After his fourth birthday, Ren entered a year that would later be remembered only by him. No one noticed the subtle changes—the faint glimmer of mischief in his eyes, the way he lingered a moment longer by the water bowl, or how he silently observed the ripple patterns when the wind touched the pond.
This year was not filled with grand incidents. Instead, it was a time of careful observation and small experiments. Ren tested his influence in nearly invisible ways: a cup slightly tipped over, a leaf nudged just enough to wobble, and Mio startled or delighted by something only he could have caused. Each minor effect was cataloged in his mind, forming a mental log of cause and consequence.
He also refined his control over the chakra that slumbered inside him. It was a gentle practice: moving tiny threads of energy through his fingers, feeling how far he could push himself before discomfort, and learning patience and restraint. Every subtle shift in energy was a lesson in precision.
By the end of this year, Ren had grown confident in his understanding of the physical world and human reactions. He knew what could go unnoticed, what would draw attention, and how to manipulate outcomes without anyone suspecting. This quiet training prepared him for the first deliberate display of his abilities—a moment he would later describe as both thrilling and inevitable.
As his fifth birthday approached, Ren returned to the pond where he had first watched the ripples dance across the surface. He knelt, cupped his hands, and lifted the water into a small sphere. It hovered, trembling slightly, yet obeying him completely. For the first time, he felt the joy of creation rather than mere observation. The experiments had begun in earnest.