The next morning, Nova woke up and stretched his arms wide, feeling the warmth of sunlight pour into his room through the thin wooden window. The cool morning air brushed his skin as he stepped outside and began his usual routine.
"Haah! Feels so much better now."
He exhaled heavily as he finished another lap around the village's boundary, sweat glistening on his forehead. The soreness from the last few days was gone. Every muscle felt stronger, tighter — alive.
As he returned home, the familiar aroma of porridge and bread greeted him. He grinned. "Smells good!"
"Just wait a minute, Nova," Joren said, holding two plates. "Let me give your mom breakfast first, then I'll give you yours."
"Alright, Dad."
Nova plopped himself on the chair, his legs dangling as he waited. Soon, Joren returned, and the two began eating together, the morning sunlight filling the small kitchen.
"Dad," Nova spoke through a mouthful of food, "how strong do I need to be to go hunting with you?"
Joren chuckled softly, his voice carrying a faint sigh. "It'll take time, son."
"Ugh…" Nova slumped, staring at his bowl. "After that breakthrough, I want to get strong fast. That feeling… it's amazing. When I train, I can actually feel how much stronger I've gotten."
Joren's spoon stopped midair. He didn't respond immediately, his brows knitting together.
"Dad? You there?"
"Yeah, I'm listening," Joren said quickly, but his tone was distant — thoughtful. His gaze lingered on the table, his mind clearly somewhere else.
Nova tilted his head. "Uh… Did I say something wrong?"
Joren blinked, as if snapping out of a trance. "No, no. You didn't. It's just… hey, Nova — how about we talk properly after breakfast? There's something important I want to tell you."
Nova frowned. "Okay… Dad."
The rest of the meal passed in silence, broken only by the clinking of spoons and the soft hum of morning outside. When they finished, Nova carried his mother's plate back to the room where Elaine rested with little Mira, while Joren cleaned up the table.
When Nova returned, Joren stood near the window, looking outside. The faint rays of dawn made his face look older — tired but steady.
"Alright," Joren said quietly, turning toward his son. "Listen carefully, Nova."
Nova sat down across from him, legs crossed, his small face filled with attention.
"You've been growing too fast."
Nova blinked. "Growing too fast…?"
"Yeah," Joren said, his tone heavy. "There's a certain realm that the body can handle at a certain age. A small body means small vessels, small veins, weaker bones. If you keep pushing, your strength will outgrow what your body can hold. You could suffer a backlash — and it won't just hurt, Nova. It could cripple you."
Nova's eyes widened. His little hands tightened on his knees. "So… what am I supposed to do?"
"Stop."
Nova flinched. "Stop?"
"You have to stop training. Stop cultivating."
"But—"
"There's no room for buts in this matter, Nova." Joren's voice turned firm, like a wall that couldn't be moved. "It's for your own safety. What's the point of getting stronger if you lose your body in the process?"
Nova's head lowered. The words sank deep into his chest like cold stones. The warmth that had filled him since his last breakthrough seemed to fade. "Alright… I won't." He hesitated, voice trembling. "But… till when?"
Joren took a deep breath. "Your body needs to develop. You're still at the second stage of Flesh Tempering. That's already a big thing — especially when you're not even six years old. I'd say… you should wait until you're fifteen before resuming training."
Nova's eyes shot open. "That long?!" His voice cracked with disbelief.
"I'm sorry, Nova," Joren said softly. "There's no other way."
Nova looked down for a long moment. His chest felt tight, as if something precious was being taken away. But slowly, his sadness shifted. His fingers clenched, and he raised his head again — determination replacing sorrow.
"Alright," he said, a small but resolute smile forming. "Then I'll enjoy these years. When I'm fifteen, I'll start again — and I'll train harder than ever before. Harder than anyone ever did!"
Joren looked at him for a moment, and then finally smiled — proud and relieved. "Haha, that's some spirit. Yeah, you can train all you want when you're fifteen."
Nova grinned back. The heaviness in the air finally lifted.
Afterward, Joren went out for work, carrying tools and a pack of food, while Nova went to his mother's room to spend time with Elaine and Mira.
As Joren stepped out of the house, the cool evening breeze brushed against his face. He paused for a moment, his hand tightening around the doorframe.
'I'm sorry, Nova…' he thought, his gaze drifting toward the quiet village road ahead.
'I'm really sorry for holding you down… but this is the only way. The only way to keep you safe from whatever fate you were sent here to face. You're not just the heir of the Solar Clan now... you're my son too...'
He took a deep breath, forcing his emotions down before walking away, his shadow stretching long under the fading light.
Elaine was sitting up, Mira sleeping in her arms. Nova quietly sat beside her. "How's she doing?"
Elaine smiled. "Peaceful as ever."
Nova watched the tiny baby's hand twitch slightly as she slept. "She moves so much even when she's asleep."
"She takes after you," Elaine chuckled. "You used to move your arms and legs in the same way."
Nova smiled faintly, watching his little sister's slow breathing. "Then she'll grow strong too."
The day passed peacefully. As the sun lowered, painting the sky in orange and gold, Nova met his friends near the old oak tree at the edge of the village — their usual meeting spot.
"Hey Nova!" Riku waved, Tama and Haru following behind him. "You look different. What's up?"
Nova looked up from the grass, blinking. "Huh? Oh, nothing. Just thinking."
"You sure?" Riku asked, tilting his head. "You look like you're somewhere else."
Nova smiled faintly but didn't answer. For a few moments, they sat in silence, the wind rustling through the leaves. Then Nova suddenly grinned, bright and carefree.
"Haha, it's nothing! I just wanted to say — we can start playing in the morning again!"
Everyone's faces lit up. "Really?!" Tama asked, his voice full of surprise. But the excitement quickly faded into confusion.
"What about your training?" Haru asked the question everyone was thinking.
"Uh…" Nova scratched the back of his head, smiling awkwardly. "Let's just say I'm taking a break."
"A break?"
"Yeah. For a while."
"For how long?"
Nova laughed weakly. "Till I'm fifteen."
All three froze. "Fif… fifteen?!"
"Yeah," Nova said with an awkward grin. "It's fine though. Now we can play more!"
The three exchanged glances, still processing the shock. But soon, Riku smiled. "Then we'll make sure these years are fun."
"Yeah," Nova grinned. "That's the plan!"
As the sky dimmed, they waved goodbye and headed home. "Don't forget to call me tomorrow morning!" Nova shouted as he ran off.
When he reached home, he burst into Elaine's room. "I'm home!"
Elaine looked up from the bed, Mira resting beside her. "What's going on, son? You look really happy."
Nova grinned. "Haha, it's nothing. It's just… I'm gonna enjoy these years! I'll get to spend so much time with Mira!"
Elaine laughed softly. "Haha, yeah. But don't forget — we'll resume your study lessons once I'm better."
"Of course, Mom! It's fun when you teach me."
Elaine smiled warmly. The room filled with laughter, with the faint sound of Mira's sleepy cooing.
From the doorway, Joren's voice called, "Come, Nova! Dinner's ready!"
"Coming!" Nova shouted back, running off with a grin.
And then began Nova's long break.
(Temporary pause on uploads. I'll be back soon — thanks for waiting!)