In the serene confines of the Voss ancestral estate, where the crimson mist wove gentle patterns through the gardens and the blood crystal walls hummed with latent power, Kairos's education began in earnest.
At three years old, the heaven-born child was a whirlwind of curiosity, his days structured around lessons that blended play with the fundamentals of cultivation. Seraphina, ever the nurturing force, guided his mornings in the private garden pavilion—a tranquil space, ringed by blooming Bloodheart Trees whose petals fell like soft rain. She taught him the basics of Qi sensing through games: hiding small Qi stones quickly converted to Blood nature within a day, beneath leaves, challenging him to find them by feeling the "song" in the air.
"Kairos, close your eyes," she would say, her voice a soothing melody. "Feel the warmth in your tummy—the place where the blood flows strongest. Let it pull you to the hidden light."
He would scrunch his violet-crimson eyes shut, tiny brow furrowed in concentration, and extend his hands. The mist responded almost eagerly, swirling toward him as ambient Qi gathered unconsciously. Within moments, he would walk to the stone's hiding spot, giggling as he uncovered it. "Mama, it tickles inside!" he'd exclaim, rubbing his belly where his meridians—already wider and purer than any anybody—hummed with absorbed essence.
Sometimes, when he found the stone too quickly, he would spin in delight, causing the mist to whirl around him like a playful companion. "The red wind dances with me!" he laughed, clapping his hands as petals joined the swirl.
Seraphina would pull him into a gentle hug. "Because it loves you, my light. Just like Mama does."
Arcturus joined in the afternoons, his lessons more structured, held in a small training hall lined with soft blood-rune mats to cushion falls during light exercises. He introduced basic Qi circulation through simple breathing exercises, demonstrating how to draw in ambient essence and cycle it through the body. Kairos mimicked him flawlessly on the first try, his fair skin glowing faintly as golden veins pulsed. But in moments of frustration—when a cycle felt "slow"—hints of something primal emerged. Once, a misplaced breath caused tiny cracks in the mat, the air rippling with a destructive edge that made Arcturus pause.
"You're strong, my son," the Patriarch said, ruffling Kairos's jet-black hair. "But strength must be guided. Feel the blood's flow—gentle, like the mist."
Kairos nodded solemnly, absorbing every word. "Like the red wind?"
Arcturus chuckled, a rare sound. "Exactly. Feel it, don't push it away."
By evening, under elder supervision, he explored the clan's library scrolls—simple tales of Dao heroes that Mira read to him. He asked probing questions like: "Why does the warrior's blood burn? Is it angry?"
Mira smiled patiently, explaining the basics elders had begun to share. "The Dao of Blood is about life and vitality, little one. It can heal, strengthen, or take from others. When the warrior is angry, his blood gets angry and so it burns. And there are many Daos in Lunara like our's. The Luna Clan for example, is the strongest clan on our world, they follow the Dao of Moon—cold, reflective with serene illusions and tidal control, drawn from mysteries beyond our skies. The Iron Fang Clan wields Metal Dao—sharp, unyielding, penetrative. Azure Storm masters Wind and Lightning—swift and chaotic. Each Dao shapes power differently: some enhance their bodies, others their mind for illusions or divination. And other daos with their own effects and uses."
Kairos listened wide-eyed. "Will I have a Dao like them?"
"One day," Mira replied, exchanging a glance with nearby elders who monitored his reactions closely. They noted how Blood resonated naturally in him, with fleeting destructive pulses.
His understanding deepened daily, the Dao of Blood resonating naturally, but elders noted fleeting shadows in his Qi—something destructive, as if heaven itself was nudging him toward's something forbidden.
One evening, after a particularly long session, Kairos tugged at Mira's sleeve. "Aunt Mira, can Daos be friends? Or do they fight?"
Mira knelt to his level. "They can be both, young master. Like people. Some Daos work together, others clash. Your blood Dao is strong—it will choose friends wisely."
Kairos pondered this, then grinned. "My Dao will be the strongest!"
The elders hid smiles, but their eyes held pride at the intensity in his innocent declaration.
Amid this routine, a new joy bloomed.
Seraphina had known for weeks, her Dao of Blood Vitality confirming the subtle shift in her essence. One evening, as the family gathered in the pavilion for a quiet meal under the binary suns' fading light, she shared the news.
"My loves," she said, placing Arcturus's hand on her belly, "Kairos will have a sister in six months."
Arcturus's stern features broke into a rare, genuine smile, his eyes softening as he felt the faint pulse of new life. "A blessing upon our house."
Kairos tilted his head, placing his small hand beside his father's. "Sister?
Seraphina laughed softly. "Yes, my light. A friend to grow with you, to share your path."
Kairos's face lit up. "She can play with the red wind too?"
"Perhaps," Arcturus said, pulling the boy onto his lap. "And you'll teach her, just as we teach you."
The news spread quietly through the clan—subtle celebrations in the halls, elders offering vitality elixirs to ensure Seraphina's health. Resources were allocated: neutral Qi stones converted swiftly for nurturing arrays, rare herbs coated in Blood Dao essence and sealed for months to shift their nature without loss. The pregnancy was seen as a sign of prosperity, bolstering morale amid the world's growing shadows.
Kairos, ever intuitive, became protective in his childish way—insisting on "guarding" his mother during lessons, his tiny Qi ripples forming harmless barriers around her. In one touching moment, as Seraphina rested, he sat beside her, humming a tune that made the blood mist coil gently over her belly like a protective blanket.
"Mama safe," he whispered, patting her belly gently. "Sister safe."
Seraphina stroked his hair, tears of joy in her eyes. "I will always be with you son."
Arcturus watched from the doorway, heart full. "Our family is growing," he murmured to himself, "And I have to pave a safe path for them in this chaotic world."
The family bond deepened, a quiet anchor in turbulent times.