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

The Twilight Tower’s Lord, Simos, attended the disciplinary hearing for Konstantin alongside the other leaders of neutral factions, including Saint Sisia Academy’s headmistress, Olette.
The Academy’s grand hall was filled with tension as Olette delivered the official verdict:

Expulsion: All Flame Dragon students at Saint Sisia Academy would be expelled immediately.
Isolation: The Flame Dragon Clan would be confined to their territory for twenty years. During this time, they would be barred from leaving their land, participating in Dragon Clan activities, or engaging in any trade or communication with other factions.
Compensation: The Flame Dragon Clan would bear the full cost of repairing the Academy and compensating affected families.
Monitoring: Konstantin would remain under strict surveillance for fifty years, with all his movements monitored by the Dragon Clans.
The punishment seemed surprisingly moderate, given that no lives were lost.
Both Olette and Simos approved the decision, balancing justice with diplomacy. Yet, not all were satisfied—several Dragon Kings, eager to exploit the situation, lobbied for harsher penalties, citing Konstantin’s past transgressions to escalate the stakes.
Before Olette or Simos could respond, the Silver Dragon King, Leon, intervened.

Leon didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. A single glance from his piercing gaze swept across the room, silencing every dissenting voice.
Olette adjusted her glasses and sighed with relief.
"Very well, then," she said, “the punishment will be officially announced in three days.”
At that moment, a teacher hurried into the hall and whispered something in Olette’s ear.

Her expression shifted to one of shock and confusion.
The Dragon Kings immediately noticed.
"Is there a problem, Headmistress?" one of the more vocal Kings asked with mock concern. "Don’t tell me Konstantin has fled, evading punishment like a coward."

His comment drew murmurs from the room.
“Twenty years of confinement and fifty years of monitoring aren’t severe enough to warrant an escape,” another Dragon King sneered. “If Konstantin’s truly fled, it’s because he’s grown weak.”
“Should’ve thrown him in the Academy’s dungeons,” one grumbled. “Spare us this circus.”

Clang!
The sharp sound of steel hitting the stone floor silenced the room.
Leon stood at the center of the hall, his battle-worn katana now lying at his feet. Its polished blade gleamed under the hall's light, radiating an icy, unspoken threat.

"Apologies," Leon said mildly, his tone as calm as ever. "As a Silver Dragon King, isn’t it reasonable for me to carry a sword capable of cutting through steel? For... protection, of course."
No one dared respond.
Leon bent down, picked up the blade, and cradled it in his arms.

Standing beside him, Rosvisser leaned closer and whispered, “You realize you didn’t need the theatrics. They’d have quieted down anyway.”
Leon tilted his head toward her, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Yes, but this way, they’ll stay quiet longer.”
The couple exchanged amused glances before Leon rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Finally, someone dared to steer the conversation back on track.
“So, Headmistress, what was the urgent matter?”

Olette took a deep breath, her usual composure slightly shaken.
“Last night,” she began, her voice steady but grave, “the Flame Dragon Clan suffered a catastrophic attack. Most of their members were massacred. Only a handful managed to survive and escape.”
Her words fell like a thunderclap.

Shock rippled through the assembly as murmurs of disbelief filled the air.
“Annihilated? That’s impossible!”
“Who could accomplish such a thing?”

The Dragon Kings, many of whom had long viewed the Flame Dragon Clan as a threat, suddenly found themselves grappling with a new, chilling reality.
Olette continued, “The Academy’s investigation confirms that the Flame Dragon territory has been reduced to ash. Their stronghold is gone.”
“And Konstantin?” someone asked tentatively.

“No body was found,” Olette replied. “He may have escaped... or perished. We don’t know.”
The room fell silent again, the enormity of the situation settling over them.
Olette straightened her posture and addressed the assembly.
“Given the gravity of this incident, I urge all Dragon Kings to bolster their defenses. Whoever could annihilate the Flame Dragon Clan in a single night is a force none of us can afford to underestimate.”

Leon ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ sat quietly through the rest of the meeting, his katana resting across his lap.
When the discussion adjourned, he stood, sheathed his blade, and took Rosvisser’s hand. Together, they walked toward the exit.
As they reached the door, Leon paused.

Without looking back, he spoke, his voice carrying easily across the hall.
“Tower Lord, I may need to discuss something with you soon. Please keep some time available for me.”
Simos nodded slightly, his gaze sharp as he studied Leon’s departing figure.
After the assembly dispersed, Simos remained in the hall with Olette.

“The forces behind this attack have already begun to move openly,” Simos said gravely. “If we remain passive, it will be our undoing.”
Olette’s expression darkened.
“We’ve always known there was no retreat from this fight,” she replied. “Whatever comes, we must face it head-on. Notify Odin. We’ll need him.”
Simos hesitated, sensing her unease.
“What’s troubling you?”

Olette moved to the window, her gaze following Leon as he and Rosvisser walked across the courtyard below.
“It’s Leon,” she murmured.
“What about him?”

“When he heard about the Flame Dragon Clan’s destruction and Konstantin’s disappearance, he didn’t show the anger or grief I expected.”
Simos frowned. “You think he’s suppressing it?”
“No,” Olette replied slowly. “That’s just it. He wasn’t suppressing anything. I didn’t sense any turmoil from him at all. If anything...”

Her eyes narrowed, studying Leon’s retreating form.
“He seemed... calm. Confident.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper, more to herself than to Simos.
“Leon... what are you planning?”