Late in the evening, after finishing their registration forms, the two young dragon girls excitedly ran out of the classroom.
"We're heading to the fourth floor for the exam now, Dad!" Muse exclaimed.
Leon nodded and ruffled his daughter's hair. "Good luck. Don't stress too much; you'll pass without any trouble."
"Mm-hmm!" Muse chirped happily.
Heifi, standing nearby, walked up to Constantine, her large eyes brimming with excitement.
"Father, I'm off to take the exam as well."
"Alright," Constantine responded, his tone reserved as always.
With their reports made, the two dragon girls held hands and bounded up to the fourth floor.
Leon watched their small figures disappear up the stairs, then turned to Constantine.
"Why are you still so strict with Heifi?"
Constantine blinked, looking genuinely puzzled.
"Didn't you tell me last time in Sky City to try a different approach with Heifi? I've been working on it."
After a pause, the Crimson Flame Dragon King added, "Is it not obvious?"
Leon raised a brow. Heifi still talked to her father like she was reporting to a superior.
Hearing this, Constantine pondered for a moment before letting out a light sigh.
"I'm not very good at raising children. Even though you told me a different approach would be better, I don't really know how to do it."
A centuries-old dragon king, at a loss when it came to his daughter—it was almost funny, but Leon understood.
After thinking for a moment, Leon suggested,
"Buy some parenting books. Learn from them, see how others handle it."
"You learned from books too?" Constantine asked.
"No, I was born good at it," Leon said smugly.
There were two things General Leon was unrivaled in: fighting and raising kids. Half a year to win over a cold little dragon girl? Top-tier skills. (Cue tactical lean-back.)
"Alright, I'll buy some books," Constantine replied, taking the advice seriously.
Unlike some other stubborn dragon kings, Constantine was willing to listen to Leon's suggestions, especially since he genuinely wanted to make up for past mistakes and give Heifi a happier childhood.
"Alright, the kids are off to their exams. Let's take a walk outside," Leon suggested, turning to Rossweise.
"Sure, let's go," she replied.
As the three of them walked out of the academic building, Constantine asked,
"I remember families like yours have to attend a parent harmony interview, right? Aren't you two required to participate?"
At this, Leon and Rossweise exchanged awkward glances, then chuckled.
"Starting from Muwen and Aurora, we've been exempt from that," Leon explained.
"Exempt, got it? The vice principal himself gave us the green light!"
Though Vice Principal Wilson spent most of his time plotting to embarrass them, when it came to exemptions, he did them a solid.
Even without the exemption, the couple's incredible teamwork and harmony would've made acing the interview a breeze.
Leon had once described their relationship with a peculiar analogy:
"When that dragon queen lifts her tail, I know it's time to use a dragon twist move!"
Constantine nodded. "I see."
The trio wandered toward the academy's outdoor field to kill time while the girls took their exams. They had about two hours to spend.
Leon glanced at Constantine, who was deliberately keeping a polite distance.
"By the way, have you started training with the magical manual I gave you last time?" Leon asked.
"Yes," Constantine replied solemnly. "It's an exceptional manual. My power grows stronger each day."
"..."
Leon had only brought it up to make casual conversation, but for some reason, Constantine always maintained this stern demeanor.
"If you want a better relationship with Heifi, you need to stop being so serious all the time," Leon advised.
Constantine raised his head, considered this, and nodded. "Alright."
Leon massaged his temples. "Do you even know how to have a casual conversation?"
"Define 'casual conversation,'" Constantine asked with a straight face.
Leon was momentarily stunned by the unusual question but gave it some thought.
"It's when you chat freely with people you're familiar with. No pressure, just saying whatever comes to mind. Maybe joke around a bit."
Constantine pondered this explanation and then shook his head.
"I'm not good at it. Even with my kin, I mostly give orders. As for other dragon kings, our conversations are usually negotiations where I refuse to yield."
"Then it's no wonder you're bad at talking with friends."
Leon held Rossweise's hand as they strolled across the field. Young dragons from the academy's lower division ran past occasionally, their playful chatter filling the air.
"Yes," Constantine replied quietly.
Leon sighed, wondering how to teach this flame-spewing dragon to converse like a normal person.
As he thought, he caught sight of a flash of pink out of the corner of his eye. Acting quickly, he reached out and grabbed the culprit—a certain mischievous daughter trying to sneak away.
"Dad, I was wrong! I wasn't following you!" Aurora exclaimed.
"I didn't say you were following us. Why'd you admit it?" Leon asked, amused.
Aurora: 😭
"Weren't you the one who told the vice principal about the side entrance?"
"It wasn't me!" she protested.
"Not you?"
"Alright, when we get home this weekend, I'll have your big sister chat with you about honesty."
"Nooo! Big Sis will spank me!" Aurora cried dramatically.
And so, the mischief-maker was subdued. Leon held her by the back of her collar, lifting her off the ground so they were face to face.
"Dad, you're the best dad in the world! I'll never prank you and Mom again," she pleaded, hands clasped in mock sincerity.
Leon chuckled and set her back on the ground.
"Where's your second sister?"
"She's watching Big Sis train."
"Oh, so no one's playing with you, and you decided to entertain yourself by messing with us?"
"I—uh—no! I was just being a kind little silver dragon and showing an old man the side entrance!"
Leon squinted at her. "Sounds like your butt needs a lesson."
Aurora: (^▽^)
Constantine watched this exchange in silence, murmuring to himself,
"So this is how father-daughter conversations go... I see."
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted their chat.
"There you are! I've been looking for you."
Leon turned and saw long, flowing sea-blue hair—Claudia, the Sea Dragon King.
"Claudia? What brings you here?" Leon asked, surprised.
"It's the academy's registration season, so it's natural for dragon parents to be around," Claudia said. "I came to check on Helena, and also to deliver something your mentor asked me to bring you."
"Oh, so it's not because Helena has a little sibling now?"
Claudia rolled her eyes. "No. Come, let's talk over there. Rossweise, join us."
"Alright," Rossweise agreed.
The couple followed Claudia to a quieter spot, leaving Constantine and Aurora behind.
Constantine glanced down at the pink-haired dragon girl. Aurora wasn't the least bit intimidated by his imposing presence and stared right back.
After a moment of contemplation, Constantine spoke.
"Hello, Leon's third daughter."
Aurora blinked, surprised that the stern flame dragon was addressing her directly.
"Hello, Uncle Constantine."
After exchanging greetings, the atmosphere turned awkward.
Constantine struggled to think of something to say to the small dragon girl.
Then suddenly, inspiration struck.
"Your name is Aurora, correct?"
"Yes."
"Do you remember?"
"Remember what?"
"The day you were born. I was the only dragon king who came to see you."
Aurora: ?!
"Please don't learn these cringe jokes from my dad, Uncle Constantine!"