So, let's see what everyone's up to on Qixi Festival.

First up: Verlith before his transformation.

Morning of Qixi.

Snownorth City was blanketed in snow year-round, and even on Qixi, frost gripped the wilds.

"Hah! Hah!"

In the mountains, a silver-haired youth of seventeen or eighteen swung his iron sword relentlessly.

Noon of Qixi.

"Hah! Hah!"

Amid snow-laden woods, the same silver-haired teen kept hacking away with his blade.

Evening of Qixi.

"Hah! Hah!"

In the snow-choked forest, where north winds howled like knives, the seventeen-year-old Verlith still slashed his sword without pause...

Bzzt...

Time to switch channels!

What's Ansal up to?

An old street in Snownorth City glowed with red candles.

The mythical festival had spread across the continent, and love-struck couples strolled hand in hand on Qixi.

A golden-haired youth stood amid the crimson flames, grinning at the pairs around him.

"Look, is that guy about to confess?"

"Wow, so romantic!"

"Yeah, what if he picks me? Hard to say no!"

"Honey, you've got me. Don't eye other men."

"Hehe, just kidding! Don't be mad. Mwah!"

"Ugh, you're impossible. Mwah—"

Ansal's smile vanished at the lovey-dovey scene. "Ugh, this sickly sweet stench of romance!" He snapped his fingers, igniting the candles below.

But these weren't ordinary candles—they were packed with oil.

Whoosh! Flames roared to life, devouring the entire street.

"Fire!"

"Help! Put it out!"

Ansal laughed wildly as couples fled.

"It was him! Catch that arsonist!"

"Why'd you do it?!"

An angry mob surrounded the golden-haired teen.

He smirked. "It's Barbecue Festival, duh! Besides, I'm testing your partners' loyalty! Hey, you—your guy ran off alone. Dump him! And you—your girl ditched you for another. Go cry in a corner!"

Ansal scrambled up a prepped escape wall behind him.

"Don't run! Who are you?!"

"Tough question! Since you asked—I'm Verlith! A Night Dragon Knight! Bye!"

Ansal dumped the blame on his friend and vanished over the wall.

The crowd gasped.

"Who's Verlith?"

"Dunno. But Night Dragon Knights are honorable. Can't be him."

"Right! Over the wall—get him!"

They scaled it to find Ansal rubbing his sore butt, sprinting away. A chase erupted instantly.

...

Night deepened in the mountains, the cold sharper.

Verlith returned to his lakeside cabin after a day of training.

"Big brother, you're back!"

A black-haired girl in light bunny slippers and a thin dress greeted him at the door, her smile warm as sunshine.

"Cleia, wait up. I'll cook for you."

"Hehe, I already did! Try my cooking today."

She ushered Verlith to the dining table.

"Huh?"

Cleia placed a bowl of jiaozi before him. Only then did he notice flour dusting her cheeks. He chuckled, wiping it off.

"My Cleia turned into a little kitten? First time making jiaozi, huh? Poor me, your test subject again?"

"Aww, stop it! I'm not that bad. Just taste it!"

"Alright!"

Verlith scooped a plump jiaozi, bracing like a condemned man. He bit down on something hard and shot Cleia a look.

"Cleia... did you stuff something weird in these?"

"Hehe!" She giggled.

"Hehe what? What is it?"

"Qixi's a mythical festival! Eating jiaozi brings luck: coins for fortune, needles for skill, dates for early marriage." She tilted her head.

"Eh... that's just swallowing needles!"

"Pfft, I'd never hurt you! Show it!" She pouted.

Verlith pulled out a white stone shaped like an angel's feather.

"But this isn't any of those. What is it?"

"An angel's blessing."

Cleia clasped her hands behind her back, beaming.

Verlith smiled back. "You're my little angel, Cleia."

"Mhm! I'm your angel, and you're my guardian knight. Forever together!"

"Of course!"

Her heart-melting smile made Verlith vow silently, *I'll protect this smile.*

...

That Qixi, Alyssa learned paper-cutting under Margaret's guidance.

Romantic dreams fluttered in her heart.

"If I were ever in danger, my partner would charge through thousands of enemies on a black stallion, clad in dark armor, to hold me. I'd face death with him."

"Miss Alyssa, everyone loves white horses. Why black?" Margaret asked.

"Black's cooler, right?"

"True... but your fantasy's so tragic."

"Hmm, I'm aloof. Maybe only a moment like that could move me."

"As your loyal servant, I'd be the one riding that black horse to save you."

"Haha, then I'll marry Margaret!"

"Hehe. Miss Alyssa, joking again."

"Hehe." Alyssa stuck out her tongue.

...

Moo—

Arthur of Voltus crouched in a barn, feeding hay to a cow. "Is today really the Cow's Birthday? Happy Birthday, cow! Eat up."

The old cow stared at the mountain of feed beside it, eyes wide with dread. Its stomach ached just looking.