"What? You and Noah are going to participate in an outdoor test with Mevis next Monday?"
In the soft light of their bedroom, Rossweise stood in front of the open wardrobe, slipping a delicate spaghetti-strap nightgown over her shoulders as she questioned Leon.
Leon, already sitting on the edge of the large bed, nodded. "Yes. Helena will be joining us as Noah's friend. The test rules require the student to bring one friend and one family member to form a team."
Rossweise slowly turned around, her smooth, pale feet sinking into the plush carpet as she walked over to sit beside him. The silver silk of her gown shimmered in the low light.
"But isn't Helena in the Youth Dragon Division? Doesn't she have her own curriculum and tests to complete?" she asked, her brow furrowed in thought.
"Oh, each teacher in the Youth Dragon Division receives specific teaching tasks for their students at the start of the semester," Leon explained. "As long as the tasks are completed before the semester ends, there's no strict schedule. Helena's own outdoor test is scheduled for next month, so she's free to accompany Noah on Monday."
Rossweise nodded slowly, a faint sigh escaping her lips. "Such a complicated curriculum. It all sounds so troublesome. When I was in school, the structure wasn't nearly this intricate."
Leon chuckled, reaching out to pat her shoulder reassuringly. "It's probably because St. Heath's Academy has been placing a greater emphasis on integrated family education in recent years. That's why they've introduced these collaborative tests and activities."
"Hmm... I suppose that makes sense," Rossweise mused, her delicate brows drawing together as she stared absently at her own feet. "This test will also be a good opportunity for you to observe Mevis up close."
She lifted her gaze to meet his, her silver eyes serious. "Honestly, Leon, when I first met Mevis, I had the same uneasy feeling you mentioned. But back then, I dismissed it because she was just a combat instructor at the academy. Now that I think about it, if we both feel something's off about her, it can't just be a coincidence."
She sighed again, scratching her forehead in a rare show of frustration. "The problem is, I don't have sufficient grounds to launch a deep investigation into her background. On the surface, her records are impeccably clean, and her original clan had no historical connections to either the Silver Dragons or the Red Dragons, even before their old alliances dissolved..."
Leon nodded thoughtfully, his own expression turning grim. "Perhaps it's related to the relatively calm situation we're in now. Since Old Constantine's rampage and disappearance, Shadow's forces have gone completely quiet. It feels... ominous. Like the calm before a storm."
"Exactly," Rossweise agreed, her voice dropping to a whisper. "In these still waters, Mevis's presence feels like a single stone breaking the surface—not causing a large splash, but the ripples are noticeable enough to draw attention. The more we look at her, the more curious and unsettled we become."
Leon leaned back, propping himself up on the bed with his hands. "Well, this outdoor test gives us a legitimate chance to observe her in a different environment, outside her controlled classroom. Besides," he added with a wry grin, "it's a good distraction. Certainly easier than trying to keep a cactus alive."
Rossweise couldn't help but chuckle, covering her mouth with her hand. "You are such a restless fool."
Her laughter froze, however, as she turned to glare at him. "And 'restless' does not give you permission to put your hand on my tail. Move it."
"Oh, come on now," Leon said, his grin turning mischievous. "It's pure muscle memory at this point."
"Move it!" she insisted, a blush creeping up her neck.
"Nope."
"I'm counting to three—three, two, one—ah!"
A faint, ethereal purple glow suddenly appeared at the base of Rossweise's tail, a sign of her flustered state.
Leon ignored her half-hearted protest, his fingers gently toying with the cool, soft, and irresistibly smooth scales. "There's nothing in the entire world as entertaining as this! I could do this all year!"
Rossweise's breath hitched, her cheeks flushing a deep, captivating red. The rise and fall of her chest and the smoldering look in her eyes made her allure undeniable. "I-I don't know what you're talking about... Let me go, you insufferable jerk!"
"Don't tell me you still don't understand this simple fact after eight years of marriage, my dear Queen," Leon teased, his voice a low rumble.
"Hmph, I don't understand anything! And I won't simply be at your mercy... Damn it!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Leon tightened his grip just so, a practiced maneuver that sent a wave of weakness through her body, causing her to collapse against his chest with a soft gasp.
Leon gently brushed a stray strand of silver hair from her flushed face, his fingers tracing the heat of her cheek before coming to rest against her parted lips.
Rossweise opened her mouth and bit his finger playfully, then slowly, deliberately, drew it into the warm, wet cavern of her mouth.
The truth was, from the moment she had stepped barefoot into the room and begun changing, the air had been thick with unspoken anticipation. The couple had both known exactly where the evening was heading.
Leon didn't force her, and she wasn't truly resisting. It was simply their familiar, playful dance—a prelude known only to husband and wife.
As Rossweise's warm, agile tongue caressed his finger, the intricate dragon markings on Leon's chest began to glow with a soft, responsive light. He withdrew his hand and leaned forward, capturing her lips in a deep, passionate kiss that spoke of years of shared love and desire.
The newly donned nightgown soon found itself discarded on the carpet, and once again, her delicate, flawless feet would become the devoted focus of her husband's attention for the night.
.
.
.
Two Days Later - Monday Morning
A massive black dragon descended with a powerful downdraft, landing gracefully in the front courtyard of the Silver Dragon Sanctuary.
"Noah~!" Helena called out cheerfully, kneeling securely on the dragon's broad back as she waved to her friend, who was already waiting with her gear packed.
Noah waved back and adjusted the straps of her backpack. "Mom, we're heading out now!" she called toward the terrace.
"Alright, stay safe, and don't overexert yourself," Rossweise's voice carried down, laced with maternal concern. "Let your dad handle all the heavy lifting."
"Got it, Mom!" Noah replied with a confident smile, waving one last time before jogging toward the waiting black dragon.
Leon, having finished his own minimal preparations, walked up to Rossweise's side on the terrace. Gazing at the scene below, he muttered under his breath, "I heard that, by the way—the part about me handling the tough stuff."
Rossweise smirked, crossing her arms over her elegant day dress. "Well, I can't claim you're always reliable, but when you're with me, you certainly know how to... put in the effort."
Leon's face flushed slightly, and instead of crafting a retort, he simply turned and hurried down the steps toward the courtyard.
Rossweise chuckled softly, watching his retreating back. "Take good care of Noah and Helena!" she called after him, her voice softening.
"Got it!" Leon replied, raising an arm to flash her a quick "OK" sign without looking back.
Once the two young dragon girls were seated securely on the black dragon's back, they each grabbed one of Leon's wrists and, with coordinated pulls, hauled him up behind them.
"Is everyone ready?" the black dragon asked, its voice a low, rumbling vibration as it turned its great head to check.
"We're ready, Teacher Mevis. You can go," Noah confirmed, her voice steady.
"Very well."
The black dragon—Mevis in her true form—unfurled her powerful wings, beating them against the air and lifting them steadily from the ground. Before ascending fully into the sky, she called out to the figure on the terrace, "Do not worry, Your Majesty. I will take good care of them."
Rossweise offered a slight, regal nod. "Thank you, Teacher Mevis."
With that, the black dragon surged upward, powerful wings carrying them into the vast, open sky. Rossweise stood on the terrace, her silver hair stirred by the wind of their departure, and watched until they disappeared into the distant clouds.
Her eyes narrowed just slightly, the playful warmth from the night before replaced by a leader's sharp concern. She murmured the words softly, a private wish carried away by the breeze.
"Take care, Leon. Take care, Noah."