“Here—this is all the jelly I brought this time. Of course, if Little Shengsheng wants more, she can come with—” Xuanxiao froze under Dreamsound’s blade-sharp stare and swerved. “—to the kitchen! I can teach you!”

Tch, teach me jelly? What a sweet trap wrapped in sugar glass.

I shot her a look as flat as a winter lake, then shoved another jewel-bright jelly into my mouth.

Both sides felt awkward; Xuanxiao gave a thin laugh. She didn’t dwell, just lifted the wine by Dreamsound’s elbow, crimson like a small sunset, and poured herself a glass. She sipped with cat-soft elegance.

“Mmf—why can she drink and I can’t? She’s underage too…”

“Shengsheng,” Dreamsound said, voice even as falling snow, “people are built differently, and dragons even more so. Don’t let her size fool you—dragons rarely get drunk, even in the juvenile stage.” She drank quietly, a faint blush blooming like a cherry petal.

“I…”

“Relax, relax,” Xuanxiao chimed, a breeze in spring leaves. “If you want to drink, I’ve got some low-proof bottles in my collection. Next time I’ll bring you a few to taste.” She cut Dreamsound a glance and met the same cool gaze; she wiped invisible sweat with a furtive hand.

“Right, Sister Qing—every day you call her Little Shengsheng, but I still don’t know her full name!”

“Ah, my full name…” What was my full name again?

“…Aikelant Qingsheng Tangxue,” Dreamsound said, flat as still water.

Ah—right. That really is me.

“…Qingsheng Tangxue? Then I’ll call you Tangxue from now on.” Xuanxiao turned her eyes aside; when that needle-prick stare faded, she let out a quiet breath.

Looks like the name’s exclusivity is Sister Qing’s reverse scale—the one you don’t touch.

“Don’t decide for yourself! …Forget it. It’s better than Little Shengsheng. Little Shengsheng is too embarrassing…”

“Wow, this fish with pickled greens is so good. Sister Qing, your cooking’s leveled up again.”

“Again?” I eyed Xuanxiao, puzzled, a question mark floating like steam.

“This isn’t mine,” Dreamsound said, calm as moonlight. “Shengsheng made it.” She lifted a tender piece of fish and pressed it into my mouth like a warm gift.

“It’s already noon,” Dreamsound added, sunlight pooling on the table. “And since Xuanxiao came, let’s put practice aside for today. This afternoon we’ll go out, Shengsheng.”

“Mm-hmm, yes! I want the Far North! You wouldn’t let me go before…”

“That was for your sake,” she said, voice a wind that knew the path. “Before awakening, you’re just an ordinary infant. High water pressure or bitter cold isn’t something a child under six can withstand.”

“Oh… so that’s why.” A little cloud of doubt drifted; was Dreamsound hiding something? “You won’t stop me this time, right?”

“Mhm. Just avoid truly dangerous places. This afternoon, we’ll head to the Far North you mentioned.”

“Okay okay—quack-quack! I know that place like my own footprints in snow.”

“By the way, Sister Xuanxiao, you’re Dragonfolk, right?” I glanced at her swaying tail, a ribbon of ice-blue behind her.

“Mm-hmm!” Xuanxiao nodded, bright as frost on glass. “I’m an Ice Dragon.”

“Ice Dragon…?” Last time I used that move, I simulated an ice dragon, but I’ve never seen a real one—just mirrored a true dragon I’d glimpsed before.

“Yup,” she said. “Our territory sits in the Far North. We’re basically its guardian gods.”

“That’s true,” Dreamsound nodded, words settling like snowflakes. “The Far North has always been open, more a melting pot than the old Blue Domain Empire. People from almost every region live there. There’s an unwritten rule: no fighting in public. Break it, and every resident will reject you—and the Ice Dragons will mark you as an enemy.”

“Because of that rule, a lot of peace-lovers settle there, even with the weather biting like a wolf.” Xuanxiao grinned, teeth white as icicles. “Plenty of hotheads tried to conquer that vast land in history. All failed. In the Far North, the Ice Dragons hit two hundred percent of their power; plus there’s the patron of frost watching over the place. Anyone without ice affinity can’t even pull out half their strength there.”

“So… there are many Merfolk living there too?”

Dreamsound paused, then nodded gently. “Quite a lot. Anyone can settle in the Far North without switching nationality. The Far North isn’t a country; it doesn’t pretend to be one.”

“Sounds fun. But I’m hitting the supermarket first and buying, buying, buying! They have supermarkets, right? They do, right?” I popped the last ice-crystal grape into my mouth, the cold sweetness bursting like a tiny comet.

Gone already. I wanted more…

Dreamsound noticed my little pause and smiled, setting another frosted bunch in front of me like a snowy bouquet.

“Of course,” Xuanxiao said, pride glinting like polished ice. “The Far North never lacks merchants. If you’ve got money, you can buy anything.”

Ah—money. Dreamsound should have that… right?

I slid a look at Dreamsound.

She smiled back, warm as a candle behind paper, her eyes saying: If you want money, remember to be proactive tonight.

Ugh! I can endure! A true hero bends and stretches—what’s a little bug compared to a whole street of shops? I’ll do it for the spree!

I winked at Dreamsound, signaling the deal.

Dreamsound’s mouth curled; she gave me an OK, her fingers circling like a moon.

“…Hey, Little Tangxue, what are you two doing?”

“None of your business!” I flushed scarlet, pushing Xuanxiao gently, like nudging a cat off a cushion. “Drink your wine and be good!”

“We’re almost full,” Dreamsound said, voice steady as a tide. “I’ll clear the table. Shengsheng, go get ready—we’ll head out soon.”

“Okay okay! Sister Qing, what should I do?” My eyes sparkled like two round beads. 0v0.

“Just don’t teach Shengsheng strange things. She’s still a child.” Dreamsound shot her a wary glare, sharp as a sleet needle.

“I’m not!” Xuanxiao lifted her chin, righteous as a banner in wind. “I’m not a lolicon! I just think loli-faced girls are very, very cute! And I like gi—”

Xuanxiao’s mouth snapped shut like a trap.

Huh? Is she a lolicon? Should I steer clear…

Dreamsound gave her a look laden with meaning, a playful curve at her lips like a crescent blade.

Xuanxiao’s face burned red; she lowered her head, wanting to smack her own mouth, fingers clenching like frostbitten petals.

Honestly, Xuanxiao’s “buns” aren’t big, but they’re not flat either. Squish a little and there’s still a shape…

“…Sister Xuanxiao, are you… a lolicon?”

“I’m really not! It’s just that the girls I like have loli faces, that’s all!” And they’re all still— She swallowed the rest like a stone.

For the record, Dreamsound’s face leans loli too—soft features like dawn on snow.

“…Sister Xuanxiao, doesn’t the Far North have a solid criminal code?”

“Of course!” But your sis is an outlaw beyond the law—just kidding. “I’m a fine, law-abiding citizen!”

“Lolicon…” I gave her a look as cold as a glacier, my mouth tugging with pure disdain.

Aaaah, that’s it. I’m dying. If only those buns were just a bit bigger…