Noah focused intently on condensing her primordial energy, the process so absorbing that she only realized much later, with a start, that it was already midnight.
As the night's chill deepened, she uncrossed her legs and rubbed her arms for warmth, then lifted her gaze to the vast, star-dusted sky.
A full Moon hung high, its usual silver hue tinged with an eerie, ethereal green that cast a mysterious glow over the slumbering world.
Blinking thoughtfully, Noah suddenly remembered an unfinished conversation. "By the way," she murmured into the quiet night, "remember our conversation a while back about live birth versus egg birth?"
Her ancestor's voice echoed in her mind, responding after a contemplative pause. "Yes, I remember. You said that if you had the choice, you would still choose the path of live birth because, more than desiring instant strength, you valued the process of growing stronger step by step."
Noah nodded, though there was no one to see it. "After that, I asked you the same question."
"Yes."
"But your answer... it threw me off."
Noah continued, her voice soft but persistent, "You said... your own birth was a 'mistake.' I didn't understand what you meant by that, and I wanted to ask more, but you hurried me off to find my mother's pendant. So... could you explain it to me now?"
When it came to the Primordial Dragon King's personal history, Noah could only find fragmented, glorified mentions in ancient texts.
Her ancestor was universally celebrated as a hero of the entire dragon race, a savior from the Age of Myths, depicted in every historical record as a flawless, legendary figure.
The stories were always grand and epic, speaking of world-saving feats and unimaginable power.
The modern dragons sang hymns of her achievements, yet rarely, if ever, did anyone delve into the personal history, the being, behind that shining legacy.
In response to Noah's probing question, the ancestor remained silent.
Memories from thousands of years ago, buried deep within the ancient dragon's soul, began to stir. These echoes from the dawn of time overlapped with the recent, vibrant moments shared with the young dragon girl.
Lost in thought, the ancient one felt as if time itself had blurred, the distant past and the tangible present collapsing into a single, poignant moment.
Her silence stretched on, thick and heavy, until Noah, sensing her ancestor's turmoil, took a tentative step forward within their shared mindscape, stopping directly in front of the massive, luminous dragon eyes.
The great white orbs, with their vertical slit pupils, acted as perfect mirrors, reflecting Noah's own small, concerned image.
"I can tell it must be a painful memory," Noah said, her voice gentle, "so I won't force you to talk about it."
She met her own reflection in the dragon's gaze. "But I genuinely want to understand you better, Ancestor."
Normally, Noah wasn't one to pry into others' secrets. She valued privacy and rarely asked anyone so many personal questions.
But the consciousness before her was different.
She was a being who had crossed the vast gulf of time, awakened from millennia of slumber within Noah's own soul.
Over these past few months, through shared experiences and silent companionship, they had grown undeniably closer, each learning more about the other's character and heart.
The ancestor's initial hostility and imposing demeanor had gradually softened, and in its place, Noah's curiosity about this mysterious, ancient hero had quietly bloomed.
Within this dark-golden mental space, a conversation that spanned eons had quietly begun.
After a long, weighty pause, Noah's ancestor finally closed her immense dragon eyes and rose slowly to her full, majestic height.
The enormous, spectral dragon form towered over Noah's small figure, a stark contrast of scale and era.
Noah tilted her head back, looking up at the ancient leviathan. "Are you going to kick me out now?" she asked, a hint of resigned humor in her tone.
In the past, whenever her ancestor was in a particularly evasive or playful mood, she would give a powerful flap of her wings, sending a mental gust that would unceremoniously toss Noah out of her own mindscape.
After it had happened a few times, Noah had been genuinely puzzled. "Ancestor, this is my consciousness. How do you even manage to kick me out?"
The ancestor had merely laughed, a sound like rumbling stone. "Noah, do you really wish to know the limits of my control over this shared space?"
Over time, Noah had grown used to her quirks and would usually just sigh and take her leave when dismissed.
But now, as her ancestor stayed silent, Noah sensed that she would likely be ejected once more rather than receive an answer.
With a resigned sigh, Noah turned, giving a small, understanding wave. "I said I wouldn't force you to answer, so you don't need to send me out. I'll go myself."
Plop—plop—
Her small, ethereal shoes made soft, tapping sounds against the water's surface as she began to walk toward the familiar exit of her mindscape.
She had barely taken a few steps when she felt a faint, powerful energy ripple behind her, causing the very air to hum.
Looking down, she noticed the calm water at her feet was now rippling, the waves spreading out from a point directly behind her.
Noah whipped around to see the massive white dragon folding her great wings, her entire form beginning to glow with a soft, intense magic.
Moments later, the brilliant light faded, and standing where the dragon had been was a small, slender figure poised gracefully on the water's surface.
Noah's eyes widened in sheer shock, her breath catching in her throat.
Before her stood a woman of delicate, ethereal beauty. Her long, snow-white hair cascaded down to her waist like a frozen waterfall. She wore a simple yet elegant white dress with a high-low hemline that revealed long, slender legs clad in sleek boots. Her skin was flawless porcelain, an unblemished canvas of timeless elegance.
Her gaze was calm and cool, possessing an ancient depth, and a single, star-shaped earring glinted on her right ear, catching the golden light and adding a touch of celestial sparkle.
She looked almost too perfect, like an exquisitely crafted sculpture from a forgotten age.
"...Ancestor?"
It took Noah a full moment to process that this stunning vision was her ancestor's human form.
The ethereal beauty began walking toward Noah, her steps fluid and graceful. She exuded an aura that was less overtly intimidating than most Dragon Kings, but it was filled with a supreme, innate elegance that commanded silent awe.
The long, sleek white tail trailing behind her was unlike those of modern dragons—it was finer, shimmering with a pearlescent sheen, and impossibly long.
Noah was utterly captivated by her presence, only snapping out of her stupor when the woman stopped directly in front of her.
"Little one."
"Huh? Oh, sorry..." Noah stammered, feeling her face grow warm.
The ancestor's voice in this human form was gentler, softer—profoundly different from the earth-shaking rumble of her dragon form.
There was a melodic warmth to it now, like a gentle, reassuring spring breeze.
The woman placed one hand on her hip while the other gently, almost reverently, patted Noah's head, her smile brimming with open satisfaction.
Noah froze, lifting her head to meet her ancestor's amused gaze along the length of her arm.
"What... what are you doing?" Noah asked, bewildered.
"I've wanted to do this for a long time," the ancestor confessed, her smile widening. "Your head is so soft. It's quite fun to pat."
"...Right."
So, even in human form, she's still the same eccentric ancestor, Noah thought with internal fondness.
"So, you avoided doing it before because you were afraid you'd accidentally squish me?" Noah deduced aloud.
"Exactly. You're quite perceptive for a hatchling."
"Ha, well, thank you for your restraint," Noah replied dryly.
She shook her head, wriggling free from the ancestor's lingering hand. "So why did you only choose to show me your human form now?"
"Because until recently, we hadn't gathered enough concentrated primordial energy for me to maintain this transformation," the ancestor explained. "But with the aid of the Night Spirit Crystal, our power accumulation has accelerated significantly, granting me the necessary magic to assume this form for a time."
Noah nodded, the pieces clicking into place.
"Oh, right," the ancestor added, her eyes sparkling with a new idea. "Aside from patting your head, there's something else I've been wanting to do."
"What—hey! Don't hug me! Let go—!"
Before Noah could react or brace herself, her ancestor swept her up into a tight, engulfing bear hug, holding her small frame securely against her.
The soft, warm breath tickled Noah's neck and face. She tried to wriggle free, her discomfort with such sudden, intense closeness evident in her stiff posture.
Though she'd gradually grown accustomed to her immediate family's embraces, Noah was still deeply unused to physical closeness with anyone else. She kicked her feet slightly in protest, her little silver tail twitching with agitation.
"You... you ancient creature... you're acting just like Aunt Isha!" she grumbled, her voice muffled against the soft fabric of the dress.
Noah tried to push away the impossibly soft face that was nuzzling affectionately against her cheek, but the stubborn white dragon, in human form, clung to her as if she were the most beloved plush toy in all the realms.
After a couple of token, halfhearted struggles, Noah finally surrendered with a sigh.
She let her ancestor hug, pat, and nuzzle her to her heart's content.
"Ugh, why are adults so childish?" she muttered into the embrace, a long-suffering tone in her voice.
Once again, Noah found herself questioning the curious, often baffling behavior of the adults in her life.
"Ah~ so soft, so nice~" the ancestor cooed. "Is this what a young dragon's body truly feels like? Amazing! And to think that one day, this body will be all mine to experience fully. It makes me even happier."
"...Can you please stop saying weird, creepy things like that?" Noah pleaded, her voice strained. "You sound like a suspicious aunt from a cautionary tale."
Finally, seemingly satisfied, the ancestor released Noah from the overwhelming hug.
After quickly adjusting her rumpled clothes, Noah looked up at the now-human ancient dragon, her expression returning to one of serious curiosity. "So now that you're in human form, and seemingly in a better mood... are you ready to tell me about your past?"
The "suspicious aunt" nodded, her playful expression melting into one of profound gravity as she looked down at the earnest little dragon girl.
"My story," she began, her voice dropping to a whisper laden with the weight of ages, "begins with the Mother of All Dragons, the Dragon Goddess, Tiamat."