Noah focused intently on condensing her primordial energy, only realizing much later that it was already midnight.
As the temperature dropped, she crossed her arms and rubbed her arms for warmth, then lifted her gaze to the night sky.
A full Moon hung high, casting a greenish glow over everything.
Blinking thoughtfully, Noah suddenly remembered something. "By the way, remember our conversation about live birth versus egg birth?"
Her ancestor's voice echoed in her mind, responding slowly. "Yes, I remember. You said that if you had the choice, you would still choose live birth because, more than instant strength, you enjoy the process of growing stronger step by step."
Noah nodded. "After that, I asked you the same question."
"Yes."
"But your answer threw me off."
Noah continued, "You said... your birth was a mistake. I didn't understand what you meant by that, and I wanted to ask more, but you hurried me off to find my mother's pendant. So... could you explain it to me now?"
When it came to the Dragon King's history, Noah could only find fragments in ancient texts.
Her ancestor was celebrated as a hero of the entire dragon race, a savior, depicted in every history book as a flawless figure.
In detail, though, the stories were always grandiose.
The dragons sang of her achievements, yet rarely did anyone explore the personal history behind that shining legacy.
In response to Noah's question, the ancestor remained silent.
Memories from thousands of years ago stirred within the ancient dragon, overlapping with recent moments shared with Noah.
Lost in thought, she felt as if time itself had blurred, past and present becoming one.
Her silence stretched on until Noah took a step forward, stopping directly in front of her massive dragon eyes.
The white, slit-pupil eyes acted as a mirror, reflecting Noah's image perfectly.
"I can tell it must be a painful memory, so I won't force you to talk about it."
"But I genuinely want to understand you better, Ancestor."
Normally, Noah wasn't interested in prying into others' secrets. She rarely asked anyone so many questions.
But the figure before her was different.
She had come from a distant past, awakened after millennia in Noah's consciousness.
In these past few months, they had grown closer, each learning more about the other.
The ancestor's former hostility toward Noah had gradually faded, and Noah's curiosity about this mysterious dragon hero had slowly grown.
Within this dark-golden space, a conversation that spanned eons had quietly begun.
After a long pause, Noah's ancestor finally closed her dragon eyes and rose slowly.
The enormous dragon form contrasted starkly with Noah's small figure.
Noah tilted her head back, looking up at the ancient dragon. "Are you going to kick me out now?"
In the past, whenever her ancestor was in a joking mood, she would flap her wings and toss Noah out of her mindscape.
After it happened a few times, Noah had started to wonder. "Ancestor, this is my consciousness. How do you manage to kick me out?"
The ancestor had merely laughed. "Noah, do you really want to know?"
Over time, Noah had grown used to her quirks and would simply walk away.
But now, as her ancestor stayed silent, Noah sensed that she would likely be thrown out again rather than get an answer.
With a resigned sigh, Noah turned, giving a small wave. "I said I wouldn't force you to answer, so you don't need to send me out. I'll go myself."
Plop—plop—
Her small shoes tapped softly against the water's surface as she began to walk toward the exit of the mindscape.
She had barely taken a few steps when she felt a faint energy ripple behind her.
Looking down, she noticed the water at her feet was rippling, waves spreading from behind her.
Noah whipped around to see the massive white dragon folding her wings, her eyes glowing with magic.
Moments later, the light faded, revealing a small figure standing on the water's surface.
Noah's eyes widened in shock, speechless.
Before her stood a delicate beauty, her long hair cascading to her waist like a waterfall. She wore a white dress with a high-low hemline, revealing long, slender legs wrapped in boots. Her skin was flawless, an unblemished canvas of elegance.
Her gaze was calm and cool, with a star-shaped earring glinting on her right ear, adding a touch of sparkle.
She looked almost too perfect, like an exquisitely crafted sculpture.
"...Ancestor?"
It took Noah a moment to process that this was her ancestor's human form.
The ethereal beauty began walking toward Noah, her steps graceful, exuding an aura that was less intimidating than most Dragon Kings but filled with a supreme elegance that commanded admiration.
The white tail trailing behind her was unlike modern dragons'—it was sleeker, shinier, and longer.
Noah was captivated by her presence, only snapping out of it when the woman stopped directly in front of her.
"Little one."
"Huh? Oh, sorry..."
The ancestor's voice in human form was gentler, softer—different from her dragon form.
There was a warmth to it, like a gentle spring breeze.
The woman placed one hand on her hip while the other gently patted Noah's head, her smile brimming with satisfaction.
Noah froze, lifting her head to meet her ancestor's gaze along the length of her arm.
"What...what are you doing?"
"I've wanted to do this for a long time. Your head is so soft and fun to pat."
"...Right."
"Turns out, even in human form, she's still the same eccentric ancestor."
"So, you avoided doing it before because you were afraid you'd accidentally squish me?"
"Exactly. You're quite perceptive."
"Ha, well, thank you for that."
Noah shook her head, wriggling free from the ancestor's hand. "So why did you only choose to show me your human form now?"
"Because until now, we hadn't gathered enough primordial energy for me to transform. But with the Night Spirit Crystal, our power accumulation has sped up, giving me enough magic to take this form."
Noah nodded in understanding.
"Oh, right, aside from patting your head, there's something else I've been wanting to do."
"What—hey! Don't hug me! Let go—"
Before Noah could react, her ancestor pulled her into a bear hug, holding her tightly.
The soft, warm breath tickled Noah's face, and she tried to wriggle free, clearly uncomfortable with the close contact.
Though she'd grown accustomed to her family's embraces, Noah was still unused to physical closeness with anyone else. She kicked her feet slightly, her little tail twitching in protest.
"You... you old creature... you're acting just like Aunt Isha!"
Noah tried to push away the soft face nuzzling against her cheek, but the stubborn white dragon clung to her like she was a beloved plush toy.
After a couple of halfhearted struggles, Noah gave up.
She let her ancestor hug, pat, and nuzzle her to her heart's content.
"Ugh, why are adults so childish?"
Once again, Noah found herself questioning the curious behavior of adults.
"Ah~ so soft, so nice~ Is this what a young dragon's body feels like? Amazing! And to think one day, this body will be all mine. It makes me even happier."
"...Can you please stop saying weird things like that? You sound like a creepy aunt."
Finally satisfied, the ancestor released Noah.
After adjusting her clothes, Noah looked up and asked, "So now that you're in human form, are you ready to tell me about your past?"
The "creepy aunt" nodded, her expression growing serious as she looked down at the little dragon girl.
"My story begins with the Dragon Goddess, Tiamat."