Noa focused intently on refining the Primordial Power. It wasn’t until she relaxed slightly that she realized it was already midnight.

The temperature had dropped, and Noa crossed her arms, rubbing them for warmth before lifting her head to gaze at the night sky.

A full moon hung in the heavens, radiant and luminous.

Noa blinked, as if suddenly reminded of something.

"By the way, do you remember the topic we discussed earlier about cocoon birth versus live birth?"

The ancient ancestor’s voice drifted pleasantly through her mind. "I remember. And I also recall you said that if given the choice, you’d still prefer live birth. You explained that while innate strength is valuable, you far more enjoy the process of gradually becoming stronger."

Noa nodded. "Yes, and after that, I asked you the same question."

"Indeed."

"But your answer left me confused."

Noa paused before continuing, “You said... that your very birth was a mistake. At the time, I didn’t really understand what you meant. I wanted to ask further, but you urged me to find my mother’s pendant instead. So... can you properly explain that answer to me now?”

Noa had only ever been able to glean fragments about this legendary Dragon Queen from historical records.

Her ancestor was hailed as a hero of the entire Dragon Clan. Every chronicle described her as a savior, just like an impeccable icon.

More specifically, the records had always seemed overly grand in their depiction of her.

The Dragon Clan sang praises of her monumental achievements, yet few considered what kind of past that might lie hidden behind such an illustrious life.

Faced with Noa’s question, the ancestor chose not to answer immediately. Instead, she sank into silence.

She gazed at the young girl before her, memories from thousands of years ago intertwining with her recent days spent with Noa.

For a fleeting moment, she couldn’t quite distinguish whether this instant belonged to the distant past or the present.

Still, she held her silence.

It wasn’t until Noa stepped forward, standing directly in front of the her enormous dragon eyes, that the scene changed.

The inverted white pupils, massive and mirror-like, clearly reflected Noa’s figure.

“I can sense that it must be a difficult past for you to talk about,” Noa said softly. “So I won’t force you to tell me.”

“But... I truly wish to understand you better, Noa.”

The Involuted Queen had never had much of an interest in others’ personal histories, nor had she ever asked anyone so many questions voluntarily.

But this ancestor was special.

She came from a distant past, her slumber having spanned over ten thousand years, until she awakened within Noa’s consciousness.

In the several months they had spent together, they had grown familiar with each other.

The ancestor admired Noa’s resilience and unyielding spirit;

Similarly, Noa had gradually developed a rare curiosity about this enigmatic hero of the Dragon Clan.

And so, in this dimly golden waterway, a conversation spanning millennia quietly began to unfold.

For a brief moment, they locked eyes. Then the ancestor slowly closed her dragon pupils and rose to her feet.

The contrast between the great dragon’s colossal form and Noa’s small frame was stark.

Tilting her headed up to gaze at the immense dragon before her, Noa said, "Are you preparing to shoo me away again?"

Whenever the ancestor grew tired of the kid’s persistent antics, she’d spread her massive wings and swat Noa out of the consciousness space.

Over time, Noa began to suspect something was off:

Damn it, this is *my* consciousness space—how is it possible that you’re the one kicking me out?

The ancestor’s response: "Heh, I just can. Got a problem with that?”

Eventually, Noa simply grew resigned to her tactics.

And now, the ancient one’s sudden rise to her feet suggested she didn’t want to answer Noa’s question and was likely about to expel her again.

Realizing this, Noa silently turned around, waved a hand dismissively, and said, "I’ve already told you I won’t push you to answer my questions. You don’t need to send me away; I’ll leave on my own."

Plip-plop—plip-plop—

Her little shoes tapped softly on the water as she strode toward the canal’s exit.

Yet she had barely taken a few steps when she suddenly sensed a faint energy fluctuation.

Glancing down, Noa noticed that the water beneath her feet was rippling inexplicably, concentric rings of disturbance spreading outward from behind her.

Noa spun around abruptly.

She was met with the sight of the white dragon folding her massive wings around her body, sealing herself entirely as magical light seeped through the narrow crevices of the wings.

Moments later, the light dispersed. Standing serenely upon the water was a tall, graceful figure.

Noa’s eyes widened slightly in shock, rendering her momentarily speechless.

It was a strikingly beautiful woman, her long hair cascading like a waterfall down her back to her waist.

She wore a high-low dress of pure white, revealing legs wrapped in elegant leather boots, with a narrow band of flawless, snow-white skin peeking through between the hemline and the boot tops—a glimpse of perfection within the absolute territory.

Her eyes lifted faintly, delicately framed within her impeccable, calm features. A single star-shaped earring dangled from one ear, shimmering softly.

She stood there, imbued with a sense of flawless artistry, her entire presence exuding an air of perfection, like an exquisitely crafted masterpiece.

"N-Noa..."

The Involuted Queen hesitated for a moment before realizing that this was the ancestor’s human form.

The stunning woman began to step toward Noa with long, deliberate strides.

Unlike the oppressiveness that often radiated from a Dragon Queen, her presence was one of holiness and majesty, compelling awe and admiration.

Her graceful steps exuded an aura of regality. A long tail, distinct from the modern Dragon Clan’s structure, trailed behind her—sleek, luminous, and extraordinarily elegant.

Noa was entirely captivated by the divine aura that surrounded her. It wasn’t until the figure stopped directly in front of her that she snapped back to reality.

"Little one."

"Ah? Oh, sorry."

She quickly adjusted her focus.

It was common knowledge among the Dragon Clan that their voices would change noticeably in human form.

To her surprise, the ancestor’s voice lacked the chill she expected—remarkably, it was warm, refreshing like a spring breeze.

The beautiful woman rested one hand on her waist while gently placing the other on Noa’s head. She closed her eyes for a moment and sighed in contentment.

Noa froze, looking up at her ancestor’s serene expression. Following the long curve of her arm, she met her cool gaze.

"What are you doing?"

"I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. Your head is so fun to pat."

"...”

Alright, fine. Even in human form, she was still the same unreliable ancestor.

"So, the reason you haven’t done it until now... was that you were afraid your claws would crush me into paste?"

"Exactly. You’re very clever."

"Ha, well thank you so much."

Noa shook her head free from the woman’s hand. "Then why only now are you meeting me in human form?"

"Because until recently, we hadn’t accumulated enough Primordial Power for me to take on my human form. But now—with the help of the Nightshade Crystal—the rate at which we store energy has accelerated, and I now have sufficient magic to transform."

Realization dawned on Noa. "Ah, so that’s how it works."

“That’s right. Oh, and there’s one other thing I’ve been wanting to do.”

"What thing—hey, what are you doing? Stop hugging me! Let go—"

Before Noa could respond, her ancestor pulled her into a snug embrace, holding her tightly in her arms.

Soft and warm, a gentle breath swept across Noa’s cheek in tender puffs.

Though the hold was firm, it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Even so, Noa felt uneasy; she wasn’t used to physical closeness outside of her family. She wriggled her legs and swished her little tail in protest.

"You old one... You’re just like Aunt Isa... acting like an annoying older relative..."

Noa tried pushing away the dragon-turned-woman’s face, which was currently nestled against her own. But the infuriating ancestor clung to her like a child cradling a favorite toy, refusing to budge.

After a few seconds of futile resistance, Noa gave up.

She let herself be hugged, petted, and cuddled with a resigned sigh.

“Why are adults always so childish?” Noa wondered silently for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Ah~ so soft and fragrant~ Is this what a young dragon’s body feels like? Delightful. And to think, someday this very body will be mine... it fills me with joy."

“…I’ve told you to stop saying weird things like that. It really makes you sound suspicious, like some kind of creepy aunt.”

Satisfied at last, the ancestor set Noa back down.

As Noa composed herself, straightening her clothes, she lifted her head.

"Now that you’ve taken on a human form, does that mean you’re finally ready to tell me about your past?"

The strange aunt nodded, her expression turning solemn as she gazed down at Noa. A serious air enveloped her.

"My story begins with the Dragon God, Tiamat."