Black Dragon Miss Doesn't Want to Be a Mount

"Damn it... Aah..."

After so many years, Vidian had finally managed to forget those painful things, but now...

As she cursed Xiya in her heart, tears of sorrow fell over those memories of the past.

At that moment, in Edafalon Forest, the snowfall had stopped. The ground was covered in thick snow, and Xiya sat in a chair outside the cabin, basking in the sun with the sleeping Guoguo in her arms.

With one hand, she gently stroked Guoguo's wolf fur. In her other hand, she held a bouquet of blue forget-me-nots.

Their rich fragrance and vivid color stood out especially brightly in the cold winter.

PS: Readers often ask whether the protagonist will face issues like differing lifespans in the future. My answer is no. This book is not angst; all the sweet stories are already prepared.

Also, you're getting a little impatient now. Both protagonists are still children! (Though if we go by age, it's not certain who would be raising whom...)

Feel free to share your opinions. After all, with your help, the story can become more reasonable.

Facing It or Running Away

Vidian wanted to make herself forget that painful memory as usual, but Xiya's words in the letter had pierced straight into her heart, leaving her unable to calm down for a long time.

Human lives were so short. To long-lived dragons, they passed in the blink of an eye. And the more feelings one accumulated during that time, the more pain one would receive when that day eventually came.

That was why Vidian often advised Ailolin not to have too much contact with Likaro. She already had herself as an example, and she did not want to see her junior walk the same path.

Unless one was naturally cold and heartless, it was better not to have too much contact with short-lived races.

Once feelings existed, they were difficult to forget.

Now that Ailolin and the others had seen Vidian's most vulnerable side, they were probably laughing at her in their hearts...

After putting away the precious bouquet, Vidian wiped away her tears and began to straighten out her chaotic emotions.

She had lost control today, but this would not happen again in the future.

"Sorry for making you see that."

Vidian walked out of the house as though nothing had happened.

Looking at the silent Ailolin and Likaro, she took the initiative to lighten the mood.

Walking up to Ailolin, Vidian skillfully tapped her on the head. "That's for ruining my clothes!"

Yet this time, Ailolin did not dodge or cry out in pain. She only looked calmly at Vidian.

Vidian found that a little hard to bear.

Pretending to be puzzled, she said, "Why are you two spacing out? Hurry up and do whatever you need to do."

"..."

The atmosphere remained silent.

In the end, Vidian could no longer endure it. She stopped pretending and revealed how she truly felt.

Her smile vanished, replaced by melancholy. "Forget it. This is my own matter."

Likaro walked over to Vidian with difficulty and hugged her arm.

"Mm? What are you doing?"

Likaro said nothing, only silently held onto Vidian's arm.

Vidian wanted to push her away, but then realized the child had not recovered yet, so she could only support her instead.

Was this child comforting her? There was no need for that.

Ailolin spoke as well. "This is the first time I've seen you lose control of your emotions."

"Hmph. Funny, isn't it?"

"No. Likaro and I both felt that this was the real you."

"What?"

Likaro, still hugging Vidian's arm, explained as well, "We don't know about other times, but when you cried just now, it was the first time you weren't putting on any disguise, right?"

"Actually, that's fine, because you should be your true self."

"If something makes you sad, talking to someone about it will make you feel much better."

Ailolin and Likaro spoke one after the other, seemingly trying to comfort her.

"What are you two even talking about?"

Vidian's eyes felt a little sore. They were just two children, yet they were deliberately acting as though they understood everything.

Yet for some reason, her heart felt a little warm.

A nine-year-old human girl and a Black Dragon hatchling not even a year old were comforting her?

Vidian wanted to laugh. In the end, she could not hold it in and laughed aloud, while the gloom in her heart seemed to disperse a little as well.

But the things she had remembered would not be forgotten again anytime soon.

Damn Xiya. She really knew what she was doing, even specifically sending forget-me-not petals...

That person loved flowers and had a beautiful garden. Vidian had spent a long time accompanying her there.

They had been friends. Very good friends.

But Vidian had developed feelings for that person that friends should not have. She simply did not dare say them aloud, so she continued maintaining their "friendship."

Back then, Vidian had always felt that she liked her too, but neither of them had ever brought up so-called love.

Human lives were very short. When that person was on her deathbed, she gave Vidian a bouquet of flowers—the very bouquet of forget-me-nots that Vidian had treasured. Only then did Vidian learn that these flowers symbolized eternal love.

That person had used flowers to express her love.

But why had she admitted it so late!

As Vidian recalled the past, she seemed to stand amid a sea of flowers once more, smelling the fragrance of countless blossoms. Yet she was the only one left in that sea of flowers...

It had been a long time since Vidian had lost control like this. Looking at Ailolin and Likaro, who were clumsily trying to comfort her, she felt conflicted.

Though she was deeply saddened, Vidian was strong. It was easy for her to adjust her state of mind.

Back then, she had managed to adapt even through extreme pain, much less today, when she had merely remembered some sad events from the past.

In a daze, she looked toward the flowers she had planted around the house. It seemed as though that familiar figure was standing there, watching her.

But it was all an illusion. That person could never return.

Xiya had indeed been right. Vidian had been trapped in the past for a long time. She had cut contact with all her friends, come alone to live in this isolated wilderness, and stopped communicating with anyone.

As her lonely days passed, perhaps her thoughts would slowly grow dull. Her memories of the past would be sealed deep in her heart and eventually forgotten completely.

But was that really good?

Ailolin and Likaro's arrival had made Vidian's heart feel a little more "alive."

She understood the reasoning. If that person were the one speaking, she would definitely want Vidian to live happily.

She really was an idiot... A complete idiot.

Thank you for comforting me, you two little ones.

Vidian acknowledged them.

These two children were kind by nature and pure in character. They were worthy of her sincere treatment.

Though Likaro was a short-lived human, Vidian would not develop feelings for her. Vidian herself understood that there was no need to avoid all humans just because of the human she had once loved.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death were difficult to reverse. Even long-lived beings like Vidian would have a day when they died.

Perhaps cherishing the present was best...

A smile appeared on Vidian's face. This time, it was sincere, and she treated Ailolin and Likaro equally.

She patted Likaro's head, gently supported her waist, and lifted her into her arms.

"Wah!"

Likaro had not expected Vidian to make such a move.

"I'll take you to see the flowers. Come with me~"

Vidian carried Likaro while Ailolin followed behind. They came to the flower-filled area around the house. All kinds of flowers bloomed there; some did not even belong to this season, yet they were all blooming miraculously.

Ailolin had noticed this place before, but Vidian had never allowed her to approach it.

After setting Likaro down on the grass, Vidian sat down as well and gestured for Ailolin to come closer.

The weather was bright and clear, perfect for telling a story.

The story Vidian wanted to tell was not some twisting, dramatic tale.

It was merely an ordinary story from the distant past, one that seemed to carry the fragrance of flowers whenever she recalled it.

And Vidian was one of the story's protagonists.

PS: Thank you for all your votes. Don't stop now, OVO~

Their Own Views

After Vidian finished telling the story, she felt much better than before for some reason. This was the first time she had ever told anyone about that story from the past.

"How do you view death, Likaro?"

Vidian wanted to know the thoughts of the only human present.

"Of course, you should let nature take its course."

Likaro did not show any fear of death, but in Vidian's eyes, that was simply because children were too innocent and lacked life experience.

"Human lives are very short. Have you never resented your own short lifespan? You should know that many races live far longer than humans."

Though it was somewhat inappropriate to discuss death with a child, Vidian wanted to know what Likaro thought.

Likaro shook her head. "Isn't being born into this world already an incredibly fortunate thing?"

"Hm?"

"Every minute and every second spent existing in this world has meaning. Since life is short, shouldn't we treasure the beautiful moments even more?"

"..."

"If I were going to die soon, I would still happily enjoy the rest of my life and leave more wonderful memories for my friends and family."

Vidian could hardly believe those words had come from a nine-year-old child.

She looked at the quietly listening Ailolin again. "What about you?"

"Me? I completely agree with Likaro."

In truth, Ailolin was also surprised that Likaro, as a child, could say such things. Yes, being granted life and born into this world was itself an incomparably fortunate thing. Every joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness experienced along the way represented the meaning of being alive. If one had never been born into this world, there would be no meaning at all.

In her previous life, Ailolin understood the value of life better than ordinary people. Even though her body had been so frail that she would not live to adulthood, she had still faced everything optimistically and struggled against fate.

Though she ultimately failed, the version of herself who had died on Earth left more laughter than sorrow in the memories of her family and friends.

So after being reincarnated into this world, Ailolin was deeply grateful to the gods who might exist, grateful that she had been given life once again.

And she would cherish this hard-won new life even more.

"You two..."

Vidian realized that her thoughts were completely different from Ailolin and Likaro's. Wasn't death something utterly terrifying? Whether an important person died or she died before someone important to her, neither was something she could accept.

Back then, she had even wanted to kill herself and leave with that person, but many friends had stopped her.

Though she no longer wanted to die afterward, her heart remained oppressed at every moment. Gradually, she had withdrawn into herself and come to live in this isolated wilderness.

Vidian thought of her friends. She had to admit that those people had been wonderful companions, but the pain caused by losing someone important could not be soothed by her friends at all.

She suddenly felt a little tired.

Vidian lay flat on the grass and slowly closed her eyes as she gazed at the clear sky. At that moment, a floral fragrance drifted into her nose. She turned her head and found several forget-me-nots blooming right beside her.

Forget-me-nots, forget-me-nots... How could I possibly forget you?

How could she forget those days filled with laughter?

But what she should forget was the painful memory of their parting. As for those beautiful memories, she should keep them forever in her heart.