Noor sat cross-legged on the soft mat in his room, surrounded by glowing holographic screens. At five years old, he looked like any other curious child lost in educational games. But inside, his mind moved at a speed no normal child could match.
*Three years,* he thought, gently rotating a complex 3D model of energy flow. *Three years of acting like a normal kid while carrying the knowledge of two lifetimes. It gets tiring sometimes, but it's worth it.*
"Noor, dinner is ready!" Vicky's warm voice called from downstairs.
"Coming, Mom!" Noor replied. He quickly closed the displays and stood up. Even now, calling her "Mom" filled his chest with a gentle heat. In his first life, no one had ever called him to dinner with real love like this.
He ran down the stairs, keeping his steps light and childlike. In the dining room, Troy and Vicky waited at the table. Troy scrolled through work notes on his tablet while Vicky served hot plates of synthesized meat that smelled and tasted just like the best beef from old Earth.
"So, Noor," Troy said, looking up with a kind smile, "your mom and I have been talking about your questions lately."
Noor paused with a piece of food halfway to his mouth. "My questions?"
Vicky laughed softly and reached over to ruffle his hair. "Sweetheart, most five-year-olds want to play with hover toys or watch cartoons. You've been asking about quantum fields and how Origin energy bonds with the body."
"Yesterday you wanted me to explain the link between Origin energy and molecular structures," Troy added, shaking his head in amusement. "I had to pull up my old research papers just to keep up."
Noor's mind raced. *Was I too obvious?* "I just find it interesting," he said in his best innocent voice.
"We're not upset at all," Vicky said quickly. "We're proud. You're very special. That's why we think you're ready for something better than basic learning programs."
Troy leaned forward. "How would you like access to advanced research databases?"
Noor felt a spark of excitement but kept his face calm. "What kind of databases?"
Troy and Vicky shared a quick look. "Your mother and I have high-level clearance as Qi Researchers," Troy explained. "That means we can get you into Veritas."
Noor's heart beat faster. "Veritas? The real one?"
Vicky raised an eyebrow. "You know about Veritas?"
"I... read about it somewhere," Noor said carefully. "Isn't it a big research tool?"
Troy laughed. "Son, calling Veritas a 'research tool' is like calling a starship a toy. It's the most powerful simulation system in human civilization."
"It's a perfect copy of our universe," Vicky added, her eyes shining with excitement. "Almost 100% accurate. You can run any experiment, test any theory, and access every piece of knowledge humanity has gathered in three thousand years. Time moves faster inside too, so you can study for hours while only minutes pass out here."
Noor could barely hide his joy. *This is perfect.* Cultivation manuals, scientific theories, law comprehension models — everything he needed to prepare for his awakening.
"But there are rules," Troy said seriously. "No weapons research, no dangerous experiments, and nothing military. Cultivation theory, science, math, and general knowledge are all open though."
Vicky smiled gently. "You can't actually start cultivating yet. Your talent is still forming. If you try to absorb Origin energy before eighteen, it could damage your future potential permanently. But studying theory now will give you a huge advantage."
Noor nodded. He already knew this from his secret research, but hearing it from his parents made it feel more real. "I understand. I'll wait."
"So," Troy said, "are you interested?"
"Yes!" Noor answered, then softened his voice. "I mean... yes, please. That sounds really helpful for learning."
Both parents laughed warmly.
"Helpful," Vicky repeated with a grin. "Noor, you're about to step into the greatest library in the universe, and you call it helpful."
Troy stood up to clear the plates. "We'll set up your access tomorrow. But promise us one thing — don't spend all your time inside Veritas. Go outside, play with friends, enjoy being a kid."
Noor looked at his parents. In his first life, he had worked himself to death chasing knowledge alone. Here, he had a family that truly cared about his happiness.
"I promise," he said softly. "I'll balance it. I want to enjoy this life too."
"Good," Vicky said, pulling him into a gentle hug. "Now, who wants to help make dessert?"
"Me!" Noor replied, hopping down from his chair.
As they worked together in the kitchen, laughing and talking about small things, Noor felt deep peace. The road to power could wait a little longer. For now, this warmth was what mattered most.
Tomorrow, his real preparation would begin. With Veritas, he could quietly build his foundation and create techniques that would one day shake the universe.
But tonight, he was simply Noor Oswin — a beloved son helping his parents in the kitchen.
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