Zenith was elated as he felt the Aether enter his body at a fair rate. It seemed his methods worked quite well. Bit by bit gathering and then converging towards his heart. With his expertise, this was more so filling up a battery to use later on.

While people who gathered energy would need to use it immediately or their body couldn't take it, he was skilled enough with Aether to understand how to store and maintain it properly. He also wanted to wait a bit and refer to the knowledge he currently had from the supreme divinities from the four universes.

He understood that if he could compare what he knew and with what they knew at the time, then he would be able to discover a method that had a great possibility of being unique for him. If he was to cultivate again, it was best to go the route that would lead him down the best path rather then sacrificing quality for speed and quantity.

There was also the fact that he needed to be careful with how much attention he brought to himself. He was still a defenceless baby, after all. not a minute later did he feel mentally exhausted and tired. "Still a weak baby's body after all..." He was a little bitter as he fell asleep, unable to control himself.

-----

Day's turned to weeks which in turn changed to months. Zenith was taken care of by Jagartha as well as Nelel who had grown attached to him. His father had visited several times a week happy sometimes irritated as well as occasionally thoughtful.

The biggest positive was he had more or less understood their language to a fair degree give or take a few sentences, thanks to his perception and soul power, his memory was quite good.

Today was a clear, breezy one with Nelel looking after Zenith while he was on his cradle outside. Wrapped in those healing bandages glancing around from time to time, he was a little frustrated right now because if the older women Jagartha was not around him, then this girl was, meaning he had less time to gather and store Aether.

"Look little one I made you this! Isn't it pretty?" the 13-year-old nelel in a makeshift yet well-tailored fur and leather dress brought a necklace made of flowers and herbs towards Zenith's bandaged head before moving it around his neck.

Zenith had heard of situations in those old recordings and wasn't sure what it meant, but now he understood the saying of being unsure whether to laugh or cry as appropriate. He was annoyed but at the same time understood she was trying to take care of him.

On the bright side, he had adjusted his state of mind and gotten used to his current situation. He could feel his physical body and soul change for the better as every day passed on but knew there was still plenty of time to go. His burns had yet to heal a bit.

"Little one you look so cute, like a cocoon that will one day become a handsome butterfly. The tribe's girls will all be screaming for you!" she laughed warmly. It seemed despite her age she was quite knowledgeable and semi-mature mostly due to Jagartha's teachings.

Nelel looked at the little brown eyes glancing back at her with no expression; she pouted gently. She then reached up and carefully picked up the bandaged baby before rubbing his back softly.

She spoke "You never say anything or cry; you only make sounds when you are hungry. If you don't feel any emotions, how will you make friends? it's tough to make friends even for someone amazing like me to make friends."

She spoke as if teaching him a life lesson, but it also showed that despite her circumstances, those children her age in the village didn't see them as one of their own.

"-Friends? There is nothing more soothing for an expert then quiet isolation, though I guess this girl can't help worry-" he decided he would throw her a bone. "mngh..." he let out a soft baby cooing sound.

"Little one?!" Nelel's eyes widened with excitement as she turned to glance at Zenith's face. "Little one did you say something? Repeat it for big sister" Zenith wanted to sight but obliged. He had heard talks and more or less understood that this girl nelel was an orphan, as for her details he wasn't entirely clear yet.

"Mcrngh.." He uttered again to the joy of the girl who smiled widely and spun him around in the air. "Little one you can understand me!! That's amazing." she brought him close to her and gently hugged him.

A voice suddenly called out from inside the home. "Nelel its time for his nap. Let him sleep for a little" Jagarthas voice sounded out. Nelel looked a bit annoyed before smiling back at Zenith. "Time for your rest" she took him inside.

Meanwhile a half-hour away a prosperous village with homes made of both rock and wood was boisterous in this afternoon. This village seemed to hold a thousand or so member's although they were mountain people they seemed quite well off and happy.

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Within the largest home situated against a mountain, there was a hallway that led inside, lit by flame torches, at the end was a large circular room that contained what appeared to be important objects as well as seats of fur and wood.

"Arnon. You know our ways. They won't let you see Miana at all and if you force your way in it will make matters worse for our tribe. Its time you forget her and that creature son of yours." an elderly man who looked a bit over fifty with a robust stout build uttered, his beard greyish and head shaved.

"Creature son of mine?" Arnon, who was nearby, felt annoyed, his face constricting in anger. "Father, I expected at least you to support me, but you treat my son no better than those elders all the time. That day you and the elders saw him you cursed to the high heavens that you would never accept him" he is still my blood, your blood!!

The man who was Arnon's father, stood up and smashed his fist against the stone table, causing it to crack. "Watch your mouth, boy!! We haven't survived this long based on our feelings. Our teachings since our tribe and the others formed have survived because of what we know.

Arnon folded his arms. If he were younger, he would be frightened but not anymore. "I won't tolerate ill words towards my son, whether you are my father or not. "

Arnon's father then relaxed and sat down before sighing. "Regardless its time to move on, this is the heavens telling us to stick to what we know and those who live like us. The girl of the Beast-Sword tribe isn't bad; it will also strengthen ties. you will be a chief who will have accomplished great deed's by marrying her. she will heal that void in your heart Miana has left"

Arnon looked gloomy at his father's words. "She is being held prisoner by that damn family of hers. I'm close to tearing the place apart and taking her back." He uttered.

His father shook his head in disappointment. "Fool!, Although we are great warriors, they are stronger. Their backing is much more then we can handle you would risk not just our tribe but the others as well."

Arnon sighed quietly. "It hasn't been a year, and you expect me to marry right after? is this how you treat me your son?" He replied to his father in anger.

His father, of course, scoffed. "My son, the chief of the rock-fist tribe. A heart as hard as a stone and yet these romantic feelings are making you weak. You both come from different worlds, why can't you accept it. Give our tribe a future chief then scram and do whatever you want afterwards!! is that too much to ask for?"

His father, of course, was always thinking of the tribe. How could he watch his tribe crumble because of a relationship that was not meant to be? To him, there were many telltale signs from the so-called heavens that this love of theirs was a sin.

He couldn't refute his father's words he had taken an oath to the heavens to put his tribe and people first. A man of honour despite his feelings it looked like his father was right. He would hope that once Miana was better, she would, at the very least seek him out.

It seemed the situation had more or less set itself. Miana's status was unknown and unable to see Arnon. Her family considered this an excellent chance to make her forget them due to Zenith's birth.

Zenith, of course, had his issues to handle. He was in constant pain but was slowly getting used to it. He needed to plan things out. He just needed to wait and bide his time. Things right now were to wait for time to pass on.

----

With life passing slowly, Zenith Was now four years of age. Many things had occurred during this time. His father's visited less and less until he had stopped altogether. Jagartha had gone the village to confirm some speculations, and when she had returned, she sat in a room she and Nelel had refurnished for Zenith.

The newborn was now a bit larger yet still wrapped in bandages Eyes as expressionless as ever, carefully analysing everything within his sight. Jagartha held him in her arms while seated on a chair and glancing at him with a pained expression.

in truth, she had grown attached to this little child just like she had for Nelel. "Little one it seems those rumours were true, your father has remarried and intends to forget you. How pitiful" as strong as her reputation and own importance was this was something she had no right to mess with other than looking after him.

"Your mother is missing, and your father has now abandoned you for the sake of the village. Not even giving you a name to call your own. I guess I will have to think of one now and pray to the gods that you grow up healthy and a cure comes your way."

Nelel had walked into the room, wearing a moss green and white village dress as she held a basket with fruits, she had grown to be quite a beauty, but one could see she still had room to grow. Her tender face was showing warmth as she looked at jagartha and Zenith.

"Grandma, little one's father, Is he is abandoning him?" she spoke, having heard from the outside as she had stood at the doorway. Jagartha glanced at Nelel with a slightly reluctant look. "That is so, child. but who cares we will be his new family and raise him well. he needs a name."

Nelel approached after setting the basket of fruits down onto a nearby table and looked and the bandaged child. "I can come up with the best names!!" she looked a little cheeky while tenderly rubbing Zeniths head.

Jagarthas expression turned a little sour as she heard nelel "You name this child? HA! the gods would punish me for giving you a chance. Besides, I have some in-store; it is just a matter of finding the right one to suit him."

Jagarthas words meant that the meaning of a name was significant in their culture. Nelel pouted as she looked at Zenith. "little one when are you going to speak your first words. are you going to let grandma pick a boring name like the ones they used hundreds of years ago?" she seemed to speak in a teasing manner.

Jagartha seemed offended as she responded "Boring!? These names are powerful and full of good luck. Gelon means Strong heart, Tirom Means Wise one. but this child's name should be Nverim, One who watches."

Nelel was about to speak and complain about the name, but a soft voice responded in an almost weak tone as if this voice had taken more offence to the possible name then Nelel had.

"Zenith My name is.......Zenith" After this voice spoke, Both of the women seemed to freeze. Looking towards the source of the voice and seeing that the child jagartha was holding had just spoken a sentence.

"L...little one....did you...speak?" Jagartha seemed stunned and shocked by this revelation.

"My name is Zenith..." Zenith responded clearly and in a concise manner. He seemed to have more or less mastered their language to this degree.