Inside the Silver Dragon Temple, the second season of the Dragon Combat Tournament was in full swing, the sounds of playful roars and mock battles echoing through the halls.
Outside, under the ancient cherry blossom tree in the practice grounds, a scene of profound tranquility unfolded. Noah sat cross-legged, her eyes gently closed. The cool autumn air occasionally stirred the branches, causing pale pink petals to drift down like silent snow, alighting upon her silver hair and resting on her folded hands.
Several petals had already nestled into her hair, forming a natural crown, but she seemed entirely unaware, her consciousness turned inward.
In the vast, golden-hued landscape of her mind, Noah was in deep conversation with the ancient presence that shared her soul, mentally "replaying" the events of the recent live-action role-playing game.
"I wanted to discuss that final game from a few days ago," Noah began, her mental voice calm but persistent.
In front of her, the massive, spectral form of the Primordial Dragon King Noah yawned lazily, lying on the ethereal ground with an indifferent gaze in its ancient eyes.
"Hmm? It's over already, so why does it still occupy your thoughts, little one?"
"Because I can't shake the feeling..." Noah's expression grew more serious as she looked at the dragon. "In that final moment, when I managed to snatch the bell from Dad's waist... it almost felt like it wasn't entirely my own doing. It was as if..."
She paused, gathering her courage. "Ancestor, you controlled my body in that instant, didn't you? That's why I managed to use my tail in a way I'd never practiced to grab the bell."
The old dragon gave a soft, rumbling chuckle and didn't respond immediately, instead countering, "Well, you've pondered this for days. Even though you're only voicing it now, haven't you already reached a conclusion yourself?"
Noah bit her lip and nodded. "Yes... at that critical moment, you intervened, even if just briefly. Otherwise, with Dad's speed and experience, he would have caught me like a stuffed toy long before my tail got near the bell."
She vividly recalled that moment—it was a rare opportunity to compete directly against her father, and she remembered every detail with perfect clarity. In the final seconds of their one-on-one "Bell Snatch" game, she had lunged for the bell at his waist. Though her initial grab missed its mark, she had instinctively, fluidly used her tail to snatch it from an unexpected angle, securing her victory.
But in all her mental rehearsals before the game, she had never once conceived of using her tail in that specific, sophisticated manner.
So the question had haunted her—was her win simply a lucky, instinctual fluke, or... was it her ancestor's subtle aid?
"Alright then," the ancient dragon said with a smile that seemed to hold millennia of wisdom, "since you've discerned the truth, I shall reluctantly take credit for my intervention."
The ancestor continued, its tone shifting to one of instruction, "Yes, I did briefly superimpose my will over yours and used your tail to execute a maneuver your current muscle memory lacks."
"But I—" Noah started to protest, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.
"I know you seek a true, unassisted victory," the dragon interjected, "but you must also acknowledge the vast, tangible difference in combat experience and instinct between you and your father."
"When you cannot yet bridge that gap with pure skill, a little... guided intuition becomes a necessary tool."
"You might feel that winning through such means lacks honor, but—"
Noah's tone softened, her serious gaze meeting the dragon's as she listened, truly listened, for the first time.
"Little one, do not push yourself beyond your current limits."
"I understand your drive."
"You are the eldest, bearing the innate desire to protect and care for your younger sisters."
"You also have exemplary parents whose actions and words have taught you much about responsibility and strength."
"You wish to grow stronger faster, to possess abilities far beyond what your youth should allow."
"There is nothing wrong with that ambition; for a dragon, the seeking of greater strength is as natural as flight."
"I admire the resilience and indomitable spirit you display."
"And I have no doubt that one day, you will become an even greater Dragon King than I was."
"But know this—the higher you set your expectations, the greater the potential for disappointment when you inevitably fall short."
Noah listened quietly, absorbing her ancestor's wisdom. "The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment..." she repeated softly, the concept settling heavily upon her young shoulders.
The ancestor's tone became even more solemn, filled with a gravity that seemed to still the very air around them.
"And when that disappointment becomes too crushing, it can fester into lasting self-doubt."
"That is a shadow I do not wish for you to endure."
"Your parents care for you deeply, but they are not like me; they cannot perceive the intricate workings of your mind and spirit at all hours."
"I, however, know your every thought, your every silent struggle. I know exactly what you wish to accomplish and the weight you place upon yourself."
"So let me remind you, little one, to be disciplined with yourself, but also to grant yourself grace. Otherwise, your efforts may yield the opposite of your intent."
"Remember, if a bowstring is wound too tightly, it will snap long before the arrow finds its mark."
Drip—
A single, resonant drop fell from the golden, nebulous ceiling above, landing on the calm, reflective water beneath them, sending perfect, concentric ripples outward.
The ripples slowly expanded, eventually washing over Noah's ethereal feet.
She looked down at her reflection in the water.
Noah rarely took the time for such introspection. She was always moving forward, discarding the past, never stopping to look back at the girl she had been.
But after listening to her ancestor's words, she seemed to glimpse a new understanding.
It wasn't just about "high expectations leading to disappointment."
There were deeper, more nuanced lessons within about patience, growth, and self-compassion—concepts that Noah, in her youthful intensity, could only faintly grasp.
After a long, contemplative silence, Noah finally looked up, a faint, genuine smile breaking through her usually stern expression.
"Alright," she said, her voice clearer and lighter. "I understand. Thank you for telling me this."
"Hmph, I am merely ensuring my chosen host does not ruin her vessel through sheer stubbornness," her ancestor replied with a haughty sniff, its pride showing. "After all, I will require your body in peak condition to face the prophesied 'Ultimate Fear.'"
Noah blinked, then tilted her head in amusement.
"Pfft—"
This blunt, proud, and slightly tsundere response felt oddly, comfortingly familiar.
It reminded her so much of her parents!
After a moment, she chuckled softly, a real, warm sound. "Just admit you care about me. Is it really that difficult?"
"I do not 'care' about you in the sentimental sense. I care about the integrity and potential of your physical form."
"Oh, really?"
"Indubitably."
"I don't believe you."
"Believe what you will!" Her ancestor huffed, standing up abruptly.
The massive, spectral body shook slightly, causing the entire mental space to tremble.
"Our conversation is concluded. It is time to return to your training."
Noah nodded, understanding the dismissal. In the next instant, her consciousness withdrew, exiting her mindscape.
The cool, fresh air of the autumn evening brushed against her face, bringing her fully back to awareness. She shook her head gently, dislodging the cherry blossom petals that had settled in her hair like a delicate veil. Then, with a deliberate motion, she reached into her pocket and retrieved a small, smooth, obsidian-black stone.
The Black Sacred Stone.
Or, as it was more accurately known, the Night Spirit Crystal.
While rare in this modern age, the Night Spirit Crystal was often dismissed by contemporary mages as a mere decorative item due to its inert state and its refusal to be enchanted by modern magical techniques.
But in Ancient Dragon King Noah's time, it was a revered treasure, a key to deeper powers.
And as the ancestor had assured her, when activated by true Primordial energy, it acted as a powerful catalyst, significantly boosting her ability to condense and refine that ancient strength.
In just the few weeks since winning it, she had accumulated more primordial power than she had managed in the entire half-year prior.
While she wasn't sure exactly how much power her ancestor would ultimately need to manifest or to confront the coming threat, the tangible benefits to her own body and growth made the effort unquestionably worth it.
As she closed her eyes again, channeling her energy into the crystal, two small, curious heads peeked out from behind the wide trunk of a nearby maple tree.
"There she is, Big Sis Noah!" Aurora whispered, her voice a conspiratorial hush.
"Wow..." Muen's eyes widened, captivated by the sight of their eldest sister deep in meditation, the last of the sunset's rays catching the faint aura around her and the crystal.
"Wow? What do you mean 'wow'?" Aurora hissed, nudging her.
"Big Sis just looks so... cool when she's focused on her training!" Muen breathed, her admiration plain.
"..."
Aurora gave her older sister's chin a gentle, impatient nudge with her forehead. "This isn't the time to be fangirling. We're here on a mission! We're here to catch the ghost living inside Big Sis's body!"
Reluctantly tearing her gaze from the serene figure of Noah, Muen looked down at her determined little sister.
"Aurora, you've been trying to catch this 'ghost' for months now," Muen reminded her in a whisper. "We've set up traps, done stakeouts... we haven't even seen a shadow of it."
"That's because you don't understand the fundamental nature of our quarry, Second Sis," Aurora retorted, her expression one of superior knowledge.
"What do you mean?"
"Ghosts..." Aurora declared with absolute conviction, "...don't have shadows!"
"Really?~~ Is that so?" Muen asked, her voice dripping with playful skepticism.
Aurora nodded firmly, her small face set in a mask of resolve. "Absolutely. It's a well-documented spectral characteristic. But I have a feeling—a very strong feeling—that tonight, with Big Sis using that new crystal, we are going to make a major discovery!"
She clutched a small, hastily drawn "ghost-catching" net made from a discarded hair ribbon and a twig, her eyes gleaming with the light of a budding investigator on the verge of a breakthrough.