The atmosphere at the Vinson Estate had completely transformed compared to the heavy political tension spreading across kingdoms.
Warm lights decorated the halls.
Servants hurried around carrying food and decorations.
Laughter echoed throughout the estate once more.
Because today was special.
Leo had turned eighteen.
And Mia…
had officially turned eight years old.
Which honestly sounded adorable and horrifying at the same time considering she is an Abyss dragon
Inside the decorated dining hall stood two massive birthday cakes prepared specially for them.
One elegant cake for Leo.
And another—
far more attention-grabbing one.
A beautifully crafted black dragon rested atop the cake in stunning detail.
The scales.
The wings.
The blue eyes.
Even the tiny cheek fins had been recreated carefully.
The chef had absolutely cooked both figuratively and literally
At that moment, Mia entered the hall beside Leo while wearing a beautifully tailored dark formal outfit prepared by the maids.
(Thankfully: non-rippable this time XD )
Her blue eyes immediately locked onto the dragon cake.
She froze.
"…Eh?"
Mia slowly pointed toward it.
"…That's me?"
Leo grinned proudly beside her.
"Yept."
"The chef worked really hard on it."
Several maids nearby smiled proudly too.
Then the estate chef nervously stepped forward while wiping sweat from his forehead.
"My lady…"
He looked unusually anxious.
"Do you… like it?"
Mia stared at the cake dramatically for several seconds.
Then finally:
"No."
The chef's soul practically left his body instantly.
"WHAT?!"
Even the maids gasped in horror .
Then suddenly Mia's face lit up brightly.
"BECAUSE IT'S SO AWESOME!!"
The entire room froze briefly.
Then the chef nearly collapsed in relief.
"L-Lady Mia please do not scare me like that…"
Leo immediately burst out laughing nearby.
Meanwhile Mia had already moved closer to inspect the cake from every angle like an excited dragon discovering treasure.
"They even got the horns right…"
Her eyes sparkled.
"And the wings…"
Then she puffed her chest proudly without realizing.
"Hm. Quite accurate. They captured my magnificence well."
The room went silent for half a second.
Mia froze.
Slowly.
"…I did it again didn't I?"
Leo immediately pointed at her dramatically.
"DRAGON PROCLAIMING!"
Mia's face instantly turned red.
"GRRAAHH!! NOT IN PUBLIC!!"
The estate hall remained lively after Mia's dramatic reaction to the cake.
Especially the chef.
The poor man had nearly suffered a heart attack moments earlier .
Now he stood in the corner looking ready to cry from happiness after hearing Vinson casually announce:
"Double his salary."
The chef almost ascended spiritually on the spot.
Meanwhile servants finished placing candles across both birthday cakes as the atmosphere grew warmer.
Then slowly—
everyone began singing the birthday song together.
Mia looked mildly embarrassed the entire time while Leo shamelessly enjoyed every second of attention.
But just as the song neared its end—
a massive shadow suddenly swept across the estate grounds outside.
Several guests looked upward instinctively.
WOOOOSH.
A large blue dragon descended gracefully beyond the courtyard.
A moment later—
Ebruhan stepped through the entrance after transforming back into human form.
He still wore royal-styled clothing despite clearly having flown here directly.
And in one hand—
he carried several neatly wrapped present boxes.
Pulled directly from his magic inventory moments earlier.
Ebruhan glanced around the hall briefly before smiling faintly.
"Hopefully I am not too late."
Leo immediately grinned.
"Teacher!"
Leo walked over happily.
"You actually came."
Ebruhan lightly ruffled Leo's hair once before looking toward both birthday celebrants.
"Happy birthday, young master."
Then his gaze shifted toward Mia.
"And happy birthday to you as well, Mia."
Mia smiled slightly.
"Heeyyy… Ebruhan."
She crossed her arms dramatically.
"I thought you were too busy to show up."
Ebruhan raised one eyebrow at that.
"Why would I miss my students' birthday?"
That line actually softened the atmosphere immediately.
Even some maids smiled quietly nearby.
Then suddenly—
Emma spoke up from the side.
"Heeey!"
She pointed accusingly toward Ebruhan.
"They are MY students too."
Ebruhan looked toward her calmly.
"You taught Mia magic for several months."
Emma puffed her cheeks.
"And?"
"I still count."
Ebruhan gave a slow nod afterward.
"Very well."
Then completely seriously:
"They are our students."
Emma immediately looked victorious for absolutely no reason.
Ebruhan stepped closer toward the enormous dragon-shaped cake while examining it carefully.
Then after several seconds, he gave an approving nod.
"That is an impressive cake."
His golden eyes studied the tiny detail on black dragon cake decoration.
"It resembles a miniature Mia."
Mia immediately brightened proudly.
"I know right?"
She placed both hands on her hips confidently.
"I look so majestic—"
Silence.
Mia froze mid-sentence.
Her eyes widened slowly.
"…Wait."
Then immediately:
"GRRRAAHH!!"
She covered her face in horror.
"IT HAPPENED AGAIN!"
The entire hall burst into laughter instantly
Even some maids had to turn away to hide their smiles.
Leo nearly leaned against the table from laughing too hard.
"Your dragon instincts are winning!"
Mia pointed at him dramatically while her face turned bright red.
"YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK!"
Ebruhan, meanwhile, looked completely unsurprised.
"In fairness…"
He calmly crossed his arms.
"You ARE majestic."
That somehow made Mia even redder ,
"STOP ENCOURAGING IT!"
Emma immediately joined the chaos too.
"No no, continue."
She grinned mischievously.
"I wish to hear more dragon proclaiming."
Mia looked ready to evaporate on the spot.
Meanwhile Ebruhan simply nodded thoughtfully toward the cake again.
"The chef captured your scales well."
Mia accidentally puffed her chest proudly again.
"…Indeed."
Then silence hit her once more.
"…GRRAAHHH!!"
The birthday celebration slowly calmed as night settled over the Vinson Estate.
Inside, servants cleaned tables while distant laughter still echoed faintly through the halls.
Outside beneath the cool evening sky—
Mia sat quietly beside Leo and Ebruhan.
For once…
Mia was unusually silent.
Ebruhan eventually glanced toward her.
"Mia.since you turned eight"
She already knew what he intended to say.
"I know…"
Her voice came out quieter than usual.
"My growth phase is close."
The playful energy from earlier had faded now.
Mia lowered her gaze slightly.
"I have to face my future self…"
Her fingers tightened slightly around her sleeves.
"I might sleep for months."
"My plates will form."
"My mana will change."
She forced out a weak laugh afterward.
"And I already know I probably will not even look physically different afterward…"
Her blue eyes drifted upward toward the night sky.
"I already understand everything…"
Then more softly:
"It just feels…"
"…different."
There was fear there.
Not terror.
But uncertainty.
The kind that came before stepping into something irreversible.
Ebruhan remained silent briefly before answering.
"That is normal."
His voice stayed calm.
Steady.
Even comforting in its own dragon-like way.
Then he added:
"Just be strong."
Simple words.
But coming from another dragon—
especially one who already survived his own growth phases—
they carried weight.
Mia slowly nodded.
Meanwhile Leo suddenly leaned back dramatically beside her.
"Like I said earlier…"
He grinned afterward.
"Your big brother will cheer you up."
Mia looked toward him.
"…Inside my dreams?"
"Exactly."
Leo pointed proudly at himself.
"I shall invade your sleeping dragon mind with encouragement."
Ebruhan looked mildly concerned.
"That sounds more threatening than comforting."
Leo ignored him immediately.
"If your future self appears dramatically…"
He stood up slightly and pointed toward the sky like a heroic idiot.
"I shall appear too!"
Mia blinked.
"…How?"
Leo froze.
"…I have not planned that far yet."
That actually earned a small laugh from Mia at last.
And honestly?
That was exactly what both Leo and Ebruhan wanted.
Leo suddenly clapped his hands once, breaking the heavier atmosphere.
"So…"
A grin slowly returned to his face.
"Birthday flight?"
Mia blinked before immediately understanding what he meant.
Her mood visibly lifted slightly.
"…Fine."
She stood afterward while brushing dust from her dress.
"But let me go change first."
"You two wait here."
As she disappeared inside—
the atmosphere outside became quieter again.
The distant sounds of the celebration echoed faintly from indoors while night winds moved through the estate gardens.
Leo's smile slowly faded after several moments.
Then quietly:
"Do you think she will pass her growth phase safely?"
Ebruhan glanced toward him.
Leo lowered his gaze slightly.
"Was yours difficult?"
A brief silence followed.
Then Leo admitted more honestly:
"…I am worried about her."
Ebruhan remained quiet for several seconds before finally answering.
"Yes."
"My growth phase was difficult."
His golden eyes drifted toward the night sky.
"For dragons, growth phases are not merely physical changes."
"They are periods where instincts, mana, memories, and identity become unstable."
Leo listened carefully.
Ebruhan's expression became slightly more serious.
"And Mia…"
He paused briefly.
"…is not a normal dragon."
That line alone made Leo tense slightly.
Ebruhan noticed immediately and added calmly:
"But that does not mean she will fail."
Leo looked toward him again.
Ebruhan folded his arms.
"She is stubborn."
"She adapts quickly."
"And despite her fears…"
A faint smile appeared.
"…she is stronger than she realizes."
Leo slowly exhaled afterward.
Still worried.
But calmer.
Then Ebruhan added one final thing:
"And she is not alone."
Leo stayed quiet for several moments after Ebruhan's reassurance.
The night air moved gently through the estate gardens while distant lights flickered behind them.
Then quietly:
"I just…"
Leo lowered his gaze slightly.
"I really do not want to lose her."
His voice sounded unusually small compared to his normal cheerful self.
"This estate feels…"
He searched for words.
"…empty without Mia around."
A faint laugh escaped him afterward.
"Dry."
"She somehow makes everything loud all the time."
Ebruhan listened silently beside him.
Leo continued more honestly:
"I wish I could enter her growth-phase dreams and help her fight through it."
His fingers tightened slightly together.
"Or at least cheer her up while she sleeps."
For several seconds, Ebruhan said nothing.
Then finally:
"You have already done more than enough, Leo."
Leo looked toward him quietly.
Ebruhan's golden eyes reflected faint moonlight.
"You gave her kindness."
Simple words.
But they landed heavily.
Ebruhan slowly folded his arms afterward.
"That is something many dragons never truly receive."
Leo blinked slightly.
Ebruhan looked toward the estate where Mia had disappeared moments earlier.
"Power."
"Instinct."
"Pride."
"Survival."
"Those things dragons naturally possess."
His voice softened slightly afterward.
"But kindness?"
A faint pause followed.
"…that must be learned."
Leo stayed silent.
Because for the first time—
he realized something.
Mia did not become attached to the estate merely because she was raised there.
She stayed because:
Vinson protected her
the maids cared for her
Emma taught her
Leo treated her like family instead of a monster
Ebruhan quietly continued:
"You taught her she could belong somewhere."
"And trust me…"
His gaze shifted back toward Leo.
"That matters more than you understand."
For once—
Leo had absolutely no joke prepared afterward .
A few moments later, the estate doors opened again.
Then—
dark scales shimmered beneath the moonlight as Mia transformed back into her dragon form.
Even at only eight years old…
she looked majestic.
Her black scales reflected silver-blue beneath the night sky while faint traces of dark purple mana drifted subtly around her body.
Though physically she remained around the same size—
there was something different now.
A heavier presence.
More dragon-like than before.
Mia lowered herself slightly afterward.
"Climb on."
Leo immediately grinned.
"Birthday flight time."
Before they could leave—
another voice suddenly called out behind them.
"Heeey!"
Emma stepped outside while adjusting her coat curiously.
"Where are you all going?"
Leo pointed dramatically upward.
"Birthday flight."
Emma blinked.
"…Oh."
Then immediately:
"…Mm."
That suspicious little "mm" instantly exposed her interest
At that moment, a powerful gust of wind swept across the estate grounds.
WOOOOSH.
Ebruhan transformed beside them.
His massive blue dragon form towered noticeably larger than Mia's.
Moonlight reflected across his deep blue scales as he calmly looked toward Emma afterward.
"Would you care to join us?"
Emma immediately panicked.
"O-Oh no no no!"
She waved both hands rapidly.
"I would never dare ride a Royal Protector Dragon—"
Ebruhan simply lowered himself slightly.
"I do not mind."
Emma froze.
Then:
"…Oh my gosh."
She covered her mouth dramatically.
"Oh my gosh."
She looked exactly like when she met Mia for the first time again
Even Mia stared at her.
"You literally trained me."
Emma ignored that completely.
"THANK YOU, SIR!"
Emma carefully climbed onto Ebruhan with the excitement level of a child entering a fantasy story for the first time.
----------------
Cold night winds rushed across the skies above Kingdom of Lumeris as two dragons soared through the clouds.
Mia flew slightly ahead while Ebruhan glided smoothly beside her with effortless control.
Below them, forests, rivers, and distant towns glittered beneath moonlight like scattered stars across the earth.
And meanwhile on Ebruhan's back—
Emma was completely losing her composure
"Oh my gosh…"
She clutched tightly onto one of Ebruhan's scales while staring around with sparkling eyes.
"Oh my gosh, I cannot believe this…"
Wind whipped through her hair as she looked ready to spiritually ascend from excitement alone.
"I am flying with the great Ebruhan…"
Her voice became increasingly emotional.
"The Royal Protector Dragon…"
Mia glanced backward while flying beside them.
"Teacher."
Emma ignored her completely.
Mia's eyes narrowed.
"Teacher."
Still ignored
Finally Mia huffed.
"At least maintain some dignity."
Emma immediately answered without hesitation:
"Nope."
Absolutely shameless.
Mia nearly lost altitude from emotional damage.
Emma pointed dramatically around them while still sounding overwhelmed.
"You do not understand how insane this is for mages like us!"
Her eyes practically glowed.
"Do you know how many scholars spend their entire lives studying dragons without ever getting close to one?"
"And I am currently FLYING on one!"
Ebruhan remained calm despite Emma internally combusting from excitement on his back.
Meanwhile Mia blinked slightly afterward.
Then quietly in her thoughts:
…Right.
That actually makes sense.
If she were still Riko from her old world and suddenly got invited to ride a legendary dragon through the night sky?
Yeah.
She probably would have reacted exactly the same
That realization immediately killed most of her criticism.
The night flight continued smoothly through the moonlit skies while cold winds rushed around them.
Below, the lights of distant villages flickered softly across the land like tiny stars scattered beneath the dragons.
Meanwhile Emma was FINALLY calming down enough to speak normally again
Mostly.
Ebruhan glanced slightly toward her while maintaining steady flight.
"Miss Emma."
Emma straightened immediately.
"Yes, Sir Ebruhan?"
"When you were teaching Mia…"
His eyes briefly shifted toward Mia flying nearby.
"…how was she?"
Mia immediately looked suspicious.
"Wait."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Why do I feel nervous hearing this question?"
Emma ignored her completely.
"Honestly?"
A smile slowly appeared on Emma's face.
"She was impressive."
Mia blinked slightly.
Emma continued:
"A very fast learner."
"Actually…"
She laughed softly afterward.
"She learned frighteningly fast sometimes."
Ebruhan listened silently.
Emma crossed her arms while remembering older lessons.
"She adapted to mana control quicker than most human students I have taught."
"And once she understood magical theory…"
"She began connecting concepts almost immediately."
Mia awkwardly looked away at that.
Because mentally she still had remnants of adult reasoning from her past life as Riko
Ebruhan let out a low dragon-like rumble that suspiciously sounded close to amusement.
Then finally:
"Arrr. I see."
That single sentence somehow carried:
concern
approval
all at once
---------------------