Back at the Vinson estate, the peaceful atmosphere lasted for exactly three minutes before chaos returned.
Specifically—
Leo-shaped chaos.
"Miaaaaa."
The black dragon immediately groaned.
Currently, Leo was wrapped around her neck from behind like an overly determined scarf while Mia repeatedly tried to shake him off.
"Get off."
"No."
Mia dragged herself forward across the grass anyway, clearly hoping gravity would solve her problem.
It did not.
Leo held on proudly.
"Come on, it's been forever since I flew with you."
Mia snorted smoke from her nostrils.
"No. You're heavy."
Leo froze in absolute offense.
"…Excuse me?"
He climbed around toward the front of her head dramatically.
"I do NOT weigh that much."
Mia gave him a flat stare.
"You absolutely do."
"Leo," he pointed at her front leg, "your paw alone probably weighs more than me."
"…Still heavy."
"THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE."
Mia simply laid her head back onto the grass smugly.
Conversation over.
Leo narrowed his eyes.
Then immediately switched tactics.
"Pleaseeee?"
"No."
"You're so mean to your big brother."
"No."
"Didn't I buy you snacks at the market?"
Mia's tail flicked once.
"I also bought grilled meat."
Another flick.
"And sweet buns."
Mia's eyes shifted slightly.
"And those honey-coated roasted fish you like."
Silence.
Leo smirked slowly.
Direct hit.
Mia let out the longest, most exhausted dragon groan imaginable.
"Ughhhhhhh…"
She pushed herself upright reluctantly.
"Fine."
Victory.
Leo immediately brightened and climbed onto her back before she could change her mind.
"I knew you loved me."
"Don't make this emotional."
"Hehe."
Mia rolled her eyes before spreading her massive black wings outward.
Then paused.
"…Hold tight."
Leo blinked.
"Wait wha—"
FWOOOSH.
One powerful flap later, both of them launched into the sky while Leo screamed loud enough for half the estate to hear.
"MIAAAAAAAAAAA!"
The wind rushed past them as Mia flew above the forests surrounding the estate, her massive black wings cutting cleanly through the evening sky.
Leo sat comfortably between her shoulders now, one hand gripping her scales while the other pointed dramatically at random clouds for absolutely no reason.
For a while—
neither of them spoke.
Then Leo suddenly remembered something.
"…Hey, Mia."
"Hm?"
"Your growth phase is getting really close now, right?"
Mia's wing movement slowed ever so slightly.
"…Yeah."
The playful atmosphere faded a little.
Far below, rivers reflected the orange glow of sunset.
Leo's voice became quieter.
"You think you're ready to face your future self?"
That question lingered in the air longer than expected.
Mia didn't answer immediately.
Because honestly—
she didn't know.
Emma once explained it carefully during training.
A dragon's first major growth phase wasn't just physical development.
It shaped identity.
Instincts.
Nature.
The direction their existence would take.
Most dragons emerged from it more certain of themselves.
More… dragon.
Mia's claws flexed slightly against the air currents.
"…I don't know yet."
Her voice was softer now.
"Emma said the first growth phase determines what kind of dragon I'll become…"
A small pause.
"…Even if my body doesn't change that much"
"What if…"
She hesitated.
"…what if I change too much?"
Leo blinked slightly.
That answer clearly wasn't what he expected.
Mia stared ahead quietly.
"I already think differently than before sometimes."
The wind carried her words away softly.
"Sometimes dragon instincts feel… natural now."
Hunting.
Territory.
Aggression.
Power.
Things that should have frightened her once…
didn't anymore.
"…I don't know what I'll be later."
For once—
the black dragon sounded genuinely uncertain.
Leo looked at her silently for a moment.
Then suddenly grinned.
"Well."
Mia narrowed one eye suspiciously.
"That confidence sounds illegal."
Leo pointed at himself proudly.
"When your growth phase happens, I'll just cheer you up inside your dreams."
"…What?"
"You know. Like this."
He puffed his chest dramatically.
"MIA! YOU CAN DO IT!"
Mia stared at him flatly.
"…That sounds horrifying."
"Heh?"
"You appearing inside my dreams sounds like a curse."
"WOW."
Leo clutched his chest in fake pain.
"I support you emotionally and THIS is the thanks I get?"
Mia sighed.
But despite herself—
a tiny smile appeared.
"…Thanks."
Leo immediately brightened.
"Hehe. You can count on your big brother."
Then he paused.
"…Wait."
Mia glanced back slightly.
"What?"
Leo's eyes widened dramatically.
"…I'm almost eighteen."
Silence.
Then Mia spoke calmly.
"…That explains the old man behavior."
"HEY."
The laughter between them slowly faded as they continued flying across the sky.
Clouds drifted around them peacefully while the lands of Kingdom Lumeris stretched far below.
Then Leo spoke again.
This time—
quietly.
"…But seriously, Mia."
She glanced back slightly.
His usual joking expression was gone now.
"I promise you something."
Mia blinked once.
Leo tightened his grip slightly against her scales as the wind rushed around them.
"I'll protect you."
Mia's eyes widened just a little.
Leo laughed awkwardly afterward, almost embarrassed by how serious he sounded.
"I know, I know."
He rubbed the back of his head.
"I'm not strong like you dragons."
No ancient mana.
No massive claws.
No overwhelming power capable of shaking battlefields.
Just… Leo.
A human boy.
But his voice remained steady anyway.
"…That doesn't mean I can't become strong enough to protect you in my own way."
Mia stayed silent.
Leo continued looking ahead now instead of at her.
"When you disappeared…"
His smile faded slightly.
"…I hated it."
The wind carried his words softly across the sky.
"I couldn't do anything."
No strength to fight Abyss monsters.
No wings to cross continents.
No power to invade hell itself like Ebruhan did.
Just waiting.
Worrying.
Praying.
Leo clenched his hand slightly.
"I don't want to feel that useless again."
Mia's flight slowed a little.
"…Leo."
"So next time…"
He smiled again.
Smaller this time.
"I'll become someone reliable too."
A pause.
"Maybe not dragon-level reliable…"
Mia snorted softly.
"…Impossible level then."
"HEY."
That finally earned a tiny laugh from her.
But when she looked forward again—
her expression softened.
Because despite how ridiculous it sounded…
Leo meant every word.
And somehow—
that mattered more than strength.
"…Okay."
Leo blinked.
"…Okay?"
Mia nodded once while flying through the sunset skies.
"I'll believe you."
For a moment, Leo just stared.
Then he suddenly slammed one fist into his palm dramatically.
"That's it."
Mia immediately narrowed her eyes.
"…Why do I feel danger from that sentence?"
"Screw the academy."
"…There it is."
"They keep repeating the same lessons over and over. Politics, history, sword forms, noble etiquette…"
He groaned loudly.
"It's boring."
Mia snorted.
"You almost failed mathematics."
"That subject is evil."
Mia looked entirely unconvinced.
Leo suddenly leaned forward excitedly.
"I'm going to learn from a real fighter instead."
Mia blinked.
"…Who?"
Leo grinned proudly.
"Mr. Blue Guy."
Silence.
"…Mr what?"
"You know."
He pointed vaguely ahead.
"Blue dragon. Trauma survivor. Abyss punch receiver."
Mia stared at him flatly.
"…Ebruhan?"
"Yes!"
"No."
"YES."
"Absolutely not."
Leo grabbed one of her neck scales dramatically.
"Come onnnn!"
"You are NOT bothering him after he nearly died."
"He's fine now."
Mia looked genuinely disturbed by his logic.
Leo crossed his arms confidently.
"If I train under him, I'll become strong."
"You'll become hospitalized."
"That too maybe."
"LEO."
He leaned closer with sparkling eyes now.
"Imagine it though."
Mia already hated where this was going.
"Me. The future count"
"Oh no."
"Future legendary warrior."
"Please stop."
"Student of the great blue dragon."
Mia groaned loudly into the sky.
"You sound like a side character about to get punched through a mountain."
Leo pointed at her dramatically.
"That is exactly why I need training!"
Mia buried her face against one wing for three whole seconds before finally sighing in defeat.
"…You really aren't giving up, are you?"
"Nope."
"…Fine."
Leo gasped.
"WAIT REALLY?"
Mia landed gracefully within the royal palace courtyard, powerful black wings folding behind her as servants and guards immediately stepped aside.
Not out of fear.
Respect.
One of the royal guards bowed politely.
"Lady Dark Flame. Welcome back."
Mia gave a small nod in return before her body shimmered with mana and shifted into human form.
Beside her, Leo stretched his arms dramatically after climbing off her back.
"…Dragon form is still cooler."
Mia glanced at him flatly.
"Not when you're walking through human-sized hallways."
Leo looked deeply offended by architecture itself.
The two continued through the palace corridors casually, guards greeting them as they passed.
Eventually—
voices echoed from one of the garden lounges nearby.
More specifically—
female laughter.
Leo immediately smirked.
"…I already know who that is."
Mia sighed.
"Yeah."
They stepped closer.
And there he was.
Ebruhan sat comfortably among several noble ladies beneath a decorated pavilion near the royal gardens, looking completely relaxed while casually telling stories.
Or more accurately—
showing off.
"…And THEN," Ebruhan continued dramatically, "three monsters from the second layer attacked me simultaneously."
One noble lady gasped.
"What did you do?!"
Ebruhan leaned back proudly.
"I dashed between them and removed all three heads before they even realized what happened."
He sliced the air with his hand for emphasis.
Several noble ladies stared with sparkling admiration.
"Amazing…"
"So cool…"
"Sir Ebruhan truly is incredible."
Ebruhan smiled like someone absorbing praise as life energy.
Then, with a flick of his wrist—
a jagged Abyss weapon appeared from thin air.
Several ladies jumped slightly.
"Careful," Ebruhan warned smugly. "This one belonged to an Abyss commander."
Another item appeared.
Then another.
Monster cores.
Broken black armor pieces.
A strange glowing dagger.
Apparently he had decided trauma could be monetized into storytelling material.
Leo leaned closer to Mia and whispered:
"…He's REALLY famous."
Mia crossed her arms.
"He's enjoying this way too much."
The funniest part?
Neither of them doubted the stories.
Because unlike the noble ladies—
they knew Ebruhan was actually UNDERSELLING the Abyss.
Then Ebruhan noticed them standing near the entrance.
His eyes brightened slightly.
"Excuse me, ladies."
The noblewomen turned and immediately noticed Mia and Leo.
After polite bows and curious glances toward the black-haired girl , they slowly excused themselves and left.
Though not before several of them whispered things suspiciously fast to each other.
Leo noticed immediately.
"…They totally thought you two were together."
Mia's eye twitched.
"No."
Meanwhile Ebruhan walked over casually.
"Mia."
He smiled slightly.
"What brings you here?"
Mia pointed directly at Leo without hesitation.
"Him."
Ebruhan blinked.
Leo proudly stood straighter.
Mia sighed.
"He wants you to train him."
Silence.
Ebruhan slowly looked at Leo.
Then back at Mia.
Then back at Leo again.
"…Did you hit him too hard during the flight?"
Leo instantly exploded.
"WHY DOES EVERYONE THINK I'M FRAGILE?"
"Because you are," Mia answered immediately.
"I AM STRONG IN MY OWN WAY."
Ebruhan folded his arms while staring at Leo thoughtfully.
"…Why exactly do you want to train with me?"
Leo answered immediately.
"Because I want to become stronger."
No joking this time.
No dramatic posing.
Just honesty.
Ebruhan's expression shifted slightly.
"…For what?"
Leo looked toward Mia sitting nearby near the edge of the training grounds.
Then toward the palace.
Then the distant skies beyond.
"To protect the people I love."
A small pause.
"…The people I care about."
For a moment—
Ebruhan simply watched him silently.
Then slowly—
the blue dragon smiled.
Not mocking.
Not amused.
Genuine.
"…Good answer."
Leo straightened proudly immediately.
"So you'll train me?"
Ebruhan ignored that question entirely.
"You know how to use a sword?"
Leo blinked.
"…Of course I do."
He pointed at himself proudly.
"The academy teaches swordsmanship constantly."
Ebruhan raised a eyebrow before casually walking toward the nearby training rack.
With one hand, he pulled out two practice swords.
Then tossed one toward Leo.
Leo barely caught it.
Ebruhan spun the other sword once casually before pointing it toward him.
"Show me."
Leo blinked.
"Huh?"
"I need to determine your actual skill level first."
The pressure in the air shifted slightly.
Not dragon pressure.
Warrior pressure.
Even relaxed—
Ebruhan still carried the instincts of something terrifying.
Mia simply moved over to sit nearby like this was now officially entertainment.
Leo tightened his grip on the sword.
Then grinned.
"…Alright."
He lowered his stance.
"Let's do this."
The next second—
CLANG!
Steel collided sharply across the training grounds.
And immediately—
Ebruhan's eyes flickered slightly in surprise.
Leo moved well.
Very well.
Not clumsy noble training.
Not decorative academy swordsmanship.
His footing was stable.
His swings controlled.
His reactions quick.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Leo even managed to parry several attacks cleanly, redirecting Ebruhan's blade with surprising precision.
Mia's eyes widened slightly.
"…Huh."
Ebruhan stepped back once.
Interesting.
The future Count of the Vinson family actually had talent.
Leo pushed forward immediately, using the opening to attack again.
Ebruhan blocked casually.
Then smiled slightly.
"…Not bad."
Leo brightened.
"Really?!"
"…But."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Ebruhan moved faster.
Much faster.
CLANG!!
Leo's eyes widened as the next strike nearly knocked the sword from his hands.
Another attack came immediately after.
Then another.
The pace changed completely.
Leo suddenly found himself struggling just to keep up.
His blocks became heavier.
His footing shakier.
Still—
he refused to back down.
Even while losing ground, he kept trying:
blocking
parrying
adjusting
countering
Ebruhan noticed that immediately.
He learns fast.
CLANG!
Leo barely blocked again.
Then—
tap.
The tip of Ebruhan's sword stopped directly in front of Leo's face.
Silence.
Leo froze.
One more second slower—
and he would've lost his head.
Sweat rolled down his face while he breathed heavily.
Then Ebruhan lowered the sword calmly and offered him a hand.
Leo stared for a second before taking it.
Ebruhan pulled him back up easily.
"…I'm genuinely impressed, young master."
Leo blinked.
"…Really?"
"You move very well."
Ebruhan's expression became more analytical now.
"Your fundamentals are strong."
"Your academy instructors clearly did their jobs properly."
Mia looked mildly shocked hearing someone praise the academy.
Ebruhan continued.
"The problem isn't talent."
He crossed his arms.
"You simply lack experience fighting stronger opponents."
Leo quietly listened.
"But your foundation…"
A small smile appeared again.
"…is much better than I expected."
Leo immediately looked like he had just won a war.
Mia rolled her eyes.
Then Ebruhan added:
"I'll teach you."
Leo froze.
"…Wait really?"
"But."
The single word instantly ruined the celebration.
Ebruhan pointed the practice sword directly at him.
"You discuss this with your father first."
Leo blinked.
"…Why?"
Ebruhan's expression became calmer.
"Because my training is not pleasant."
Mia immediately nodded.
"Very true."
Ebruhan ignored her.
"If I train you seriously, you will suffer."
Leo looked uncertain for the first time.
Ebruhan smiled slightly.
"…So make sure your resolve is real before we begin."
Leo immediately straightened proudly despite still breathing hard from the spar.
"…alright , teacher."
Mia blinked once.
Then slowly turned toward him.
"Oh?"
Leo looked confused.
"What?"
"No more 'Mr. Blue Guy'?"
Leo coughed awkwardly.
"Well…"
He pointed at Ebruhan.
"He's my teacher now."
Ebruhan looked far too pleased hearing that.
"Well," the blue dragon said smugly, "assuming your father allows it."
Leo nodded quickly.
"Right."
Leo stretched slightly before glancing toward the sky.
"…Should we head back?"
Mia opened her mouth.
Then paused.
"…Actually."
Both of them looked at her.
The black-haired girl pointed directly at Ebruhan.
"I want you to teach me that inventory magic thing."
Ebruhan blinked.
"…The spatial inventory?"
"Yes."
Mia pointed accusingly now.
"You keep pulling entire weapons out of thin air like some traveling merchant."
Leo nodded immediately.
"It DOES look cool."
Ebruhan looked deeply satisfied by that statement.
"Well obviously."
Mia narrowed her eyes.
"Teach me."
Ebruhan scratched the side of his cheek awkwardly.
"…I don't know if you can do it yet."
Mia immediately frowned.
"Why not?"
"It's… high-level magic."
He gestured vaguely with one hand.
"Most dragons don't properly stabilize spatial storage until after their first growth phase."
Mia froze slightly at that reminder.
Growth phase.
Again.
Ebruhan noticed immediately.
"…Your mana is still developing."
Mia groaned dramatically.
"Ughhhhhhhhh…"
She flopped backward onto the grass like existence itself had disappointed her.
"But HOW do you even do it?"
Ebruhan chuckled softly before raising one hand.
A small dark-blue magic circle appeared briefly above his palm.
"I created a spatial dimension linked directly to my mana core."
As he spoke, the Abyss loot that are on table slowly coming to Ebruhan and vanished one by one into glowing distortions in the air.
Weapons.
Monster cores.
Armor fragments.
All disappearing into invisible space.
Leo stared in amazement.
"…That is insanely useful."
"Very," Ebruhan agreed proudly.
Mia sat back up immediately.
"I want it."
"You'll learn eventually."
"I want it NOW."
Ebruhan laughed.
"You sound like a hatchling demanding treasure."
Mia get up and pointed at him dramatically.
"You literally carry snacks, weapons, and monster loot inside another dimension."
"…Correct."
"That's unfair."
Ebruhan smiled slightly before placing a hand on her head.
"Don't worry."
His voice became calmer.
"I'll teach you once your first growth phase is complete."
Mia looked away slightly.
"…If I still recognize myself afterward."
For a brief second—
silence settled.
Ebruhan's expression softened slightly.
Then he flicked her forehead.
Bonk.
Mia recoiled instantly.
"Ow!"
"You worry too much."
Mia glared at him while rubbing her forehead.
"That actually hurt!"
Ebruhan smiled faintly.
"No matter how much you grow…"
He crossed his arms.
"…you'll still be you."
Mia looked at him quietly for a moment.
Then immediately pointed accusingly again.
"You still hit too hard."
"Good. Means the lesson worked."
Mia crossed her arms with clear disappointment.
"So basically…"
She pointed at Ebruhan accusingly.
"So...you have nothing to teach me right now?"
Ebruhan looked entirely unbothered.
"…Correct."
Mia's eye twitched.
"That sounds terrible when you say it like that."
Ebruhan shrugged casually.
"It's not that you're weak."
He gestured toward her calmly.
"You're already far stronger than most dragons your age."
Ebruhan continued.
"The problem is your growth phase."
He tapped lightly against his own chest.
"A lot of advanced dragon abilities require a stabilized mana core."
"Spatial magic especially."
Mia sighed dramatically.
"So I'm stuck."
"Temporarily."
Ebruhan corrected her immediately.
"Not permanently."
Then a faint smile appeared.
"And honestly?"
"You're growing absurdly fast already."
That was true.
Too true.
Just a while ago Mia was:
smaller
inexperienced
unstable with mana
Now?
She could:
pierce dragon shields
fight Abyss creatures
survive direct combat pressure from an Abyss general
Even Ebruhan knew her growth speed was abnormal.
Mia looked away slightly while grumbling.
"…Still annoying."
Ebruhan laughed softly.
"Welcome to being young."
"I hate that sentence."
"You'll hear it a lot."
Leo suddenly slammed his fists together excitedly.
"MIA!"
She flinched slightly.
"What now?"
Leo pointed dramatically toward the estate direction.
"LET'S GO."
"…Why are you yelling?"
"I need to talk with my father immediately."
Mia blinked.
"…About what?"
Leo stared at her like she had forgotten the entire point of existence.
"MY TRAINING."
Then he pointed proudly at Ebruhan.
"My future legendary dragon mentor is waiting."
Ebruhan looked way too amused hearing that title.
Mia groaned.
"…This is going to become a disaster, isn't it?"
Ebruhan and Leo answered at the same time.
"Probably."