A Prodigy

As days went by …

Shams became close to Master Wushu and his disciples.

They started to look after him by turns.

The younger ones volunteer more often than the others because the {Seniors} and {Juniors} are required to train more than the younger ones.

There are times that the topic for the whole day was all about Shams.

It fascinates them that at such a young age, Shams was crawling faster than any baby they have seen.

Then he even started walking and running around the place while being chased around by his babysitters.

A new ambiance was created due to the presence of a baby around the school.

More laughter …

More loud noises going on …

More active movements within the grounds of the school…

In short, Shams became a ray of light that brightens the day of everyone.

Especially with Master Wushu, he became more attached to Shams than he expected.

He was able to register Shams in his registry to make it official that he is the guardian of Shams.

Though, he made it appear that Shams is already more than 1 year old. He does not want to create any suspicion or any unnecessary attention from outsiders.

Only he and his disciples know the truth about Shams' real age.

But Master Wushu and Feilong were the only ones who knows that Shams is a survivor from the Noble Wolf Clan.

While the others are training, the younger ones are tasked to read their lessons and other books in the library.

"This sucks! Why do we have to keep reading and reading all this lessons while the others have more time to train?" Hawks complained while the others kept reading.

"Just shut it, Hawks! Be like Ryoku, he is not complaining with reading." Maya pointed out to the whining Hawks about how much behaved Shams has been with them the entire time.

The younger ones were also tasked to look after Shams while they are reading their lessons for the day.

At the same time, Shams has started to learn more about the language of this new world and the history of the society that he needs to get accustomed to.

After finishing the entire volume of books about language in this new world, he started to read about society, sects, and cultivation.

'Hmmm… So much to learn! No time to even get distracted with whining little kids.' Thought by Shams while holding a book about society and sects.

'Basically, everyone here in this world needs to be a great cultivator in order to attain success or even to such point, immortality!' As Shams delve deeper into the books he is reading.

Billy has been observing Shams ever since they started reading in the library. Shams has been quietly sitting on top of the table focused on reading the books that contained information that he needed to know at the moment.

Even though he was from another world, the texts of the literature became familiar in his eyes.

Though, he had to start reading about the language so he would know how to speak those words and the intonation as well.

When he finished reading about it, he started to read further to know more and books started to pile up beside him.

It made Billy more curious as he watches Shams reach for the books around him. He could see Shams looking and checking at every book around him. Such a scene amuses Billy because he could see a baby moving around the table then grabbing the book he desires.

"Hey, Maya! Is little Ryoku even reading those books or acting like he is reading? He has been grabbing books and holding it like he is reading it." Billy curiously stated his observation.

Maya then looked at the scene that Billy pointed out.

And she sees Shams adorably reading a book while some books piled up beside him.

"Aww!! Little Ryoku is trying to imitate us. I guess he is trying his best to be a disciple too." Maya expressing her adoration towards Shams.

"But it seems like he is reading for real. And he looks so serious! For a baby, he really creeps me out…" Billy whispering at Maya while pointing at Shams who is not bothered by their talking or their amused reactions.

"Billy, will you be more rational? Little Ryoku, reading? Seriously!" Hawks telling Billy how impossible it is for a baby to understand what is written in the texts.

"I am just stating that …" right before Billy could finish his sentence, Shams looked at Billy with such serious look in his eyes while covering the half of his face with the book he is holding in his tiny hands.

"Woah!" Billy exclaimed as he fell from his seat after seeing Shams look at him with such stabbing stares.

"Y-you saw that right?" Billy asked Maya as affirmation to what he saw.

Unfortunately, he was the only one who saw Shams stare at him with such stabbing stares.

"Saw what? Just read your book Billy and stop spouting some nonsense. If Master Wushu finds out that you have not memorized or learned the things he made us read then you will definitely won't have a ration for tomorrow's dinner." Maya putting some sense into Billy who is a little bit crept out by Shams' odd behavior.

By the mention of getting punished and not having a ration for tomorrow's dinner, Billy immediately went back to his reading even though he is still a bit crept out with Shams' oddness.

Everyone became focused in their reading and let Shams act on his own while they are studying and reading.

In their deep concentration in reading and trying to understand their lessons, Shams was also immersed in his own research and learning.

As time passed by,

Days…

Then it became weeks …

And then months …

Everything was like a routine where everything seemed to be normal.

Until one day.

"Aaaah!!!" Feilong screamed and fell to the ground.

Master Wushu checked what is going on with Feilong in the library.

"Feilong! What is going on here?" Master Wushu asking his disciple who looked shocked.

The other young ones followed Master Wushu and wondered what happened as well.

"R-r-yoku! L-l-ittle Ryoku… H-he spoke straight sentences…" Feilong was stuttering while explaining to their master what he heard.

Shams who is standing in front of Feilong, face palmed and covered his face for forgetting that he was supposed to act like his age.

'Darn it! Sometimes, I really forget that I am a toddler. Oh well, since he already heard me. I better start talking but as they say, baby steps! I cannot ruin this!' said by Shams to himself.

They see Shams coughed and started to speak while pointing at the book he wanted to reach for, "Up! Up! Read … Read …"

As Shams continued his act,

"Awww!!" Maya could not contain her adoration for Shams.

Feilong felt irritated by the facade that Shams was trying to put out.

"What, up, Up!?! You asked me a while ago if I can hand you over the book about Yin-Yang System. So do not pretend like you did not do anything! Speak up, you little squirt!" Feilong trying to disclose what really happened.

Then it made Shams realize that he needs to find an excuse before Master Wushu suspects anything.

There was one thing that was effective even in this times when being cornered.

"Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!" a loud cry released by Shams trying to cover up what just happened.

"Brother Feilong! You making Little Ryoku cry." Maya and the other younger ones rushed to Shams' side trying to comfort him.

When Shams thought that it was already working, even though he is faking his crying, there were real tears falling from his eyes.

It made Feilong a little guilty seeing Shams fake his cry after venting his frustration.

But Master Wushu knew Feilong for a long time and there was one thing that he was sure of… Feilong never lies and his observations are always on point.

That same night,

As soon as everything went quiet,

Shams decided to sneak and get some books to read since he was not able to read for the night.

He took his blanket to cover him and make an alibi just in case he gets caught.

Carefully, Shams looked around to check if the coast is clear from the patrolling {senior-rank} disciples.

Looking left, and then right…

It was a silly sight to behold.

A sight like a moving blanket but underneath is a toddler trying to sneak towards the library.

On his way, his tracks suddenly stopped as he trips on the ground due to someone stepping on the edge of the blanket.

"Ow! What the hell?" Shams scratched his forehead and saw the silhouette of Master Wushu.

Realizing that he just declared himself, he immediately covered his mouth.

The breeze of the wind was so cold under the bright moon and loud as the two stared at each other.

"Feilong was right, you can speak! Why have to hide it? Answer now, little Ryoku!" Master Wushu demanded at Shams.

There was no other choice but to come clean at Master Wushu.

And he heaved a deep sigh. "I am sorry Master for keeping this from you and pretending for quite some time now."

"Since when you had the ability to speak fluently, Ryoku?" Master Wushu asking Shams with such a serious tone.

"Weeks after I read about the book -Origins of the Language- and the -Founding of Sects- …" Shams replied their master.

Master Wushu was astonished and amused by the revelation of Shams.

He then asked further, "Why need to hide the fact that you can actually speak fluently now?"

"I just don't want to create any unnecessary attention. And I do not want to get bullied by bigger kids if they find out I am an odd one." Shams thought that due to his previous experience in his previous life.

The odd ones are usually the ones getting bullied and treated badly. He does not want to go through such an experience as that.

Especially in a world where magic and impossible things in his previous world are actually real.

"So you think your brothers and sisters here will do those things to you?" Master Wushu pointed out such an important realization.

All this time, Shams was too worried about how other disciples would treat him or would they treat him badly if once they found out his brilliant intellect.

Forgetting that these past few months as well, he was spending such a great time with them.

Being fed by them…

Taking turns to just look after him …

Making him forget that he went through such a nightmare and a great deal of losses…

For such period of time, he felt that he was truly surrounded by family.

Tears started to well up around his eyes.

"I-I am sooorry!!" Shams started to apologize and keeping his tears contained.

Reflecting that he has acted badly around his fellow disciples and became untrusting towards them when all they did was care for him genuinely.

A smile formed on Master Wushu's face witnessing Shams bare his heart to him.

He comforted Shams and carried him within his arms.

"Hush now… Why are you even out at this time of the night?" further asked by Master Wushu to Shams.

"I-I j-just w-wanted to read some books ab-bout c-cultiva-ation and Dantian." Shams replied while rubbing his eyes.

To stop his tears from falling but mostly to hide his own shame just in case his tears starts flowing.

Amused by the interest of Shams in learning things at such a young age.

'A prodigy …' thought by Master Wushu to himself as he carried Shams back to his room.