Ultimately, despite my best wishes to the contrary, Father did not wish to linger in the skies for too long.

"When you become older and achieve the Foundation stage, then so too shall you be free to take to the skies as you please," Father said unapologetically as I sulked "Consider that as a source of motivation." He added, his voice so bland that, had I not seen the amused smirk on his face, I'd have believed him.

I pouted even harder at his words, but soon enough, even that was forgotten as my attention was once again grabbed by our surroundings, which now happened to be one of the decadently fancy streets, one that was surrounded on both sides by towering buildings of all shapes and sizes.

And also, people. Can't forget the people.

I stared at them with open curiosity, watching them as every man and woman, be they young or old, wearing jewelry or rags... Every single one of them gave us a bow the moment they spotted us.

Well. They gave my father a bow. I doubt I even registered to their senses, what with me being an unassuming, still-mortal three-year-old girl.

And speaking of mortality... "Father?" I hesitantly asked, pulling at his sleeve insistently as he dragged me along, completely ignoring the cultivators around us that, in my previous life, I would have been terrified of being in the same room with.

He glanced down at me. "Yes, daughter?"

"Um..." I hesitated, fidgeting a bit as I felt a wave of trepidation wash over me. "When... When can I start cultivating?" I barely managed to mumble out, looking down and fidgeting with my fingers. "Every time I ask Elder Johan, he always says that I'm too young, but he never says when I can actually start..."

I trailed off, saying the subsequent words so quietly that I doubt anyone but a cultivator could have made sense of them. "What if... What if I can't cultivate?"

As much as I hated even having to voice that question, I couldn't help but do so.

I'd loved the past three years despite the many difficulties that being a baby, and then subsequently an isolated young child, posed. Sure, having to wear diapers had sucked, and I did struggle a lot to not show off my maturity too much while also not letting my young body influence my mind, a careful balance that was hellishly difficult to keep.

But ultimately, those had been minor issues to overcome in the grand scheme of things, and the benefits of my rebirth had far outweighed them.

For one, I had an actual family now. Sure, my father spent deceptively little time with me usually, but it wasn't like he neglected me, and he made those precious moments we had together count.

I had so much food I could die from overeating, a bed that would've been worthy of the greatest of kings in my first life, I lived in a mansion that was straight out of a fairy tale, and I had a talented and patient teacher in the form of Elder Johan, who was always available for me whenever I wanted, for whatever I wanted.

And... As cowardly as it was to say, I was terrified of losing it all. I wasn't afraid of death, not anymore, but the mere thought of losing what I had now was enough to send shivers down my back.

Worse, I knew exactly how I could lose it all. After all, I could still remember my father's words on the day of my birth. "That too shall be given, but only if she is worth it. If not, then we shall try until a better one comes along.", he'd said.

I didn't know the context. I'd never dared to ask him where my mother had gone, or even if that woman had even been my mother in the first place.

But I understood the meaning nonetheless, and it terrified me.

Father paused, looking down at me with a blank expression. "Eri, did I not say such discomposure is unbefitting of my daughter and heir?" He stated more than asked, his tone mild yet firm. "If you wished to know, all you needed to do was ask."

I looked away, unwilling to meet his eyes even as my grip on his hand tightened. In response, he merely let out a sigh.

Then, to my utter surprise, he fully faced me and kneeled down so that he was at the same level as me. Then, as I stared at him like a deer in the headlights, he wrapped me up in a hug, pressing my face against his neck.

"Peace, Eri." He murmured into my ear as I stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Part of me wanted to hug him right back and bury myself into him, but another part, the one that had been created through three years of careful conditioning and grooming, wanted to just stand there like a frozen statue.

"I can feel the turmoil inside of you. I do not know where you found this fear of yours." He whispered, one of his hands running through my hair, so black and silky, just like his own. "But listen to my words, and do so closely. Put that fear to rest, for your talent for cultivation is greater than my own."

For a moment, it felt as though the world itself had been frozen in time as I stared into my father's eyes, his words ever-so-slowly registering in my mind.

Then... "B-but... How do you know?" I whispered, my voice faint. "I've never cultivated before..."

He merely chuckled at my words. "Silly child." He smiled down at me, his eyes creasing at the edges in a rare display of affection. "Talent is something you are born with. It cannot improve or degrade except through exceptional circumstances."

He rubbed my head. "Do not worry about the specifics, you can learn those when you're older. For now, just know that I would not have placed such a burden upon your shoulders were I not absolutely sure you could bear it."

I... I didn't know how to answer that. I didn't know if I even could give an answer, as I felt my entire body trembling in relief as a weight, I'd not even known I'd been carrying was lifted off my shoulders.

With an effort of will, I practically threw myself into my father's embrace, wrapping my little arms as tightly around him as I could, and despite everything, I couldn't stop myself from hiccupping as tears streamed out from my eyes.

I don't know for how long exactly we stood there, with my head buried in my father's embrace while he rubbed circles on my back and head, humming a low tone that had me bonelessly relaxing into him.

Eventually, all good things had to come to an end, and with regret in my heart, I pushed myself away from him, trying to ignore just how red my cheeks had become as I noticed a few people staring at us.

Not that Father seemed to care all that much as he too stood up, straightened out his robes, and then sent a glare that could have legitimately frozen hell over at those who were still staring.

Needless to say, nobody dared so much as glance in our direction after that.

"Have you sorted out your turmoil, daughter?" He then asked, turning back toward me, his earlier warmth having vanished in favor of his usual aloof coolness.

Despite that, however, I couldn't help but feel as though a barrier had been torn down between us. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I liked to think that it wasn't.

So, after taking a deep breath and straightening my spine, I nodded firmly. "Yes, father. My apologies for the display." I said, trying my best to match his aloof tone.

Judging by the amused tilt of his lips, I wasn't sure I'd succeeded.

"Hmm. Good." He nonetheless nodded approvingly. "Now, for your earlier question. The commonly accepted age for when a child should begin cultivating varies depending on a variety of factors- their bloodline, path, aptitude, talent, willingness, and other such things. However, in general, children begin anytime between six at the earliest to nine at the latest- or at least, those born of cultivators do."

He looked to the side, an indecipherable look on his face, "Meanwhile, those of mortal descent rarely begin their cultivation journey earlier than ten years of age."

"I understand, father." I nodded, forcing myself not to ask something stupid like 'but what about when I start?'

"As for when you yourself will start," I closed my eyes for a brief moment, mentally thanking the Heavens for preventing me from embarrassing myself again. "You will begin cultivating properly when you hit your fifth birthday, but your training shall begin tomorrow."

I blinked in surprise, my head jerking up to meet my father's, only for him to continue walking, ignoring me and acting as if what he'd just said didn't contradict everything else that he'd said.

... Right. Well, that was certainly unexpected.