"Why did that old man do that?"
Tike tilted his head, somewhat puzzled. Did he want to taste what a dragon egg was like?
"He wanted to use you to blackmail me into attacking other dragon clans, but how could I let him have his way?"
As she spoke, Selene revealed an apologetic expression.
"During my struggle with him, you were swept into the turbulent flow of space. All these years, I have been busy traveling between worlds just to find your trace."
"..."
(Those words... half true, half false.)
From the scent emitted by Selene's words, Tike knew she definitely hadn't been running around solely to find him. But to be honest, he didn't really care about that.
"Then why," Tike looked up, staring straight into Selene's eyes, "when you sensed me back then, didn't you come find me personally?"
"Your magic fluctuations attracted the attention of the Black Dragon, Acnologia, at that time. I had to go intercept him, so I only had time to send a message to your older brother, Kurnugi." Selene looked at Tike apologetically. "That child doesn't know how to hold back when he acts. It's normal that you didn't want to come back with him."
"Who is Acnologia?"
Tike was somewhat curious about who exactly this "Black Dragon" his mother spoke of was, but he suddenly realized something else.
"Wait a minute, you said... my brother? Not my sister?"
(Big Sis said the one who came was a silver-haired woman. Was she mistaken? Or is he good at cross-dressing?)
Selene saw Tike's confusion and explained, "Kurnugi wasn't using his original body then, but a puppet controlled by Spirit Arts. Since he is extremely bad at Transformation Magic, he has to resort to such unconventional methods to have a human form. In this regard, he is the complete opposite of you."
"Is he okay then?"
"Don't worry. Kurnugi came to visit you yesterday, saying he wanted to spar with you again."
Hearing this, Tike felt somewhat helpless.
"...Why does he like fighting so much?"
"That child is just like that. But now that you and I have reunited, I naturally won't let him lay a hand on you again."
Tike didn't really care, but he felt slightly relieved and let out a gentle breath.
(He really isn't dead. I said it before, if he wasn't supposed to die, he wouldn't die.)
"As for Acnologia..." Selene paused. A shadow fell over her originally gentle face, her expression turning grave and her tone heavy. "During the Dragon King Festival four hundred years ago, he was originally a human who learned Dragon Slayer Magic from somewhere unknown. He ended the era of dragons and eventually transformed from a human into a dragon."
"Your father, the Netherflow Dragon Vitanos, also died by his hand."
"Vitanos prided himself on being a protector of humanity, yet he died at the hands of a human."
"Little Parquino, you must remember, do not trust humans easily like your father did."
"I know all that," Tike replied casually.
He could distinguish trustworthy individuals by their scent. He would only play with those who smelled good.
Tike trusted his own judgment and his own ability. He didn't need his mother's explicit reminders at all.
"Speaking of which..." Tike rubbed his chin and started to ponder. "Dad has been dead for almost four hundred years. That's a big number, right? So my real age is actually older than any old human man?"
"A dragon's age is calculated from the day of hatching, so you are only five years old now. You are still at least decades away from adulthood."
"Five years old...? I'm even younger than they estimated," Tike nodded, expressing understanding. Then he raised a new question: "Does it take four hundred years for us dragons to hatch?"
"No, you are special." Selene gazed at Tike tenderly. "While you were still in the egg, you were constantly using your magic to protect Mom, so your incubation time was much longer than ordinary dragons."
"Ah... I don't remember."
"But Mom remembers."
Selene pulled Tike into her embrace. Tike could feel the warmth of his mother's hug and smell that reassuring fragrance emanating from her.
(So... so fragrant.)
Tike almost wanted to indulge in it, but this time, he couldn't completely ignore the imperceptible strange scent mixed within this sweet aroma like he used to.
"Mom..." Tike hesitated slightly. "Should I go avenge Father and destroy that Acnologia guy or whatever?"
Although Tike had no feelings for the father he had never met, associating it with Gray's situation, he felt perhaps he shouldn't ignore it.
However, regarding his question, Selene shook her head.
"No, dragons are different from humans. We don't have such strong concepts of family. We only look for suitable partners during the breeding season. Once reproduction is over, there will be no further contact. The offspring born from this are naturally raised solely by the mother. Therefore, you don't need to have any feelings for Vitanos, nor do you need to think about avenging him."
"Eh..."
Hearing this, Tike's small face immediately showed an uncomfortable expression.
So being a dragon meant being destined to live in a single-parent family?
"I don't like that!" Tike puffed out his cheeks and said firmly, "If I meet a girl I like in the future, I definitely want to be with her forever. If we have children, we'll raise them well together!"
Selene's expression changed slightly, seemingly touched by Tike's words. She raised her hand and stroked his head gently.
"That's a wonderful thought, little Parquino. But before that, you have to grow up first."
Tike was about to agree when his stomach growled loudly.
Seeing this, the corners of Selene's mouth lifted in a doting smile.
"It seems my little one is hungry from the bath. Let's go have a meal."
As soon as her voice fell, the two teleported into a luxuriously decorated Japanese-style room.
Regarding Selene and Tike's sudden appearance, the maids who were already in the room seemed accustomed to it. No surprise showed on their faces; they merely bowed slightly, maintaining a humble posture.
Selene placed Tike on a soft cushion embroidered with gold edges and clapped her hands gently.
The maids instantly understood her meaning. Taking small, quick steps, they brought pieces of exquisitely textured clothing from the outer room and carefully served Selene as she dressed. The soft silk brushed over her fair skin, outlining her curvaceous figure.
Meanwhile, several maids also approached Tike, who had been placed beside Selene.
"Please allow us to dress you."
"Not allowed!"
Tike refused again without hesitation.
The maids were instantly at a loss. They exchanged uneasy glances, expressions of difficulty appearing on their faces, even carrying a trace of unconcealed nervousness and fear.
Seeing this, Selene said gently, "Leave the clothes and withdraw to prepare lunch."
"As you command!"
The maids looked as if they had been granted a great pardon. They hurriedly bowed, placed the clothes beside Tike, and quickly retreated from the room.