Li HaiZhu crouched under the shade of the great cherry blossom tree outside the Zhu Hai Lian Sect's main hall, her tiny fingers digging into the soft earth. The spring wind rustled the petals, sending a cascade of pink down like a gentle rain. At three years old, she looked like any other mortal child, her round face smudged with dirt as she poked at the soil, wondering how plants managed to grow despite the chaos of the world.
But Li HaiZhu wasn't like the other disciples.
Behind her wide eyes lay the mind of Sharvari, a mortal from another life. A mortal who remembered books, movies, and stories that felt like relics from another world.
She remembered her love for the *Percy Jackson* series most vividly—stories of brave demigods, dangerous quests, and her favorite hero, Percy. It was a name that carried weight in her thoughts, though she couldn't place why.
Today, though, her thoughts were heavy. She stared at a particularly stubborn weed in the dirt, trying to pull it free with all her might. But her mind wasn't on the task.
"Percy..." she whispered. "What would my life have been like with you?"
She knew the name because of her memories as Sharvari, yet something deeper tugged at her heart when she thought of it. A name linked not just to a fictional hero but to something real, something missing.
---Poseidon stood in the shadows, watching his daughter from afar. His ocean-green eyes, so like hers, softened as he observed the child's small figure. She seemed happy enough here, cared for and thriving under the guidance of the Zhu Hai Lian Sect. And yet, there was always a trace of melancholy in her gaze, a weight too heavy for a child so young.
He clenched his fists.
Poseidon rarely allowed himself the luxury of such visits, knowing the risk. His daughter's scent was potent enough to draw monsters across oceans. Even now, as he concealed himself with ancient magic, he felt the faint stirrings of creatures in the distance, like sharks circling blood in the water.
But tonight, he couldn't resist. Something had drawn him here—a pull stronger than any he'd felt before. Perhaps it was guilt. Or maybe it was the faint ripple of sadness he sensed from his child even across continents.
And now, watching her, he wondered if the sadness came from an absence she couldn't quite name.
"Do you miss him?" Poseidon murmured under his breath, his voice nearly drowned by the wind. "Your brother?"
---Li HaiZhu tugged harder at the weed until it came free with a satisfying snap. She sat back, examining her prize with a triumphant grin that quickly faded as her thoughts spiraled again. "If I had a twin," she muttered, her voice barely audible, "he'd probably be just as chaotic as me. Maybe worse. We'd probably break everything in sight."
She giggled at the thought but then fell silent, a strange ache settling in her chest.
Somehow, she felt like she *should* have a twin. The feeling was irrational, she knew. But it lingered, stubborn and unshakable, like the weed she'd just uprooted.
"What are you thinking about, little one?"
The sudden voice startled her, and she turned to see Elder Wen, the kindly sect leader, standing nearby. His long beard swayed in the breeze, and his eyes twinkled with warmth.
"Nothing important, Shifu," she replied, standing and brushing dirt from her robes.
Elder Wen studied her for a moment before giving a soft smile. "The mind of a child is often full of mysteries. But remember this, HaiZhu—wherever your thoughts wander, the heavens will always guide you."
"Yes, Shifu," she said dutifully, bowing low.
But as Elder Wen walked away, her thoughts turned not to the heavens but to the sea. ---Poseidon lingered a while longer, his heart heavy as he watched his daughter's small form retreat into the temple. She was so much like him—curious, determined, and burdened with more than she should have to bear.
He wanted to call out to her, to reveal himself and take her into his arms. To tell her about her twin, Percy, who was growing up unaware of her existence, just as she was of his.
But the risks were too great.
For now, he could only watch from the shadows, hoping that one day she would forgive him for the choice he had made to keep her safe.
And yet, as he disappeared into the night, the image of her sullen expression lingered in his mind.
Perhaps the pull of family—of blood—was stronger than even a god could understand.