In the courtyard of the Worship Hall, early summer sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves of the Tree of Life, scattering dappled golden shadows.
Qian Renxue, who had just turned six, wore a pale gold little knight's outfit, its skirt embroidered with delicate angel patterns. Holding a miniature wooden sword, she ran circles around Tian Meng, Xiao Xi the Radiant Sacred Dragon, and Xiao Guang the Sacred Unicorn.
Her little face was full of determination, fine beads of sweat dotted her temples, and her breathing had quickened slightly, but she showed no intention of stopping. Her short legs moved swiftly.
Tian Meng's lustrous white body spun nimbly through the air. Every so often, he lightly tapped Xiao Xue's sword tip with a tiny claw, making her giggle and run with even more energy.
Nearly five meters long, Xiao Xi lay nearby, pale gold scales gleaming with a sacred sheen in the sunlight. The dragon gently lowered its head so that Xiao Xue could hold its horn for a brief rest whenever she grew tired of running. Xiao Guang, now possessing over a thousand years of cultivation, stood a short distance away, golden mane drifting in the breeze and a gentle sacred aura surrounding the unicorn. Occasionally, Xiao Guang flapped those wings, softly brushing away the dust clinging to Xiao Xue.
"Xiao Xue, slow down. Don't fall."
Qian Daoliu sat on a stone stool in the middle of the courtyard, holding the Knight Skillbook he had received as a quest reward. His gaze, however, remained fixed on his granddaughter, and his voice brimmed with affection.
Over the past five years, he had devoted almost all his spare time to Qian Renxue. From the day Xiao Xue had become old enough to understand, he had asked whether she wanted to learn