The day of Noah's entrance test was getting close. Besides the test, they had to prepare some other things ahead of time. For example, a family photo.
St. Heath Academy was a very famous school among dragons, and it was hard to get into. Most dragon families just have one dragon who has babies by themselves. But some, like Rossweise's, have babies the "normal way" with two parents.
Whether it was a 'one-parent' or 'two-parent' family, talking about your family was a big part of the test. The school thought that only a happy, loving family that followed dragon values could raise a good dragon child.
The Dragonling Department of St. Heath Academy only accepted students from families like that. Unfortunately, Leon's "family" had nothing to do with the words "happy" or "loving."
"Nothing to do? Even if it's not true, you have to pretend it is," Rossweise said.
She continued, "Noah cares a lot about this test. You've both worked hard for a whole month. No matter what, we have to pass this."
Leon scratched his head. "So, we're going to take a family picture?"
"Of course.bI sent a message a few days ago and booked a photo studio. Get ready, we'll go soon."
After a short pause, she added, "Oh, and we'll get a family portrait painted too."
Leon frowned. "A family portrait?"
He remembered that not long ago, when Rossweise's sister, Queen Isabella the Red Dragon, visited, Muen said she really wanted a family portrait. Since his daughter wanted it, and they were going out anyway, Leon wouldn't say no. He pushed the blanket off and got out of bed to get dressed.
"Wait, one more thing," Rossweise said.
"What?"
"I want to give you a fake tail."
"What? A fake tail?"
"Yes," Rossweise nodded. "You can use the excuse 'I don't like to show my tail' here at home to fool people. But outside, a male dragon with no tail looks very strange."
Leon's face fell. He asked with no expression, "If I have no tail, will other dragons beat me up?"
Rossweise shook her head.
"Then what am I afraid of? If it's strange, then it's strange."
"Fine, if you don't want to, then don't. But remember, don't act this stubborn when we're outside, okay?"
"Yeah."
"I'll go get Noah and Muen. You go wait for us in the temple's front courtyard."
Leon nodded silently. He put his hands in his jacket pockets and walked out of the room.
As his footsteps faded away, Rossweise let out a helpless sigh. "The whole family is so stubborn. There's really no helping it."
Talking to herself, she quickly went to the sisters room. She had told her daughters about the plan last night, so when Rossweise got there, the two little ones were already dressed and ready.
Rossweise led them downstairs. Muen, calling "Daddy!", ran toward Leon with small, quick steps.
He smiled and crouched down, picking Muen up securely in his arms.
"Where are we going to take the pictures?" Leon asked.
"Sky City. It's a city that belongs only to dragons."
Leon nodded, thinking. He had read about Sky City in human history books. The stories said it was far away from the noise of the world, a place that belonged completely to dragons.
For hundreds of years, many great heroes had tried to get into the dragons' Sky City to explore it. But every single one of them failed.
So, many years ago, humans and other races stopped trying to explore Sky City.
To be honest, Leon felt a little excited. He might become the first human in history to ever enter Sky City.
"Mom, how do we get there?"
This was the first time the daughters had left the Silver Dragon Temple, so Sky City was new to them.
"Sky City? Of course we fly there," Rossweise said.
As she spoke, Rossweise spread the dragon wings on her back, which wrapped around her body. After a moment, when the wings opened again, a huge, majestic silver dragon stood in front of them.
"Wow! Mom looks so cool! Muen wants to become a dragon too!" Noah tugged her sister's tail.
"Wait until you can grow wings before you say that."
"Hmph! Muen will become a dragon someday!"
Muen then looked at her old father with expecting eyes. "Daddy, why aren't you transforming?"
"Dad,transform!~ Dad, transform!~ Muen wants to see what Dad looks like as a dragon!" The little dragon girl clapped her hands excitedly.
Even Noah was standing there, looking like she really wanted to see it too. And Leon felt like he wanted to die.
Good daughter, your dragon-slaying dad is pretty capable. But turning into a dragon… let's not talk about that, okay?
Leon swallowed hard. He forced a laugh and answered Muen. Then he gave Rossweise a look that said, "Please help me!"
Rossweise finally gave him a hand. "Dad's body isn't fully better yet, so he can't turn into a dragon right now. When Dad is all healed, he'll transform for you to see."
"Okay~! Dad, you have to get better quick!"
"Dad, do your best."
"Alright,we can talk more later. Come on up now."
Rossweise gently picked up Noah by the tail with her mouth and placed her on her back. Then she took Muen from Leon's arms and put her next to Noah.
Finally, she looked at Leon. "You, come up too."
"Tsk, getting on a dragon? Easy."
But Rossweise seemed to be making it hard for him on purpose. She didn't lower herself enough for him to climb on easily.
Leon scratched his cheek. For now, he could only take a step back.
"Rossweise, can you lower yourself a bit? I can't get up."
"What's the matter? Come up and be with our daughters."
But if they kept this up, the daughters would get impatient. So Rossweise lowered herself. Leon sat down, and Muen crawled over. She skillfully settled on his lap, her tail at her side and her back against Leon's chest.
Leon patted Muen's little head. Then he looked at Noah. The icy little dragoness was also looking at him, like she was thinking about something important.