"Look at Ame taking her first steps…." Ava's smile was without a limit.

Ame held her head high as she achieved the ability to walk in the fourth month of her birth. She turned to look at Kiel, who was watching her while sitting on Ava's lap with a smug expression.

Kiel wasn't surprised to see Ame already taking her first steps. Since birth, they were fed nourishing baby food after being breastfed by Ava, though only recently did Kiel notice he had been eating in luxury.

They also had nothing better to do, and even he, who had no interest in pursuing body cultivation had already strengthened himself. His bones were more compact, his joints more flexible, and his body was more vigorous.

Because he was a baby, it was far easier to cleanse his body. His pores from head to toe had already been opened. The impurities that remained were expelled out of his system in the form of stool and pee.

Obviously, Ame was the same, and the two of them grew up with pure bodies so it was only natural for them to grow faster than expected. It would've been stranger if they hadn't. Their parents didn't raise any question about their growth rate, thinking it was because of the food and the medicinal baths they gave the two that this was achieved.

[How do you like that? I managed to walk before you did!] Ame looked up at Kiel, her expression as smug as could be.

[Yes, congratulations on the fruits of your efforts and answering our parents' desire to make us stronger.]

[...I didn't think an honest compliment could sting.] Ame pouted.

[Why?]

[Oh, shut it, and walk already.]

Kiel tilted his head, confused by Ame's words.

But then he saw his mother, celebrating and sliding him glances, expecting something from him, "Oh," Kiel finally caught on.

Ame could only sigh, 'He's knowledgeable at a lot of things but stupid when it comes to common sensibilities.'

Flapping his arms up and down, Kiel demanded to go down to the ground.

"Do you also want to try and walk? Hmmm… ara? Look, Ame, your brother, can also walk now~."

Ava's eyes glistened as Kiel took his first step. Kiel looked at Ava and gave his Mother a nod, which caused Ava to squeal in delight.

Kiel saw this and his eyes shimmered without him knowing. He liked the feeling and wanted to take things even further, "Mo… there."

Ava froze, and with a trembling voice, she spoke, "K-Kiel, just now… d-did you just…."

Kiel saw the joy behind Ava's eyes; his heart jittered.

He wanted to see her smile some more.

"Mother...."

Ava became teary-eyed as she picked up her son, "My son just called me Mother…." Ava celebrated Kiel's first words with smiles.

Ame didn't really care about familial affection, but seeing Keil's vacant countenance caused her to feel defeated.

'He's looking down on me!' She thought to herself. Planting both feet on the ground, Ame slowly approached Ava with tiny steps. She reached out to Ava, tugging her clothes.

Ava's attention was stolen. She looked down and saw Ame, "I'm sorry, Ame, did I make you feel lonely~?"

"Ma... Mama!" Ame's undeveloped voice sounded out.

Ava heard Ame speak, and she lost it and began running about with a smile on her face, "My children can talk, already!" she announced to the heavens, with Ame and Kiel in her embrace.

Ame locked eyes with Kiel, who was on Ava's other arm. She had a smile on her face as she successfully stole Ava's attention; Kiel simply gave her a thumbs up.

[Good job.] he said in their mental link.

'Tsk…' Ame clicked her tongue ever so silently, which baffled Kiel.

'Did I do something…? Relationships as a sibling are hard to understand.' Despite his deep pool of knowledge, understanding others was still hard for him to do.

'I am not very good at this.'

When Noah returned from hunting, he had Ava prepare the milk that would be later given to Ava and Ame.

Ava told Noah what happened earlier that day, and Noah celebrated by playing Kiel and Ame. His joy overflowed.

Noah sat straight and crossed his arms, "Now, let us get to the heart of the matter… say, Father, my son."

Kiel tilted his head as she gave an answer, "…Father?" he said in a confused tone of voice.

Noah showed a subtle smile only to have it wiped away as she turned to Ame, "Come on, Ame… say Papa… come on, now… come on."

When Ame refused to do so, Noah became teary-eyed.

[You've got to be kidding me… he's jealous of his wife.] Ame sighed at the sight of her pitiful father. She turned to Kiel as she searched for an answer, and she only saw Kiel motioning to humor him.

"Pa... Papa!" an enthusiastic voice drowned Ame's visible sigh.

Noah jumped about in celebration, tossing and kissing his children out of joy. Noah rubbed his bristled face on both his children's faces and while Kiel hugged him back, Ame fought back.

Kiel could hear her curses inside his head, but he could tell that she was beginning to enjoy it.

'I'm starting to get infected by Kiel!' Ame cursed at her brother.

Ame was a grown-up, and unlike Kiel, she matured emotionally and physically, thus finding it embarrassing to embrace her current state, and she fought the thought of being an infant to be pampered like the last warrior standing on a battlefield.

[Get back! I am the Hands of the Heavens. I will not stand to endure this embarrassment.]

But as Ame pushed Noah away, she failed to notice she was smiling.

The family enjoyed dinner full of smiles. Ava and Noah had the twins talking, helping them get used to words.

In their bassinet, Kiel and Ame lay.

Ame was rambling as she rubbed her face, [The pain is still there... Kiel, do you know any technique that increases regenerative capabilities?]

[Yes, the strong-]

[It would be best if the technique does not turn me inhuman.]

[...I have nothing. Everything else has a chance of limiting your cultivation, and I have yet to remodel a technique.] Kiel said, downcasted he could not fulfill his sister's desire.

Ame didn't care and just let out a breath and closed her eyes, preparing to sleep.

Kiel raised his brows, [Aren't you going to cultivate tonight?]

[Can't focus. Besides, even if I don't want to admit it, your method of spiritual circulation will help me improve faster in the long run. I'd just choose to sleep.] Ame said, already initiating the process.

[I see... oh yeah, I grasped more of the laws this time. I should be able to give you the palm technique I promised you in seventy-nine years.]

[Oh, it got reduced by a hundred years since last month, that's good to know.] Ame opened her eyes again, [You do realize you don't have to give me anything, right?]

[And allow you to fight with your techniques that sacrifice the body? You will destroy yourself before you even get to those Sovereigns.]

[...I see, or are you just saying that to again postpone your own cultivation?] Ame asked, [I am thankful for what I receive, and I already understand that what you can give with your knowledge about techniques and methods are far more advanced than what I encountered in my previous life. I am improving ten times faster than I thought because of your help, Kiel, but are you doing this to avoid facing indecisions?]

Kiel stared at the ceiling for a while, thinking, how different this life is from before, [...in the past, no one could read me. But, it appears I am more of an open book to you.]

[Yeah, having shared your psyche helped a lot.] Ame grumbled.

The two had only been together for four months. But their thoughts were always together, without being separated. They understood each other far more than they were willing to admit.

Ame especially spent a lot of time trying to read Kiel.

[You are straightforward in everything, but when it comes to the topic of cultivation, you tip-toe around the matter. You focused on strengthening your body without cultivating to avoid that, right?]

[I just don't know how to approach... living with choices.] he bitterly laughed.

Ame once again closed her eyes, [Take it from someone who spent her life in the crossroads of decisions, if you spend too much time thinking and not acting, when you finally decide to do so, everything will be far too late. Then, you can only watch from the side, thinking, "if only I did something earlier," it is not a good feeling.]

Kiel could feel a hint of sadness and loss from her words.

[...thank you for that...]

The night ended with Ame feeling a little tired, but she fell asleep, smiling, leaving Kiel alone with his thoughts.

'What is it that I want?'

It was midnight when he finally got the chance to sleep.