“That’s what’s always confused me—and my wife,” Gadeon says. “At first, we wondered if Gadeon's blood carried some dormant trace of his mother’s Chi-Lung. Maybe he inherited it, just without an affinity for water.”

  “Impossible,” Simeon said firmly. “Gloria’s lungs aren’t adapted for the deep. The pressure alone would rupture them without wearing a mask from our technology. More than that, our Chi-Lungs are woven with living fibers bound to Water Ma-qi particles. When we inhale water, those particles condense within the lungs, transmuting it into breathable air. It is a constant, controlled conversion—one that Gloria’s lungs simply cannot perform.”

  She paused, letting the implication settle. “Without that structure, no amount of shared blood could grant the ability to breathe below the sea.”

  “Obviously, I know all of that,” Gaedric says. “You’re forgetting—both my parents are water flexors. So even if I can’t flex, it shouldn’t prevent my son from doing so. And yet…”

  He pauses.

  “…Gadeon breathes as if he’s above the surface. Perfectly. But he can’t Water Flex.”

  “Yes,” Simeon replies quietly. “And that’s why I called him peculiar. There have been many cases where an individual in a family can’t use Chi-Lungs, while others can. That alone isn’t strange. What is strange is this—why can he breathe normally at all?”

  She turns to Gaedric. “Have you had his lungs scanned?”

  “Of course,” Gaedric answers. “He didn’t inherit the disease from me. His lungs are clear—aside from a slight irregularity in their shape.”

  “Irregular?” Headmaster Reuben asks.

  “Yes,” Gaedric nods. “But the doctor said it’s genetic—biological. Nothing life-threatening.”

  Simeon doesn’t relax. “Did they tell you whether he has a sufficient amount of Ma-qi particles in his lungs?”

  Gaedric doesn’t respond.

  A bead of cold sweat slips down his temple.

  “Gaedric?” Reuben presses.

  “…When it comes to Ma-qi,” Gaedric finally says, voice low, “he has less than I do.”

  Both Simeon and Reuben stiffen.

  “What?” Simeon breathes.

  “That doesn’t make sense,” Reuben says. “If that’s true, then it would mean he has—”

  “He doesn’t,” Gaedric cuts in sharply.

  “What do you mean he doesn’t?” Simeon snaps. “Gluttoneria is what prevents individuals from flexing at all. It consumes Ma-qi particles within the Chi-Lungs, stopping accumulation entirely. If he has less Ma-qi than you, then by all logic—”

  “There were no signs,” Gaedric interrupts. “No traces. The scans showed nothing. No Gluttoneria. Nothing at all.”

  Silence crashes down on the room.

  “…Who was this doctor?” Simeon finally asks, her voice tight. “And how has a report like this not been documented or made known? This is unheard of.”

  “It’s because the doctor assumes that if Gadeon can breathe underwater, and there are no signs of Gluttoneria, then his Chi-Lungs must simply be delayed,” Headmaster Reuben says. “Is that correct?”

  “That’s exactly what he said,” Gaedric replies. “It’s extremely rare, but it does happen. He believes that’s what’s happening with Gadeon right now.”

  “A late Flexor,” Gaedric adds.

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “I see,” Simeon says slowly. “But even so—if he has no detectable Water Ma-qi particles, that still doesn’t explain how he’s able to breathe underwater.”

  “The doctor said there has to be Water Ma-qi present,” Gaedric answers. “It’s impossible to breathe underwater without it. His theory is that the particles are transparent—undetectable by the eye or current technology. Apparently, that’s happened before… on very rare occasions.”

  “To an extent, that makes sense,” Reuben says, folding his arms. “But there are still holes in that explanation.”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Gaedric admits.

  “Were there any traces of Fire Ma-qi particles?” Simeon asks.

  “None.”

  Simeon exhales slowly, leaning back and staring up at the ceiling. “In all my years, I’ve never heard of a case like this.”

  She looks back at Gaedric. “Are you sure he’s feeling fine? No side effects? No abnormalities?”

  “I don’t know,” Gaedric says flatly. “Since you like calling him your grandson so much, why don’t you ask him yourself?”

  “Aww, why are you being like that?” Simeon replies, feigning offence.

  “Because you always claim he’s your grandson,” Gaedric says, “yet you’ve never had a single conversation with him—despite him attending this dojo for five years.”

  “As Deputy Headmaster, I can’t be seen openly doting on a child,” Simeon says. “That would raise questions.”

  “Then don’t dote,” Gaedric replies, giving her a strange look.

  “If I don’t dote, I might say something rude and make him cry,” Simeon says bluntly.

  “Cry?” Gaedric scoffs. “Yeah—you really don’t know your so-called grandson at all. He sees crying and showing emotion as cringe. Weakness.”

  Simeon frowns. “He’s only ten… why does he think like that?”

  “I have no idea,” Gaedric says with a shrug.

  Headmaster Reuben clears his throat.

  “Anyway,” he says, “this conversation has gone on quite a tangent—largely due to a certain doting grandmother.”

  cough cough

  “Sorry about that,” Simeon says, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.

  “Oh? I thought this meeting was about Gadeon?” Gaedric asks.

  “I’d say that was a bonus,” Headmaster Reuben replies. “But that’s not what this meeting is about.”

  “Then what is it about?” Gaedric asks.

  “We want to know the progress of the experiment you’ve been working on,” Reuben says, his expression intrigued.

  “Ah,” Gaedric realises. “Being a pioneer takes time, but I can tell you—”

  KNOCK.

  KNOCK.

  The three teachers pause as the sudden knocking echoes through the door.

  “Who is it?” Gaedric calls out.

  “It’s not for you to answer,” Deputy Simeon whispers sharply, scolding him.

  “Ah—Gaedric, you’re still there? Perfect timing then,” Alfred’s voice comes from the other side of the door.

  “See?” Gaedric smirks.

  “You may come in,” Headmaster Reuben says.

  The door opens. Alfred steps inside — and beside him are both Gadeon and Ami.

  Gadeon looks beaten, his clothes ragged and scuffed. Ami’s eyes are red and puffy from crying — tears still clinging stubbornly as he struggles to steady his breathing.

  “I—I’m so, so sorry,” Ami says, his voice trembling as he begins to hyperventilate again, tears spilling over.

  “Oh, stop crying already. And how many times are you going to apologise? Man up,” Gadeon snaps irritably.

  Gaedric, Reuben, and Simeon exchange looks.

  “In fact,” Gaedric suddenly says aloud, “this is an opportunity.”

  Everyone turns to him, confused.

  “Gadeon!” Gaedric calls out.

  “What?!” Gadeon fires back disrespectfully.

  Ami flinches, his tears halting as his brows knit together. “D-Don’t talk to him like that!”

  “Shut up—”

  “Ah, it’s fine, Ami,” Gaedric says calmly, smiling. “That’s just how we communicate.”

  “Bu—but—” Ami stammers, caught completely off guard.

  “Anyway, Gadeon, come say hi to your grandma,” Gaedric says as he points at Simeon, catching her off guard as she flinches.

  “Huh? Grandma?” Gadeon tilts his head. “But didn’t you say you don’t speak to your parents?”

  “OH MY GOSH—YOU LISTENED TO ME?!” Gaedric blurts out, spinning toward the SLT members. “GUYS, MY SON ACTUALLY LISTENS WHEN I TALK ABOUT HIS HERITAGE!”

  “Oh, shut it. I only remember because you kept forcing it down my throat—barging into my room without my consent,” Gadeon snaps.

  “Wrong phrasing, buddy,” Gaedric says quickly, scanning the room. “Very wrong phrasing.”

  Wow… for a ten-year-old, he articulates himself frighteningly well, Simeon thinks. But then again, I’ve noticed many students his age are beginning to speak like that.

  “Anyway,” Gaedric continues, clearing his throat, “you’re right. She’s not my mother. Or anything like that.”

  “But I did raise him—like that one time—”

  “ANYWAY!” Gaedric cuts her off sharply. “She’s always wanted to meet you, but she’s shy.”

  “You liar!” Simeon snaps. “Who ever said I was shy?!”

  “Isn’t she shy, Pops?” Gaedric turns to Reuben.

  “Kind of,” Reuben replies calmly.

  Simeon’s eye twitches. “Don’t encourage this childish behaviour!”

  “Childish?” Gaedric scoffs. “Who you calling a child, Granny?”

  “Do I need to discipline you like I used to?!” Simeon fires back.

  Alfred watches the exchange in stunned silence.

  I’ve worked here for years. Deputy Simeon has always been stoic and terrifyingly composed. And yet here she is—arguing with Gaedric like this is completely normal. Meanwhile, the Headmaster isn’t stopping it at all… he looks entertained.

  Who are you, Gaedric? Alfred wonders.