A Gift Woven from Starlight
The world beyond Yao Xuan's window was still steeped in the deep indigo of pre-dawn, the stars not yet faded, when a soft click echoed in the silence of his room. The door, carefully oiled to avoid any squeak that might wake him, swung open just enough to admit a sliver of silver. Na'er, moving with the innate grace of a forest spirit, padded silently across the floor, her small feet making no sound on the wooden boards. She arrived at his bedside, a vision in the dim light, her hair a cascade of moonlight and her large amethyst eyes fixed on his sleeping form.
She watched him for a long moment, her expression one of profound, quiet affection. Then, leaning close, her voice was a whisper so soft it seemed woven from the last threads of night itself. "Happy birthday, Brother Yao Xuan."
The words, gentle as a spring breeze and sweet as angel's song, seeped into Yao Xuan's consciousness. Though still wrapped in the vestiges of sleep, his soul, so attuned to hers, recognized her instantly. The grogginess evaporated like morning mist under the sun. He stirred, opening his eyes to find her face, full of tender admiration, hovering near his.
Sitting up, he didn't speak at first. Instead, he reached out, his movements slow and deliberate, and gently smoothed a stray strand of her silken silver hair, tucking it behind a perfectly shaped ear. A warm, genuine smile touched his lips. "Oh, it's Na'er. Thank you! You're a little early today, my little star."
"Of course, I am!" she declared, her voice gaining a spark of cheerful energy. She leaned into his touch, the simple contact filling her with a sense of absolute safety. "Didn't Brother Yao Xuan say yesterday that today is your birthday and a day off? That you would rest all day and then take Na'er out to play! That means I definitely had to come early!"
Her happiness was a radiant thing, carving two delicate dimples into her cheeks. Yao Xuan's heart, usually a fortress of calculation and strategy, felt a familiar, warm flutter. He reached out, his fingers gently tracing the curves of those dimples. "That's natural. It's rare to have a free day. I want to spend all of it with you. So, where does my Na'er wish to go?"
"Hehe, Brother Yao Xuan, don't do that, it tickles!" she giggled, a musical sound that lit up the dim room. She caught his hand, holding it in both of hers. "How about... the amusement park?" she asked, her voice tentative, her eyes searching his for approval.
"Of course!" he replied without a moment's hesitation, his voice firm and warm. "If Na'er wants to go to the amusement park, then that is exactly where we will go. So, shall we go downstairs for breakfast and then set off on our adventure?"
"Of course! But, please wait a moment, Brother Yao Xuan." Her grip on his hand tightened slightly. A faint blush rose to her cheeks, and she looked down for a second before meeting his gaze again, her shyness evident. "Today... Na'er has a special gift for Brother Yao Xuan. A birthday present."
His smile softened, his curiosity genuinely piqued. "Oh? A birthday present from Na'er? Now I am truly looking forward to it." He gave her hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
"Okay!" she said, her voice gaining a note of playful solemnity. "Now, Brother Yao Xuan, you must close your eyes!"
"As my lady commands," he replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. He obediently closed his eyes, his other senses sharpening in the darkness. He could hear her soft, even breathing, smell the faint, clean scent of her hair—like frost and starlight—and feel the warmth of her small hands still holding his. He waited, a quiet anticipation building in his chest.
Then he felt it.
A soft pressure, damp and warm, against his forehead. It was the briefest of contacts, a butterfly's kiss, imbued with a purity that seemed to still the very air around them.
Mua!
The sound was whisper-soft, but it echoed in the quiet room with the force of a declaration.
A moment later, the warmth retreated. "Hmm, you can open your eyes now, Brother Yao Xuan!" Na'er's voice was eager, laced with a vulnerable hope. Her large, luminous purple eyes searched his face. "Do... do you like Na'er's gift, Brother Yao Xuan?"
For a heartbeat, Yao Xuan was speechless. The simple, innocent gesture had struck a chord deeper than any powerful soul skill or bloodline enhancement ever could. A wave of profound tenderness washed over him.
"Of course," he finally said, his voice husky with emotion. He reached out and cupped her cheek, his thumb stroking her skin with infinite care. "Thank you, Na'er. I really, truly love your gift. It is the best one I have ever received." A playful, yet utterly sincere, sparkle entered his eyes. "When it's Na'er's birthday, would Na'er like the same gift?"
But even as he spoke, something miraculous was unfolding within him. With his spiritual power now honed to the Spiritual Connection realm, his internal perception was razor-sharp. He felt it the moment her lips touched his skin—a surge of mysterious, seven-colored energy, vibrant and potent, flowing from the point of contact into his body.
This alien power did not feel invasive. Instead, it sang a harmonic note with the primordial force sleeping in his veins. It resonated with his Ancestral Dragon bloodline, a key finding its lock. The vibrant energy was eagerly, joyfully absorbed, merging seamlessly into his very essence.
And with that merger, his bloodline swelled.
7.4%... 7.5%... The concentration climbed, not in the slow, arduous increments bought with Golden Evolution Points, but in a joyful, rushing leap. 7.6%... 7.9%!
In mere seconds, his Ancestral Dragon bloodline had increased by a full 0.5%. To achieve such a boost with points would have cost him forty of the precious Golden Evolution Points. A sense of staggering, breathless joy filled him. But it was eclipsed, utterly, by the emotional significance of the moment. This was not a transaction; it was a gift from her soul to his. It was a sign that her heart, once sealed and cold, was opening to him, petal by petal. Winning the trust of the Silver Dragon King in the future would be a path fraught with danger, but in this sun-dappled morning, with the taste of her innocent affection still lingering on his skin, he felt a conviction as solid as diamond: he would walk that path, and he would succeed.
He would become strong enough to deserve this trust. He would become the unbreakable shield that forever guarded her smile.