The best friend date was set entirely within the Silver Dragon Clan's territory.
Although the word "clan" might conjure images of ancient, isolated tribes, the reality of the Silver Dragon Clan was quite the opposite—its citizens lived comfortably and with a notably high standard of living.
Thanks to their relatively small population and the abundant resources managed by their queen, the Silver Dragons thrived in a society that could easily be called "prosperous." Their well-planned residential and recreational areas offered nearly every convenience one could need. For broader horizons or more exotic entertainment, one might visit a neutral hub like Sky City, but Noah and Helena did not feel the need to travel so far. A simple, leisurely stroll through the clan's own grounds was more than enough, allowing Helena a charming glimpse into the Silver Dragons' unique culture and daily life.
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"Alright, they are on the move. Let us go, Aurora! Gogogo!"
Thus, the self-styled 'Dragonette Special Ops Team' sprang into action!
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The first stop on Noah and Helena's date was the central clan square to feed the pigeons.
The weather was perfect, with warm sunlight and a gentle breeze. The square was bustling with peaceful activity—some clansmen were practicing morning exercises, while others simply enjoyed the pleasant atmosphere.
At a small grain stall, the vendor, upon recognizing the eldest princess, naturally offered the feed for free.
But Noah politely yet firmly insisted on paying the full price.
With their paper bag of grain secured, the two friends headed to the square's center, where a plump flock of pigeons eagerly awaited their breakfast.
"These pigeons will not peck your hand, right?" Helena asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"No, they will not. They are very civilized," Noah reassured her.
Noah crouched down gracefully, pouring a bit of grain into her palm before extending it toward the birds. They swarmed her hand eagerly, but even in their haste, they were careful not to hurt her soft skin. "The pigeons here are very gentle," she explained softly. "Have you never fed pigeons before, Helena?"
Helena shook her head, then mimicked Noah's posture, tentatively stretching out her own hand.
"I have never raised pigeons before," Helena admitted. She paused briefly before adding, "but I do feed doves often."
"Doves?" Noah blinked in curiosity. She knew of doves—her father had occasionally mentioned them in passing during conversations with her mother. Though Noah did not fully understand the cultural significance they held for him, her curiosity had once led her to research the species in the library. Doves were an ancient domesticated bird species raised by various races, though not commonly by dragons. But why did Helena often feed doves?
As if reading her mind, Helena reached into her cute satchel, pulling out a small, beautifully crafted dove-shaped pouch. "See? Is not it cute?"
Noah smiled, lightly tugging on the pouch's zipper—which was cleverly designed like a tiny dove's tail. "Was this made by Aunt Claudia?" she asked, referring to the formidable Sea Dragon Princess.
Helena shook her head. "No, my aunt made it for me."
"Aunt? You never mentioned you had an aunt," Noah said, her interest piqued.
Helena hesitated, her eyes darting around slightly before she pointed to another, less crowded corner of the square. "Let us go feed those pigeons over there!"
"Okay," Noah agreed, recognizing the subtle subject change.
She deftly moved the conversation along. Her mother had told her not to bring up her aunt in public.
The two walked to the new spot, hand in hand, their figures side-by-side like inseparable shadows.
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Meanwhile, a lone pigeon, mistaking Muen for a potential source of food, approached her expectantly.
Crouching low in their hiding spot, Muen hugged one knee to her chest and slowly extended a hand toward the bird.
The pigeon chirped excitedly, expecting a delicious breakfast—only to let out a surprised squawk as Muen gently but firmly pinched its beak.
"Spit out the grain Helena fed you!" Muen whispered fiercely.
The pigeon blinked in utter confusion. What? Are you crazy?!
"Second Sister, why are you picking a fight with a pigeon?" Aurora hissed, pulling on Muen's sleeve. "Hurry up and follow them before they disappear!"
Reluctantly, Muen released the pigeon, tossing it a handful of the high-quality grain she had brought as compensation. "Silver Dragon pigeons should only eat food provided by Silver Dragons, understand?" she informed the bird sternly.
The pigeon stared at her, then at the grain. What is wrong with you?!
"Coo-coo..." it cooed, utterly baffled, before pecking at the new offering.
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The next stop on the best friend date was a popular ice cream stand.
"I will have an orange-flavored one. What about you, Helena?"
"I will have orange too."
"Alright."
The cheerful vendor handed them two vibrant orange ice creams. Once again, he initially refused payment, but Noah insisted firmly on paying the full price.
Walking away from the stand, licking their treats, Noah grumbled softly, "I should have worn a shirt that says, 'I am a princess, please take my money.'"
Helena giggled, the sound light and happy. "This is delicious."
"Right? Orange flavor is the best."
"I never used to like fruity ice creams, but this is surprisingly good. Do you really love oranges, Noah?"
Noah thought for a moment before replying, "Sort of. I did not care for them much before, but my dad used to buy orange-flavored treats for my mom all the time. One day, I tried some and realized they are actually delicious."
"Oh? It seems your family's taste preferences run deep!" Helena teased, nudging her friend playfully.
Noah chuckled. "Come on, let us go check out the fountain."
"Sure."
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The moment Noah and Helena were out of sight, Muen and Aurora swooped in on the ice cream stand.
"Ten orange ice creams, please!" Muen declared, slapping a large coin onto the counter.
"Calm down, Second Sister!" Aurora intervened, grabbing her arm. "Do you remember last time? You ate three ice creams in one go and had a stomach ache all day!"
"Today is different, Aurora." Muen's expression grew solemn and determined.
Aurora scratched her head, puzzled. "What is different?"
"Before, I ate them out of mere greed. Today, I eat them out of vengeance! Ten ice creams will not defeat me!"
"Are you even sure you can eat all that? It is ten ice creams."
"Do not underestimate me. Ten ice creams are nothing—"
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Five minutes later, Muen's bravado had significantly deflated.
"Aurora, help me. I can not finish these," she mumbled, her face slightly pale.
Aurora sighed, staring at the three remaining, rapidly melting ice creams in Muen's hands. "I thought three was your limit, but you managed seven. What is your secret?"
"Helena could only share one ice cream with Big Sister," Muen explained, her voice weak but triumphant, "but I shared seven! My love for Big Sister is seven times greater than Helena's!"
"We have produced a math prodigy in the Silver Dragon Clan!" Aurora quipped, shaking her head in amusement.
"Now you eat the rest, Aurora. Show your love for Big Sister!"
Aurora shook her head vigorously. "My love for Big Sister is as evident as the sun and as steadfast as you, Muen. I do not need to prove it with ice cream."
"So what do we do with these?" Muen asked, gesturing helplessly with the dripping cones.
Aurora pondered briefly before a mischievous idea struck her.
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Moments later, the same pigeon from earlier prepared to return to its nest for a well-deserved nap. Just as it flapped its wings to take off, it was suddenly snatched from the air by the two dragonettes, who now loomed over it with menacing, mischievous grins (from the terrified pigeon's perspective).
They held out the three remaining, now very messy, orange ice creams, their intentions clear.
The pigeon let out a pathetic coo: I just wanted some breakfast! Spare me this frozen torment!