A year passed.
Kaito was five, and Hina had just taken her first steps. She waddled awkwardly across the grass behind their home, giggling as she chased after Kaito.
"Come on, Hina!" Kaito laughed, waving a stick shaped like a wooden sword. "You're too slow!"
Hina stumbled, plopped down, and let out a whine.
"Oh no, no crying!" Kaito rushed over, kneeling beside her. "You're strong, remember? You're a wind warrior!"
"Wawwo!" she mumbled, wiping her eyes.
Their mother watched from the porch, sewing a new sweater for Hina, while their father was training nearby. Grandma sat by the garden, humming softly, while Grandpa Raiden read old scrolls under the shade of a tree.
It was a perfect day.
That evening, they all gathered for dinner beneath the open sky. The stars blinked above them as bowls of rice and grilled vegetables steamed in the cool breeze. They sat in a circle—three generations of the Kaze Family, laughing, teasing, sharing stories.
Raiden told tales of his youth, of wild gusts and daring adventures across the mountains. Hana scolded Kaito for trying to train too close to the cliff again. Their father joked about how Hina already had more spirit than both of them combined.
And Hina? She clapped at every laugh, pointing at the stars and babbling in her own language.
The seasons danced by.
Now six, Kaito's small frame had grown leaner, his steps sharper, more purposeful. The village often whispered about how the wind itself seemed to follow him. Hina, almost two, was a whirlwind of energy, her hair tied in tiny buns that bobbed as she ran around calling, "Kai! Kai!"
Their family remained close. On rainy days, they sat inside and told stories. On windy days, they flew kites. On cold days, they curled around the fire together, bundled in blankets and love.
One morning, the sun broke gently through the clouds, and the meadow behind their house swayed with the breeze. Akira stood tall, arms folded, waiting for Kaito near the training grounds. His white cloak fluttered behind him like a storm held at bay.
Hana sat on a woven mat with Hina on her lap, brushing her daughter's hair while Toru leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed, watching with quiet pride.
"Focus your breath," Akira said, his voice calm but firm. "Let it flow to your core. Now—strike!"
Kaito exhaled and dashed forward, slashing the air with his wooden blade. A thin slice of energy was formed cutting through multiple trees in it's path.
"Good," Akira nodded. "Now come. Today, we're not just swinging sticks."
Kaito stood upright, curious. "What are we doing today?"
Akira gave a faint smile. "Tell me, Kaito… what do you know about pulse and cores?"
Kaito tilted his head slightly.
"What do I know about them?"
He tapped his wooden sword lightly against his shoulder as he thought.
"Well…"
He straightened a little, recalling the scrolls he had read with his grandfather.
"All beings are made of fundamental principles."
Akira's eyebrow lifted slightly.
Kaito continued.
"Pulse is the rhythm of those principles."
Hina clapped randomly nearby, though she clearly had no idea what they were talking about.
Kaito kept going, gaining confidence.
"A core is a container, a regulator, and an anchor for pulse. It's what allows a being to use that pulse."
Akira remained silent, letting him continue.
"For embodiments like us," Kaito said, "we're made of several fundamental principles that together form who we are."
He raised his fingers as he counted them.
"Body."
"Soul."
"Spirit."
"Connection."
"Consciousness."
"Essence."
"The essence depends on the embodiment… mine is wind."
Akira nodded slightly.
Kaito continued.
"Ontology."
"Memory."
"And will."
He lowered his hand.
"Each of these principles produces its own beat."
He paused, trying to remember the wording exactly.
"When those beats are refined and aligned… they create a rhythm."
Akira watched him closely now.
"And that rhythm," Kaito finished, "is what we call Pulse."
He looked up at Akira.
"For embodiments, it's called the Vital Pulse."
"The type of pulse depends on the being and the principles that make them."
Silence settled over the training field.
Hina clapped again.
Hana smiled softly from the mat.
Akira blinked once.
Then twice.
…Impressive.
Inside his mind, Akira stared at the boy in front of him.
Six years old… and he explains Vital Pulse theory like a scholar.
This kid studies too much.
He folded his arms slowly.
His comprehension speed… analytical breakdown… retention…
A faint smile appeared.
If I had to guess…
His IQ is easily above two hundred.
Akira exhaled quietly.
"That is… correct."
Kaito's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Akira nodded.
"You've studied well."
He stepped closer.
"But knowing the theory… and using it… are two very different things."
Kaito leaned forward eagerly.
"Then teach me!"
Akira chuckled.
"Very well."
He gestured toward the open field.
"Pulse is the rhythm created when your principles synchronize."
He tapped Kaito lightly on the chest.
"To use it properly, you must first feel those principles inside yourself."
"The moment they align… your pulse becomes stable."
"And once your pulse is stable…"
Akira raised a finger.
"You can Assert."
Kaito blinked.
"Assert?"
Akira nodded.
"Assertion is when you impose your principles onto existence."
Kaito frowned in thought.
"So… it's like forcing reality to listen to you?"
Akira smirked slightly.
"Not forcing."
"Convincing."
Kaito's eyes widened.
Akira lifted his hand.
"Let me show you an example."
The wind around the field suddenly shifted.
Leaves lifted from the ground.
A circular current formed around them.
Akira's voice became calm.
"Wind Assertion : Tempest Sanctuary."
The air vibrated softly.
A translucent dome of swirling wind expanded outward, forming a large barrier around the training field.
The wind hummed like a living thing.
Kaito stared in awe.
"What… is that?"
"A barrier."
Akira rested his hands behind his back.
"This barrier is formed using three principles."
Kaito leaned forward eagerly.
"Which ones?"
Akira pointed upward.
"Connection."
"The barrier is linked to the surrounding space."
He tapped the air lightly.
"Consciousness."
"The barrier can recognize intent."
Then he placed his hand over his chest.
"And Will."
"The principle that enforces the rule."
Kaito stared at the shimmering dome.
"So what does it do?"
Akira smiled faintly.
"If anyone with harmful or ill intent enters the barrier…"
The wind rippled.
"They are immediately teleported outside of it."
Kaito's mouth dropped open.
"And you know when it happens?"
Akira nodded.
"The barrier notifies its creator."
Kaito walked closer to the swirling wind wall.
"So different Assertions need different principles?"
"Correct."
Akira said.
"Some require two."
"Some require four."
"Some require far more."
Kaito slowly nodded.
"I think I understand."
Akira studied him carefully.
He actually does.
Most students needed years before they understood Assertion.
Yet Kaito grasped the concept almost instantly.
Akira sighed softly.
This kid is terrifying.
He straightened.
"But understanding pulse is only the beginning."
Kaito immediately asked,
"What comes after that?"
"Kaito… have you ever heard of Evolution?"
Kaito shook his head.
"No."
Akira nodded.
"I expected that."
He stepped closer.
"Embodiments evolve."
Kaito blinked.
"Evolve?"
"Yes."
"Each evolution drastically increases power."
He paused.
"Ten times stronger."
Kaito's jaw dropped.
"Ten times?!"
Akira chuckled.
"At minimum."
Kaito stared at him.
"So… have you evolved?"
Akira gave a faint smile.
"Yes."
Kaito leaned forward eagerly.
"How many times?"
Akira shook his head.
"That's not important right now."
Instead he said something else.
"You haven't evolved yet."
Kaito blinked.
"...Oh."
"But when you do," Akira continued,
"something very interesting will happen."
Kaito looked up again.
"What?"
Akira's eyes sharpened slightly.
"The first evolution among Embodiments is special."
"It is part of a three-stage pattern."
He raised three fingers.
"The first is called True."
"When you evolve into that state…"
"You become a True Being."
Kaito whispered,
"True…"
Akira continued.
"And during that evolution…"
"You gain something."
Kaito waited.
Akira spoke slowly.
"An Eidolon."
The wind around the meadow seemed to pause.
Kaito blinked.
"Eidolon?"
Akira nodded.
"Eidolons are primordial manifestations."
"The original form of an Embodiment."
"For wind… that means the primordial wind itself."
"They are not servants."
"They are not tools."
"They are beings."
Kaito's eyes widened.
"They're alive?"
"Yes."
"Eidolons possess immense power and their power is equal to yours."
Kaito swallowed.
"So… they're like… partners?"
Akira nodded.
"A very good way to think about it."
He looked toward the sky.
"Eidolons existed long before many civilizations."
"They are echoes of the world's earliest forces."
Kaito's eyes shined with excitement.
"So an Eidolon is like… another version of you?"
Akira smirked slightly.
"They are you and also not you, so i guess you could say that."
"But they are also something far older."
Kaito looked amazed.
"So when I evolve… I'll meet mine?"
Akira smiled faintly.
"If you reach that stage."
Kaito immediately asked,
"What about the other evolution pattern?"
Akira chuckled.
"Curious, aren't you?"
Kaito nodded rapidly.
"Very."
For a moment… he was silent
Then he glanced down at the boy.
A small smile appeared.
"That…"
He tapped Kaito's forehead lightly.
"is a lesson for another day."
Kaito groaned dramatically.
"That's not fair!"
Akira laughed.
"You ask too many questions."
Kaito crossed his arms.
"I'm just curious!"
Focus on mastering Pulse first."
Akira looked at him quietly.
The wind shifted around them again.
Curious.
Intelligent.
Driven.
Akira's gaze sharpened slightly.
This boy is indeed a prodigy.
He looked back toward the watching family.
Hana smiled warmly.
Toru stood proudly.
Hina waved both arms wildly.
"Kai!!"
Kaito turned toward her and laughed.
And for a brief moment—
the wind blew gently across the field.
As if the world itself was listening.