"Luo Sa, go on ahead." The loli poked my waist with her finger from behind.

"..." Some things are like that—when you haven’t figured them out, you feel nothing. But once you do, looking back at your past actions makes you feel like an absolute idiot.

And that’s exactly how I felt now. Just thinking about my childish behavior earlier flooded me with overwhelming shame. How could I even face Aefina?

"Mira, feed the young master a pie—ah, no. Send Luo Sa over." Nia ordered Mira with forced seriousness, but immediately broke character. "Good grief, just seeing you makes me crack up. Are you cursed or something?"

"How’s that my fault? It’s clearly you who’s—" Nia tried to pin the blame on me, and I wasn’t about to let that slide.

But before I could finish, Mira—who’d somehow crept up beside me—placed a hand on my shoulder. The next second, the world blurred. When my vision cleared, the training room was gone.

"Alright… Idiot Number Two’s gone. Your turn." Nia turned to the loli after I vanished. "Number 10086, what’s your plan?"

"..." The loli smiled sweetly, tilting her head at Nia. Her narrowed eyes gleamed like a sly little fox.

"I know you understand me." Nia glanced meaningfully toward a corner. "Clever little one. What’s your move?"

The loli shook her head, then raised a finger. She tapped her temple, drew a circle in the air, and pointed precisely where Nia had just looked.

Though the loli said nothing—only making those cryptic gestures—Nia nodded as if she’d understood perfectly. She sighed. "I see… Are you sure about this?"

But the loli ignored her question entirely. Without sparing Nia a glance, she dashed out of the training room, her footsteps light and cheerful. Nia could only shake her head helplessly.

---

Some novels rely on a tired trope—usually in those over-the-top power fantasies. The protagonist gets tossed into a cave or dungeon, only to find an absurdly overpowered boss lurking inside. First, the MC gets terrified by the boss’s strength. Then, through sheer luck or smooth talk, they befriend it. By the end, the boss either joins their party or gifts them a legendary weapon or manual.

My current situation… wasn’t exactly like that. But if I squinted, there was a vague resemblance.

I stood inside a shallow cave, sunlight streaming in clearly. Before me lay a silver dragon. And I was utterly tense. This was Aefina. My tension, of course, had nothing to do with fear.

"*How’s that my fault? It’s clearly you who’s cursed or something?*" That was what I’d meant to say to Nia before getting teleported here. Since I’d spoken in Oranda, only the last word—"*cursed*"—escaped my lips inside the cave.

"*Cursed?*" Aefina tilted her head, sniffing me curiously. Her massive eyes—larger than my entire torso—searched my face. "You don’t smell poisoned."

"...Pfft. It’s nothing." Having witnessed the whole chaotic scene, I pieced together what happened instantly. Seeing genuine concern in those enormous, jewel-like eyes warmed me. *She still cares*, I thought. The warmth mixed with my lingering tension, and I burst out laughing.

Assured I was fine, Aefina pulled back. She settled down again, watching me with emerald eyes brimming with joy—and a flicker of longing she couldn’t hide. Her tail lay still, but the very tip swayed gently side to side.

After my laughter faded, I found my own lips curving upward, infected by her childlike delight. The nervousness I’d carried here had completely dissolved.

"Uh… Aefina. Long time no see." I took a deep breath, steeling myself to speak first. "How have you been? Any discomfort? Are you… eating properly?"

Turns out, mustering courage was like inflating a balloon. The moment I spoke, it popped. My bravery leaked out like air.

Aefina nodded, then shook her head, then nodded again. Finally, she lowered her head, her meaning unclear. She seemed just as flustered as I was—only far more transparent about it.

"I’m sorry I haven’t visited you all this time…" I stepped closer, extending a hand. Aefina understood instantly. She stretched her neck toward me, nuzzling my chest like a kitten. My fingers stroked her chin.

Dragons possessed terrifying strength in every limb. Even a headbutt could shatter boulders like LEGO bricks. Yet this mighty Silver Dragon was gently rubbing her skull—the same one that could pulverize stone—against me.

"Aefina… I missed you." The words slipped out before I could stop them. Confessing felt mortifying. I wanted to vanish into the ground.

"Luo Sa… what did you just say?" *You totally heard me.*

"I missed you." *Ugh, so embarrassing!*

"I didn’t catch that…" *You’re doing this on purpose!*

"I missed you." *Where’s a hole when you need one?*

"Say it again…" *Seriously? Third time’s the charm?*

"I missed you." *I’m gonna die.*

"..." Aefina fell silent at last, sparing me a fifth repeat.

Before I could react, the dragon head in my arms dissolved into white mist. A human-shaped Aefina materialized mid-air.

She fell toward me. Instinctively, I reached out to catch her—but she twisted defying physics, pouncing into my arms like an agile leopard.

*Thud.* Though light, her falling weight knocked me over. She wrapped her arms around my neck, burying her face in my chest.

"...What’s wrong?" I held her waist, puzzled. "I thought taking human form made you uncomfortable…?"

Aefina didn’t answer. Her arms tightened around me. Her meaning was lost on me.

We stayed like that for nearly ten minutes before she finally spoke, her voice muffled against my shirt: "Luo Sa… when you were gone, my chest felt hollow. It hurt."

"..."

"When you appeared just now, I was so happy." Her voice trembled. "But when you said you missed me… my heart ached. I don’t understand. Why does happiness feel like this? Like my heart’s gone numb… like I can’t breathe…"

*Is this what Nia meant by love?* Aefina wondered silently.

Her words were strange, but I understood. This vulnerable Aefina made me ache to hold her tighter—though she was already in my arms.

"I… have something to tell you, Luo Sa." She turned her face sideways, pressing her cheek to my chest. Her voice wavered.

"Go ahead. I’m listening." I gently encouraged the girl in my arms.

"Mm…" And so she began a tale—not long, but winding.

It was about a dragon born alone, traveling with questions about humans, until she met one in a pirate den.

I’d heard fragments before, but never like this. Never so detailed.

"After meeting you, Luo Sa… I think I finally understood how Mother felt back then." Her voice dipped, heavy with old sorrow.

Watching the silver-haired girl in my arms, I felt foolish. Before coming to Nia’s house, I’d promised myself: *Tell Aefina you love her.* Yet here I was, doubting my own feelings—and doubting hers too. How wrong that was.

"Aefina." I sat up abruptly, lifting her with me. She ended up straddling my lap in a terribly awkward position. "I like you. Be with me."

"Eh…?" She blinked, startled by my sudden declaration. "Be with you… meaning?"

"Be my partner. My spouse. My wife. Marry me." I crushed her against me, chin resting on her shoulder. It seemed romantic—but really, I couldn’t bear to see her face while saying this. "I’ll never leave you alone again. I’ll stay with you. Forever. Wherever you go, I’ll go too."

"..." Aefina went utterly still in my arms. No movement. No sound.

"Liar!" Just as dread coiled in my chest, she suddenly screamed. Her body shook violently. "I know! Human lives are so short. Mother’s human… he left because he was dying. That’s why Mother waited in vain!" Tears streaked her face. "Luo Sa is just a human! If I sleep even a little… when I wake up, you’ll be dead! How can you promise forever?! Liar! Liar!"

She was right. I’d avoided this truth. Dragons slept for centuries. By the time she woke, I’d be dust. Asking to be with her felt selfish.

"Liar! Liar… liar…" Her voice grew weaker, but her trembling didn’t stop. Her arms clamped around me like anchors.

Was Aefina… scared? No. Was this… *pouting*?

Strangely, that’s what it felt like. With her stubbornly unforthcoming nature, throwing a tantrum wasn’t out of character.

"After your scales finish molting, we’ll go to the capital. Then Fallen Forest. Anywhere you want. Legends say there are fruits that grant long life. If we find one, I can stay with you longer. And if we’re lucky—if I inherit that strongest Transmigrator’s power—living longer won’t be a problem."

"And if we find nothing?"

"Then we’ll come back. I’ll ask Lilith to turn me into an undead. A skeleton. A ghost. Undead don’t die. I’ll stay with you until the very end of your life. Then… I’ll end myself to join you in death. Books say if two people die together, they cross over to the Netherworld side by side. We’ll reincarnate. Meet again in the next life." I tightened my hold. "Would that… be enough?"

"Can I…" Her whisper was barely audible against my shirt. "Can I believe you, Luo Sa?"

"Luo Sa... you won't abandon me, right? We've already formed a contract." Aefina pushed me away with both hands on my shoulders, staring directly into my eyes as she asked.

"Of course not. I won't abandon you," I nodded and replied.

"I'm... a dragon. Is that... okay too?"

"Of course it's fine. Whether you're a dragon, a human, or anything else, you're still Aefina."

"Well..." A flicker of hesitation flashed in Aefina's eyes. Then she placed both hands on my head and quickly brought her face close to mine... I only felt her beautiful face rapidly growing larger in my vision, and then—

"Ouch... that hurts! It's bleeding..." Her teeth slammed into my lips. I could tell she wanted to kiss me, but she seemed clueless about how to do it. I blame Nia for this—she must've taught Aefina these weird things.

"Eh... Luo Sa, are you okay... mmm—" Before Aefina could finish, I kissed her, cutting off her words. I'd kissed her once before, but that was just a peck. This was a real kiss! Time, pause right here!

Of course, time didn't stop. After the kiss, Aefina shyly lowered her head, then lifted her eyes to look at me, occasionally pursing her lips. She looked incredibly cute.

"Luo Sa!" Aefina suddenly called out.

"Hmm?"

Her expression seemed hesitant, as if deep in thought. Then, as if she'd made up her mind, the girl spoke:

"I love you."

She said it in Chinese, with a slightly odd accent, but unmistakable.

Nia, I won't hold your previous antics against you anymore!