The wet grass clung stubbornly to her skirts, soaked through with dew and tangled with weeds. But Yao Yao didn't stop. It took longer than she had expected.
The colosseum, though visible from the hill, sat at the far end of the royal estate—past quiet courtyards, shuttered gardens, and silent training fields. She kept to the shadows, avoiding patrols, slipping behind trees and stone arches whenever footsteps or torchlight neared. The last apple in her sleeve was still there, but forgotten.
By the time she reached the far terrace, her legs were aching and her slippers were soaked.
But the glow was still there.
Lanterns burned gently along the colosseum's rim, casting halos of gold against stone. The air still buzzed faintly with magic.
The ceremony's not over.
She crept along the outer wall, heading toward the eastern side where a low archway remained open. Just ahead, a small group of commoners was being ushered inside.
No nobles.
No summoners in silk.
Just the last few dreamers clinging to belief.
Yao Yao didn't hesitate. She slipped in behind them like she belonged.
—
Inside, the atmosphere had changed. The stands had mostly emptied, a few stewards lingered in the shadow, palace attendants watching over the process, and a handful of guards keeping order. It wasn't crowded, but there was still an air of anticipation.
In the center, the summoning circle still flickered softly, its runes faintly glowing.
One by one, commoners stepped forward. Some managed a flicker of light. Most didn't.
But no one laughed.
No one was mocked.
Yao Yao crouched low behind a ceremonial crate near the edge of the field, heart pounding louder as she watched.
So they really are letting them try.
High above, atop the viewing platform, two figures stood. One was cloaked in black, silent in the background. The other, draped in flowing white, leaned casually against the stone railing, his golden eyes lazily scanning the crowd below.
Rong Xi had been watching with disinterest… until he saw her.
Dirt on her cheek. Torn dress. A twig in her hair.
There she was. Among the hopefuls, eyes bright and unwavering.
Rong Xi blinked once, then breathed a quiet laugh through his nose.
How in the world did she even get here?
A guard waved for the next batch to come forward. The line was shorter now, and no one was counting too closely, most eyes were fixed ahead and solely focused on the portal.
Yao Yao stepped forward, her head lowered, quietly blending into the line of commoners waiting their turn.
As she edged closer to the front, she stole a glance around. The others were older, taller, some dressed neatly while their hands visibly trembling with nerves.
Then she looked down at herself.
Grass stains. Wrinkled dress. A twig stuck in her sleeve.
She blinked, plucked the twig out with a sigh and tossed it to the side. Unaware, another small twig still clung stubbornly to her tangled hair.
…I'm not dressed for glory today…but I'm glorious anyway.
And then—it was her turn.
Yao Yao stepped forward, her nerves jangling. She had no technique, no training, just a gut feeling and sheer determination. If she succeeded, she could just play it off as luck. With a powerful spirit, she could secure her place in the Shang family, dominate Xiu Lin, and finally bring Su Mi back to her side.
Easy.
Or so she thought.
"Oi, little girl." A gruff voice jolted her back to reality.
She blinked up at the two guards stationed by the crystal, who were now staring directly at her. One frowned, his arms crossed and thick brows drawn low. The other, younger, looked less sure but equally cautious.
"This isn't a place for children your age to play," the older guard said. "Where are your parents?"
Yao Yao immediately shifted gears.
Time to act.
She widened her big pink eyes, her gaze shimmering with innocent distress, her lips quivered slightly, and she clasped her small hands together in front of her chest.
"I… I don't have parents," she whispered.
The younger guard froze.
The older one frowned.
Yao Yao sniffled softly, just enough to be heard.
"I came here… because I wanted to try summoning," she murmured, her tiny voice fragile yet filled with determination.
She peeked up at them through her long lashes, trembling. "I won't cause trouble, I promise. Please, kind uncles, just let me try…"
Hook. Line. Sinker.
"B-Boss," the younger one stammered, nudging his superior. "She's so tiny… maybe we should just—"
"No," the older guard snapped. "She's suspicious."
Yao Yao's inner smirk sharpened.
Alright. Time for phase two.
She stepped closer, her expression trembling just enough to pierce hearts.
"I just wanted to know…" she whispered, her delicate little fingers curling near her chest. "Can someone like me… have a spirit too?"
Silence.
The younger guard was visibly melting while the older one rubbed his temples.
A few commoners in the line behind her murmured in sympathy.
"Poor thing…"
"She's so small…"
"Let the child try, at least."
One woman even clutched her hands together and whispered, "If I had a daughter, I'd want her to be that brave."
The soft voices weren't loud, but they pressed around the guards like gentle waves, making it impossible to ignore.
Finally—
"…Fine," the older guard groaned, waving her through. "But only one try."
Yao Yao's eyes lit up. She beamed sweetly, bouncing slightly in place. "Thank you, uncle! You're the best uncle ever!"
The older guard grumbled but looked away, clearly defeated. The younger one puffed out his chest, as if proud of himself for letting a poor child try.
Fools.
Yao Yao hid her smirk as she turned towards the portal, curling her tiny hands into a fist. The surrounding commoners watched curiously, but no one truly expected much from the small girl.
She exhaled slowly.
This is it.
The moment the world discovers me…
The moment I meet my spirit.
She straightened her spine. Her pink eyes gleamed. Right now, she could only do one thing—summon a ball of energy and fire it out.
That was all she had.
No fancy control. No unique technique.
Just raw, untamed power.
Well, it's better than nothing.
Determined, she closed her eyes, recalling the familiar sensation of energy pooling in her chest. She let it spread through her veins, concentrating it toward her small palms.
A faint white glow flickered between her fingers.
Then—with a small movement, she launched the energy forward.
A tiny ball of white light shot through the air, straight towards the portal.
It wasn't strong.
It wasn't impressive.
But it was hers.
The crowd murmured softly, a few raising their brows in mild surprise.
High above, Rong Xi leaned forward, his gaze sharp with curiosity. He observed her with silent expectation, as if waiting for something different to happen.
For something unexpected to appear.
Something that would explain the strange resonance she had with the portal.
And then—
The energy ball struck the black portal.
….Silence.
Yao Yao blinked.
The air remained utterly still.
Not even the faintest ripple appeared on the portal's surface.
No glow.
No reaction.
No sign of a spirit answering her call.
Yao Yao's heart stopped.
Nothing? Not even a tiny reaction?!
She stood there, staring at the portal like it had just personally insulted her.