The next day, Kiel went out with Ame. They were being watched by Ava as to not have any kind of accident.

At this time, Noah was preparing to leave and hunt when he saw his children saying their goodbyes to him. Feeling the strength of an entire Legion, Noah set forth to hunt his biggest game.

"Rabrul! Get ready; I'm taking your heart!" he cried as he flew away with astonishing speed.

Watching his father leave, Kiel stared at the blue skies.

[Huh... had the skies always been this big?]

Only now, when he did not hold the world at his hands, did he get to see how vast it was. It astonished him, and he asked Ame for confirmation as if he had not looked up to the skies even once.

But she did not give an answer.

Ame felt that she shouldn't say anything and, thus, she didn't utter a word.

It could only be answered by his own interpretation.

He sat on the grass patch that Ava carefully trims every morning and looked into the distance.

The way he sat made him seem like an aged person despite his infantile vessel. It seemed comical for Ava as she smiled at the sight of this and just watched him from behind.

Kiel thought about it and reminisced about his life before and compared it to now.

He was silent through, and in the end, he came to a single conclusion... he was satisfied with this life. Though he was now weaker than he ever was, the fact remained that his life was more colorful than it ever did.

He got to feel small and insignificant.

But he was not one of a kind in this world.

He was no longer the Drifting Leaf but a Reed like everyone else.

Kiel felt appeased without anyone looking up to him in reverence or those screaming in terror.

[Ame... this is a good life.] he said as he turned to Ame.

[It seems like you found the answer to your problems.]

[I did.]

[Hoooh, what is it?]

[I don't want to cultivate.]

His mind was now clear.

He didn't want to cultivate because his own talent frightened him.

That it would once again open the doors to him unable to spend a life of mundanity.

Though the family he had this time around did not have anything and was shrouded by mysteries. But it was clear that he was now living with much more vibrant life.

And as he smiled, he accepted this life to his.

Ame yawned at his revelations, [Well if that's your decision. Don't worry, I can protect you easily.]

"Aiya, is Ame still sleepy? Come now, let's get back inside." Ava picked up both Ame and Kiel and brought them inside.

Being carried away, Ame closed her eyes, but she still talked, [So, what do you want to do now? Without cultivation, you have a lot of time to burn.]

[I want to read a book.]

Other than the knowledge he received from the Ouroboros, the cultivated curiosity to uncover mysteries remained.

[Is that so? Yeah, good luck covering that up with baby noises.]

[I'll try convincing Mother and Father in a year or so. But for now, why don't you tell me what you know about the world?]

[Sure... but... only after I take a nappppppp~zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.] Ame's words trailed off as she fell asleep.

With his thoughts, without any more indecisions, Kiel planned his life while living a life as a good son.

Kiel helped Ame with cultivation, and she taught Kiel about letters and the world.

Eleven months later, the twins finally became one year old.

Thirty more months later, when they reached the age of three, Ame requested to learn how to fight while Kiel read books.

Ava and Noah were flabbergasted by their choices. Their choices seemed reverse from what they expected, but the two only laughed.

"All right! I'll turn my baby girl into the strongest Goddess!" Noah roared.

"And as for you, my little Scholar, Mother will teach you the letters!" Ava ruffled Kiel's hair.

While the twins destroyed their parents' expectations, their fleeting days passed without any of them noticing, and another four years passed.

Kiel and Ame were now several years of age. His body was healthy, and his mind was a vault of unknown knowledge.

He continued living as a good son, compensating for the more rambunctious and livelier Ame. In the mundane passing of his days, Kiel had never been happier.

Without worrying about status and image, letting the days pass gave him untold satisfaction.

Stopping his cultivation after reaching peak Mortal physique when he was two was the best decision he made.

Kiel did not pursue mystical arts, simply a body full of vitality and life.

He was smaller than a grain of sand from who he was in the past, but Kiel was satisfied.

Humming, Kiel walked along the forest's treeline that Noah goes to every day. On Kiel's hand was a meter-long stick, his mind, at ease.

Currently, Kiel was watching someone else's life as he went on a stroll. It was the life of an undefeated Martial Emperor, one that ruled an Immortal Empire for a hundred thousand years.

The one Kiel was watching was his final and most glorious moment, the siege of his empire, where he dared to launch a sneak attack on the Coalition of Immortal Emperors he was at war with.

The Martial Emperor fought with a gallant smile and unwavering will using a single spear. He died only after he claimed all of the scheming bastard's head.

He died after succumbing to his injuries.

In the end, he died without anyone ever defeating him. A glorious life, one Kiel was envious of.

'His Spear is not bad.' Kiel praised the Undefeated Martial Emperor's spear. He poised his body as he felt an itch to move, 'It had been a while since I used the spear to train my body.'

His steps stopped, and Kiel faced a tree, 'Why not?' he shrugged to fulfill his desires.

Kiel took a half step and twisted the stick in his hand. The stick touched the tree trunk without so much as a hint of energy coming out of him.

Tap!

Nothing happened.

He then heard a voice inside his mind, [Kiel, come back home, Mama is looking for you.]

Kiel's attention was taken, and he turned his back to the tree trunk, [I am on my way, Ame.]

As Kiel walked away, the stick in his hand turned to dust, and the tree he tapped, as well as two others behind it, now bore a clean hole.

===

Night, Family Dinner.

"Papa…"

"Hmmm, what is it? Dear, can you give me some more rice?"

"Can I go with you to the town with Mother tomorrow?"

Noah stopped his thoughts, Kiel continued eating, and Ava filled up Noah's bowl with rice.

Noah looked at Ame, "Why do you want to go there?"

'He didn't refuse outright, but he did not agree either.'

[He knows, Ame.] Kiel said as he took a bite of the dried herbs, [Father may act dumb, but he's smarter than most scholars. Besides, they haven't even allowed us to leave our home. They must have their reasons, and now you are asking them for something like this.]

Kiel explained.

"Mother, please pass the sauce."

"Here."

Ame was hesitant to continue, but she sent Kiel a sneaky look, [Help me, brother.], but she knew he could save her.

Kiel raised his head and sighed at the sight of Ame, [You only really ask of me when you need me don't you?] He complained but didn't bother arguing; he did say he'd do anything for them if they ever asked. That is what family was — or so he believed.

Kiel placed his bowl of rice down, "Don't worry about Ame, Father. I would be coming as well to look after her."

"Why?" Noah asked the same thing.

"We all know she's going to do something troublesome—"

[Hey!] Ame shouted in their minds.

Kiel didn't bother reacting.

"I'll be there, so she doesn't do anything that will incriminate her," Kiel said as he looked at the troublemaker that was his sister.

"You are talking as if I already allowed her to go already," Noah crossed his arms.

"Father, everyone knows you're going to allow her anyway, despite your words. You'll buckle, and then you'd give her the permission after she sheds crocodile tears." As he handed his bowl to Ava, Kiel said, "Mother, I would like to have another bowl, please."

"You make it sound like I dote on Ame."

Kiel and Ava stopped eating.

The mother-and-son pair looked at each other and then at Noah.

Both of them held questioning gazes.

They said nothing, but their points got across clearly.

"Wait, seriously, I do not dote on her... too much."

No one listened to his cries.

Noah looked over at Ava next, seeking a companion, but all that he got was a laugh, "I have no need to speak, right now."

This son of his was someone who seldom asked for anything. He never did anything against what his parents told him to do and

would only ever do anything if Ame was concerned.

Noah had no reason to forbid them from going. But he still didn't want to allow Ame to go.

Noah taught Ame to fight, and now she wanted to venture out. He was worried about her for reasons he could not speak out loud.

'Even Kiel is asking for it... and he doesn't even train nor wish for anything... ughhhhhhhh.' Noah felt conflicted.

Ava could only sigh at the plight of her husband, "Just let them go with me, Noah. It will not be a problem, and besides, according to your Family Contract, our children are not included in any prohibition."

"....Ugh, fine! I'll let you go."

"Really!?" Ame's eyes glowed, "Thank you, Papa!"

"But! Only if Kiel promises to make sure your sister does not wander off and attract trouble like when she wandered into the territory of a Stone Python and almost got swallowed whole."

"That was only one time~" Ame protested.

"I will protect her. Do not worry, Father."

"Mm."

Kiel assured Noah as the two of them ignored Ame's rambling.

Everyone returned to eating as Ame felt embarrassed. She returned to eating and soon enough finished. She never answered what she wanted to do in the town, but everyone was well aware.

While Kiel and Ame lay in the bedroom added to their home, Kiel asked, [Why do you want to go to Town?]

Ame opened her eyes, [I want my own Soul Beast and enter the second Realm of Cultivation; I cannot get what I want if I don't reach the second Realm. And though they wouldn't say it outright, they warned me sternly of the horrors I would come to. Vivid illustrations of what is to come if I decide to walk the path of a Cultivator. Our parents… do not like us cultivating even though they are cultivators in a high realm. I do not know what the reason is, but I can't stop... not yet.]

Like Kiel, Ame was seven years of age, but she pursued cultivation like a mad hound, unlike him.

Cultivation was split into several Major Realms and into Nine Sub Layers.

The First Realm was called the Consolidated Realm and was further split into three different Levels of Mastery:

The first to third level was [Martial Body], the fourth to sixth was [Martial Blood], and the seventh to ninth was [Martial Master].

These three created the Stages of the Consolidated Realm, and Ame had already reached the Ninth Level Martial Master Stage.

The First Realm of Cultivation could be pursued without a problem because it was a realm without particular requirements. One only needs to refine the body, bone, organs, blood, and the internal structure where the Soul-Beast resides.

Ame has already reached the peak of the first Realm.

She was getting stronger but was halted by the lack of a Soul-Beast.

A Soul-Beast was what one would expect from its name alone; it was the Soul of a slain Beast. This Soul-Beast would be the crux of her future Cultivation, and Ame was trying to search for a beast that was compatible with her.

[It had already been a year since I asked for a Soul Beast, and they have given countless reasons why they couldn't give one to me. Too early, too young, that I am not ready, the weather to hunt is not acceptable, finding a suitable beast is hard, and so much more.]

Ame pursed her lips in frustration.

[I'll get a Soul Beast, even if Mother and Father say otherwise.] Ame was determined to get what she wanted. Though she knew what she was doing was utterly selfish, Ame was prepared to be desirous to get what she wanted.

To succeed in cultivation, one must have a bare minimum of determination. A Cultivator must commit acts that would seem perverted to others, so they can ascend. To rise from the mundane and climb to the greatest path was what Ame wanted. She wanted to get revenge. To make those who took everything from her suffer. Ame may have been a mere thief in her previous life, but that life was hers… and she'll get her revenge no matter what happens.

'If you cannot get anything in return, then what is the use of getting revenge?' Kiel only saw the benefits and nothing else.

Revenge takes more than gives.

He had recalled trillions of revenge stories to try and understand Ame, but Kiel remained oblivious. He simply could not understand.

But, Kiel did not want to say anything to her, 'Just because I do not understand it does mean it is meaningless.'

[Well, if you had just told me earlier, I would have done something better.]

[It's okay... you've already given me enough.] Ame held Kiel's hand, [Don't worry, I'll come back as soon as I get my revenge.]

[...you can take your time.] Kiel said in their minds with a smile that hid another meaning.