The early morning sun filtered through the glass-paneled hallways of the Liang estate, warming the polished marble floors. A quiet buzz of life stirred within—nannies preparing breakfast, security checking the grounds, and the younger Liang siblings bustling to get ready for school.
Liang Jin, the younger twin, darted past the courtyard with his backpack slung over one shoulder, hair still slightly damp from his rushed shower. "Don't forget your lunch box again!" a staff member called after him.
"I won't!" Jin grinned, only to backtrack a moment later to grab it.
Beside him, the youngest of the siblings, Liang Ran, sat on the edge of the estate's front steps, lacing up her boots with practiced calm. At just five years old, she carried a quiet composure beyond her years, her uniform pressed neatly and her expression unreadable.
"You nervous?" Jin asked, plopping down next to her.
"No," Ran replied without looking up. "There's a new advanced analysis class today. I want to know if they'll let us run spectral tests on kinetic abilities."
Jin blinked. "Spectral what now?"
She glanced sideways. "Never mind."
Inside, the family breakfast table came to life. Liang Zhen scrolled through military briefs on his tablet while sipping coffee. Liang Fei glanced over legal documents, absently buttering toast. Their mother, elegant in a navy silk blouse, supervised the kitchen staff while their father read the morning news on a sleek digital screen hovering beside his seat.
Liang Yue sat near the end of the table, her own plate barely touched. Her mind lingered on Wu Xian's visit the day before. Something about his voice—calm, sure, yet distant—echoed still in her thoughts. She wasn't sure if it was intrigue, intimidation, or something deeper.
"Yue," her mother called softly, drawing her back. "Did you hear me?"
Yue blinked. "Sorry?"
"I said Mei will be reviewing your output scans today after your drills. She mentioned something strange in the blood resonance last night."
Zhen looked up. "That's twice this month. Are you feeling alright during channeling?"
Yue hesitated, then nodded. "Just a little more heat than usual."
"Hmm," Fei muttered. "Could be her thresholds adapting."
Their father hummed in agreement. "Still, we'll increase observation for the next few cycles."
As Jin and Ran joined the table, chatter picked up—Jin retelling an embarrassing moment at school, Ran offering brief commentary that somehow made it worse. Despite the seriousness of their lives, the Liang home pulsed with warmth, banter, and soft laughter.
Mei arrived last, lab coat open over a dark turtleneck, hair pulled back in a messy bun. "Yue, I'll need you in the lab by noon."
Yue nodded.
Then, Mei's eyes swept across the table. "Also... about Wu Xian."
Everyone paused.
"What about him?" Zhen asked, raising a brow.
Mei tapped her tablet. "His energy reading registered on our side of the estate. There was a slight sync when he looked at Yue."
The table went silent. Even Ran glanced up from her food.
"Sync?" Fei asked slowly.
"Barely detectable," Mei replied. "Could be nothing. Could be... the beginning of something."
Their father leaned back, expression unreadable. "We'll watch and wait."
Yue's fingers curled around her fork.
Outside, the academy transport hummed at the gate. Jin and Ran stood, slinging bags over shoulders. Jin ruffled Yue's hair in passing. "Don't let them dissect you yet."
Ran paused beside her. "You'll be fine."
Then they were gone.
Yue watched them disappear into the morning light, envy and fondness mingling in her chest. Their path, though not easy, still seemed so normal.
As she rose to head to training, a soft vibration buzzed in her wristband—a reminder.
Evaluation Trial in 3 days.
Her fingers hovered over the message, and then she swiped it away.
Three days.
Time enough for the past to stir, and the future to crack open.