arts crossed Thomas's mind, but the very idea seemed surreal. If Rei truly didn't understand what Qi was, then he could only assume his son had been born with an inherent talent after all there were still some kids who manifest Qi from a very young age however those things happen when the family has a strong bloodline which was not the case in their family.

Rei, playing the part of an innocent four-year-old, pushed further to solidify his act. "What is life energy?" he asked, his big eyes wide with apparent wonder.

Thomas's stern expression softened as a chuckle escaped his lips. Despite his lingering concern, he couldn't help but be amused by his son's endless string of questions. He reached out and ruffled Rei's hair affectionately, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"Life energy is... well, it's the force that makes us alive," Thomas explained, his voice gentler now. "It's what gives us the strength to move and think and feel."

Lily's expression softened as she watched Thomas patiently explain these concepts to Rei. Though she shared her husband's unease, she couldn't help but smile at the scene before her. For now, she was willing to accept what seemed to be an extraordinary gift, hoping that time would tell the truth behind your powers.

Rei, meanwhile, nodded along, pretending to absorb the information as if it were all new to him. Beneath the surface, though, he was inwardly relieved that his act had worked. His parents seemed convinced that he was simply a gifted child, blissfully unaware of the true depths of his secret.

Rei's father, Thomas, felt his heart sink as the reality of his son's situation settled over him like a dark cloud. He knew that unlike other children who have strong bloodlines to protect themselves being born with Qi at such a young age was more of a curse than a blessing for Rei. Qi, the life force of all living beings, was tied intricately to vitality and longevity. 

However, for children like you who do not have a strong bloodline, this abundance of life force often became their undoing. It was a miracle Rei had survived this long—most children born with Qi didn't make it past the age of three.

Thomas's face darkened with concern as he knelt to meet Rei's wide, curious eyes. "Rei, I need you to listen to me very carefully," he said, his tone unusually serious. "Having Qi... it's not always a good thing. Especially for someone as young as you."

Rei tilted his head, maintaining his innocent facade, though the words stirred a flicker of genuine worry within him. "What do you mean, Dad?" he asked, his voice mixed with feigned naivety.

Thomas hesitated, searching for the right words. "There are risks, Rei. Dangers. If your Qi grows too strong, too quickly, it could hurt you. Even worse... it could take your life."

At the word danger, Rei's expression shifted slightly. Though he tried to mask his emotions, a glimmer of worry escaped. He needed to maintain his act, so he asked, "What is danger, Dad?"

Thomas exchanged a glance with Lily, his wife, who stood nearby with a tense expression. He sighed deeply, reaching out to place a firm but gentle hand on Rei's small shoulder. "Danger is... when something bad could happen to you. When you might get hurt, or even worse." He paused, his voice growing quieter but no less grave. "Having Qi is like carrying a flame inside you. If you're not careful, that flame can burn you up from the inside out."

Rei's sister, Hanna, who had been quietly watching from the doorway, suddenly spoke up, her voice trembling. "Mom, will Rei be okay? I'm scared." Her eyes were wide with worry, and although she knew he hated her, she couldn't hide her genuine concern.

Lily stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on Hanna's shoulder. "Oh, you don't have to worry, sweetie. Rei will be just fine. Why don't you go to your room for a while?"

Hanna hesitated but nodded reluctantly, casting one last glance at Rei before turning and heading towards her room.

Rei, still holding onto his innocent act, furrowed his brow as if trying to process what he'd been told. "What should I do, Dad?" he asked his tone a mix of curiosity and worry.

Thomas sighed again, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. He knew what was ahead for Rei would be challenging, but he also knew what had to be done. "What you need to do, Rei, is train. You have to make your body strong—strong enough to handle your Qi. The stronger your body is, the better you'll be able to control it."

He glanced at Lily, who nodded in agreement, her expression resolute. "We'll start you on a regimen of exercises," Thomas continued. "Nothing too intense—just enough to help you grow and develop healthily. Step by step, we'll make sure you're strong enough to handle this."

Though the plan was meant to reassure him, Rei was not even scared to begin with. After all, he had already been training his body in secret for years it was just that they did not know it however this gave Rei an excuse to practice openly now. He nodded dutifully, letting his parents believe that this was the first step in his journey.