After lunch, Leon and Rossweise found themselves chatting again while washing dishes together.
In truth, they didn't have much time to talk during the day.
Rossweise was busy handling various affairs for the Silver Dragon Clan, and Leon was occupied with guiding Muen's magical enlightenment.
Besides, they both held the mindset of, "Am I so bored I'd seek out them to chat with?"
Their general approach was: no essential business, no communication.
However, there were still some things Leon needed to confirm.
"Your birthday is in a few days. We're following human customs completely, right?" Leon asked.
Rossweise nodded. "Yes."
"Okay. Then, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you turning this year?"
"Eighteen—"
"You're eighteen?!" Leon was so shocked he almost added a curse word for emphasis.
"—plus two hundred years old."
Rossweise turned her head to look at him, her beautiful eyes narrowing into two smiling crescents.
Then she straightened up and asked, "What does age have to do with a birthday? Isn't it all just the same routine?"
Leon shook his head. "While the main routine might be similar, there are still some different details."
"Details?"
Leon glanced at her, then lowered his head to keep washing the dishes. He didn't explain further, only saying, "You'll find out when the time comes."
Rossweise pursed her lips. "Being all mysterious now, are we?"
Leon shrugged and didn't respond.
Rossweise didn't press for other topics either.
After finishing the dishes, Leon didn't hurry off as usual. Instead, he went to Rossweise's balcony and looked out toward the back mountain.
Rossweise dried her hands and walked out of the kitchen, watching Leon's back on the balcony. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing. Just looking around."
"Weirdo…"
Rossweise muttered to herself but didn't press him. She turned and went to her study alone to continue tackling the piles of work.
Some time later, when she finally looked up to rest her eyes, she realized Leon had already left.
Rossweise frowned slightly. "Coming and going as he pleases, treating my room like his own. It seems I'll have to give Mr. Leon a lesson in manners when I get the chance."
The Queen snorted coldly, then lowered her head to continue her work.
.
.
.
In the afternoon, Leon took his two daughters to the library.
While preparing for Rossweise's birthday, Leon didn't neglect his own affairs.
He continued searching for a solution to his magical depletion in Rossweise's private collection.
Muen obediently worked on the assignments Leon had left for her at the desk by the French windows. If there was anything she didn't understand, Noah was there to explain it.
As evening approached, Noah found a storybook about young dragons for Muen to read, a way to relax after her lessons.
Then, she glanced toward the rows of bookshelves where her father seemed to be searching for something. After a moment's thought, she got down from her chair and walked over slowly.
"Dad, are you looking for something?" Noah asked as she approached.
Hearing her voice, Leon smiled and put the ancient tome he was holding back in its place. "Nothing much, just browsing. Killing time."
He didn't want his daughters to know about his magical depletion. It would not only make them worry unnecessarily but might also reach Rossweise's ears.
From the looks of it, Rossweise seemed unaware of his condition. At most, she probably thought his body hadn't fully recovered, which was why he hadn't been using large-scale offensive magic.
If that mother dragon found out the truth, he'd undoubtedly be subjected to a torrent of "you're so incompetent" taunts.
Moreover, Leon understood the importance of keeping a low profile. It was best not to let any information leak until he had fully recovered.
Unfortunately, even after researching all afternoon, Leon still hadn't found the source of the problem.
Just as he had initially suspected, it was going to be a long process. Fortunately, Leon had plenty of patience when it came to "solving problems."
He adjusted his mood and looked at Noah. "Is Muen finished with her homework?"
"Not yet, but almost," Noah replied. Then she added, "I think, with your teaching efficiency and Muen's learning speed, she should be ready for her magical enlightenment in about half a month."
Leon nodded, his gaze drifting to where Muen was diligently working by the window.
"I wonder what Muen's innate element will be."
Noah also looked at her sister's cute, serious profile and smiled. "Will it be fire… or lightning?"
Rossweise had told Leon before that almost all dragons awakened with a natural affinity for fire. But Noah was different; she was aligned with lightning, just like Leon.
Leon had once asked if Noah, being the only lightning-affinity user in a class of fire dragons, would be bullied or isolated.
After all, children's minds are simple, and they often see "special" or "different" as strange, leading to isolation.
But Rossweise had said it wouldn't happen. She mentioned that a small percentage of dragons did awaken with other elements, and it wasn't considered unusual.
Hearing this, Leon had felt relieved. His eyes shifted, and he crouched down to ask, "So, what do you think? Will Muen awaken with lightning or fire?"
Noah rubbed her chin in thought. "Mom's element is fire, Dad's is lightning, and mine is lightning too… So, to make Mom feel better, if I were Muen, I'd try my hardest to awaken the fire element."
Leon was amused by her reasoning. He affectionately ruffled her hair.
"Awakening an element isn't something you can decide just by trying hard."
Noah scratched her head and grinned. "I know, it's just wishful thinking. By the way, Dad, speaking of the lightning element…"
"Yeah? What about it?"
"In a little over a month, St. Heath Academy will be on winter break. I've learned a lot of basic magic this term. Could you teach me more about lightning magic during the break? That way, I'll be better prepared for the school's curriculum next semester."
Leon was taken aback. It wasn't that he was surprised Noah had asked—quite the opposite.
If Noah didn't engage in some "internal competition" during the holidays, it wouldn't be like her at all.
But… Leon was still magically depleted. Teaching lightning magic properly would require demonstrations.
When the time came, his daughter would be expecting a grand display of "Heavenly Thunder," but after much effort, he'd only manage a few weak sparks.
Daughter: It's okay, Dad. It's still cute. I'll go ask Mom to teach me instead.
No. This couldn't happen!
This absolutely could not happen!
The status he had fought so hard for within the family, the place he had won in his daughter's heart—he couldn't lose it!
There was still over a month until winter break…
Leon pursed his lips, gritted his teeth, and agreed, "Alright, no problem. Dad will teach you more about lightning magic when the time comes."
Noah's eyes lit up, her face unable to hide her joy. She leaned in, hugged Leon's neck, and gently kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Dad!"
Noah happily ran off to find Muen.
Leon breathed a silent sigh of relief. After Mother Dragon's birthday, I need to make much better use of my time.