At this point, Kai's body had healed from all his external injuries. The synchronisation had strengthened him, giving his skin a faint healthy tone. He no longer looked pale and lifeless, though his internal wounds would still take time to recover.
The doctor looked at Kai, then turned to his parents. "The hard part is over," he said with a calm smile. "All he needs now is rest."
Kai's mother covered her mouth, tears of happiness flowing down her cheeks. She whispered, "Thank you, doctor… thank you."
The doctor nodded. "He's stable now. You can take him home. Since the synchronisation is complete, his body will heal fully by the end of the week."
Hearing those words, Kai's parents could not hide their joy. They thanked the doctor over and over before carefully carrying their son home.
A whole month passed. Kai spent most of his time inside the house recovering. He was almost seven years old now, only three months away from joining the academy.
While waiting for his time to come, he tried to explore the strange new energy within him. His physical strength had increased to the level of a beginner Iron Grade, about twice that of an average person. His stamina was higher, his body tougher, and his mind sharper.
Still, his ability didn't seem flashy like others. After weeks of testing, it appeared to have no direct attack potential at all. Kai and his parents began to believe that it was not an offensive ability.
The thought made Kai a little sad, but he reminded himself that this was just the beginning. He knew that when he grew stronger, he would understand it better. His parents encouraged him too, explaining that once he reached mid-stage Iron Grade, the true nature of his ability would reveal itself.
So Kai waited. Time moved slowly but steadily, and soon, the months slipped by.
When the morning of his academy registration finally arrived, the small house buzzed with excitement. Kai's parents were proud and overjoyed that their son would finally begin his journey to strength.
They wished they could teach him themselves, but the kingdom's laws forbade civilians from training their children. The rulers claimed it was to protect the young and ensure every child learned under proper supervision from skilled instructors. The academy was said to provide the best environment, with teachers trained to guide students along their unique paths of growth. Even if two people synchronised with the same type of beast, their powers could develop differently, so everyone needed personalised training.
When the day came, Kai could hardly contain himself. His grin stretched from ear to ear. He jumped around the room with excitement while his mother tried to fix his collar, laughing through her mixed emotions.
She was proud, but a quiet sadness hid in her eyes. She knew life at the academy would be hard on him, but she believed in her son's strength.
As Kai packed the last of his things, his father called out, "Kai, I need to talk to you."
Kai turned with a bright smile. He was too happy to worry about serious talks. "Okay, Dad!"
"Come with me to the garage."
Kai's mother watched them walk away, knowing exactly what the talk would be about. Kai walked beside his father, hopping every few steps, full of energy.
"Kai," his father began softly, "how do you feel about the incident that happened a few months ago?"
Kai shrugged. "Well, I got a beast because of it. So after I synchronised, it turned out good. I'd say it was great."
Mr. Morris gave a slow nod. "And what about Petra and Sumi?"
Kai's smile faded. "I don't want to talk about them."
His father looked at him closely. "Do you hate them?"
Kai hesitated. "Maybe… I think I do."
"Why do you hate them?"
"Because they made me go out there," Kai said quietly. "I got attacked, and I almost died because of them."
Mr. Morris asked calmly, "Did they carry you out there?"
"No," Kai said, frowning. "But they kept telling me to go. They made fun of me when I refused."
"Did they force your legs to walk outside?"
Kai hesitated again. "No… but they made me. If they hadn't made fun of me, I wouldn't have gone."
His father crouched down so their eyes met. "Kai, did they bully you and force you to walk out there so you had no choice?"
Kai's voice dropped to a whisper. "No."
Mr. Morris nodded. "Then how can you say they forced you? From what you told me, they teased you, and you let their words control you. If no one forced you, how can you blame them for what happened? They're kids, just like you. They didn't understand how serious it was. They teased you because that's what friends do sometimes. They didn't mean to hurt you."
Kai listened quietly. He understood what his father meant, but his heart still clung to resentment.
"I understand how you feel," his father continued. "If they hadn't teased you, you probably wouldn't have gone out there. But you did, and that's the reality we have to face. If you keep focusing on 'what ifs,' you'll never move forward. You need to learn from mistakes—yours and theirs—and forgive them. Just like us, they aren't perfect. Even someone who cares about you can hurt you."
Kai took a deep breath. His chest felt lighter, as if something inside him had finally loosened.
He sighed and looked up. "Thank you, Dad."
His father smiled and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "That's my boy."
They reached the garage. Mr. Morris walked over to an old wooden box in the corner. He brushed away some dust and opened it. Inside, something gleamed faintly under the morning light.
Kai's eyes widened in amazement. "Wow! It's a sword!"
His father chuckled. "It's called a saber."
"Wow, Dad! Are you going to start using it now?"
Mr. Morris laughed. "No, I prefer my fists. This is my gift to you."
Kai's entire face lit up. He jumped in excitement, his joy overflowing. "Thank you, Dad! Thank you!" he said again and again.
His father smiled warmly. "Life at the academy will be hard. I hope this can help you. We aren't rich, and I can't give you everything you'll need, but I pray this—"
Before he could finish, Kai threw his arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"This is enough for me," he said softly.
Mr. Morris hugged him back, smiling with pride.
Outside the garage, the sun shone through the clouds, lighting the small home in a gentle glow. It was the beginning of a new chapter in Kai's life—one that would soon test every lesson his father had taught him.