Shut Up, Malevolent Dragon! I Don’t Want to Have Any More Children With You

As Rosvisser had said, this wasn’t the first time she’d voiced her thoughts on the matter.
Leon always agreed in words, but when the time came to face an enemy, he would invariably push Rosvisser to the rear.

The number of times they had fought side by side could be counted on one hand. There were only two instances that stood out in Leon’s memory:
The space rift battle, when Dragon Kings like Shtar and Ravi besieged the Silver Dragon Sanctuary.
The stitched-together version 1.0 of Old Konstantin’s assault during a visit to Isha’s home.
Leon had never doubted Rosvisser’s ability to help him. In fact, during the attack by the first iteration of "stitched-up Konstantin," if it hadn’t been for her primordial magic, Leon might not have been able to deal with Konstantin at all.
Leon’s reluctance to let Rosvisser accompany him on dangerous adventures stemmed from guilt over Narion’s fate and the memory of losing Rosvisser once already. He couldn’t bear to lose her again.

This was also why Leon had been relentlessly hunting Shadow across the world.
But times had changed. The current situation was no longer one he could handle alone. He needed help to protect his family better.
Moreover, Rosvisser had long been frustrated with Leon’s tendency to shoulder everything himself. If he didn’t start involving her soon, she might genuinely throw a fit.
After a brief silence, Leon nodded.
“Alright, I understand.”
“Hmm. Don’t just give me lip service this time. When the battlefield comes calling, don’t start making excuses to push me away.”

Leon’s hesitation on the matter seemed to have built up some resentment.
But finally, he made up his mind—he would let his wife step in to help. Otherwise, it would be nearly impossible to appease her.
He wrapped an arm around Rosvisser’s shoulders. She made a symbolic effort to pull away but eventually allowed herself to be embraced.
Leon rested his chin lightly on the top of her head, one hand supporting her fragrant shoulders while the other stroked her hair.
“From now on, no matter the enemy or danger, we’ll face it together. Please take good care of me, Your Majesty.”

“You scoundrel,” Rosvisser replied, though her tone was softened by a rare smile.
He’d finally spoken to her heart, and Rosvisser couldn’t bring herself to keep up her facade.
“Alright, together it is.”
Beneath the amber glow of the lamplight, the couple leaned against each other, listening to each other’s heartbeats and sharing the warmth of their bodies.
After the incident at Flaming Valley’s ancient ruins, Leon spent half a month recovering before preparing to visit the Sea Dragon Clan. He wanted to investigate Shadow further.

At the ruins, hints had emerged regarding Leon’s purpose and existence.
If those cryptic remarks held any weight, then Leon was supposedly tied to some greater being’s grand plan—a pawn meant to be eliminated.
This new lead couldn’t be ignored, so Leon decided to seek answers. Perhaps the Sea Dragon King, Claudia, could provide some clarity.
“So, you’re heading out? How’s your magic recovering?”
As Leon prepared to depart, Rosvisser asked casually.

Leon rubbed his chest and replied, “I’ve replenished enough to fill one dragon mark. That’s sufficient.”
Magic recovery had sped up significantly for him. Previously, it would take months to restore even a small amount of energy, but now he had fully recharged a dragon mark in just half a month.
Hearing this, Rosvisser arched a brow and crossed her arms, smirking as she teased,
“Oh, so fast? Looks like you’ve been slacking off in ‘turning in assignments’ lately.”

Leon chuckled. He had wondered why his magic was recovering so quickly. Rosvisser offered a plausible explanation:
“It’s because my Heartshield Dragon Scale has been adequately nourished. It no longer needs to siphon off as much of your magic for maintenance. As a result, the surplus energy can accumulate in your dragon marks.”
Leon had a sudden realization. “So… does that mean once the scale stops needing any of my magic, I’ll be able to recover energy like I used to?”
Rosvisser nodded. “In theory, yes. But the scale’s properties won’t make it that simple. As it reaches its final stages, the process will take longer and longer.”
She stepped closer, raising a slender finger to press lightly against Leon’s chest.
“So, don’t even think about tossing my heart aside so easily. It’s bound to you, scoundrel.”

“Your Majesty is as fond of double meanings as ever,” Leon replied with a smile, taking her hand and holding it gently.
“I understand, Your Majesty. I’m off now.”
“Alright. Come back soon.”
Since this was just a fact-finding trip to the Sea Dragon Clan, there was no need for Rosvisser to accompany him.
Leon turned, forming his fingers into an "O" and whistling sharply.

A moment later, an orange silhouette emerged from the forest, landing gracefully before him.
The six-winged dragonhawk—now officially Leon’s loyal companion—had become his go-to mount.
This was partly inspired by Konstantin’s flashy theatrics. Leon had long considered how riding a dragonhawk could boost his image, but now he didn’t have to fake anything. With this mount, he had speed, style, and convenience all in one.

Leon vaulted onto the dragonhawk’s back, waved to Rosvisser, and with a powerful flap of its wings, the dragonhawk soared /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ away from the sanctuary, disappearing into the horizon.
After hours of flying, they reached the Sea Dragon Clan’s Atlans waters by dusk.
The six-winged dragonhawk matched the speed of even a mid-tier Silver Dragon, but Leon had made several stops along the way to rest and feed his loyal mount.

The dragonhawk stood by Leon’s side, its sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings like a vigilant guard.
Leon patted its feathered wing lightly.
“No need to be so tense. We’re at a relative’s place—there are no bad guys here.”
Though the dragonhawk didn’t quite understand Leon’s words, it seemed to pick up on his relaxed demeanor and eased its stance.

The path to the Sea Dragon Sanctuary required guidance from a member of their clan. Without it, one risked being crushed by the deep-sea pressure or getting lost in the pitch-black ocean trenches.
As the blood-red sun dipped below the horizon, Leon scratched his head, muttering,
“I sent a letter to the elder yesterday. Why hasn’t anyone come to meet me yet?”
The dragonhawk tilted its head.

“Could it be that I freeloaded too much last time, and she doesn’t want to see me anymore?”
The dragonhawk tilted its head again, as if questioning him silently.
“Yeah, that must be it. The elder’s gotten stingier.”

Just as Leon finished complaining, a familiar female voice rang out behind him without warning.
“Oh? Did I just hear someone call me stingy?”
The dragonhawk froze, feathers ruffling slightly.