After lunch, the Melkvey family made their way to the Young Dragon Playground. For Little Light, it was her first visit, and her excitement far surpassed that of her older sisters. The little pink-haired dragon eagerly led the way, her eyes wide as she pointed at every attraction—the sandbag toss, the ball pit, the ring toss. Seeing their usually studious daughter so animated, Leon and Rossweise happily indulged her, following as the three girls explored the playground's wonders.
As before, Isha and Grandma Veronica followed at a distance.
"Care to enlighten me about the Lightning Elves, Isha?" Grandma asked.
Isha kept her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on her brother-in-law. "They're a warrior subspecies of the elves, like soldier ants in a colony. They protect the tribe. Their combat skills are top-tier, with a natural affinity for lightning magic." She paused. "But despite their ferocity in battle, they never lose their inherent elven grace. They maintain an absolute elegance, no matter the circumstance." She shrugged. "If our dragon clan had half their poise, we might not have such a brutish reputation."
Grandma Veronica considered this, then pointed a finger toward Leon. "If that is what you call elegance, then perhaps we dragons could indeed shed our label."
Isha followed her gaze. There was her brother-in-law, standing at a shooting gallery stall with Aurora in his arms, furiously popping balloons.
"Boxer shorts! Boxer shorts!" he cheered, pointing at a prize. "Boss! Ten more rounds! Let my daughter have her fun!... Leaving? No way! Your prizes are great, the balloons are easy—I love this stall! Ten more rounds! Rat-tat-tat-tat! See that, Aurora? Isn't your dad amazing?"
Isha: "..."
Grandma: "..."
Lightning Elves, wherever they were: "..."
Wordlessly, Isha pulled out her list and drew a firm line through 'Lightning Elves.' "I don't think my brother-in-law will ever learn elegance," she muttered. She looked at the two remaining names: the Wolf Tribe, and... Humans. She bit her pen, pondering which to test next.
Grandma Veronica gently pressed a hand over the list. "Isha."
"Grandma?"
"We are here to relax with family. Even an investigation should not consume your thoughts."
Isha's red eyes softened with understanding. She tucked the list away and linked arms with her grandmother. "You're right. Let's go shoot some balloons, Grandma."
"Oh, my old eyes are too blurry. I can't aim, I can't aim," Veronica demurred with a playful smile.
They joined the others at the stall. After several more rounds, Leon had won a toy bear for each of his daughters. He turned to Rossweise. "Do you want one?"
Rossweise shook her head. "No need. One is enough."
"Why? You loved the one I won for you last time."
"I did. But one of something I like is enough," the Queen replied, her silver eyes holding his with a sly, meaningful smile.
Leon swallowed and leaned back slightly. "You... you're not including me in that 'one,' are you?"
Rossweise tilted her head, her silver hair cascading over her shoulder. She didn't answer. "What do you think, my captive?"
"Oh? What are you two lovebirds whispering about?" Isha teased, arriving beside them. "Your gazes are practically sparking. Why not just kiss right here?"
The couple quickly looked away, flustered. Leon scratched his head, feigning nonchalance.
Isha sidled up to him with a grin. "Brother-in-law, I didn't know you were such a crack shot. Help me win something?"
"Sure, no problem. Boss! Ten more rounds!"
The stall vendor was ecstatic. "Just go away man!"
As Leon resumed shooting, Isha leaned toward her sister. "I knew your relationship would improve after your first visit to my place, but I didn't expect it to get this good."
Rossweise blushed, gently pushing her sister's arm. "Stop that... Leon and I are just a normal couple. Respectful and polite."
"Respectful and polite?" Isha bent down and picked up Muen. "What kind of 'respectful and polite' couple has three children? What do you think, Little Muen? Aren't your mommy and daddy the most loving couple?"
Muen, wisely deciding agreement was the best policy, nodded vigorously. "Yup!"
"See? Even the children know. Stop denying it, Little Rose."
Rossweise sighed in resignation. "Sis, please don't say such things in front of the children..."
As they chatted, Leon returned with another toy bear. "Sis, for you."
"Thanks, brother-in-law." Isha hugged the bear, her mind drifting for a second. Which race is known for marksmanship? She chuckled and shook her head, deciding to follow her grandmother's advice and let the investigation rest for the afternoon.
The family spent the rest of the day enjoying the simple pleasures of the playground.
.
.
.
That evening, after dinner, they collected the family photos and the girls' admission portraits from Selena's studio. It was past 8 p.m., and even at Rossweise's speed, the flight home would take hours, leaving the children exhausted. They decided to stay the night in Sky City, checking into the most luxurious hotel—the Silver and Red Dragon Queens were not short on funds.
Once the children were asleep, Isha found her way to the hotel rooftop. Leon, Rossweise, and Grandma Veronica were already there, standing by the railing and looking out at the city lights glittering like a field of stars against the night sky.
"Couldn't sleep either?" Isha said, joining them.
The four stood in comfortable silence. The breathtaking view often stirred nostalgia, and Leon was no exception. He remembered nights like this in his Dragon Slayer days, before the betrayal, when he'd climb the tallest trees with Rebecca, Martin, and Victor to look at the stars. Rebecca would say that once all their enemies were slain, she'd keep watching the moon with her comrades. Leon would retort that it depended on the weather. Martin would agree. Rebecca would then press her gun to their foreheads and lament why heaven had cursed her with two steel-brained idiots devoid of romance. Those days were hard, but they were filled with a unique joy.
Leon sighed quietly. When all this is over, you'll have more people to watch the moon with, you crazy girl. Almost unconsciously, he reached out and took Rossweise's hand. Her skin was cool, as always, but it would warm up. Rossweise responded, intertwining her fingers with his in a firm, inseparable grip.
Isha immediately noticed the shift in the atmosphere, ripe with unspoken romance. She glanced over. Rossweise's expression was neutral, but why did her brother-in-law look so... pensive? Isha blinked and looked up. A full moon hung brightly in the sky. A thought struck her.
The Wolf Tribe can't resist howling at the moon on a night like this...
She turned back to Leon, a strange hope blooming in her chest. "Come on, brother-in-law! Don't suppress your bloodline's instincts! Howl at the moon!"
.
.
.
"Alright," Isha conceded to the silent night air. "I guess he's not from the Wolf Tribe either."
As the air grew cooler, Leon took off his coat and draped it over Rossweise's shoulders. "Shall we head back?"
"Mm." She turned to the others. "Sis, Grandma, we're going to bed. Rest well."
"Goodnight, Little Rose," Isha waved. Grandma Veronica nodded.
The couple left the rooftop, hand in hand. Isha watched them until they disappeared down the stairs. She sighed.
"What's the matter?" Grandma asked.
Isha pulled out her list and crossed off "Wolf Tribe." "The Garuda, Lightning Elves, and Wolves are out. The Mamba too. That just leaves..."
"Isha," Grandma interrupted gently.
"Mm?"
"Have you considered what we should do if we discover Leon truly isn't a dragon?"
Isha blinked, pondering the question seriously. After a moment, she shook her head. "I haven't figured that out yet." Then, with a small chuckle, she looked down at the list. "But this was all just a silly game from the start. Nothing more than a bit of fun."
Grandma Veronica smiled warmly. "Even if you keep investigating, I doubt you'll find anything."
"Eh? Why?"
"The last name on your list is 'humans.' But do you know any of their defining traits or habits?"
Isha shook her head. "No, and that's what's strange. They seem to be the most... primitive species. I don't mean that negatively. They're just highly adaptable. They know a little of every magic. No outstanding strengths, but no glaring weaknesses either. They don't even need transformation magic, as the ultimate form in Samuel is the human form."
Grandma nodded. "I've studied them for years. Aside from adaptability, I've noticed something else. Humans... sometimes possess the most resilient will in the world."
Such high praise made Isha curious. "What do you mean?"
"Look. They live for less than a century, yet they continuously expand, learn, and explore. Then they pass that knowledge to the next generation. Through this endless inheritance, they grow slowly, despite all hardships. That resilience is just one facet. There's also their survival instinct, their drive to explore new lands... sometimes driven by desire. But without desire, there can be no progress, don't you think?"
Isha nodded thoughtfully. The human-dragon war had lasted nearly a century, and her view of them had always been as enemies. Her grandmother's words offered a new perspective.
Isha took the list and summoned a small flame in her palm, setting the corner of the paper alight. The ashes drifted away on the evening breeze, scattering into the night.
"Thank you, Grandma, for indulging me all day. Even though we didn't figure out what my brother-in-law is."
Grandma smiled. "It's alright. But next time you have a game like this, don't forget to include me."
Isha grinned, throwing an arm around her grandmother's shoulders as they headed for the stairs. "I didn't expect you to be so gossipy, Grandma. Hundreds of years old and still such a busybody."
"And I suppose only the young are allowed to be curious?"
"No, no. But next time, I might be investigating something else."
"Like what?"
"Like... when Little Rose and my brother-in-law are having their fourth child, perhaps?"
Their laughter faded as they descended, leaving the rooftop in silence. On the ground, one small, burning scrap of paper glowed faintly. With one last flicker, the word "human" was consumed by the embers, leaving no trace behind. The mystery remained, but for now, family and peace took precedence.