After Leon stated his request, Claudia gave him such an exaggerated eye-roll that it looked as though her gaze might vanish into the heavens.
"How many times are you going to come asking for things, kid?" she chided, though her tone lacked real heat. "I already gave you The Nine Gates of Hell and Soul Judgment. That should be more than enough for you and Rossweise for a lifetime, and yet here you are again!"
"No, no, it's not for me or Rossweise this time," Leon was quick to clarify. "It's... for Constantine."
"For him?" Claudia's eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise. "Why?"
Leon explained the promise he had made to the Crimson Flame Dragon King, how he'd used the prospect of a library full of ancient primordial tomes to secure his cooperation. Claudia listened, then let out a long-suffering sigh, rolling her eyes so hard it was a wonder they stayed in their sockets.
"Nope. Not giving you anything. Figure it out yourself," she declared, crossing her arms and spinning on her heel. She marched out the door without a backward glance.
"Wait, Claudia! Please..." But the door shut with a definitive thud, leaving Leon feeling deflated and at a loss.
Charlotte patted his shoulder with a gentle, knowing smile. "Don't worry, Leon. My sister has a tough exterior but a soft heart. She'll come around."
Leon scratched his head, a familiar gesture of frustration. "I hate to keep troubling her like this, but she's really the only one who can help with something like this."
"Give it a little time. I'll speak with her."
True to Charlotte's word, the door soon swung open again. Claudia leaned against the frame, a familiar, teasing smirk on her lips. "Running to your mother for help at the first sign of trouble, Leon?"
"Claudia..." he began, a hopeful look on his face.
She lifted her chin and gestured for him to follow. "Oh, come on then. I'll let you pick out a few original magic tomes."
Charlotte gave him a subtle nudge and a conspiratorial wink. Leon understood completely. Dragons, he had learned, were notorious for being outwardly stubborn and secretly soft-hearted—especially, it seemed, the Dragon Kings. He found himself wondering if this was a universal trait or a prerequisite for the title.
Shaking off the amusing thought, he bid a final farewell to his master and foster mother and followed Claudia out into the corridor.
"Thank you, truly," he said as they walked toward the clan's archives.
Without looking at him, Claudia replied, "You're my sister's only child, Leon. You're family. This isn't a matter of burden." She paused, emphasizing the familial bond that now included him. [Note— Adoptive Child]
She stopped suddenly, turning to face him, her gaze steady and clear. "But remember, this means you owe me another favor. And I won't forget."
Leon blinked, then a slow smile spread across his face. "I understand, Claudia. I'll repay the debt whenever you ask."
Favors in the dragon world never truly disappeared; they only changed hands.
"Oh, and you said you needed these texts for Constantine. Why's that?" she asked, resuming their walk.
"To fulfill a promise I made in return for his help. Originally, I'd promised him a whole library of original texts, but I figured that might have been a bit unrealistic..."
Claudia let out a short, dry chuckle. "You're too generous. These sorts of temporary alliances of convenience don't really require that level of trustworthiness, you know. In these chaotic times, promises often mean little."
Leon's tone, however, was firm. "Yes, but he's been a significant ally, and we may well need to work together again. Keeping my word seems like the best foundation for that."
Claudia gave an approving, almost imperceptible nod. "Good. I respect that quality. No wonder you managed to win over the Silver Dragon Queen."
Leon let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Please, don't tease me. My relationship with Rossweise was honestly a stroke of luck..."
"Meeting might have been luck," Claudia said thoughtfully, "but what brought you together was no accident. She was drawn to you for a reason, just as you were drawn to her."
At this, Leon found himself smirking, a private memory surfacing. Maybe it was her old bunny costume?
"Ha," he muttered to himself.
Claudia shot him a questioning look but said nothing, merely murmuring under her breath, "Youngsters..."
After a moment, she changed the subject. "I overheard you discussing that 'Shadow' character with your master earlier. Are you planning to start investigating them in earnest?"
"Yes," Leon replied, his expression turning serious. "My master suggested looking into the former king's era for clues, and I think it's a solid lead. Once I take care of the immediate tasks, I'll head back to the Empire to dig deeper."
"Good. Often, the greatest dangers lurk in the darkest corners, unseen until it's too late."
He nodded in firm agreement. "You're absolutely right."
They arrived at an ancient, ornately carved door. Claudia pushed it open and led him into the clan's library.
The left side of the spacious room held a finely crafted table and chairs, surrounded by stacks of ancient documents and handwritten notes—presumably Claudia's own ongoing work and research.
"The original magic texts are over here."
She led him to a secluded corner where a single, pristine bookshelf stood. It was stocked with only a handful of books, each looking remarkably well-preserved.
"These are the original magic texts I've compiled over the past few decades. They're my own handwritten copies. I've secured the true originals in a much safer location," Claudia explained, a clear note of reluctance in her voice.
Seeing her protective demeanor, Leon grinned. "Well, it's not such a bad deal if it means Constantine now indirectly owes you a favor too, right?"
Claudia scoffed, but a glint of agreement was in her eyes. "These are rare treasures, you know. And in the chaotic times we live in, they may prove essential to the right people."
With a discerning eye, she selected two books from the shelf and handed them to Leon.
"These two should suit Constantine's nature. Inferno and Heart of Fire."
Leon accepted the books, feeling the fine leather of their bindings. "What's so special about these?"
"Inferno," Claudia began, "is a powerful offensive magic that also carries a secondary sealing ability. It's not purely about destruction, but it should suit Constantine's... fiery temperament."
Leon tilted his head. "And Heart of Fire?"
"It's more of an advanced meditative practice designed to strengthen one's mental and spiritual resilience. Essentially, as long as the caster has the will to fight, Heart of Fire will sustain their spirit and vitality, preventing them from being broken mentally or spiritually."
Leon raised his brows in surprise. "That potent, huh?"
Claudia shrugged elegantly. "Original magic often is. For example, your wife's Soul Judgment is one of the most formidable spells I've ever come across. These two aren't on that supreme level, but they are still exceptionally powerful in their own rights."
Leon looked down at the texts in his hands, feeling a tinge of personal envy. "Almost makes me want to try learning these myself..."
Claudia gave him a sharp, playful tap on the chest. "Not possible. With your heart-scale transplant from the Silver Dragon Queen, your mana circulation and reserves are fundamentally incompatible with the techniques required for most original magics. These spells require an immense, naturally cultivated reservoir of internal mana, something your unique physiology is unable to develop."
"Guess I'll just have to stick to my usual tricks, then," he said with a resigned sigh.
"If you're really interested in something different, though," Claudia continued, a sly smirk playing on her lips, "I may have something in the archives that could actually fit you."
Leon's eyes lit up with immediate interest. "Really? What is it?"
"Oh, you're quite shameless, aren't you?" Claudia teased, though she was clearly enjoying his eagerness. "Two valuable books weren't enough?"
"Come on, Claudia! What's one more at this point?" he laughed, pushing his luck.
With a long-suffering but fond sigh, she relented. "Fine, but remember: within the last ten minutes, you have now officially owed me two significant favors. You should start thinking about how you'll repay them in the future."
Leon gazed at the shrewd dragon princess in a mixture of awe and amusement, realizing that Dragon Kings shared more than just a stubborn exterior—they also possessed an undeniable and formidable knack for strategic mischief.