Thus ended the story of the first Dragon King, Noah: her improbable birth, her epic struggles, and the fateful decisions that molded her into the greatest hero in dragon history.
Now, having awakened after thousands of years of slumber, she resided in the mind of her young namesake, still bound by her ancient promise to the Dragon Goddess Tiamat. Fortunately, the Ancestor considered herself remarkably lucky—her host was brave, noble, and possessed a strong will, and her newfound sisters were clever, bright, and fiercely loyal.
In all her centuries of existence, the Ancestor had encountered countless individuals, but few were quite like the Melkvey sisters. They lacked the raw, often brutal ferocity typical of the Dragon Clan, but possessed a rare, resilient kindness at their core—a kindness that the Ancestor now saw as perhaps the best hope for the future of their kin. It was this unique family spirit that made Noah realize how truly fortunate their connection was.
Had her spirit ended up in the mind of a power-hungry or crazed fire dragon rather than this thoughtful young girl, the circumstances would undoubtedly be much darker.
"That's essentially all I wanted to say," she concluded, looking directly at Aurora. "So, after hearing everything, do you still believe I'm some sinister ghost sneakily hiding in your sister's body?"
Aurora slowly shook her head, a somewhat bashful, thoughtful expression replacing her earlier suspicion.
"Good."
As she spoke, the Ancestor stood up, brushing a few stray cherry blossom petals and specks of dust from Noah's dress.
"Now that you've heard the story, take all the time you need to digest it. Ah—I almost forgot." A mischievous glint returned to her eyes. "Before I return your sister's body fully, I still have one more very important thing to do."
Muen blinked her large, curious eyes. "What is it... huh? Huh?!"
Before she could finish her question, the Ancestor bent down and scooped both Muen and Aurora into a massive, engulfing hug, pressing her cheeks affectionately against their soft, young faces, radiating pure, unadulterated happiness.
"To be able to snuggle with three adorable little dragonlings in one night—what absolute bliss!" she declared, her voice giddy. "A king could sleep a thousand years and consider it a fair trade for this kind of joy!"
Aurora was still in a slight daze from the story, too surprised to react, letting herself be manipulated like a beautiful, compliant doll nestled in the Ancestor's embrace.
But for Muen, the experience felt different. Even though she knew intellectually that this was the Ancestor using her sister's body, the familiar warmth and softness were unmistakably her sister's. It reminded her vividly of the comforting, safe hugs they used to share before Noah began her advanced training and grew more reserved.
So, even though she knew it wasn't truly her sister initiating the affection...
"Mm... big sis's cheek, it's so soft and warm..." Muen murmured, nuzzling closer contentedly.
"Oh, and regarding the Ultimate Fear," the Ancestor continued, her tone shifting back to seriousness while maintaining the hug, "try not to let it weigh too heavily on your young minds. Thousands of years ago, a powerful high priest made a prophecy concerning its return."
"The prophecy stated: 'When the heavens fall, and the world of illusions collapses, the end of all things will arrive, and fear will once again descend upon this land. Then, a Child of Thunder will arise to save all.'"
"I don't know who this 'Child of Thunder' will be, but the threads of fate declare they will be the one to ultimately defeat the Ultimate Fear."
"However," she added, her voice firming, "that does not mean we can be complacent. We must still prepare, still fight with everything we have. Do you understand that, little ones?"
Aurora, still nestled in the hug, nodded, her mind whirring as she processed the prophecy. Muen, not fully grasping the complexities of prophecies or the identity of the "Child of Thunder," simply decided to trust her sister's judgment and nodded as well.
"Alright, then. It's time to return your sister's body to her full control. Goodbye for now, little ones."
With those words, the Ancestor withdrew her presence, passing control seamlessly back to Noah.
The sudden shift in consciousness made Noah feel momentarily dizzy, but she quickly steadied herself, having grown accustomed to the sensation by now.
As she fully regained control, Noah shook her head lightly to clear it and looked down at Muen, who was still clinging to her arm. Smiling fondly, Noah gently pinched her sister's round, soft cheek.
She then glanced at Aurora, who was staring into the middle distance, her brow furrowed in deep thought as she processed the incredible story.
It wasn't surprising that Aurora was overwhelmed. Even Noah herself had needed considerable time to fully understand and absorb everything her ancestor had shared.
The nature of the Dragon Goddess, the philosophical meaning of life, the ancient seal, the eternal conflict between light and shadow, the looming deadline for the Ultimate Fear's release, and the cryptic prophecy of a savior known as the Child of Thunder...
These concepts were far more complex and weighty than anything they'd ever been taught in the Young Dragon Academy.
"Muen, Aurora," Noah began, her voice soft but serious, "I'd like to ask you both a favor."
"What is it, big sis?" Aurora asked, snapping out of her reverie.
"Please," Noah said, looking from one to the other, "keep the story of the Dragon Clan's first hero a secret from Mom and Dad for now. First, it would only make them worry unnecessarily. And second, the Ancestor's powers haven't fully recovered. If this information were to leak, it might prompt the Ultimate Fear or its followers to act sooner than we're prepared for."
The two younger sisters nodded immediately, their expressions turning obedient and determined.
"Got it, big sis. We won't say a word to anyone," Aurora vowed.
"Another secret to keep? Yay!" Muen cheered, clapping her hands softly.
Aurora looked at her, surprised. "Wait, why 'another' secret?"
"Ah... well... because..." Muen began, suddenly looking sheepish and twisting her fingers together nervously.
"She once accidentally turned one of Mom's favorite formal dresses bright pink while 'experimenting' with color-changing magic," Noah explained with a knowing smile. "And I promised to keep it a secret for her."
"Big sis! You just told her!" Muen exclaimed, her face flushing.
"Oh, sorry," Noah said, not sounding very sorry at all.
"Aurora, you won't tell Mom, will you?" Muen pleaded, grabbing Aurora's hands.
"You really wouldn't want Mom to find out about her favorite dress, would you?" Noah added, her smile turning into a gentle tease.
"Ahhh!" Muen launched herself at Aurora, and the two younger sisters tumbled onto the soft grass, giggling and wrestling playfully, the heavy mood momentarily lifted.
Noah watched them with a serene smile, her expression filled with deep warmth and affection.
After a while, their playful energy spent, the two sisters lay side-by-side on the grass, catching their breath.
"So, big sis," Aurora asked, propping herself up on her elbows, "does this mean you'll keep gathering that primordial power with her help? To eventually face this 'Ultimate Fear'?"
Noah nodded, her expression resolute. "For now, she can't transfer to a different host, so she has to use my body as a vessel to gradually recover her strength. Fortunately, according to her, the Ultimate Fear still has some time before it can fully break the seal. Until that day comes, I want to gather as much power as possible, for both our sakes."
Aurora furrowed her brow, her clever mind spotting a potential problem. "But since she no longer has her own body, she has to rely entirely on yours to recover and eventually fight. When the time comes to face the Ultimate Fear, won't that put you in immense danger too?"
Noah replied with a calm that belied her years, "Aurora, think about it. If Dad knew that a world-ending disaster was inevitable and that he could do something to stop it, what do you think he'd do?"
Aurora answered without a moment's hesitation, "He'd charge straight at it, no question. He wouldn't even think twice. Even if it wasn't for the sake of the whole world, he'd do it for us, to protect our family."
"Exactly. And this time," Noah said, her voice steady and filled with a quiet, unshakable determination, "it's my turn to help protect our family."
"I won't complain about anything that's happened. In fact, I'm grateful the Ancestor chose me."
"She's given me a chance to play a real, significant part in protecting everyone, rather than just watching from the sidelines or trying to help Mom and Dad with minor tricks and chores."
"So, this is a precious opportunity, one I don't intend to waste."
"You both understand, don't you?"
The two sisters, who knew Noah's profound sense of duty and love for her family better than anyone, nodded without a trace of hesitation.
It felt entirely natural to them that Noah would willingly take on such a responsibility. She was like their father in that way—always putting the family's safety first. And like their mother, she was cautious and strategic, understanding that she must first protect herself to be able to protect others effectively.
"I understand completely, big sis."
"Even if I don't get all the complicated stuff," Muen chimed in, "I'll always, always be by your side, big sis!"
Noah's smile returned, warm and full of love. She reached out, ruffling both of her sisters' hair affectionately.
"Thank you, Muen. Thank you, Aurora."
The night air had grown noticeably cooler, a gentle breeze whispering through the cherry blossom trees.
After chatting for a little while longer about simpler things, the three sisters decided it was finally time to head back inside and to bed.
As they padded quietly down the hallway toward their rooms, Aurora noticed a faint, warm glow emanating from beneath their parents' bedroom door.
She frowned, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "It's so late. Why are they still up?"
Noah stopped for a moment, glancing toward the door with a knowing look.
"They're probably working," she surmised.
"Mom working, sure, that makes sense," Aurora reasoned, "but why would Dad be up working too?"
Noah simply shrugged, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on her lips. "Adult stuff. Who can really say?"
As they continued toward their own room, Muen, fighting back a yawn, looked up at Noah.
"Big sis, how late do you think they'll be working?"
"I'm not sure," Noah replied softly, "but I doubt they'll be up until sunrise."
"Yeah," Muen agreed thoughtfully, "that would totally exhaust them."
"Oh, big sis!" Aurora piped up, remembering something. "Isn't next term your last one in the Young Dragon Division?"
"Yup," Noah confirmed, "and there's a big final assessment at the end of it."
"Good luck, big sis! You're gonna ace it!" Muen cheered in a hushed whisper.
"I know, I know~" Noah replied, her voice full of quiet confidence as she ushered her sisters into their shared bedroom, closing the door on the silent, sleeping temple.