Tao
Chapter 4: The Temple of Clouds
Tao sets off on a long journey to the hidden temple. There, he will discover an extraordinary world and meet other special children like himself...
Reading difficulty
The next day, Tao gets up very early. It is still dark outside.
He prepares a small bag with clothes and some food. Grandma also gives him a water bottle.
"I'm going to miss you, my little one," she said, hugging him.
"You too, Grandma." Tao cries a little. "But I'll come back to see you. I promise."
Master Shen waits outside. They set off together on the mountain path.
They walk for three days. It's long and tiring. But Master Shen tells stories about dragons. Tao listens with interest.
On the third day, they finally arrived. The temple was magnificent! It was hidden in the clouds, high atop a mountain. The roofs were red and gold. There were gardens with flowers and trees.
"Welcome to the Temple of Clouds," said Master Shen.
Tao looks around, amazed. It's like a dream.
In the courtyard, children are practicing. A boy makes leaves move with the wind. A girl talks to a bird. Another child lifts a large rock all by himself.
"Do they all have powers?" Tao asks.
"Yes. Just like you. Here, you're no different. You're at home."
Two children approach. A girl and a boy.
"Hello! My name is Linh," said the girl with a big smile. "I can talk to animals."
"And I'm Kai," said the boy. "I control the wind. Are you the new guy?"
Tao nods, a little shyly. "My name is Tao. I have dragon blood."
"This is great!" said Kai. "You'll see, it's great here. We'll help you."
Linh takes Tao's hand. "Come on, we'll show you the temple!"
For the first time in a long time, Tao truly smiled. He was no longer alone.
He found friends who understand him.
He prepares a small bag with clothes and some food. Grandma also gives him a water bottle.
"I'm going to miss you, my little one," she said, hugging him.
"You too, Grandma." Tao cries a little. "But I'll come back to see you. I promise."
Master Shen waits outside. They set off together on the mountain path.
They walk for three days. It's long and tiring. But Master Shen tells stories about dragons. Tao listens with interest.
On the third day, they finally arrived. The temple was magnificent! It was hidden in the clouds, high atop a mountain. The roofs were red and gold. There were gardens with flowers and trees.
"Welcome to the Temple of Clouds," said Master Shen.
Tao looks around, amazed. It's like a dream.
In the courtyard, children are practicing. A boy makes leaves move with the wind. A girl talks to a bird. Another child lifts a large rock all by himself.
"Do they all have powers?" Tao asks.
"Yes. Just like you. Here, you're no different. You're at home."
Two children approach. A girl and a boy.
"Hello! My name is Linh," said the girl with a big smile. "I can talk to animals."
"And I'm Kai," said the boy. "I control the wind. Are you the new guy?"
Tao nods, a little shyly. "My name is Tao. I have dragon blood."
"This is great!" said Kai. "You'll see, it's great here. We'll help you."
Linh takes Tao's hand. "Come on, we'll show you the temple!"
For the first time in a long time, Tao truly smiled. He was no longer alone.
He found friends who understand him.
The next morning, well before dawn, Tao wakes up. He hardly slept all night, too excited and nervous.
He packs a small canvas bag with a few clothes, his mother's pendant around his neck, and a few personal belongings. Grandma has prepared food for the trip: rice, dried fruit, and flatbreads.
When it's time to leave, Grandma hugs him very tightly. Tao can feel that she's crying, even though she tries not to show it.
"I'm going to miss you terribly, my little one. But I'm proud of you. You're brave, just like your mother."
"I will come back to see you, Grandma. As soon as I can. And I will write letters."
"I know, my child. Now go. Master Shen awaits you. And never forget who you are."
Master Shen is indeed waiting in front of the house, his bamboo staff in hand, a travel bag on his back. The sun has not yet risen, but the sky is beginning to clear in the east.
"Ready, young Tao?"
"Yes, Master Shen."
They leave the village while everyone is still asleep. Tao turns around several times to look at his house, until it disappears behind the trees.
The journey lasts three full days. They walk along narrow, steep mountain paths. Sometimes the path is so steep that Tao has to cling to the rocks to avoid falling. They pass through bamboo forests that rustle in the wind, clear streams, and flowery meadows.
Master Shen walks with a steady pace, never tiring. In the evening, he lights a fire and prepares tea. He tells Tao stories about ancient dragons, about the children he has trained, about the wonders of the world.
"The temple we are going to is very old," he explains one evening. "It was built more than a thousand years ago by monks who wanted to create a refuge for special children. A place where they could live in peace, far from those who do not understand or who are afraid of difference."
"How many children are there?" Tao asks.
"Right now, seven. But soon eight, with you. Each one has a unique gift. You're going to love them, I'm sure of it."
On the third day, in the late afternoon, they finally arrive. The path becomes increasingly steep, and suddenly, through the clouds floating around the mountain, Tao sees the temple.
It was the most beautiful place he had ever seen. The Temple of Clouds was built on a rocky plateau, surrounded by mountain peaks. The buildings had curved roofs of red and gold tiles that shimmered in the sunlight. There were several pavilions connected by carved wooden walkways. Magnificent gardens surrounded the buildings: flowering trees, ponds with fish, and stone pathways.
And everywhere, clouds. Soft, white clouds floating around the temple as if they were protecting it.
"It's magnificent," Tao murmured, in awe.
"Welcome home," said Master Shen with a smile.
They pass through the temple's main gate. In the main courtyard, several children are practicing. Tao watches them, fascinated.
A dark-haired boy gestures with his hands, and the wind rises, swirling dead leaves in the air. A girl with long braids sits motionless, surrounded by birds and squirrels that seem to be listening to her. Another, taller boy lifts an enormous rock as if it weighed nothing.
"Do they all have powers like me?" Tao asks.
"Yes, but different. That's what makes this place special. Here, nobody is weird orDangerous. Everyone is welcome.
Two children notice Tao and run towards him. A girl of about his age with a big smile and sparkling eyes, and a slightly older boy with a friendly expression.
"A new one! A new one!" the girl shouted happily. "Hello! My name is Linh. I'm nine years old. I can talk to animals. Well, not really talk, but I understand what they're feeling and they understand me too. Do you want to see?"
She whistles softly, and a small bird comes to land on her finger.
"And I'm Kai," said the boy. "I'm ten years old. I control the wind. Are you the dragon boy Master Shen told us about?"
Tao nods, a little intimidated. "My name is Tao. I'm eight years old. I have... dragon blood. My hands get very hot and sometimes I grow scales."
"That's great!" Kai said enthusiastically. "We've never had a dragon child here before. You'll see, it's fantastic. We'll help you train."
Linh takes Tao's hand. "Come on, we'll show you around! There's the training hall, the dormitories, the library - oh, the library is huge! - and the gardens, and the magical fish pond..."
Tao lets himself be led away by the two children, who are talking and laughing at the same time. Master Shen watches them walk away with a benevolent smile.
For the first time since his powers manifested, Tao no longer feels alone or afraid. He has found a place where he can be himself. A place where he belongs.
His new life begins.
He packs a small canvas bag with a few clothes, his mother's pendant around his neck, and a few personal belongings. Grandma has prepared food for the trip: rice, dried fruit, and flatbreads.
When it's time to leave, Grandma hugs him very tightly. Tao can feel that she's crying, even though she tries not to show it.
"I'm going to miss you terribly, my little one. But I'm proud of you. You're brave, just like your mother."
"I will come back to see you, Grandma. As soon as I can. And I will write letters."
"I know, my child. Now go. Master Shen awaits you. And never forget who you are."
Master Shen is indeed waiting in front of the house, his bamboo staff in hand, a travel bag on his back. The sun has not yet risen, but the sky is beginning to clear in the east.
"Ready, young Tao?"
"Yes, Master Shen."
They leave the village while everyone is still asleep. Tao turns around several times to look at his house, until it disappears behind the trees.
The journey lasts three full days. They walk along narrow, steep mountain paths. Sometimes the path is so steep that Tao has to cling to the rocks to avoid falling. They pass through bamboo forests that rustle in the wind, clear streams, and flowery meadows.
Master Shen walks with a steady pace, never tiring. In the evening, he lights a fire and prepares tea. He tells Tao stories about ancient dragons, about the children he has trained, about the wonders of the world.
"The temple we are going to is very old," he explains one evening. "It was built more than a thousand years ago by monks who wanted to create a refuge for special children. A place where they could live in peace, far from those who do not understand or who are afraid of difference."
"How many children are there?" Tao asks.
"Right now, seven. But soon eight, with you. Each one has a unique gift. You're going to love them, I'm sure of it."
On the third day, in the late afternoon, they finally arrive. The path becomes increasingly steep, and suddenly, through the clouds floating around the mountain, Tao sees the temple.
It was the most beautiful place he had ever seen. The Temple of Clouds was built on a rocky plateau, surrounded by mountain peaks. The buildings had curved roofs of red and gold tiles that shimmered in the sunlight. There were several pavilions connected by carved wooden walkways. Magnificent gardens surrounded the buildings: flowering trees, ponds with fish, and stone pathways.
And everywhere, clouds. Soft, white clouds floating around the temple as if they were protecting it.
"It's magnificent," Tao murmured, in awe.
"Welcome home," said Master Shen with a smile.
They pass through the temple's main gate. In the main courtyard, several children are practicing. Tao watches them, fascinated.
A dark-haired boy gestures with his hands, and the wind rises, swirling dead leaves in the air. A girl with long braids sits motionless, surrounded by birds and squirrels that seem to be listening to her. Another, taller boy lifts an enormous rock as if it weighed nothing.
"Do they all have powers like me?" Tao asks.
"Yes, but different. That's what makes this place special. Here, nobody is weird orDangerous. Everyone is welcome.
Two children notice Tao and run towards him. A girl of about his age with a big smile and sparkling eyes, and a slightly older boy with a friendly expression.
"A new one! A new one!" the girl shouted happily. "Hello! My name is Linh. I'm nine years old. I can talk to animals. Well, not really talk, but I understand what they're feeling and they understand me too. Do you want to see?"
She whistles softly, and a small bird comes to land on her finger.
"And I'm Kai," said the boy. "I'm ten years old. I control the wind. Are you the dragon boy Master Shen told us about?"
Tao nods, a little intimidated. "My name is Tao. I'm eight years old. I have... dragon blood. My hands get very hot and sometimes I grow scales."
"That's great!" Kai said enthusiastically. "We've never had a dragon child here before. You'll see, it's fantastic. We'll help you train."
Linh takes Tao's hand. "Come on, we'll show you around! There's the training hall, the dormitories, the library - oh, the library is huge! - and the gardens, and the magical fish pond..."
Tao lets himself be led away by the two children, who are talking and laughing at the same time. Master Shen watches them walk away with a benevolent smile.
For the first time since his powers manifested, Tao no longer feels alone or afraid. He has found a place where he can be himself. A place where he belongs.
His new life begins.
The next morning, long before the sun rose, Tao was already awake. He had hardly slept all night. His mind was swirling with thoughts: excitement, nervousness, sadness at leaving Grandma, curiosity about what awaited him.
He gets up in the darkness and packs his travel bag. He doesn't have many things: a few changes of clothes, the dragon scale pendant his mother left him and which he now wears permanently around his neck, a small knife his grandmother gave him, and a blank notebook with a brush for writing letters.
Grandma prepared food for the trip: rice cakes, dried fruit, nuts, and smoked fish. She also filled a water bottle with fresh water and another with tea.
When the time came to say goodbye, in the pale light of dawn that was just beginning to illuminate the sky, Grandma held Tao in her arms for a long moment. He felt her trembling slightly, and when she pulled back, he saw tears running down her wrinkled cheeks.
"I'm going to miss you terribly, my little boy. This house is going to be so empty without you."
"I will come back to see you, Grandmother. As soon as Master Shen allows me. And I will write every week."
"I know. You're a good boy. You've always been a good boy." She takes his face in her hands and looks at him intently. "Listen to me carefully, Tao. Wherever you're going, you're going to learn extraordinary things. You're going to discover who you truly are. But never forget where you come from. Never forget the values I taught you: kindness, honesty, respect. These are the qualities that make you a good person, not your powers."
"I won't forget, Grandma. I promise you."
She takes something out of her pocket: a small red fabric bag. "Take this. These are seeds from the garden. When you feel lonely or lost, plant them and take care of them. They will remind you of our home."
Tao takes the bag, his throat tight with emotion. He can no longer speak, so he hugs Grandma one last time, very tightly.
Master Shen, who had been waiting discreetly to the side, approaches. "It's time, Tao. The journey is long."
Tao nods. He pulls away from Grandma, picks up his bag, and joins the monk. As they walk along the path leading out of the village, Tao turns around several times to wave to Grandma, who remains standing in front of the house, her silhouette growing smaller and smaller until she disappears completely behind the trees.
The journey to the Temple of Clouds takes three full days. These are three days of intense walking through the mountains, on paths sometimes so narrow and steep that Tao has to be very careful with every step.
On the first day, they crossed bamboo forests where the swayed and murmured in the wind as if whispering ancient secrets. The constant rustling of the green stalks was soothing. They passed a few isolated villages, but Master Shen never stopped, except to fill their water bottles at the wells.
On the second day, the terrain became rockier and more challenging. They climbed paths that wound along sheer cliffs. Several times, Tao had to cling to the rocks to avoid slipping. But the view was breathtaking: deep valleys below, mountain peaks stretching as far as the eye could see, waterfalls cascading from incredible heights, creating rainbows in the mist.
Master Shen never seems to tire. He walks with a steady pace, his bamboo staff setting the rhythm of his steps.In the evening, he chooses a sheltered spot to camp, lights a fire with an ease that suggests years of practice, and prepares fragrant tea that warms Tao to the bone.
These evenings around the fire are precious to Tao. Master Shen tells fascinating stories: legends about ancient dragons who lived in harmony with humans, tales about the children he has trained over the years, stories about magical places hidden in the world.
"The Temple of Clouds," he explains one evening as the stars shine above them like diamonds, "was founded more than a thousand years ago by a group of monks who understood that some children were born with special gifts. These children were often rejected, feared, sometimes even persecuted by those who did not understand. So the monks created a sanctuary, a hidden place where these children could live in peace, learn to master their gifts, and grow up without fear."
"And you, Master Shen? Do you have a special power?" Tao asks.
The monk smiled mysteriously. "I have my own gifts, yes. But the most important thing is not the power one possesses, but what one chooses to do with it. I have seen people with great powers do terrible things, and people with small gifts accomplish wonders."
"How many children are in the temple right now?"
"Seven. Soon to be eight, with you. Each one is unique. Linh can communicate with animals, sense their emotions and thoughts. Kai controls the wind—he can create gentle breezes or powerful whirlwinds. Ming has superhuman strength and can lift objects ten times his own weight. Bo sees fragments of the future in his dreams. Yuki can control the temperature of water, freezing or boiling it. Jun is a remarkable healer; his hands can heal almost any injury. And Xia can move faster than the eye can keep up."
Tao listens, fascinated and a little intimidated. "They all seem incredible. And me... I can barely control my powers."
"That's exactly why you're here. To learn. Each of them started out like you, unable to control their gifts. Now look at what they can do. In a year, you'll be just as capable as them, I'm sure of it."
On the third day, in the mid-afternoon, after a particularly arduous climb, they finally reached a rocky ridge. Master Shen stopped and turned to Tao with a smile.
"Look at."
Tao looks up and is speechless.
Before him stands the Temple of Clouds.
It was the most extraordinary place he had ever seen.
The temple is built on a vast rocky plateau, surrounded on all sides by towering mountain peaks. The main buildings are constructed in the traditional style, with curved roofs covered in red and gold tiles that gleam in the sun like flames. There are several pavilions of varying sizes, connected by covered walkways and stone paths. Beautifully manicured gardens surround the buildings: cherry blossoms, maple trees, bamboo groves, and ponds filled with water lilies and colorful fish.
And everywhere, clouds. Large, soft, white clouds floating around and sometimes even through the temple, creating an ethereal and magical atmosphere. It's as if the temple exists between heaven and earth, suspended in a world apart.
"It's... it's magnificent," Tao murmured, unable to find other words.
"Welcome home, Tao," Master Shen said softly.
They descend towards the temple by aA stone staircase carved into the mountain itself. As they approach, Tao can hear voices, laughter, sounds of life. His heart beats faster.
They pass through the grand entrance gate, a magnificent carved wooden portal depicting dragons and phoenixes. The main courtyard opens before them, wide and paved with smooth stones.
And there, Tao sees the other children for the first time.
In the courtyard, several of them are practicing. A dark-haired boy makes fluid movements with his arms, and the wind responds to his gestures, swirling dead leaves in intricate spirals. A girl sits in the lotus position near a pond, motionless as a statue, but she is surrounded by birds, squirrels, and even a small fox that seems to be listening intently. A taller boy, with impressive muscles, lifts a barrel-sized rock above his head with obvious but controlled effort.
Everyone stops when they see Master Shen and Tao. Their faces turn towards them, curious and welcoming.
Two children in particular approach running: a girl with long black braids and a radiant smile, and the boy who had been controlling the wind just moments before.
"Master Shen! You're back! And this is the new one?" The girl spoke quickly and enthusiastically. "Hello! My name is Linh. I'm nine years old. I can talk to animals. Well, not exactly talk, but I feel what they feel and they understand me. It's amazing! Do you want to see?"
Without waiting for a reply, she emits a small, melodious whistle. Almost immediately, a small bird lands on her outstretched finger.
"My name is Kai," the boy said with a friendly smile. "I'm ten years old. I control the wind—well, I'm still learning, but I'm not bad at it. You're Tao, right? Master Shen told us about you. He says you have dragon blood. Is that true?"
Tao, a little overwhelmed by so much energy, nods. "Yes. I... my hands get very hot, sometimes scales appear on my skin, and I can touch fire without getting burned."
"That's incredible!" exclaimed Kai. "We've never had a dragon child here. Will you show us?"
"Later," Master Shen interjected gently. "Tao has just returned from a long journey. Give him time to settle in. Linh, Kai, why don't you show him around the temple?"
"Oh yes! Come on, Tao!" Linh took Tao's hand without hesitation. "There's so much to see! The dormitories, the training hall, the library—oh, the library is huge, there are thousands of ancient books!—and the gardens, and the pond with the magical fish that change color, and..."
Kai laughed. "Linh, breathe! You're going to scare her."
But Tao doesn't feel scared. On the contrary. As Linh and Kai lead him through the temple, showing him every corner, introducing him to the other children, telling funny stories about temple life, he feels something loosen in his chest.
For the first time since his powers manifested, he no longer feels like a monster or an anomaly. Here, surrounded by other children who are just as different and special as he is, he feels normal. Accepted. At home.
Master Shen watched the three children walk away, chatting and laughing. He smiled. A new chapter was beginning for Tao. A chapter of learning, growth, and friendship.
And perhaps, one day, the discovery of what really happened to his mother.
He gets up in the darkness and packs his travel bag. He doesn't have many things: a few changes of clothes, the dragon scale pendant his mother left him and which he now wears permanently around his neck, a small knife his grandmother gave him, and a blank notebook with a brush for writing letters.
Grandma prepared food for the trip: rice cakes, dried fruit, nuts, and smoked fish. She also filled a water bottle with fresh water and another with tea.
When the time came to say goodbye, in the pale light of dawn that was just beginning to illuminate the sky, Grandma held Tao in her arms for a long moment. He felt her trembling slightly, and when she pulled back, he saw tears running down her wrinkled cheeks.
"I'm going to miss you terribly, my little boy. This house is going to be so empty without you."
"I will come back to see you, Grandmother. As soon as Master Shen allows me. And I will write every week."
"I know. You're a good boy. You've always been a good boy." She takes his face in her hands and looks at him intently. "Listen to me carefully, Tao. Wherever you're going, you're going to learn extraordinary things. You're going to discover who you truly are. But never forget where you come from. Never forget the values I taught you: kindness, honesty, respect. These are the qualities that make you a good person, not your powers."
"I won't forget, Grandma. I promise you."
She takes something out of her pocket: a small red fabric bag. "Take this. These are seeds from the garden. When you feel lonely or lost, plant them and take care of them. They will remind you of our home."
Tao takes the bag, his throat tight with emotion. He can no longer speak, so he hugs Grandma one last time, very tightly.
Master Shen, who had been waiting discreetly to the side, approaches. "It's time, Tao. The journey is long."
Tao nods. He pulls away from Grandma, picks up his bag, and joins the monk. As they walk along the path leading out of the village, Tao turns around several times to wave to Grandma, who remains standing in front of the house, her silhouette growing smaller and smaller until she disappears completely behind the trees.
The journey to the Temple of Clouds takes three full days. These are three days of intense walking through the mountains, on paths sometimes so narrow and steep that Tao has to be very careful with every step.
On the first day, they crossed bamboo forests where the swayed and murmured in the wind as if whispering ancient secrets. The constant rustling of the green stalks was soothing. They passed a few isolated villages, but Master Shen never stopped, except to fill their water bottles at the wells.
On the second day, the terrain became rockier and more challenging. They climbed paths that wound along sheer cliffs. Several times, Tao had to cling to the rocks to avoid slipping. But the view was breathtaking: deep valleys below, mountain peaks stretching as far as the eye could see, waterfalls cascading from incredible heights, creating rainbows in the mist.
Master Shen never seems to tire. He walks with a steady pace, his bamboo staff setting the rhythm of his steps.In the evening, he chooses a sheltered spot to camp, lights a fire with an ease that suggests years of practice, and prepares fragrant tea that warms Tao to the bone.
These evenings around the fire are precious to Tao. Master Shen tells fascinating stories: legends about ancient dragons who lived in harmony with humans, tales about the children he has trained over the years, stories about magical places hidden in the world.
"The Temple of Clouds," he explains one evening as the stars shine above them like diamonds, "was founded more than a thousand years ago by a group of monks who understood that some children were born with special gifts. These children were often rejected, feared, sometimes even persecuted by those who did not understand. So the monks created a sanctuary, a hidden place where these children could live in peace, learn to master their gifts, and grow up without fear."
"And you, Master Shen? Do you have a special power?" Tao asks.
The monk smiled mysteriously. "I have my own gifts, yes. But the most important thing is not the power one possesses, but what one chooses to do with it. I have seen people with great powers do terrible things, and people with small gifts accomplish wonders."
"How many children are in the temple right now?"
"Seven. Soon to be eight, with you. Each one is unique. Linh can communicate with animals, sense their emotions and thoughts. Kai controls the wind—he can create gentle breezes or powerful whirlwinds. Ming has superhuman strength and can lift objects ten times his own weight. Bo sees fragments of the future in his dreams. Yuki can control the temperature of water, freezing or boiling it. Jun is a remarkable healer; his hands can heal almost any injury. And Xia can move faster than the eye can keep up."
Tao listens, fascinated and a little intimidated. "They all seem incredible. And me... I can barely control my powers."
"That's exactly why you're here. To learn. Each of them started out like you, unable to control their gifts. Now look at what they can do. In a year, you'll be just as capable as them, I'm sure of it."
On the third day, in the mid-afternoon, after a particularly arduous climb, they finally reached a rocky ridge. Master Shen stopped and turned to Tao with a smile.
"Look at."
Tao looks up and is speechless.
Before him stands the Temple of Clouds.
It was the most extraordinary place he had ever seen.
The temple is built on a vast rocky plateau, surrounded on all sides by towering mountain peaks. The main buildings are constructed in the traditional style, with curved roofs covered in red and gold tiles that gleam in the sun like flames. There are several pavilions of varying sizes, connected by covered walkways and stone paths. Beautifully manicured gardens surround the buildings: cherry blossoms, maple trees, bamboo groves, and ponds filled with water lilies and colorful fish.
And everywhere, clouds. Large, soft, white clouds floating around and sometimes even through the temple, creating an ethereal and magical atmosphere. It's as if the temple exists between heaven and earth, suspended in a world apart.
"It's... it's magnificent," Tao murmured, unable to find other words.
"Welcome home, Tao," Master Shen said softly.
They descend towards the temple by aA stone staircase carved into the mountain itself. As they approach, Tao can hear voices, laughter, sounds of life. His heart beats faster.
They pass through the grand entrance gate, a magnificent carved wooden portal depicting dragons and phoenixes. The main courtyard opens before them, wide and paved with smooth stones.
And there, Tao sees the other children for the first time.
In the courtyard, several of them are practicing. A dark-haired boy makes fluid movements with his arms, and the wind responds to his gestures, swirling dead leaves in intricate spirals. A girl sits in the lotus position near a pond, motionless as a statue, but she is surrounded by birds, squirrels, and even a small fox that seems to be listening intently. A taller boy, with impressive muscles, lifts a barrel-sized rock above his head with obvious but controlled effort.
Everyone stops when they see Master Shen and Tao. Their faces turn towards them, curious and welcoming.
Two children in particular approach running: a girl with long black braids and a radiant smile, and the boy who had been controlling the wind just moments before.
"Master Shen! You're back! And this is the new one?" The girl spoke quickly and enthusiastically. "Hello! My name is Linh. I'm nine years old. I can talk to animals. Well, not exactly talk, but I feel what they feel and they understand me. It's amazing! Do you want to see?"
Without waiting for a reply, she emits a small, melodious whistle. Almost immediately, a small bird lands on her outstretched finger.
"My name is Kai," the boy said with a friendly smile. "I'm ten years old. I control the wind—well, I'm still learning, but I'm not bad at it. You're Tao, right? Master Shen told us about you. He says you have dragon blood. Is that true?"
Tao, a little overwhelmed by so much energy, nods. "Yes. I... my hands get very hot, sometimes scales appear on my skin, and I can touch fire without getting burned."
"That's incredible!" exclaimed Kai. "We've never had a dragon child here. Will you show us?"
"Later," Master Shen interjected gently. "Tao has just returned from a long journey. Give him time to settle in. Linh, Kai, why don't you show him around the temple?"
"Oh yes! Come on, Tao!" Linh took Tao's hand without hesitation. "There's so much to see! The dormitories, the training hall, the library—oh, the library is huge, there are thousands of ancient books!—and the gardens, and the pond with the magical fish that change color, and..."
Kai laughed. "Linh, breathe! You're going to scare her."
But Tao doesn't feel scared. On the contrary. As Linh and Kai lead him through the temple, showing him every corner, introducing him to the other children, telling funny stories about temple life, he feels something loosen in his chest.
For the first time since his powers manifested, he no longer feels like a monster or an anomaly. Here, surrounded by other children who are just as different and special as he is, he feels normal. Accepted. At home.
Master Shen watched the three children walk away, chatting and laughing. He smiled. A new chapter was beginning for Tao. A chapter of learning, growth, and friendship.
And perhaps, one day, the discovery of what really happened to his mother.