"It was an ancient prophecy," the voice of the Primordial Dragon King echoed in the quiet space, carrying the weight of millennia.
"From about ten thousand years ago, not long after I quelled the civil war that nearly tore the Dragon Clan apart, a dragon priest foretold this future."
She began to recite, her tone solemn and deep. "The priest's words were: 'When the sky falls, and the universe collapses, the end of all things and the fear of all beings will once again descend upon this land. Only the one who holds the power of thunder shall reverse fate and save all from annihilation.'"
"The dragons of that ancient era placed great faith in prophecies and visions of what was to come. Even though most such predictions never came true, whenever one or two did prove accurate, they gained a powerful and devoted following."
When people had questioned the priest on how he could possibly foresee such a cataclysmic event, the priest had simply claimed he had seen the future of the dragon clans and all the races of the Samuel Continent through what she called 'the wails of fate.'
"You know how priests and prophets are," the ancient dragon continued, a hint of dry amusement in her voice. "They always speak in riddles and mysteries. If you were to translate it into modern slang, I suppose you'd call them... 'riddlers'?"
"Regardless, the ancient prophecies did hold a certain level of credibility. And this particular prophecy about 'the fear of all beings' likely aligns with the ultimate terror I have been trying to prevent all this time. So, even I cannot simply dismiss this apocalyptic vision."
In the dimly lit waterways beneath the Silver Dragon Temple, Noah leaned against the cool stone wall, silently listening to the ancestral dragon recount the ancient tale.
Since the Primordial Dragon King had fully revealed his presence to Noah, he had not only occasionally borrowed Noah's body to experience the world but had also shared with her stories and knowledge rarely found in any textbook—especially the intricate details of history.
After all, what could possibly compare to firsthand accounts from a living fossil like the Primordial Dragon King?
Noah, always eager for knowledge and particularly fascinated by history, absorbed every word. She understood that to comprehend the present and future, one must first grasp the true nature of the world's past.
After hearing the tale, Noah pondered briefly before asking, "So, the prophecy specifically mentions a person who wields thunder as the world's savior?"
"Indeed. Later generations gave this figure a name: the 'Child of Thunder.'"
"And has this Child of Thunder ever appeared?"
"Up until the time I sealed myself away, the one foretold as the Child of Thunder had not yet emerged," the ancestor replied, his massive dragon form lounging comfortably in the spiritual space before Noah, her inverted dragon eyes reflecting the young girl's image. "And, of course, the end of the world has not come either. According to the priest, the Child of Thunder will only appear when the catastrophe itself begins."
"Only at that moment of ultimate terror can they truly awaken as the Child of Thunder from the prophecy."
Noah nodded thoughtfully, then asked another question. "But earlier, you mentioned that even you couldn't ignore this prophecy. What did you mean by that?"
"I mean that when I chose you as my host back at my ruins, it wasn't only because Constantine was a mad dragon and utterly unfit for the role, but also because... your affinity with lightning magic truly caught my attention."
It was rare for the ancient being to offer praise, and while Noah wasn't the type to seek constant validation, the compliment that her "lightning magic impressed me" felt genuine and significant.
"At just four years old, you could wield such intense and refined lightning magic, even using it to defeat the Titan guarding the ruins. It was remarkable."
The ancestor spoke slowly, deliberately. "That is why I believe you might actually become the Child of Thunder from the prophecy."
Noah blinked, processing the weight of the statement. Although she felt a slight ripple of emotion at the idea, she wasn't one to put much stock in destiny or coincidence.
She waved her arm dismissively, "If it's that simple, then your task of saving the world would be way too easy."
After a thoughtful pause, Noah added, "Besides, as you said yourself, the Child of Thunder will only appear when the catastrophe arrives."
"Ah, who can say for certain? Prophecies are merely references, after all."
"True. When you put it that way, it makes sense."
"So, little one, do you want to become the savior, the Child of Thunder? I can help you—just hand over a bit more control of your body~"
"If you were a creepy old man, I'd have already told my dad," Noah retorted coldly, her expression stern. "So, as a nagging old auntie, could you maybe stop saying you want to take over my body?"
Though their words were still barbed, the relationship between host and ancient consciousness had noticeably softened since their first tumultuous meeting.
Back then, Noah had outright called him "the old relic." Now, "auntie" was practically a term of endearment, considering the entity was constantly eyeing control of her body.
"Well, it's not my fault you only grant me two hours of use per day," the ancestor protested, raising his dragon head with a semblance of indignation. "Two hours only lets me gather a minuscule amount of primordial energy. At this pitiful rate, when will I ever regain my full power?"
"Take as long as you need. Keep complaining, and I'll reduce your usage time to one hour."
"..."
Ah, to live under someone else's roof—or in this case, within someone else's consciousness—there was just no recourse.
The ancestor quietly settled back down, releasing a resigned dragon sigh. But he was well aware that Noah's attitude toward him had softened considerably.
This little girl wasn't as prickly as she seemed on the surface; she viewed their interactions as a kind of "duel" or "negotiation." Noah's father had taught her well, giving her a sharp grasp of these subtle games of wits.
And Noah put those lessons to practical use here, treating their talks about body control as a bargaining table. As for other matters, the ancestor could sense that Noah, as the Silver Dragon princess, was a deeply thoughtful child.
During the times he couldn't control Noah's body, the ancestor remained within her consciousness, sharing her experiences. He had seen Noah's diligent research into the ancient dragon clan wars and understood just how awe-inspiring the Primordial Dragon King's achievements appeared to her.
As a child who admired heroes and longed to grow stronger, Noah couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence for this ancestor.
Only, that respect was usually confined to her private thoughts. Out loud, it often became, "Hey, old auntie, stop thinking about my body!"
After all, Noah was determined not to lose her footing on this "negotiation table."
"Let's return to the previous topic," the ancestor continued, steering the conversation back. "Such incredible lightning magic—was it all taught by your father?"
Noah nodded, a hint of pride in her expression. "Dad started teaching me when I was two."
"You're only four now, and you've mastered such intricate lightning magic in just two years... And you still claim you're not the Child of Thunder?"
The old relic had clearly picked up on a sense of "modern humor."
Noah merely smirked dryly, forcing a brief smile. "Just because I know lightning magic doesn't mean I'm the Child of Thunder. If that were the case, the Samuel Continent would have a whole army of them."
The ancestor chuckled before replying with a playful yet serious tone, "Ah, but you are no ordinary lightning magic user."
Noah blinked, her curiosity piqued. "So, what am I then?"
"You're a lightning magic user who is possessed by me."
"..."
This old relic was at it again!
As if having him inside her was some grand honor?
Is it going to get me full marks at the academy or something?
Noah huffed in frustration, crossing her arms, and decided to ignore him, striding away down the ancient waterway.
"Leaving already?" the ancestor called after her, his voice echoing slightly.
Noah didn't turn back, calling over her shoulder, "My sister's back from the academy. I have no more time to entertain you."
Her small figure gradually disappeared into the dark gold depths of the waterways, the ripples on the water's surface slowly fading behind her.
The ancestor watched her go, his dragon eyes softening with a complex emotion as he muttered to himself,
"Will it be you, Noah? The Child of Thunder?"