A few days later, as the rescheduled promotion exams drew near, Leon and Rossweise accompanied Noah back to St. Heath Academy. However, due to Rossweise's advanced pregnancy, she could not maintain her magnificent dragon form for the entire journey. Their loyal scout, Shirley, was summoned to assist with the flight.
After several hours soaring through the skies, the familiar spires of the academy came into view, and the family landed gracefully at its main gates.
Instead of heading directly to her classroom, Noah made a detour to the playground of the young dragon division, her eyes scanning the lively crowd for two familiar figures.
Soon, she spotted her younger sisters amidst a group of little dragonlings who were chasing glowing insects. Waving her hand, she called out their names.
"Muen! Aurora!"
The two dragon girls were entirely focused on their quarry.
Muen declared, "Dragonfly legs must taste crispy and crunchy!"
Aurora replied with an air of dignity, "We are noble dragons! Dragons do not eat dragonflies!"
Muen considered this for a moment, then countered with impeccable logic, "But if I roast them first, they will taste better."
Aurora could find no flaw in this argument and promptly joined her second sister in the hunt for "gourmet snacks."
Hearing Noah's voice, Muen's antenna-like cowlick twitched and perked up instantly, locking onto her sister's location with radar-like precision.
"It is Big Sister! Big Sister!" she squealed. "Dragonflies cannot possibly smell as nice as Big Sister!"
Muen dashed toward Noah and expertly launched herself into her older sister's waiting arms.
"Big Sister, have you been busy with exams these past few days? I have not seen you at all, and I missed you so much!" Muen clung to Noah's arm, rubbing her soft cheek against it in a display of pure, affectionate devotion.
To avoid causing panic among the younger students, the academy had temporarily sealed all information regarding the incident in the Demonic Moon Forest. Consequently, Muen had no idea what Noah had recently endured.
Luckily, Noah had recovered quickly. Otherwise, if her sisters had returned home for the weekend and found her there, they would have undoubtedly bombarded her with endless, worried questions.
"Yes, I have been very busy preparing for the big competition. I did not have time to come out and play," Noah explained, gently patting Muen's head before deftly changing the subject. "Oh, by the way, Mom and Dad came to see us too! They are over there."
Muen's eyes widened, sparkling with joy. "Mom and Dad are here? Yay~"
Waving her hand wildly, Muen sprinted off to greet them. Leon and Rossweise stood a short distance away, waving back at their exuberant daughter with warm, loving smiles.
Amid this harmonious scene, Noah caught sight of a familiar tuft of pink hair approaching more calmly.
Noah froze for a moment.
"Aurora... do not tell me..." she thought.
Her youngest sister walked up, her usual sharp, perceptive gaze fixed on Noah.
"Big Sis, have your injuries healed already?" Aurora asked bluntly, tilting her head in a way that showed she was not easily fooled.
Noah's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her composure and feigned ignorance. "Injuries? What injuries? I am perfectly fine!"
She did not want her sisters to know about the terror she and Helena had faced in the Demonic Moon Forest. Just as their father never shared bad news with them, Noah felt it was her responsibility as the eldest sister to shield her siblings from worry.
Aurora leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Do not try to fool me, Big Sis. My intel network spans every corner of the academy. It was not hard to find out."
Noah's eyes widened slightly. "What intel...? What exactly do you know?"
Aurora smirked proudly. "Of course, I know the exact day we will get a holiday this semester."
Noah let out a silent sigh of relief and could not help but smile. "That is so... you, Aurora."
Aurora's intricate information network was not built for personal gain or showing off, as it often was with other students. Her reason was far simpler. "I just like having fun and finding interesting tidbits. It is not my fault there are unexpected benefits," she said nonchalantly.
"That is... surprisingly in character for you, you little rascal," Noah said, reaching out to pinch Aurora's cheek affectionately. Then, in a more serious tone, she added, "Do not tell Muen about any of this. I do not want her to worry."
"Got it, Big Sis~" Aurora replied cheerfully, her sharp mind now hidden beneath a playful demeanor.
Leon and Rossweise soon walked over, with Leon carrying a happily chattering Muen in his arms. Aurora quickly ran to Rossweise, who bent down with a soft grunt of effort to scoop her up and nuzzle her cheek.
"Did you miss Mommy?"
"Yes~" Aurora chirped, planting a loud kiss on Rossweise's cheek before turning her attention to Leon.
"When did Daddy come back?"
Leon had spent the past few months chasing Shadow's trail in the human Empire. Rossweise had told the children he was on a secret, important mission for the dragon kings.
"Not long ago. Why? Did you miss me?" Leon asked teasingly.
Aurora nodded vigorously. "Of course!"
"Who do you miss more, Daddy or Mommy?" Leon pressed, falling into their old, familiar game.
Aurora sighed internally. He has been obsessed with this question since I was in the egg, has not he?
With a perfectly practiced answer, Aurora replied, "I miss Daddy and Mommy equally!"
Rossweise grinned triumphantly at her husband. "See? I win. She gave me a kiss earlier."
"That does not mean anything!" Leon retorted playfully, though he was clearly enjoying the banter.
Aurora simply shook her head in mock despair.
.
.
.
Soon, the time for the promotion exams began.
In the academy's massive, open-air training arena, dozens of figures clad in black armor stood at attention, waiting for the students to enter. Among them, hidden in one of the suits, Leon kept his head down and his presence low-key, listening to the chatter around him.
"I have not seen lightning magic as strong as his in ages, nor have I encountered anyone like him in a long time," one armored figure mused nostalgically.
"Why so sentimental, brother? Cheer up! At least the war between humans and dragons is over," his companion replied.
"True enough. By the way, what is your exam number this time?"
"3365. What about yours?"
"3456—sequential numbers!"
"Tch, lucky you."
Another figure nudged Leon. "Hey, man, your armor looks brand new! You have kept it in great shape."
"..." Leon remained silent, hoping to avoid conversation.
"Pfft, acting all aloof, huh? Come on, do not be so cold. Relax! All we have to do is play around with the kids for a bit and call it a day~"
"Mm," Leon grunted noncommittally.
"What is your number?"
The aloof one in the pristine, nearly brand-new armor looked down at the number etched onto his chestplate and replied in a deliberately low, gruff voice, "9527."
"Nice! That is a unique number."
9527 merely shrugged, showing little interest.
"Oi, oi, big guy!"
At that moment, a dragon teacher with a slight accent walked over, tapping his clawed finger on 9527's chestplate. The crisp, metallic sound echoed, and the teacher's voice rang out, "I heard you are a fan of good armor!"
The face beneath 9527's helmet tightened. He instinctively took a step back, his mind racing.
Could it be that they have noticed something suspicious...?
"Big guy! Your armor..." the teacher continued, leaning in.
It is broken, broken, broken, broken! Leon thought in a panic, waiting for the accusation.
"Your armor... is not as flashy as mine!"
[Leon: Because it is real, you MF! The real black-armored warrior is standing right in front of you!]