Tower of Heaven

But his favorite subject had to be cultivation. The boy dreamed of one day being able to soar through the skies and showcase magisterial power. He wanted to partake in these fantastical feats.

Sadly, children weren't allowed to cultivate until they turned 16.

From what he had read, it was a matter of development. Both the physical body and meridians of a child weren't sturdy enough to handle large inputs of spiritual energy without breaking down.

It had been 4 years since he learned how to read, yet it hadn't gotten old yet. The boy wanted nothing more than to spend every day absorbing the knowledge that was present in the large collection his parents had.

"Atlas! Dinner's ready!"

A woman's voice suddenly interrupted his reading, yet he wasn't annoyed in the slightest. He smiled happily as he dashed into the dining room.

The past 4 years had been a dream come true for Atlas. It wasn't simply the ability to read or a home that he had gained, it was a family that loved him dearly.

In his first year, he was still largely apprehensive toward the two adults who had introduced themselves as Daniel and Melody Vaun. His decision to follow them was rushed and even as a 10-year-old child, he was aware of the cruelty of the world.

But his apprehension didn't last long under the patient care of his new parents. They taught him language so he could express himself, they taught him about the world so he could protect himself, and most importantly, they taught him about emotion.

The emotions he had always sensed in the voices of those strangers while he rotted on the streets, he felt them directed at him. Perhaps this was the final straw in him accepting his new living arrangements

Atlas was able to read, learn, and properly interact even without his sight. It was solely due to the accommodations of his new parents

They had taken him into their care knowing full well his condition, and they had prepared their residence for his convenience. He identified the characters others read as differently shaped bumps and protrusions in the paper, but it didn't inhibit him in the slightest.

Even the hallways of the house he was living in were spacious and without any sharp corners. This way, he could freely run through the house without worrying about harming his body.

As for the greatest improvement he had over these past few years, it was his body.

The clean white color of his hair was once again visible, and it was cut short enough to manage. Atlas still didn't enjoy taking care of it, though, so it stayed messy. Only now, it was messy by choice.

The Vauns were especially meticulous about making Atlas eat on any occasion they could, and this resulted in a spike in his growth rate.

His height had increased by over a foot, causing him to stand at a proud 4 feet and 11 inches. He was still a small child, but it couldn't be helped. His body's development started much later than it should have.

His previous skeleton-like physique was nowhere to be seen, his skin no longer clinging to his bones. The only outward indication of his previous self were the gnarly scars that covered his body.

And now that his legs were healthy enough to support him, he was able to run to his mother without worries. Reaching the dining room, he immediately jumped towards the source of the voice that had been calling him.

"Mom!" He shouted as he landed in her embrace, snuggling up to her.

He had noticed that other kids around him were embarrassed to do these kinds of things, but he didn't care. He would stay close to his parents at any opportunity he got.

Melody ran her hands through his silky hair with a motherly smile on her face.

"Oi, kid!" Another voice yelled from across the room, sounding mildly annoyed.

"You run straight to your mom and ignore me? Looks like you've started to hate your old man!"

Atlas smiled, realizing his mistake. And just like he did with his mother, he ran towards the other voice.

"Dad!"

"Hahaha! Alright, kiddo, I'm glad you finally noticed me, but make sure to eat first. You can play as much as you want when you're done."

"Mm!"

Atlas did as he was told, devouring the food laid out on the table. It was a healthy mix of meats, vegetables, and rice that were sure to help him grow.

And naturally, his parents sat down at the table with him, watching him eat with a smile. They were also genuinely gratified with the relationships they had now.

Daniel and Melody were both relatively influential within the city, having well-paying jobs and steady incomes, but they were only mortals.

There were many benefits they couldn't receive in a world full of cultivators.

But they were fine with that. They were happy with each other's presence and the stable life they had. There was only one problem.

Melody was infertile.

The couple had tried for almost 10 years to have a child, in denial of the possibility, but to no avail. It was only a single detail, but it soured their lives. Still, they were each other's support pillars. With time, they managed to move on.

Or at least, they thought they did.

It was then that they met a small child on the side of the street. A child who, despite looking on the verge of death, was surviving his dreary day-to-day life.

He drank water that was contaminated with both germs and his own blood, he ate from a food source that they still didn't know the origin of, and he was beaten constantly.

The mere sight of the child invoked sympathy, and after spending time interacting with him, they couldn't help but be moved by the positive outlook he had.

And so, in a spur-of-the-moment decision, they decided to take him home. Their actions were just as influenced by the momentum of the conversation as Atlas', leading to quite the comical start to their relationship.

But they did their best to provide for him, and they built a genuinely loving relationship with him. Even if they were given the chance to return to that moment, they would make the same decision.

Unaware of his parents' sentimental moment, Atlas savored every bit of food he was given, making sure to not waste even a single crumb on his plate.

He was old enough and intelligent enough now to realize how miserable his life had been previously. It could be said that the reason for his childish actions even though he was already a teenager was so he could savor this warmth he felt every day.

And he truly savored it. Today was just another day in his life. And he'd make sure that every day to come, he'd continue living it to its full potential.