The doors of the prayer room in the Holy Temple were tightly shut.
The air was filled with a solemn atmosphere.
Seraphina knelt before the divine statue of the dragon progenitor, her white holy robe spread across the floor. She lowered her head, her hands crossed over her chest, offering her final prayer before heading into battle.
Yisela, meanwhile, sat bored on the steps nearby, her little legs dangling and swinging. She watched her Saintess Sister’s serious expression, couldn’t help it, and let out a big yawn.
Then she jumped down from the steps, sidled up to Seraphina, and tugged on her sleeve.
“Sister, how much longer are you going to pray?”
“That goddess isn’t going to pay you a salary anyway!”
Seraphina didn’t turn around. She only replied in a very deep voice.
“Yisela, the barrier fluctuation at the border this time seems a bit off. I might not be able to have lunch with you. I need to hold a prayer ceremony for the soldiers heading out.”
“Ah?”
“That’s great!”
Yisela’s eyes lit up instantly, but she immediately realized she had said the wrong thing. She quickly cleared her throat and put on a very well-behaved expression.
“No no, I mean, since you’re so busy, can I go out and play? Just, just take a walk around this little town? Please? I promise I won’t cause trouble! Absolutely, positively won’t cause trouble!”
She extended three fingers, making a vow-to-heaven gesture. Her tail, behind her, was swinging nervously.
Seeing that Seraphina didn’t immediately refuse, she immediately moved closer. She rubbed her little head against Seraphina’s arm, and her voice turned soft and sticky, as if she were acting cute.
“Please, pretty please, my Saintess Sister. I’m about to be bored to death in this temple. Just let me get some fresh air. I promise I’ll be back before dark, okay?”
Seraphina finally turned around.
She looked at this little one hugging her arm, tail swinging desperately, and then she sighed. In her ruby-like eyes flickered a light called longing.
Since last night when her curse activated, this was the first time she had seen Yisela show such an expression.
It wasn’t the exhaustion of surviving a disaster, nor the stubbornness of putting up a brave front. It was the simple longing of a little child who had been cooped up too long, wanting to forget everything for a while and run out to play.
She took a heavy cloth pouch from her bosom and stuffed it into Yisela’s little hand.
“There are some gold coins in here, enough for you to splurge for a very long time. But remember, don’t leave the town where the Holy Temple is located. You must be back before dark.”
She extended her finger and gently tapped Yisela’s forehead.
whoosh
A faint, almost transparent halo instantly merged into Yisela’s skin.
“This is protection magic. It can block damage from low-level monsters. More importantly, it lets me sense your location at all times. If you encounter any danger, no matter where I am, I can reach your side immediately.”
“I know, I know, Sister, you’re so naggy. I’ll be back before dark! I promise!”
Yisela gave her a very awkward salute. Then, clutching the money pouch, she laughed until her eyes disappeared and her teeth showed.
Then, like a happy little bird, she dashed out of the prayer room.
Seraphina stood before the statue of the goddess, watching the cheerful departing figure. The tenderness in her eyes gradually faded. Replaced by a deep, unshakable worry.
“Please let everything be safe.”
She murmured softly.
This gentle prayer—I wonder if the goddess, whose back was turned to them, even heard it.
Yisela ran all the way out of the Holy Temple. Her mood was soaring.
The sunlight was just right, the breeze was not hot—it was perfect weather for playing. The town’s streets were bustling with people, full of the lively atmosphere of the mortal world.
She carried the money pouch, feeling its heavy weight in her hand, and her heart was equally sweet.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, loosening the pouch’s opening a little. A few glittering gold coins were exposed.
Yisela’s footsteps stopped immediately.
Her gaze locked onto that gold coin. Her throat uncontrollably rolled.
Even though she was a transmigrator, the instinct etched into her silver dragon genes still made her unable to resist. She had a fatal craving for shiny metal objects.
‘Just one look!’
Yisela swallowed her saliva.
‘But this gold coin looks so brittle. It must have a great crunch.’
‘Just eat one!’
‘Anyway, Sister gave me so many. Eating one shouldn’t matter.’
Yisela looked left and right, making sure no one was watching her. Then she quickly fished out a gold coin from the pouch and stuffed it into her mouth.
crunch!
A crisp chewing sound echoed in her mouth. That hard gold, under the teeth of a silver dragon, was as brittle as a piece of chocolate.
An intense metallic aroma exploded on her taste buds in that instant. The satisfaction was even more exhilarating than eating ten pounds of honey.
‘Mmm! Delicious!’
Yisela squinted her eyes, looking blissful, and swallowed the gold coin.
After satisfying herself, Yisela continued shopping.
Since she had money, of course she wanted to eat some normal human food.
She hadn’t walked far when a rich meaty aroma hooked her nose.
It was a street stall frying chicken legs.
Yisela grandly slapped down a gold coin and bought the biggest fried chicken leg. The chicken leg stall owner cheerfully gave her change.
She found a stone bollard by the road and sat down. With her little hands, she lifted the chicken leg, bigger than her fist.
Then she opened her little mouth, aimed at the leg.
chomp! was one big bite.
The golden crispy skin, the tender and juicy meat, the oil bursting in her mouth—all made Yisela squint her eyes in bliss.
She ate with oil all over her mouth, her cheeks bulging. Like a little hamster hoarding food.
Her silver tail behind her, because she was in such a good mood, was rhythmically tapping the ground uncontrollably.
pat pat pat
Passing pedestrians all turned to look at her.
“Wow, that little girl eating looks so delicious.”
“Oh my god, her tail is wagging!”
“Is she a dragon clan child?”
“Too cute!”
Gradually, a crowd gathered around Yisela.
A few children were especially drawn over. They bravely approached her.
A little boy reached out his hand, curiously poked Yisela’s oily cheek.
“Sister, your face is so soft.”
Yisela was enjoying her meal when she was suddenly attacked like this. Her movement paused.
She looked up, a piece of fried chicken skin still stuck to the corner of her mouth. Her eyes, in that instant, sharpened.
Grrr!
She immediately put down the chicken leg, bared her two small fangs at the children, put on a fierce expression, and growled in a childish voice.
“Kids! Scram! Don’t bother this princess while she’s eating chicken legs! Or I’ll bite you!”
Even though she felt she was being very fierce, to others, this was just a devastatingly cute attack.
The children not only weren’t scared off but laughed even harder.
One slightly older girl covered her mouth and giggled.
“Hehe, Sister, stop pretending. You’re just a little kid too!”
“That’s right, that’s right, you’re even shorter than us!”
“What?!”
Yisela felt she had suffered a great humiliation.
How could she, a dignified silver dragon princess, be mocked for her height by a bunch of brats!
She was furious. She put the half-eaten chicken leg aside, rolled up her sleeves, and assumed a very standard fighting stance. Her little face was red with anger.
“Looks like I have to show you a lesson, or you won’t know why flowers are so red! Take this! This princess is going to strike!”
She swung her soft little fist, pretending to charge at them.
Seeing this, the children screamed with laughter and scattered in all directions.
As they ran, they turned back to make faces at her.
“Nyah nyah! Grumpy little big sister!”
“Hmph, you’re lucky you ran fast.”
Yisela huffily withdrew her fist, then grabbed the chicken leg again and took a huge bite.
She looked down at the chicken leg in her hand, and her mood quickly improved.
After all, there’s nothing a good meal can’t solve. If there is, then eat two!