After the council meeting ended, Ebruhan wasted little time.
The discussion still lingered in his mind.
The cannons.
The war.
The commander suggesting Mia be deployed like a military asset.
None of it sat well with him.
With a powerful beat of his wings, he left the capital and headed toward the Vinson Estate.
As he approached the estate, a familiar sight greeted him.
Mia was sprawled across the grass in dragon form.
Or rather...
trying to scratch her side against the ground.
Unsuccessfully.
"Grrah..."
The black dragon twisted awkwardly.
"Why is everything itchy?!"
Beside her, Leo was helping by scratching between her scales.
Mia immediately sighed in relief.
"Yes..."
"Right there..."
"A little lower..."
Leo laughed.
"You sound like an old dog."
Mia gasped.
"I am a majestic dragon!"
"You were literally scratching yourself on a fence earlier."
"That never happened."
"I saw it happen."
"It was a tactical maneuver."
Before the argument could continue, both noticed Ebruhan descending nearby.
Mia's eyes immediately lit up.
"Ebruhan!"
The blue dragon landed smoothly.
"What is it?"
Mia stood up.
Actually, she practically bounced to her legs
"I've been waiting for you."
That immediately caught Ebruhan's attention.
The blue dragon tilted his head.
"Waiting?"
Mia nodded.
"Let's fly for a bit."
Ebruhan blinked.
"You wish to fly?"
"I want to talk with you."
Her tone became quieter.
"Privately."
Now Ebruhan was paying full attention.
Leo immediately raised his hand.
"Can I come?"
Mia pointed at him.
"No."
Leo looked offended.
"What?"
"No."
"Why?"
Mia hesitated.
Then looked away.
"...It's complicated."
Leo narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"What kind of complicated?"
Mia scratched her neck,
"Dragon complicated."
Leo stared.
Ebruhan stared.
Even a nearby bird probably stared.
"Dragon complicated?" Leo repeated.
"Yes."
"That's not an explanation."
"It is for dragons."
"It absolutely is not."
"Dragon business."
Leo pointed dramatically.
"You're making that up."
"I am not."
"You totally are."
Ebruhan watched the exchange silently.
Then, surprisingly, he understood.
At least partly.
This wasn't really about dragons.
This was about something Mia wasn't ready to discuss in front of Leo.
Which narrowed the possibilities considerably.
Growth phase.
Fear.
Identity.
Something along those lines.
Ebruhan finally nodded.
"Very well."
Mia visibly relaxed.
Leo noticed that immediately.
Which only made him more suspicious.
"What are you two hiding from me?"
"Nothing."
"You answered too fast."
"Dragon thing."
"THAT IS NOT A REAL ANSWER!"
A few minutes later, Mia stretched her wings, glanced toward Leo one last time.
The young man was still standing there with his arms crossed.
Clearly offended.
"Don't get hurt."
The words came out suddenly.
Mia froze.
Leo looked away awkwardly.
"I mean..."
"...whatever dragon thing you're doing."
Mia smiled softly.
Then nodded.
"I won't."
With that, she spread her wings.
The two dragons launched into the evening sky together.
Leaving a confused Leo behind.
As the wind rushed past her scales, Mia remained unusually quiet.
Ebruhan noticed immediately.
Whatever she wanted to discuss...
It was important.
And judging from the look in her eyes...
It probably had something to do with the thing both of them had been worrying about for weeks.
-------------
The estate had long since disappeared behind them.
For a while, neither dragon spoke.
Only the steady rhythm of wingbeats filled the sky.
Then Mia finally broke the silence.
"Ebruhan..."
The blue dragon glanced toward her.
"Yes?"
Mia kept her eyes forward.
Her voice was quieter than usual.
Almost hesitant.
"Is my growth phase delaying because I was human?"
The question hit harder than Ebruhan expected.
For several moments, he said nothing.
The sky seemed strangely still.
Finally, he answered honestly.
"...I don't know."
Mia's expression fell slightly.
Ebruhan continued before she could misunderstand.
"And anyone who claims they know for certain would be lying."
That made her look at him.
The blue dragon's gaze remained fixed on the horizon.
"You are the first dragon I have ever met with memories from another life."
"You are the first reincarnated dragon I know."
"You are the first dragon with a human mind and a dragon's body."
A small sigh escaped him.
"There is no book for this."
"No ancient record."
"Nothing."
Mia lowered her head slightly.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
The wind carried her voice away.
"I keep wondering if something is wrong with me."
Ebruhan immediately answered.
"There isn't."
Mia looked at him.
The response had come far too quickly to be rehearsed.
Ebruhan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"There is something unusual about you."
"That has always been true."
"But unusual is not the same as wrong."
The black dragon remained silent.
Listening.
Ebruhan thought carefully.
Then spoke again.
"When dragons enter their growth phase..."
"They are confronting themselves."
Mia nodded.
She already knew that.
Ebruhan continued.
"But you are not only confronting a dragon."
That made Mia's eyes widen slightly.
"You are confronting Mia."
"The dragon."
"The girl."
"And perhaps..."
His voice softened.
"...Riko as well."
Silence followed.
Because neither of them had said that name in a long time.
Mia stared ahead.
The clouds drifted past.
"Do you think I'm holding it back?"
Ebruhan considered the question.
Then nodded slowly.
"Maybe."
The answer surprised her.
"Really?"
"Maybe."
He emphasized the word.
"Not consciously."
"But fear can affect dragons."
"You already admitted you were afraid."
Mia looked away.
Because he wasn't wrong.
Ebruhan's voice became gentler.
"I do not think your human past is delaying the growth phase."
Mia blinked.
Then he added:
"I think your fear of losing yourself might be."
The words struck directly at the center of her worries.
Mia didn't answer immediately.
Because deep down...
part of her suspected the same thing.
The two dragons continued flying through the evening sky.
Finally Mia spoke again.
"...What if I fail?"
Ebruhan immediately snorted.
"What?"
"What if I lose?"
The blue dragon actually laughed.
Not mockingly.
Genuinely.
"Mia."
She frowned.
"What?"
Ebruhan looked directly at her.
"You fought a Red Dragon General."
"You challenged the Abyss Sovereign."
"You survived the Abyss."
Mia opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Ebruhan continued
"That last one is impressive, actually."
"...Thanks?"
"My point is that you are worrying about fighting yourself."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"If there is anyone stubborn enough to beat Mia..."
He paused.
"...it is probably Mia."
For the first time since taking flight, Mia laughed.
A real laugh.
The tension eased slightly.
Not gone.
But lighter.
And as the two dragons continued across the sunset-lit sky, Ebruhan found himself hoping he was right.
Because if fear truly was what delayed her growth phase...
Then the battle waiting for Mia might begin long before she ever fell asleep.