A week later, the highly anticipated parent-teacher conference at St. Heath's Academy began in earnest.
Among the dragon clans, St. Heath's Academy was one of the only places besides the neutral Sky City's Twilight Tower capable of gathering so many Dragon Kings simultaneously.
The former achieved this through commerce and diplomacy, while the latter accomplished it through the universal concern all parents held for their children's education.
Of course, not every student at the prestigious academy hailed from a Dragon King's immediate family. Most came from noble or aristocratic branches of their respective tribes.
Still, even these students possessed influential backgrounds and carried the weight of their family names.
Leon, reminiscing about previous conferences he had attended as Noah's father, had once joked to Rossweise:
"If I'd known this academy held an annual 'Dragon King Convention,' I'd have come here during the Year of the Dragon Slayer Slayers and swept the lot of them in one go!"
The Sky City might have been strategically unreachable, but an academy nestled in the mountains was certainly accessible.
"Just kidding," he'd added with a characteristic smirk, though the glint in his eyes suggested the thought had been entertained, however briefly.
On the morning of the conference, the four Melkvey sisters, along with Noah's homeroom teacher, Mevis, waited at the academy's grand main gate.
They were joined by Hefei, the daughter of the Crimson Flame Dragon King, Constantine.
Hefei didn't quite understand the full purpose of a parent-teacher conference, but based on Muse's animated descriptions, she guessed it was an event where teachers formally informed parents about their children's academic performance and conduct.
Every year after the conference, Hefei would return home to a two-week ban on her favorite pan-fried steak—her father's preferred method of expressing disappointment.
Though she wasn't particularly fond of steak itself, she deeply worried about disappointing her formidable father due to her occasional carelessness or minor mistakes in class.
"Hefei, why do you look so worried?" Muse walked over and asked, her ruby eyes full of genuine concern.
Hearing her friend's voice, Hefei snapped out of her anxious thoughts.
"Oh, it's nothing... I'm just worried my father won't be satisfied with my grades this semester."
"How could that be?" Muse exclaimed. "You've been at the top of the class every single time!"
"But my father's goal for me isn't just to be at the top," Hefei explained quietly. "He wants me to surpass you..."
At this, Aurora leaned closer, her pink hair swaying with a curiously mischievous expression. "Hefei, you can't surpass Muse?"
"Muse and I are always tied for first place," Hefei replied helplessly, shrugging her small shoulders.
"Well, that's fine then," Aurora said with a dismissive grin, her interest fading now that there was no dramatic rivalry to enjoy.
However, the eldest princess, Noah, had a more analytical perspective on the matter.
"Being tied for first doesn't necessarily mean Muse and Hefei are equally skilled in every area," she stated calmly. "The standardized tests and practical assessments have a fixed upper limit. If both their abilities exceed that ceiling, it results in a perpetual tie."
She continued with her characteristically calm analysis: "To truly determine who's stronger, either the difficulty of the tests would need to be increased significantly, or we'd have to observe who can maintain their peak performance consistently over the long term."
"Of course," Noah added, glancing between her sister and her friend, "Hefei and Muse don't have to compete to such an extreme extent. Friendly rivalry is one thing; obsession is another."
Noah understood that while both fathers had perhaps half-jokingly tasked their daughters with surpassing the other, neither Constantine nor Leon would genuinely scold or blame them if they "failed." Their love was not conditional on academic supremacy.
Meanwhile, Muse continued to comfort Hefei, and the little red dragon's mood gradually improved thanks to her friend's sincere encouragement.
The group of girls continued waiting patiently for their parents' arrival.
Before long, a distinctive red figure appeared as a speck in the sky, growing larger as it approached.
Hefei's eyes lit up with initial recognition. "It's my father..."
But then, she frowned slightly, her head tilting. "No, it's not. My father's out traveling on clan business. It must be a senior clansmember sent to escort me."
Aurora squinted at the approaching red figure, studying its flight pattern and hue. When it drew closer, she clapped her hands together and exclaimed in unison with her sisters: "Aunt Isha!"
The magnificent red dragon landed gracefully in the courtyard before the gate, her powerful wings folding neatly against her sides. As they closed, the majestic dragon form shimmered and transformed into the elegant, fiery-haired woman they all knew.
Isha approached briskly, her demeanor warm and regal. The first to greet her was little Muse, who shared the same vibrant red color palette as her aunt.
"Aunt Isha! It's been so long. Muse missed you so much!" the youngest sister chirped, launching herself forward.
Isha leaned down gracefully to nuzzle her little niece's soft cheeks, a fond smile on her face. "Auntie missed you too, my little songbird. Have you learned any new melodies lately?"
"I have! After the conference, I'll play them all for you~" Muse promised, her eyes sparkling.
"Good. I look forward to it," Isha said, straightening up.
Next was Aurora, the third niece, who had undoubtedly inherited Isha's own mischievous and playful spirit.
After exchanging standard pleasantries, Aurora leaned in close and whispered conspiratorially: "Auntie, you should definitely come home with us later. Dad hasn't been home in ages—you can tease him all you want, and he can't retaliate!"
Isha's lips curled into a sly, knowing smile. "Deal. We'll team up and make sure that Cosmodeous leaves with no dignity intact!"
"Alright!" Aurora agreed with a gleeful grin.
Then came Noah and Muen, the eldest and second sisters, who shared the deepest bond with their aunt, forged over years of consistent interaction and guidance.
Isha greeted each with a warm, respectful nod, acknowledging their growing maturity. She also turned to Hefei with a kind expression, calling her "the bright young girl from the Constantine family." Hefei replied with equal politeness, dipping into a small curtsy.
Muen, ever the blunt and curious one, blinked her large, earnest eyes and asked with serious innocence: "Aunt Isha, have you gotten married and had kids of your own yet?"
"...What?" Isha was momentarily stunned by the non-sequitur. "No, I haven't. Why do you ask?"
"Because this is a parent-teacher conference," Muen explained logically. "Parents usually attend with their kids, so I thought maybe you..."
Before Muen could finish her deduction, Isha pulled her into a sudden, affectionate hug, nuzzling her cheek playfully. "Your parents just have too many kids! With Noah in the elder dragon division, you and Aurora in your grades, and Muse in first grade, they have to split up. That's why I'm here to attend on Muse's behalf. Does that make sense now, you clever girl?"
"Mm-hmm," Muen mumbled, her face squished like soft dough against Isha's shoulder, her question thoroughly answered.
After releasing a slightly flustered Muen, Isha's sharp eyes finally noticed Mevis standing politely to the side, observing the family reunion.
Mevis greeted her with a respectful nod. "Hello, Your Majesty, Red Dragon Queen."
"Hello..." Isha responded, her head tilting slightly as she scrutinized Mevis. Her gaze was intense, analytical. After a long moment, she murmured, "Your face looks familiar. Have we met somewhere before, outside of the academy?"
Mevis froze for a barely perceptible second, her previously calm demeanor faltering. She lowered her hand nervously as a shy, uncharacteristic smile appeared on her lips. For a moment, she seemed at a genuine loss for words.
"You've met before!" Noah chimed in helpfully, breaking the slight tension. "Teacher Mevis came with me to Sky City for the inter-school exchange last year!"
Mevis let out a quiet, controlled breath of relief. "Yes, that's correct. We were briefly introduced in Sky City during the cultural exchange event."
"I see." Isha nodded slowly, though a flicker of something unreadable remained in her eyes before she dropped the subject. She took her nieces by their hands and continued to wait with them, making light conversation.
After a while, another powerful, familiar presence descended from the skies, its aura unmistakable even from a distance.
From the path leading to the gate, Leon sighed, looking up at the distinctive silver dragon silhouette now visible against the clouds.
"That wife of mine always has to make such a dramatic entrance," he muttered to himself, but the fondness in his voice was undeniable.