When You’re Older / Saying Goodbye

Years passed. You grew taller, stronger, and braver - no longer the small child who clung to Hao's robes. The day came when you stood at the edge of the Great Spirit, staff in hand, ready to leave for the human world.

Hao stood before you, silent as ever, the faint glow of spirits swirling around him. "You’ve made up your mind?" he asked.

You nodded. "I want to help people. The way you helped me."

Something in his expression flickered - pride, sorrow, maybe both. He reached forward, adjusting the clasp on your cloak. "Humans will never understand you," he warned softly. “They’ll fear you.”

You smiled faintly. "You did too, once."

That drew the smallest hint of a smile from him. For a long moment, neither of you spoke. Then, finally, Hao rested his hand against your head one last time. "Then go," he said quietly. "But don’t forget where you came from."

"I couldn’t, even if I tried."

You turned toward the light, the pathway opening before you. When you glanced back, he was still there - calm, distant, but watching with eyes softer than you’d ever seen.