“So you’re going to fight a dragon?”

Rafi listened as Ling sketched out what happened, her brows loosening like rain easing off; now she knew why Ling came back in tears.

“Mm… that’s it.” Ling’s voice shrank to a thread; fear pressed on her chest, cold as river stone. Running off to find another woman felt like cheating.

She was scared Rafi would hate her for it.

“But… why help someone that cruel? She hurt you so much.” Rafi’s words were soft, but the edge glinted like a hidden blade.

It was ridiculous and raw, like a girlfriend asking, “Me or the game?” Alicia chose the “game.” Ling was stubborn to the bone: Since you chose something else, I’ll bow out. With the past piled on, Ling’s heart toward Alicia had gone cold.

“Forget it. Dragon-slaying, right? I’ll go with you.” Rafi’s voice cut in like a bell, pulling Ling back from drifting thoughts.

Ling looked at her, gratitude rippling in her eyes like light on a lake.

“Mm. Then let’s head out now.”

“Wait… Ling, play with Remi and the girls for a bit. I need to prep.” Rafi turned, her shadow sliding into her room like ink.

Ling obeyed, glancing at the two lolis who’d been glued to her side. They blinked up at her, starry eyes like night pools.

They stared; Ling clutched her chest and toppled, face kissing the floor. A stranger’s song bloomed in everyone’s mind, silk over steel.

She shakily raised her left index finger, pointing ahead—Don’t stop—meaning she liked lolis far too much.

While Ling riffed on a joke only she understood, Remi crouched and tugged her sleeve, steady as a sparrow pecking grain.

Flat on the floor, Ling, for the first time, regretted dressing them in puffy bloomers.

“Master, we want to go too. We’ve got lots of mana inside. We can be a supply.”

Oh. Right.

Remi’s reminder lit a lantern in Ling’s head. She’d found a dense, pure mana in them before. Most couldn’t absorb it.

Her body was born tough, her mana already pure, so she could sip it freely—like plugging into a power bank.

Sadly, the bank was small. Both together barely refilled her mana to under fifty percent.

But we’re only swatting a few reptiles, right? No way I’ll need a refill. That’s what she thought.

Then Remi’s “Loli Starry Eyes” skill went off. It critted Ling straight through the guard, like starlight turned arrows.

Anyway, I’m strong. Protecting two lolis is easy. Maybe something delightful happens? Heh—heh heh—

“Good! Approved! We’re all going out!”

To an outsider, they looked like tourists chasing sun. Who’d guess these dragon-slayers, laughing like kids, would become saviors of a nation?

…

Rafi hid in her room, weighing several odd short daggers. A smile curved like a crescent moon; the blades gleamed, cold as frost.

“Just wait a little. The Script is unfolding. I can’t break it with my own hands. Hold on. I’ll have her soon…”

She slid the short blades into her pocket. Her hand found the blue longbow; red veining on it had grown, like cracks spreading in fired porcelain.

“Ling—ready. Time to go.”

“Mm.” Ling answered, then tidied Remi and the girls’ gear, murmuring quick reminders like feathers brushing the ear.

They stepped out together.

—

In the sky, countless dragons wheeled like storm-tossed crows. Panic thrashed them into each other; their earlier imperial swagger was gone.

Ling stared up at the ink-dark swarm, then turned away, interest cooling like tea left out. Leaderless dragons, a headless tide.

The Black Dragon’s brutal death had cracked their nerve. They were no longer worth the hunt.

She just needed those big ones that felt like the Black Dragon, then cull them, clean as a blade through silk.

“Hey, Rafi, do you know flight magic?”

“Flight magic? Not really. But I can try lifting us with wind.”

Her small hand sketched in the air; white lines chased her fingertip, etching a strange magic circle like frost on glass.

She snapped her fingers. A conjured whirlwind cradled all four, and the world fell away beneath their feet.

“Wow—we’re actually flying!” Ling’s joy burst like fireworks. No plane this time; no floor underfoot. Just sky and the thrill of weightless freedom.

“Rafi! You’re amazing! Most people focus on one affinity.” Ling’s grin was sunrise-bright. “Last time you used blue mana. I thought water or ice.”

“Ah… um… it’s fine.” Rafi’s body went stiff; nervousness crawled like ants. “Hey! Look, lots of dragons over there…”

Her topic-change spell fizzled. Ling kept chirping, relentless as a spring stream.

“Forget those dragons. Tell me, what’s your best field?”

“Wind… wind magic… yeah. Wind magic.”

“Then why use blue mana in battle? Wind’s supposed to be white, right?”

“It’s… just misdirection. Don’t mind it.”

“I see. Smoke and mirrors, huh.”

In Ling’s mind, a hidden-princess tale unfurled—forced to bury every talent, play the weakling for survival.

She felt lucky. Nothing chained her. She could unleash her power, wild as summer thunder.

Seeing Ling stop, Rafi exhaled; relief fluttered like a moth. But urgency sparked in her eyes.

Looks like… I can’t wait any longer…

—

Rafi carried them on the wind. Ling scanned for her reptile gentleman, half-tempted to catch one and keep it.

She pictured daily care piling up like laundry. Nope. Not practical. Toss that thought.

Then she spotted a vast green shape sprawled on the earth, aura heavy as mountains. It felt like the Black Dragon’s kin.

She cracked open the Script, let mana trickle in like ink.

[The Azure Dragon lies prone, mind looping through moments with the Black Dragon. Minutes ago, a kin delivered news of the Black Dragon’s death. Grief keeps him sunk, dulling his senses to the strange wind above.]

Emmm…

So, the big green one below was a Black Dragon type. Kill it, and we’re nearly done.

Ling raised her hand, fingers forming a gun. Green gathered at her fingertip, a small orb pulsing like a seed.

She judged the weight, then crushed it tight.

“Loli Loli—Magic Cannon Pistol!”

The compressed Magic Cannon screamed out. A green beam lanced for the Azure Dragon’s back, bright as bamboo-split lightning.

Alarm finally slammed his heart. Instinct yanked him aside; speed saved him, but the right wing got grazed. Flight stayed possible. Pain flared.

“Ah la la— you dodged.” Her voice floated down, teasing like a cat batting yarn.

The Azure Dragon finally saw the little figure in the sky.

“So it was you? An ambush, then death—do you crave it?” His words rumbled like distant surf, but caution coiled tight.

He was the Azure Dragon, the Shield among the Dragonfolk. His hide was a fortress stonework, a top-tier defense.

Ling didn’t bother answering. A fun idea bloomed, sly as foxfire.

“Hey, little Azure Dragon, be my mount. I’ll keep you from dying like the Black Dragon. You can roam free most days.”

“It saves me the hassle of care. The deal’s simple—come when I call.”

Hearing the Black Dragon fell to this small figure, the Azure Dragon’s buried fury erupted, wildfire across dry grass.

Kill her—now.

He gave her a look of mortal enmity, cold as winter steel. Ling saw the refusal and sighed, disappointment soft as ash.

I’m strong. I’m cute. Being my pet would be your honor. How could anyone refuse?

“Don’t want to? Fine. I won’t force you.” Her smile thinned like a blade’s edge.

“Then—go die.”