You had discovered early that the Great Spirit's smaller entities - tiny flickers of energy and light - liked to play. They followed you when you walked, hid behind pillars, and sometimes even tugged gently at your clothes. You giggled, chasing them down the long corridors while Hao tried to focus on his duties.

He pretended not to notice the way his spirits giggled too, hiding their energy just before he turned his head. He could sense everything here, every flicker of power, every whisper of movement - but when it came to you, he always let it slide.

At one point, a small spirit materialized right behind his shoulder, sticking its tongue out at him while you laughed from across the room. Hao didn’t move, didn’t react. His expression stayed perfectly neutral, though the faintest twitch of his mouth betrayed him. "You should be focusing on your lessons," he said quietly, never turning around.

The spirit panicked and vanished in a puff of light. You gasped, giggling harder. "You saw!"

Hao finally looked at you, one eyebrow raised, feigning innocence. "Did I?"

For a man who once terrified armies, he could look remarkably unbothered by a child’s mischief. He simply leaned back in his chair, the faintest warmth in his eyes. "If you can control them this well, perhaps I should let you handle my spirits next time."

You grinned proudly, thinking it was a compliment. He said nothing more, but the small smile that lingered at the corner of his lips told you enough.