(Yuuta POV)
The road stretched quietly ahead of us as I drove, sunlight sliding across the windshield in soft, warm patches. Our old belongings followed in the truck behind us, rattling and clattering every time the road curved. Inside the car, everything was strangely peaceful.
Erza sat beside me, straight-backed as always, her gaze fixed outside the window while the afternoon breeze played lightly with her Sliver hair. Behind me, Grandpa slept with the kind of deep, ancient snoring that could probably shake mountains, and Allen sat rigid beside him, trying to look dignified even though he was drifting in and out of sleep. Elena was curled in Erza's lap, breathing softly, her tiny hands clutching onto her mother's sleeve like a sleepy kitten. Dragons really were just oversized cats; afternoon naps were practically their religion.
For a while, I just focused on the road, feeling the comfortable silence settle between us. Then I glanced at Erza again. She hadn't closed her eyes once. "Hey," I murmured, lowering my voice so it wouldn't wake anyone. "You should sleep too. You've been awake since morning." But she didn't respond. Her expression didn't even flicker. She looked like she was somewhere else entirely, someplace I couldn't reach. That was the dangerous part. When Erza started thinking quietly, it usually meant something serious… or something expensive. Considering she was now richer than half of Lebius, I was betting on the expensive one.
I tried calling her again. "Erza?" Still nothing. I sighed under my breath, wondering what was going through her mind now. Maybe she wanted to buy a bigger house. Or a palace. Or a private dragon nest. She was a queen—technically—so maybe she wanted to live like one now. I was preparing myself mentally for her to declare she wanted a mansion with fifty rooms when she suddenly spoke.
"Yuuta… let's get married."
I slammed the brake so hard the entire car jerked violently forward, and the tree in front of us suddenly came way too close for comfort. My heart almost jumped out of my throat. Behind me, neither Grandpa nor Allen stirred. Elena didn't even twitch. Of course. Dragons slept like they were dead.
I sat there gripping the wheel, trying to process what she had just said. "W–We're already married, Erza! Don't drop things like that so suddenly!" My face felt like it was on fire. She turned her head slightly, her voice calm but firm.
"I know we're married. But that marriage was our oath as dragons. One soul, one body. I want… the human one too."
I stared at her, completely caught off guard. "Huh?"
"A proper wedding," she said quietly, her eyes softening in a way I rarely saw. "A church ceremony. Rings. Vows under the sky. Human traditions… I want all of it." She hesitated for a moment, her fingers brushing lightly over Elena's hair. "I want to collect memories with you. Ones I can keep forever."
I blinked, unable to understand why she was speaking like this all of a sudden. "But why now? You're not going anywhere. You're not dying. So why—"
She interrupted me sharply. "I said we're getting married." Her tone was commanding, but her ears—just barely—were red. Erza being embarrassed was like witnessing a solar eclipse: rare and terrifyingly beautiful.
Before I could push further, Elena stirred awake in her mother's lap. Her eyes fluttered open, and when the blurry words reached her ears, she suddenly jolted upright in excitement. "Papa… Mama… getting married again! Yayyyy!" She started clapping as if she had discovered the greatest event in the universe. Her tail swung wildly, brushing against Erza's arm.
Erza turned her face away, clearly trying to hide the tiny smile sneaking onto her lips. And I… I just sat there gripping the steering wheel, heart still racing, trying to make sense of the moment. A second wedding. A human one. A celebration she wanted to experience—together.
As the road stretched ahead, bright with sunlight and possibility, it felt like we weren't just heading toward a new house. We were heading toward a new chapter of our lives. Something warmer. Something deeper. Something that, this time, she chose not out of duty or fate…
…but out of love.
But even as Elena bounced in excitement and Erza tried to hide her tiny smile, a part of me couldn't ignore it—her expression still carried a faint darkness, a shadow lingering at the edge of her eyes. Like she was hiding something behind all this sudden happiness.
Or maybe I was imagining it.
Maybe I was overthinking, like always.
Because right now, everything felt too good to question.
I was happy—no, beyond happy. The girl I loved, the dragon I somehow ended up marrying… wanted to marry me again. A proper wedding this time. A new beginning. A new memory to carry for life.
I couldn't stop the stupid grin spreading on my face as I drove.
My mind drifted, wandering where it shouldn't. Gifts.
Yes, I would finally receive gifts. Real ones. Not cheap cafe tips or those mint candies old customers used to give me when I worked night shifts.
A proper wedding meant proper blessings.
Then, without warning, a different memory floated up.
Fiona.
Ever since Erza appeared, Fiona had quietly distanced herself from me. She stopped visiting. Stopped messaging. Stopped dragging me into her competitive nonsense or lecturing me about being lazy. I still remember how she used to walk with me to school, always teasing, always complaining, always trying to keep me awake in early classes. Jenny used to join us sometimes, and Loid—her shadow, her childhood friend—was always nearby.
I sighed softly. I once mistook my affection for Fiona as love. Back then, I wanted someone—anyone—to fill the empty space in my heart. But she had always been just a good friend. A bright presence. Someone who made my lonely days feel lighter.
Erza… Erza was different. She was the one who changed everything.
"I hope Loid is honest with her," I murmured under my breath. I used to dislike him for no reason other than jealousy—he was always there with her, always protective. I thought he was in the way. But now?
Now I just hoped the two of them would be happy.
Why was I even thinking about this?
Right now, I should be focusing on my wedding.
Our wedding.
I immediately blushed as my brain began listing things on its own:
Ring.
Church.
Food.
Clothes.
Guests.
And… and our first night…not first time we have done many time but still...
My hands tightened on the steering wheel.
Ah, damn it. Just thinking about it made my face explode with heat. I felt like I was burning alive inside my own skin. If Erza saw my expression right now, she would probably smirk with that dangerous confidence of hers… or worse, tease me.
Still, I couldn't help it.
For the first time in my life, after years of loneliness, of sleeping in cold alleys, of eating cheap noodles, of being no one… I finally had a future worth dreaming about.
A wife.
A child.
A family.
A wedding.
A life.
And as the car rolled toward our new home, I silently prayed that nothing—absolutely nothing—would ruin this happiness.
Not this time.
(Narrator POV)
The Elven Kingdom — Heart of the Dragon Continent (Nova World)
In the western reaches of the Dragon Continent lies a realm spoken of in reverent whispers—
the Elven Kingdom, a sanctuary of beauty so profound that even dragons pause mid-flight to admire it.
Cradled within an ancient forest that stretches beyond the horizon, the kingdom is wrapped in mana-drenched air so dense and alive it hums like distant music. This forest isn't merely a collection of trees—it is a living organism, older than civilizations, older than the recorded history of Nova itself.
Every leaf glows faintly with luminescent veins, pulsing softly in the rhythm of the world's heartbeat.
A Land Vast Beyond Imagination
Nova is a world of impossible scale—
its size rivaling Jupiter, its continents endless, its oceans swallowing entire human worlds without leaving a ripple.
In comparison, the Elven Kingdom alone spans as much land as modern-day Europe, yet to the elves, it is simply their "sacred home."
Even the smallest kingdoms in Nova are as large as a human mega-city.
But the Elven Kingdom?
It is a nation that feels both infinite and intimate—every valley, every river, every floating mana crystal carrying centuries of history.
Nature and Magic in Eternal Harmony
What makes the Elven Kingdom truly magnificent is its sacred harmony with nature.
The air here carries a sweetness—like dew on moonlit petals—enriched by mana so pure that even a human breathing it for a few minutes might feel their senses sharpen.
Butterflies with translucent wings leave trails of shimmering dust.
Small spirits drift through the branches like tiny stars, whispering old songs carried by the wind.
Monsters roam beyond the borders—terrifying, colossal, impossible creatures forged from the excess mana of Nova.
Yet within the kingdom, they do not rampage.
They bow.
For this land is under the protection of the Goddess of Life, whose blessing runs in the elves' blood.
Power Beyond the Imagination of Mortals
Do not mistake their elegance for weakness.
The Elven Kingdom possesses battle strength that rivals the Dragon Royalty itself.
Their elder council, composed of ancient mages who have lived for thousands of years, can combine their mana and summon magic powerful enough to match the breath of a royal-blooded dragon.
Yet they hold no malice toward dragons.
Elves revere them as divine guardians—children of the world's first flame.
They would never strike unless provoked, and even then, it is always to protect, never to destroy.
The Royal Capital — Where Heaven Touches Earth
At the heart of the kingdom stands the Royal Capital, built around something that defies the very laws of nature:
The Great Tree of Life.
Its roots sink deep into the world's core, drawing up pure mana.
Its trunk is wider than mountains, its bark shimmering like polished emerald stone.
Branches rise so high they disappear into the clouds, and from them fall gentle streams of glowing pollen—soft as snow, warm as sunlight, humming with life.
The oxygen around the Tree is a hundred times richer than on Earth, giving birth to an atmosphere so invigorating that even standing near it fills the body with vitality.
The elves believe the Tree breathes life into the world—and when you stand under its immense shadow, you can almost believe it.
The Castle Beside the Giant Tree of Life
At the heart of the kingdom stood the royal castle, built directly beside the Giant Tree of Life—a tree so colossal its branches pierced the clouds, forming a canopy like a floating continent of leaves.
Its trunk radiated warm, gentle light. The air around it was rich, alive, filled with oxygen nearly a hundred times denser than anywhere else. Every breath felt like inhaling pure vitality.
The castle itself was a masterpiece.
Carved from ancient white stone that absorbed moonlight and glowed softly at night.
Golden patterns traced the edges of the walls, forming runes of protection and prosperity.
Floating orbs of blue and jade mana drifted lazily around the towers, acting as both illumination and spiritual guardians.
Sprawling vine-bridges hung between towers, woven from living plants that bent gently beneath the feet of elves and straightened once they passed.
It was not merely a structure.
It was a living, breathing monument.
A harmony of stone, magic, and nature.
(Mary POV )
It had been a week since I returned to my homeland, the heart of the Elven Kingdom—an ancient realm woven from living forests, silver rivers, and old magic that clung to the air like mist. I still remembered the moment I arrived: a single shimmering scroll dissolving in my hands, the soft hum of the portal forming around me, and the familiar crest of the elders glowing faintly as I stepped through. The guards barely spoke; they only nodded as the glyphs recognized me.
Even after everything I had done, everything I had once been… no one realized that I, Mary, was the same Kumi the Corrupt, the elf who had once nearly drowned this kingdom in her jealousy. A decade ago, I had thrown away my sanity because my younger sister had been chosen by the Great Spirit Goddess, and I—blinded by pride—had tried to claim power that did not belong to me. My exile had been just, and yet, fate had given me a second life.
And that second life had led me to Yuuta.
A strange boy. A fragile boy.
And somehow, a boy who had grown to feel like my own child.
I lightened my steps as I walked through the wooden corridors of my home—a great living tree that rose high into the canopy, its bark warm beneath my fingers. I shouldn't let my mind dwell on the past or the future. Not when the world itself trembled beneath Erza's existence. I could feel it even here, in the kingdom of my birth.
If Yuuta lived a long and peaceful life, perhaps the Nova World would remain calm. But if he were to die… then Erza, the Blade of Atlantis, would unleash the storm that sleeps inside her. I had witnessed her rage with my own eyes once—when she was only a child—cutting down twenty-six human heroes in a single heartbeat. It had become a legend told in fearful whispers: If her blade leaves its sheath, mercy ends.
But that was not a fate I wished to think about.
Not when Yuuta—the boy I raised—was out there somewhere, living a life I hoped was filled with warmth.
"Kumi! Where are you?" a familiar voice echoed from the hall.
I rushed toward it, irritation flaring, and caught Robert by the cheeks, stretching them painfully. "How many times must I tell you," I hissed, "don't call me by that name here. Do you want me dragged into the Royal Prison and executed before sunset?"
"Ow—ow, let go!" he yelped, his face reddening under my grip.
I finally released him, crossing my arms as he rubbed his burning cheeks. He sighed dramatically before speaking again. "Even if they tried to capture you… even if the whole kingdom rose against you… I'd fight every one of them. For you."
Heat rushed up my face before I could stop it, and I found myself wrapping my arms around him in a tight embrace. "Idiot," I whispered, though my voice softened. "You didn't deserve that slap. And… it has been a long time, hasn't it? Ever since I left with that—"
"That cursed human," he finished for me, rolling his eyes.
My fist instantly met his stomach. "Don't call him that."
He groaned, clutching his abdomen. "You can't seriously see that boy as your son."
"I raised him," I replied sharply. "I taught him, scolded him, protected him. And yes—he is like a son to me. If his wife heard you call him cursed, she wouldn't ask for mercy. She'd slice you before you could blink."
Robert scoffed. "What can a human woman do to frighten me?"
"You haven't seen her," I said with a humorless laugh. "Her name is—"
Before I could finish, a sharp whistle cut through the air—a signal from the Royal Castle. Robert's expression darkened instantly.
"No… a sudden summons? At this hour?" he muttered. "Kumi, I have to go. Now."
"I know," I said quietly. "Just… be careful."
He nodded once, then mounted his wyvern—a great silver beast with wings stretching like sails—and within seconds he was already lifting into the sky, ascending toward the distant golden spires of the castle.
"I will return soon!" he shouted over the rushing wind.
"I'll be waiting," I whispered, watching him disappear beyond the tree line.
As the flapping wings faded into silence, an uneasy heaviness settled in my chest. Something was shifting in the world—something vast and terrible. The air itself trembled as though warning me of an approaching storm.
"I hope you're safe, Yuuta," I murmured, placing a hand over my heart.
"I finally found peace… don't take it from me now."
To be continued.