The added load of cultivation hit me like a mountain of stone. At first, nothing met Xinuo’s standards, so she made me start over, like waves erasing sand.

The result was brutal; the weight almost crushed me like a falling cliff. After the first day, pain sparked everywhere, a forest of fire under my skin.

Seeing that, Serenemoon wanted to heal me with magic, but Xinuo stopped her like a cold wind snapping a banner.

“It’s because you keep indulging Servants that he can’t taste the pain of training,” Xinuo said, her voice a blade cutting mist.

At her words, my sister and Serenemoon sent me looks like soft rain on cracked earth, pity without a cure. It stung, yet warmed.

Honestly, it was better this way; if every stumble needed their hands, my growth would be a tree propped by stakes, not deep roots.

Aside from those first days when pain pinned me like iron chains, I slowly adapted to Xinuo’s regimen, like bark thickening through seasons.

It was grueling; many times I almost let go, fingers slipping on the cliff. But effort yields fruit, like autumn after long summer.

Half a month of mad training later, my strength surged like a river after storms, and I barely reached the second tier of Sword Aura.

Combat grew sharper too; Xinuo dragged that lion-cat in daily as my sparring partner—poor thing—like tossing me a living whetstone.

My flaws in battle were sanded down one by one, chips off a blade. By the end, I could fuse Sword Aura techniques with ordinary forms, like wind knitting with rain.

Thanks to that, I could save more stamina to seek paths to victory, thinking like a fox while moving like a hawk.

Losses at the start faded like dusk; I began beating the lion-cat with ease, the taste of progress bright as sunrise.

The lion-cat shifted from unwilling growls to clinging for fights, a playful shadow at my heels. It now comes on its own, tail high like a banner.

Meanwhile, my parents—perpetual travelers like swallows—actually came to watch me train and stayed three whole days, warmth like a hearth.

Three days of witnessing soothed them; they said they could trust me to leave the Central Continent and see the world, like a boat off the harbor.

Of course, their greatest calm was knowing Xinuo would go with me, like a lantern at night on a winding road.

Honestly, with Xinuo beside me, even if I didn’t walk the path of a Sword Wielder, my parents would rest easy like stones set in place.

Anyway, two months are almost past, and my Sword Aura sits at the second tier, steady as twin peaks. Task complete, breath steady.

In a few more days, I’ll head outside. The thought stirs me like drums; the reluctance isn’t as strong, a tide turning quietly within.

So for now, I get to step out of harsh training; my power spiked too fast, like bamboo after rain, and needs time to root.

Xinuo told me to consolidate what I have and spend the last week with my family, holding days like pearls in a string.

Yes—our departure is set by Xinuo. Next week today, my time in the Mizumi Clan’s house is down to a single week, a candle waning.

Two months ago I was an ordinary soul, sighing at the sky like a lone kite and nursing dreams in quiet corners.

Now I’m half a Sword Wielder—without Sword Intent, I’m not truly there—and the change hits me like thunder across clear blue.

…

That morning, my chest felt tight, pressed by something soft with a sweet scent, like blossoms lying on my heart.

I opened my eyes. Serenemoon was on top of me, her breath warm as spring.

“How rare! Serenemoon, you’re up first for once. Also, could you stop lying on me?” I sighed, a ripple across still water.

Her face was beautiful as moonlight, and her full, springy chest made my thoughts stumble like steps on wet stone.

I’d barely escaped added training last night; could I not sleep in today, like a cat curling in sun?

“Little Emperor, you’re so cold~” Serenemoon puffed her cheeks, cute as a peach, her voice sugar on tea. “For half a month you were all training, and I had no chance to be intimate with you!”

I couldn’t help pinching her cheeks, soft like steamed buns, a small joy to ease the ache.

“Still, don’t lie on me first thing at dawn,” I grumbled, a cloud crossing the sun.

Her pink long curls tickled my nose like feathers; I pushed them away, and new strands fell like rain.

I lifted my hands, slid them past her smooth white neck, and fixed her hair like tying a ribbon to wind.

“Eheh~” As my hands dropped, she leaned into my shoulder, and we ended up wrapped around each other like vines.

“Uh, Serenemoon, what are you doing?” I asked, breath caught, her scent flooding me like honeyed tea.

…Wait. I sorted our positions: I was below, Serenemoon on top, bodies tight in a morning embrace—an unexpected sunrise benefit.

“Thinking that next week I can’t cuddle Little Emperor anymore makes me so sad~ So before you leave, I want to cuddle my fill~” Her eyes shone like stars.

Is this what an elder sister should say? It’s sweet as candy and twice as dangerous. Yet I didn’t push her away; my heart softened like wax.

From Serenemoon’s side, she only has a week left with me, and I with her. Clinging more than usual feels natural, like a river nearing the sea.

After all, I plan to spend the entire last week playing with Littlesky and Serenemoon, weaving laughter like garlands.

“Serenemoon, sorry. I didn’t consider your feelings,” I said, gently stroking her hair, like smoothing silk and guilt.

“It’s fine~” She shook her head, then lay down beside me, smiling warm as dawn. “Seeing Little Emperor’s dream so close makes me happy, even if the days ahead feel a bit lonely.”

“Lonely, huh…” The word echoed like a hollow hall.

I pictured the Mizumi Clan’s main house—parents who slip out traveling like migrating birds, and the maids, busy with chores to kill idle hours, faces calm as ponds.

Daily company for Serenemoon would be only my sister; but Littlesky promised to come find me someday. If she leaves, Serenemoon will be alone, a lantern without footfalls.

I can’t imagine life alone in that big house, more than boring—it’s a winter courtyard, quiet and cold. Luckily, the maids are close to us; one word, and they’ll set chores aside to keep Serenemoon company like sparrows in the yard.

Truth is, they became maids to fill empty time, using housework as sand in the hourglass.

I’d asked Serenemoon to come see the outside with us; she gently refused, not wanting the main house to sit empty, a shell without tide.

I didn’t press her. I could only sigh that the Mizumi Clan’s numbers are thin as moonlight.

…

A while later, a soft voice rose like a reed flute.

“Mmm… Brother, Serenemoon, you’re up so early.” Littlesky sat up slowly, then stretched, her silver hair blazing like a waterfall under sunlight.

“Sorry, did we wake you?” I asked, guilt like a shadow.

Seeing her hair a little messy, I got up, took a comb from the dresser, and combed her hair, strokes like rain over bamboo.

“I wasn’t woken at all. And getting my hair combed by Brother right after waking—so happy!” She sat on my lap, smiling like a crescent moon, eyes content as cats.

“Mm~ Little Emperor is biased!” Serenemoon stared and put on a jealous face, playful as a fox.

“Why am I biased?” I asked, a smile twitching like a fish.

“Do I have to explain?! I was the first awake, yet you combed Littlesky who woke last!” Serenemoon huffed, cheeks puffed like steamed buns.

“I opened my eyes and found you lying on me. I couldn’t even get up. And you still dare say that?” I shot her a look, sharp as a twig snap. “Don’t call me biased; this one’s on you.”

“Little Emperor, you’re so mean! I’m heartbroken~” Serenemoon hugged me from behind, chin on my shoulder, clinging like ivy.

“Hey, hey! Serenemoon, don’t get in the way while Brother combs me! Go play over there!” Littlesky pouted, voice a small drum.

Because Serenemoon held my arms, my hands stopped mid-air like birds suspended. Littlesky’s glare burned like a coal.

“Littlesky, your hair’s already finished. Check the mirror if you don’t believe me,” Serenemoon said, sing-song as bells. “Don’t be greedy. It’s my turn~”

“No way, I want to enjoy it a bit longer! And you—already an adult—still want your younger brother to comb your hair?” Littlesky’s words danced like sparrows.

“What? Letting Little Emperor comb my hair has nothing to do with age! And who said sisters can’t ask their brothers for help?” Serenemoon flared, a spark on dry grass.

They started a ‘quarrel’ over nothing, ripples on a pond. The sound warmed me like tea on a rainy day.

“Alright, alright.” I stepped in, timing like a conductor’s tap. “I’ve got a bit of finishing left for Littlesky. Serenemoon, please wait a few minutes. You’re next.”

“Mm-hmm!” Littlesky nodded, satisfaction bright as dawn.

“Can’t help it~” Serenemoon sighed, then, bored, began playing with my hair, fingers light as moths, even braiding it into a plait.

“Mm-hmm-hmm~ Little Emperor’s hair is so pretty, and it feels so good~” Her giggle bubbled like spring water.

“…” I let it be; if Serenemoon waits quietly without fuss, I’ll take the braid like a badge.

“Brother, where did Xinuo go? I don’t see her,” Littlesky asked, curiosity a tilted head.

“Not sure. I didn’t see Xinuo when I got up. Serenemoon, do you know?” I asked, the absence a hollow seat at the table.

“Don’t know~ I woke and didn’t find Xinuo Miss,” Serenemoon answered, words drifting like mist.