As the sun slowly dipped lower across the horizon, Mia carried Leo back toward the Vinson estate through the evening skies.
Leo spent most of the flight enthusiastically planning training that absolutely would destroy his body.
"I'm telling you, this is the start of my legendary warrior arc."
Mia sighed.
"This sounds like the beginning of a healing chamber visit."
"I'll survive."
"Ebruhan said that too before getting punched through walls."
"…Fair point."
Soon the familiar estate came into view below them.
Warm lights glowed from the manor windows while servants moved through the courtyard preparing for the evening.
Mia landed smoothly near the front entrance before transforming back into human form.
Leo immediately rushed toward the door dramatically.
"FATHER! I HAVE DECISIONS TO DISCUSS!"
Mia blinked.
"…Why do you sound like you're declaring war?"
"Because this is important."
He vanished into the manor before she could answer.
Mia sighed softly and followed after him.
The moment she stepped inside the house—
someone spoke.
"Hello, Mia."
Mia froze.
That voice—
Her eyes widened instantly.
"…Miss Emma?!"
Standing near the main hall window was Emma, dressed in her usual elegant mage robes, calmly holding a teacup like she absolutely belonged there.
Mia brightened immediately.
"Hiii!"
Without hesitation, she hurried over.
"How have you been?"
Emma smiled faintly at the energetic greeting.
"I've been well."
Then her expression softened slightly as she looked Mia over carefully.
"…I came to check on my student."
A pause.
"After hearing certain news."
The atmosphere shifted just a little.
Because everyone knew what "certain news" meant.
Abyss.
Disappearance.
Rumors spreading across kingdoms.
Emma set her teacup down slowly.
"I heard you vanished for over a month."
Mia scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"…Yeah…"
"I also heard," Emma continued calmly, "that a blue dragon invaded the Abyss to retrieve you."
Emma stepped closer afterward.
Then gently placed one hand on Mia's head.
"…You're safe."
Simple words.
But they carried real relief.
Mia's expression softened slightly.
"…Yeah."
Emma studied her quietly for another moment.
Then her eyes drifted toward the faint Abyss mark visible beneath Mia's sleeve.
And the obsidian necklace resting against her chest.
Her mage instincts immediately noticed both.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
But instead of questioning it immediately—
Emma simply smiled again.
"…You've changed quite a bit, haven't you?"
Mia lowered her gaze slightly.
"…Yeah."
Her fingers lightly touched the obsidian necklace resting against her chest.
"A lot happened…"
A small pause.
"…But I'm still me."
Emma listened quietly.
Mia looked back up again.
"…Still Mia."
For a moment—
Emma simply smiled.
And this time, the smile carried unmistakable relief.
"That," she said gently, "is the important part."
Mia blinked slightly.
Emma folded her arms calmly.
"Power changes people."
"Growth changes people."
"Dragons especially."
Her gaze softened.
"So never forget who you choose to be."
The words settled quietly in the room.
Then Emma suddenly noticed something near Mia's wrist.
"…Hm?"
Mia tilted her head.
Emma pointed lightly.
"You're still wearing it."
Mia looked down instinctively.
Wrapped around her wrist was the bracelet Emma once made for her.
Dark scales carefully woven together with enchanted silver threading.
Mia's own scales.
A gift she once gave Emma without thinking much of it.
Only for Emma to secretly turn them into a bracelet and send it back as a birthday gift later.
Mia stared at it for a second.
Then smiled softly.
"…Endurance always."
Emma laughed quietly at the phrase.
The old training motto.
The thing Emma repeated endlessly whenever Mia complained during exhausting magic practice.
Endurance first.
Power comes later.
Emma nodded approvingly.
"Smart dragon."
Mia immediately puffed her cheeks slightly.
"I was always smart."
Mia tilted her head slightly while looking at Emma.
"So…"
She narrowed her eyes playfully.
"I don't think you came all the way here just to visit me."
Emma calmly took another sip of tea.
"…Correct."
Mia pointed dramatically.
"Aha."
Emma sighed softly, already used to this behavior.
"Well, visiting you WAS one of my reasons."
"One of?"
Emma nodded.
"I also have official work to handle."
Mia blinked.
"What kind of work?"
Emma placed the teacup down carefully before answering.
"I need to head to the royal palace tomorrow."
Her expression became slightly more formal.
"They're preparing for the upcoming royal ball."
Silence.
Then Leo slowly appeared from the hallway like a creature sensing incoming drama.
"…Royal ball?"
Emma nodded once.
"Nobles, diplomats, merchants, allied representatives…"
A small pause.
"…Potential foreign guests as well."
Mia immediately sensed danger from that sentence alone.
"…That sounds exhausting."
"It usually is."
Emma rubbed her forehead slightly before looking back toward Mia.
"…Actually."
That single word immediately made Mia suspicious.
"What?"
Emma smiled faintly.
"You'll probably be attending as well."
Silence.
Mia froze.
"…Excuse me?"
"You're closely connected to both the Vinson estate and the royal family now."
Emma continued calmly.
"And after the recent rumors surrounding you…"
Her eyes briefly drifted toward the Abyss mark.
"…people will be curious."
Mia looked genuinely horrified now.
"…No."
Leo instantly pointed at her.
"You're wearing a dress."
"NO."
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching from the entrance hall.
A moment later—
Vinson stepped inside, removing his gloves calmly after apparently returning from work outside the estate.
He immediately noticed:
Emma sitting peacefully with tea
Mia looking mildly traumatized
Leo vibrating with dangerous amounts of enthusiasm
Vinson narrowed his eyes slightly.
Leo instantly rushed toward him.
"FATHER!!!, I HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO SAY TO YOU."
Vinson sighed internally.
"…Go on."
Leo dramatically placed one hand against his chest.
"I wish to become stronger."
Vinson blinked once.
That answer was… surprisingly reasonable.
Then Leo pointed proudly toward the sky direction.
"So I want Ebruhan to train me."
Silence.
Vinson slowly looked at him.
Then at Mia.
Then at Emma.
Emma quietly lifted her teacup.
"I'm only observing."
Mia immediately pointed at Leo.
"This was HIS idea."
Leo looked deeply betrayed.
Vinson crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"…Ebruhan himself agreed?"
Leo nodded rapidly.
"He said my fundamentals are strong."
That actually caught Vinson's attention.
Because praise from Ebruhan was not something given lightly.
Vinson's expression became more serious.
"…And why do you suddenly seek this much strength?"
The room quieted slightly.
Leo hesitated for only a second before answering honestly.
"…Because I was powerless."
Mia's eyes shifted toward him.
Leo continued quietly.
"When Mia disappeared…"
"I couldn't do anything."
"I couldn't protect anyone."
His fists tightened slightly.
"…I hated that feeling."
No dramatic speech this time.
Just truth.
Vinson watched his son silently.
A long silence followed.
Then—
"…Training under Ebruhan will not be easy."
Leo immediately nodded.
"I know."
"He may genuinely injure you."
"I know."
"You may regret it."
Leo took a breath.
"…Maybe."
Then he looked directly at his father.
"But I still want to do it."
The room became quiet again.
Emma observed silently from the side.
Mia looked slightly nervous now despite pretending not to.
Then finally—
Vinson exhaled softly.
"…Very well."
Leo froze.
"…Really?"
"I will allow it."
Leo's face instantly lit up with pure victory.
"YES—"
Just as Leo looked seconds away from sprinting back to the palace immediately, Vinson spoke again.
"…One more thing."
Leo stopped.
Vinson crossed his arms calmly.
"What about your academy?"
Silence.
Leo's expression instantly stiffened.
Mia slowly looked away because she already knew exactly what was coming.
"…Well."
Vinson narrowed his eyes.
"Leo."
Leo coughed awkwardly.
"I was… thinking…"
"That sentence worries me already."
"…Maybe the academy isn't necessary anymore?"
The room became silent.
Even Emma paused mid-tea sip.
Mia covered her face immediately.
"Here we go."
Vinson stared at his son for several long seconds.
"…Explain."
Leo straightened slightly, clearly trying to sound mature and logical.
"The academy mostly repeats lessons now."
"Politics, history, sword forms…"
"I already understand most of it."
He pointed dramatically toward the direction of the royal palace.
"But real combat experience is different."
Emma quietly muttered:
"To be fair, he's not entirely wrong."
Vinson glanced toward her.
Emma shrugged lightly.
"Noble academies often prioritize refinement over actual battlefield survival."
Leo immediately pointed at her gratefully.
"THANK YOU."
"But," Emma added calmly, "that does not mean abandoning education entirely is wise."
Leo deflated slightly.
"…Right."
Vinson looked back at his son.
"You intend to inherit this estate one day."
His voice remained calm, but firm.
"A future count requires more than strength."
Leo quietly listened.
"Leadership."
"Diplomacy."
"Economics."
"Strategy."
"Responsibility."
Vinson's gaze sharpened slightly.
"A sword alone cannot protect a territory."
That line hit harder than expected.
Because unlike dragons—
humans ruled through systems.
People.
Management.
Stability.
Leo lowered his head slightly.
"…I know."
Then Vinson sighed softly.
"…However."
Leo immediately looked up again.
"I will permit both."
"…Both?"
"You will continue attending the academy."
Leo's soul nearly evaporated.
"And," Vinson continued calmly, "you may train under Ebruhan during your remaining time."
Mia immediately snorted.
"There's the compromise."
Emma nodded approvingly.
"A reasonable balance."
Leo groaned dramatically,Then immediately straightened again despite looking spiritually defeated moments earlier.
"…Then."
He pointed carefully for emphasis.
"I can train with Ebruhan during the academy's three-day breaks?"
Vinson nodded once.
"Yes."
Leo's eyes lit up instantly.
"But," Vinson added calmly, "if you cannot handle balancing both responsibilities…"
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"…then stop."
The room quieted again.
Because Vinson wasn't joking.
Training under Ebruhan alone would already be brutal.
Adding noble academy duties on top of that?
That was real pressure.
Leo clenched his fists slightly.
Then smiled.
"I will handle it."
Vinson remained silent.
Leo's expression grew more determined.
"You'll see."
For a brief moment—
the future count actually looked older.
More mature.
Like the Abyss incident had genuinely changed him.
Emma noticed it immediately.
So did Mia.
Vinson studied his son quietly for several seconds.
Then finally—
a faint smile appeared.
"…Good."
Simple.
But coming from Vinson—
that single word carried weight.