Constantine's sudden appearance at St. Heath Academy sent palpable ripples through the crowd. His status as the legendary Crimson Flame Dragon King—a figure immortalized in children's textbooks and historical archives, despite his two resurrections—commanded a mix of reverence and wariness. His reputation for instigating small-scale territorial skirmishes, culminating in his infamous assault on the Silver Dragon Clan, meant most dragons kept a respectful distance.
It wouldn't be entirely accurate to label Constantine a "god of civil strife," as internal conflicts and clashes were part of dragon nature. Yet, his presence on the peaceful academy grounds fueled intense speculation among the gathered parents and staff.
"I heard that at the last secret convocation of the Dragon Kings, old Alres was openly hostile toward Constantine."
"Indeed, I heard the same. Our own clan's Dragon King even stationed observers around the Crimson Flame territory. What was that about?"
"But if Constantine is standing here now, that surveillance must have been lifted."
"Then why is he here? I've heard of no new younglings from the Crimson Flame Clan."
"Perhaps he is here to secure some privilege or concession for his clan members already enrolled?"
"Do you truly believe the Crimson Flame Dragon King would trouble himself with such mundane affairs?"
Despite the buzzing conversations, no one dared approach him. The maintenance of order was largely thanks to St. Heath Academy's long-standing reputation as a neutral ground, much like Sky City. Anyone, including a Dragon King, who caused trouble here would swiftly find themselves transformed from a legendary figure into a pariah.
The unenviable task of greeting Constantine fell to a highly experienced dean, who was visibly perspiring under the Dragon King's intense presence.
Observing from their bench, Leon raised an eyebrow. "Could he be here to enroll his daughter? Is she finally school-aged?"
Rossweise shook her head slightly. "Did you not say his daughter was newly born and still sealed within the crystal? Even a prodigious young dragon could not begin her education so young."
"True."
"Even our Noah, gifted as she is, only began at a year and a half."
No offspring of Constantine's, however exceptional, could possibly be ready for academics straight out of stasis.
"Then why is he here?" Leon mused aloud. A thought struck him. "Ah, I think I understand why Vice Principal Wilson was absent from greeting us today."
Rossweise glanced at him curiously. "Why is that?"
Leon tilted his head toward the scene. "They have a far more... demanding guest to attend to."
Looking over, Rossweise saw Vice Principal Wilson himself now relieving the flustered dean, personally engaging with Constantine. A soft chuckle escaped her. "It seems Constantine is acting as a buffer for us, drawing all the administrative attention."
Leaning back comfortably on the bench, Leon stretched with a contented sigh. "The greatness of Constantine truly speaks for itself."
.
.
"Helena!"
"Noah-chan~!"
After weeks apart, the two friends ran toward each other, arms open wide for a reunion hug.
In the sunlight, amidst the throng of students, the two young dragons were milliseconds from embracing—when a spiky tuft of hair suddenly popped up between them.
Muen, eyes squeezed shut and arms folded resolutely across her chest, had inserted herself perfectly between her sister and her friend.
Noah blinked. "Muen? Weren't you just asleep? How did you get here?"
"I... I didn't even see Muen move... that was so fast," Helena stammered, equally surprised.
Only Little Light had witnessed the maneuver. "Big Sis, Helena! That was the legendary, once-in-a-lifetime flash step of the Melkvey family!"
Noah turned slowly to her youngest sister, her tone deadpan. "But Father uses flash steps all the time, and he always shows up exactly when needed."
"That's just a figure of speech, Big Sis."
"Alright. Understood."
Noah returned her gaze to Muen, sighing inwardly. She had hoped to greet Helena while Muen was still napping, well aware of her younger sister's possessive streak. But even she hadn't anticipated Muen's "sister radar" being quite this precise—intercepting them before she and Helena had even finished saying hello.
If she could only channel this energy into her formal training, Noah thought with a hint of exasperation.
"I woke up and you were gone, so I came to find you," Muen declared, her hair tuft bobbing emphatically.
"Alright, well, now that you're here..." Noah drew out the words, successfully hooking Muen's full attention. As her sister turned to her eagerly, Noah chuckled, spread her arms, and pulled Muen into a tight hug.
"Eep! Sis—!"
Helena, having been Noah's best friend for over a year, understood the gesture immediately. She joined in, wrapping her arms around Muen from the other side.
"Heeey, Helena—nngh!" Caught completely off guard, Muen found herself firmly sandwiched between her sister and her friend.
One side carried the familiar, comforting scent of her sister; the other had the Sea Dragon Clan's distinctive, cool, oceanic aroma.
Little Light's eyes sparkled as she clapped her hands in delight. It turned out the one clinging to the carrot wasn't Big Sis—it was Second Sis!
Watching this wholesome scene unfold at the semester's start, Little Light felt certain this term was going to be wonderful.
Finally, after being thoroughly squeezed, Muen was released, looking slightly dazed. Little Light rushed over to steady her.
"How was it, Second Sis?" Little Light giggled.
Muen shook her head to clear the dizziness, then pondered for a moment before replying with utmost seriousness, "One side felt hard, the other felt soft."
The "hard side" was Noah's; the "soft side" was Helena's.
"Hard? Soft? Why would that be?" Little Light echoed, mirroring Noah's own curiosity.
All three young dragons turned their heads in unison toward Helena.
Startled by the sudden, intense focus, Helena laughed, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Well, that's... something you'll understand when you're older."
Noah and her sisters exchanged a look of mutual understanding, accepting this as another one of those mysterious adult things they would uncover in time.
"Come on," Helena said, deftly changing the subject. "I saw a snack stand over there. Let's go get some treats!"
"Yes!"
Hand in hand, the group of four skipped off toward the promise of sweets.
.
.
Meanwhile, Leon had slipped away from the main crowd and entered the school building. His destination wasn't a classroom or office, but the rooftop.
The rooftop was quiet and deserted, a place occasionally visited by students during lunch hours. Leaning against the sun-warmed railing, Leon looked out over the bustling campus. His gaze found Rossweise, who was now chatting with Claudia near the square. He then shifted his attention to where Vice Principal Wilson and Constantine were conversing.
Old Wilson, for all his reputation as an enthusiastic shipper, was handling the situation with professional grace. He maintained a respectful, neutral demeanor, engaging the Crimson Flame Dragon King with calm authority. And Constantine, perhaps in an unusually good mood, seemed to be responding with relative calmness, his tone even bordering on civil.
It was then that Constantine glanced up, his eyes meeting Leon's across the distance. Leon, unfazed, simply crossed his arms and waited.
A few minutes after Constantine concluded his talk with the vice principal, steady, heavy footsteps sounded on the stairwell behind Leon. He didn't turn, keeping his gaze on the view.
"Don't crowd me up here. Aside from my wife's clan, I'd prefer no one know we're... old acquaintances."
"I will say it again, Leon—we are not friends."
"Alright, alright, whatever you say."
Leon had developed a standard approach for dealing with the trademark stubbornness of Dragon Kings. When Rossweise's ears turned pink with protest, he would say, "Yes, yes, you're absolutely right." When Constantine narrowed his eyes, he would reply, "You're just saying that to save face."
"So," Leon began, shifting the topic to the matter closest to Constantine's heart. "How is the Ghost Lotus working? How is Hefei?"
Constantine gave a slow, deliberate nod. "She is recovering. The healing is gradual, but our clan's healers are assisting the process, aided by the herb."
Hearing that the little dragon was okay sent a quiet wave of relief through Leon, though he kept his expression neutral. "Good to hear."
After a pause, Leon ventured, "So, are you here to enroll Hefei?"
"She was merely two months old when she was injured, barely able to form a few words. School is out of the question for now."
"True enough."
"Then why did you ask?"
"Can't a guy ask? I did play a part in her recovery, you know. I'd say I deserve at least a third of the credit."
Constantine let out a dismissive snort. "I am here to assist clan members who were previously withdrawn with their re-enrollment procedures. And to coordinate with Vice Principal Wilson to ensure they face no undue trouble moving forward."
The Crimson Flame Clan's internal turmoil and shifting external relations had indeed affected its standing.
"Understood. Have you sorted everything out?"
"Not entirely. I still have a meeting with Principal Olette later."
"Why didn't you go straight to her, then?"
Constantine paused, fixing Leon with a hard stare.
Leon blinked, then pointed a finger at his own chest. "Don't tell me you're making the principal wait just to chat with me?"
"Hmph. Consider it an honor, human."
Leon smirked, mocking the formal tone. "A real—honor—human."
"You are truly insufferable. How has the Silver Dragon Queen tolerated you all these years?"
Leon shrugged, a genuine smile touching his lips. "Love grows with the children. When they're around, it's hard to stay mad for long."
"..."
Constantine sighed, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of his continued bafflement at how he had been bested by this particular human years ago.
"Oh, speaking of which," Constantine began, an uncharacteristic hesitation in his voice. "There is something... personal I wished to ask."
Leon raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's that?"
"Do you and your wife plan on having more children?"
"..."
Leon stiffened slightly, lowering his hands from the railing. "Why do you ask?" He wondered, briefly and bizarrely, if Constantine was about to solicit parenting advice.
But then, Constantine revealed the uniquely straightforward, combat-oriented logic that defined him.
"If you do, I suggest you expedite the process. I would prefer for Hefei to begin her schooling at the same time as your next child."
"Uh... why?" Leon asked, completely thrown.
With the utmost gravity, Constantine stated his reasoning: "I am going to defeat you. Therefore, it is only fitting that my child should defeat yours. It is inevitable."
Leon: "..."
This, Leon thought, is exactly the kind of thing only a battle-crazed dragon like you would ever conceive.