A week later, the Melkvey family gathered once more at Isha's Red Dragon Temple. The family was more complete than ever, save for Rossweise and Isha's elusive parents, whom they had never met.
Leon held Muen in his arms, surveying the room full of dragons. A wry thought crossed his mind: if this were back in his Dragon Slayer days, turning in these "top-grade trophies" would have made him a rich man. But those days were long gone. Now, he'd had three little "first-class trophies" with one of those very dragons. Times have truly changed, Lord Leon.
"Grandma, how long will you be staying this time?" Rossweise asked over dinner.
"I'll be here for a while," Veronica replied. "There's been some trouble with the project in the Far North, as I'm sure Principal Olette has told you."
Rossweise nodded. The "trouble" was the theft of their survey results by the Ironwing Dragon King, Fael. Leon and Rossweise exchanged a glance; they knew the stolen data had ended up with the Empire, but not what it contained. Veronica and Olette had remained deliberately vague. They would have to wait for more intelligence from Tiger and Rebecca. One thing was certain: anything the Empire went to such lengths to obtain had to be incredibly important, perhaps even the key to their alliance with the renegade dragons.
"After the incident, we've paused the project," Veronica continued. "We don't know when it will resume, at least not until we discover the thief's motives."
Leon knew the 'who,' but the 'why' was the truth he was desperately seeking. However, bound by his human identity, he couldn't reveal what he knew. The future where his secret was accepted had been born of extreme circumstances. He couldn't risk his family's happiness on an uncertain revelation now. All he could do was wait and watch, his goals silently aligned with his grandmother-in-law's.
"Mmm, well, that means you'll have time to spend with Muen and Little Light," Rossweise said, steering the conversation to lighter topics.
Veronica chuckled, taking Little Light from Isha and gently pinching her soft cheeks. "It's been so long! Little Light has grown so much!"
The little pink-haired dragon girl giggled, snuggling into her great-grandmother and instantly winning her over. Princess Aurora's charm truly spanned generations.
"Oh, Grandma," Isha chimed in. "Since you're staying, how about we all go to Sky City tomorrow to take the family photo?"
"Of course," Veronica agreed warmly. "It's rare for us all to be together like this."
Hearing the word "family," Isha grew somber. She set down her fork. "Grandma... I know you've never wanted to tell us about our parents. But after all these years, can you at least tell us if they're still alive?"
Rossweise also looked up, her gaze filled with a long-held hope. Given the timeline, over two hundred years ago during the dragons' internal conflicts, it was common for Dragon Kings to fall. They had assumed their parents were among the casualties.
Veronica sighed softly. "Alright. You are both queens now. It's time you knew." She looked at Isha. "You asked if they're alive. I can tell you with certainty: yes, they are still alive."
The sisters were visibly moved. Isha opened her mouth to ask more, but Veronica raised a hand to stop her.
"I cannot tell you where they are or what they are doing. I can only say they are involved in something far greater than our work in the Far North." With that, she returned to her meal, the discussion clearly closed.
Rossweise and Isha shared a look and silently agreed not to press further. Knowing they were alive was enough. As long as they lived, there was hope for a reunion.
The conversation lightened, focusing on the children and the joy of their rare gathering. After dinner, the family retired to their rooms. For Leon and Rossweise, it was the now-familiar couple's suite.
.
.
.
Later that night, Isha stood on the temple rooftop, leaning against the railing. She held a bottle of red wine, drinking straight from it. Her face was flushed, and the night breeze lifted her fiery hair like a flame in the dark.
The rooftop door opened, and Veronica stepped out. "Still not asleep?"
"And you're sneaking drinks again," Veronica said, a hint of sternness in her tone.
Isha smiled sheepishly and set the bottle aside. "I won't drink anymore."
"You and your sister used to sneak my wine. Now she's just like you—always looking for a drink to relax."
"Come on, Grandma, we're queens! What kind of queen doesn't drink? It's a way to win over the people!" Isha retorted, her wit sharp despite the alcohol.
Veronica rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "You two... always keeping me on my toes."
Isha wrapped an arm around her grandmother, leaning her head against her. "We might be queens to everyone else, but to you, we're still just little girls."
"Little girls? You're over four hundred years old."
"Pfft~ As long as I don't get married, I'll always be a little girl."
"Well, your sister has been married for three years now."
Isha's eyes lit up. "Oh, right! Grandma, I saw the necklace you gave Rossweise as a wedding gift. It's beautiful."
"Yes. What, do you want one too?"
"I do, I do!" Isha nodded eagerly.
"Then get married, and I'll give you one."
The Red Dragon Queen grabbed her grandmother's arm, stomping her feet like a child. "I'm never getting married! You know that! Please, just give me one!" The wine had clearly given her the courage for such a display.
Veronica shook her head, smiling, and pulled a small, exquisite box from her pocket. "Here. This is for you."
Isha froze, the fog of alcohol lifting slightly. "Grandma... really?"
"Open it."
Isha did so, revealing a jade ring set with a milky white, pure and transparent crystal. She recognized the jade, but not the crystal. "Grandma, this is..."
"A Primordial Crystal," Veronica stated plainly.
"Primordial Crystal?" Isha's mind raced. "When Constantine attacked, Rossweise used Primordial Power... Grandma, are you saying—"
"The necklace I gave her also contains a Primordial Crystal. I just didn't tell her."
"Why not?"
Veronica met her granddaughter's red eyes. After a moment of silence, Isha understood. "It's because of my brother-in-law... isn't it?"
Veronica smiled. "You've always been sharp, Isha. The Primordial Crystal helps focus and strengthen magic. But its history is deeply tied to our dragon lineage. I don't want Rossweise's husband knowing too much about it."
"Grandma... do you also suspect there's something... off about him?"
"Yes."
Veronica turned, resting her hands on the railing as she gazed at the night sky. "In just a few years, Rossweise's temple has been attacked by several Dragon Kings. That isn't normal. Even with the Silver Dragon's rich territory, it shouldn't attract so much conflict. And it all started after Leon woke up. That's why I believe this mysterious man is hiding something."
"It's true he has saved Rossweise and the children many times. Some call him a hero to the dragons. But at the same time..." she paused, "...he attracts danger. I'm sure Rossweise knows this, but she loves him. She would never leave him, even if it puts her in peril. So, I gave her the Primordial Crystal as a gift, hoping she would harness its power to protect herself. And I gave one to you, too, so you wouldn't accuse me of playing favorites."
Isha smiled and carefully put the ring away. "I understand, Grandma."
"What do you think Leon's goal is?" Veronica asked.
Isha thought for a moment. "He loves Rossweise, and she loves him—that's beyond doubt. But his goal... I think he's waiting for the right moment."
"Waiting?"
"Yes. You said he attracts danger. I think that's only half true. Rossweise wouldn't entrust everything to a man who only brings trouble. What makes him special is that he attracts crises, resolves them, and deals a crushing blow in return. And I believe he's waiting for the moment when he can resolve all these crises at once and shift the world's balance of power. Given his abilities, I'm sure he can do it."
Veronica nodded thoughtfully. "A mysterious and dangerous man... no wonder Rossweise is so drawn to him. Your mother was captivated by your father in much the same way."
Isha's eyes sparkled. "Grandma, tell me more! I love those stories."
"Another time," Veronica chuckled. "For now, let's focus on your mysterious brother-in-law. Since we can't discern his goal, let's discuss his... origins."
"His origins?"
"Or rather, his race." Veronica shrugged. "We're just speculating. Let's be bold."
"Oh, Grandma, you're getting bolder with age! So, my clever granddaughter, any clues?"
Isha rubbed her chin, her eyes suddenly lighting up. "I think I do! Wait here, Grandma!" She spread her dragon wings and flew off the rooftop, returning minutes later with a pen and paper.
"I have a theory about which race he might belong to." She began writing as she spoke. "When we fought Constantine, I clearly heard Leon call one of his moves 'Chidori.' But based on its effects, it was the 'Lightning Thrust' technique. I did some research afterward. They are the same technique, just called by different names depending on the race."
"The races that call 'Lightning Thrust' by the name 'Chidori' are..." She finished writing and handed the paper to Veronica.
Wolf Tribe, Garuda Tribe, Elf Subspecies 'Lightning Elves,' Mamba Tribe, and... Humans.
Veronica scanned the list. Her gaze lingered on "Humans" for a fleeting moment before shifting to "Mamba Tribe."
"The Mamba Tribe... a branch of the giant serpents?"
"Yes, that subspecies is also skilled in lightning magic."
Veronica frowned slightly, then shook her head. "We can rule them out."
"Why?"
"While the Mamba Tribe can take human form, their skin is typically dark. Your brother-in-law only has black hair and eyes. It's unlikely he's one of them."
On the continent of Samuel, many races could assume human forms, a peculiar trait whose origins were debated by scholars. Some argued the human form was the pinnacle of balance and harmony. Others believed the Creator took a human form, thus influencing all of creation.
"Ah, I see..." Isha said, crossing the Mamba Tribe off the list. "Mamba... out!" The list of suspects for the mysterious Leon Cosmodeous was narrowing, and the most shocking possibility now stood silently among the remaining names.