Yao Yao sat quietly, her hands were still, but the faint tremor in her fingers betrayed her.
"What if I'm really spiritless?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. There was a strong, raw vulnerability in her tone that seemed to fill the room, creating an uncomfortable silence.
For a moment, Shang Jun was silent, clearly surprised by her question. His brow furrowed as he considered his answer.
"No one has ever summoned at five before," he said gently, trying to ease the weight of her worry. "Most children only start learning magic at your age. You might just be too young."
Yao Yao didn't answer.
She stared at her hands, then at the book's page without really reading. Her breathing was slow but steady, though her thoughts were far away, as if her eyes were seeing something beyond the room. The words blurred together as she tried to make sense of it all.
Too young?
She wasn't sure whether she felt reassured or more confused. She didn't want to be dismissed as too young. She needed an answer.
To be spiritless in this world, where the strength of magical contracts was everything, was more than a disappointment—it was a death sentence.
A heavy silence lingered as Yao Yao asked once more, "But what if that's not it? What if it's not just my age?"
Shang Jun watched her, concern deepening in his gaze. "It should just be your age," he repeated, though his tone now was more certain. "You shouldn't worry too much about it."
But Yao Yao was still lost in her own spiral, her thoughts drifting back to the Crown Prince. She hadn't expected it, but something about his situation tugged at her, something she couldn't ignore.
She turned to him, her tone softer. "What about the Crown Prince? Why do you think he is spiritless?" The question seemed necessary, almost as if it held an answer she was waiting for.
Shang Jun blinked, slightly surprised at the sudden shift in focus. "The Crown Prince?" he repeated, his tone somewhat tense. "His situation…is unusual."
Yao Yao leaned forward. "Unusual? How?"
"The Crown Prince is spiritless, yes. But when he was born, something strange happened." Shang Jun paused, as though deciding how much to share. "On the seventh night of his birth, a golden light filled his room. When they opened the door, they found him glowing... surrounded by golden light."
Yao Yao's eyes widened. "Golden light? What does that mean?"
"The kingdom believes it to be a sign of immense potential," Shang Jun explained. "A divine blessing of sorts, but no one really knows for sure."
Yao Yao processed the information, her mind churning with the image of golden light. It was different from her situation, yet somehow, it sparked something in her.
She looked up at Shang Jun, eyes searching. "Is he… powerful?"
Shang Jun nodded slightly. "He is. Even without a spirit, they say he's still incredibly powerful."
"Spiritless and powerful? Is that possible?" she asked next, her voice hopeful.
Shang Jun's expression grew uneasy, almost as if he didn't want to explore that possibility. "It's complicated," he said. "His power doesn't follow the normal rules. He was just born with it, a genius, they call it."
Yao Yao's fingers absently traced the edge of the book. "But even without a spirit, he's still the Crown Prince, right?"
Shang Jun paused, his expression deep in thought. He opened his mouth, unsure how to respond. After a long moment, he spoke, his voice laced with unease. "Yes…"
He looked away briefly, his tone now darker. "Though there are people who question that power. Some say it's unnatural… a curse."
Yao Yao snapped her head at him sharply. "A curse?"
Shang Jun's gaze flickered briefly, and he shifted uncomfortably. "But those are just rumors from people who oppose him."
Yao Yao's mind whirled with everything she'd just learned, while the pieces started to fall into place.
"If the Crown Prince can wield power without a spirit… then maybe being spiritless isn't a failure after all," she said, more to herself than to him. "Maybe a spirit contract isn't the key to being somebody in this world."
Her resolve grew with each word, her thoughts becoming clearer. It was no longer just about the Crown Prince or his power. It was about her, too. If her path didn't follow the established rules, she wouldn't let a spirit define her worth either.
She hadn't forgotten what the Crown Prince said last night. Maybe the rules weren't fixed. Perhaps they never had to be.
Shang Jun watched her in silence for a moment, taken aback by the depth of her thoughts, which seemed far beyond her years. He sighed softly, a mix of concern and admiration in his gaze.
"Yao Yao," he said, his voice gentler now. "The Crown Prince has his path, and you have yours. Focus on yourself."
Yao Yao looked up at him, a quiet realization dawning on her. Although she had only known him for a short time, she couldn't quite understand why she felt the need to explore this issue with him so deeply. Yet, somehow, in his presence, she experienced a warmth and comfort that she hadn't realized she was missing.
Perhaps it was how he always seemed to listen attentively, without judgment, as if every word she spoke mattered to him. She felt safe with him, like she could share her thoughts freely without fear of being misunderstood or dismissed.
"You're right," she said after a long pause, her voice unwavering. "I'll find my own path. Maybe I'll be stronger without the contract, or maybe I'll discover a different kind of power… something truly mine."
Shang Jun nodded, still a little surprised by her maturity. He didn't speak further, but his expression softened with quiet approval. He reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately.
With one final look, he quietly exited the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.