The Black Dragon Lady Refuses to Be a Mount

Sometimes, Ailolin wondered whether Guoguo was an ordinary wolf or a magical beast of the wolf species.

Witch Shia could not possibly keep an ordinary wolf as a pet, could she? To verify her guess, Ailolin often observed Guoguo carefully, but there was nothing unusual about it. Guoguo really seemed no different from an ordinary wolf.

On a grassy clearing in the forest, Likaro was playing with Guoguo while Ailolin gazed at the sky, thinking about how she should say goodbye to Likaro.

It was hard to let go... but partings would come eventually.

Though Ailolin and Likaro were very close friends, that did not mean Ailolin had to spend her entire life by Likaro's side. That was something lovers were supposed to do, okay?

Ailolin was not particularly lost right now. On the contrary, she had already planned out her future, even setting herself a goal.

She had decided to adventure through the wilderness as a member of Dragonkind, growing stronger while searching for other dragons. It would be even better if she could learn something about her parents. Though Ailolin's rebirth might have been a gift from a god, her life in this world had still been given to her by her father and mother, even if she had never seen them since the day she was born.

In truth, all these goals held the same meaning for Ailolin: enjoying life.

In her previous life, Ailolin had not even had the chance to do outdoor activities. Normal ways of thinking could not be applied to her. Being able to leave her home and travel to faraway places had always been something she deeply yearned for.

That meant Ailolin was destined to be unable to stay quietly in one place for too long. But...

Looking at Likaro's innocent smile, Ailolin decided to stay with her for a few more days. From the clothes Likaro had been wearing lately, she could tell the weather was gradually getting colder. The leaves on some trees in the forest had already withered and turned yellow. It seemed to be late autumn now.

Why not leave after winter arrived? By then, it would be so cold that Likaro probably would not come out to play anymore.

Actually, Ailolin understood that the more time she spent with Likaro, the stronger their bond would become. When the time came to part, it would hurt even more.

Still, she would indulge herself this once. If the seasons in this other world were similar to those on Earth, there should be about a month left until winter.

So she would stay in the forest for another month. Just one month was something Ailolin could accept.

Come to think of it, if she left in the future and Xiya had not returned yet, what would happen to Guoguo?

Would she really leave Guoguo in her cave, just as Xiya had said?

If only Guoguo were intelligent and able to speak. Then she could ask what it wanted. Unfortunately... this was the only way.

Suddenly, Ailolin felt someone grab her tail. Turning around, she discovered Likaro eyeing her with ill intent, clearly planning something.

"Ah, I got caught..."

Likaro reluctantly climbed down from Ailolin's tail.

Ailolin immediately understood what was happening. Likaro wanted to climb up her tail and onto her back!

This little brat still had not given up!

Some time ago, Ailolin had repeatedly declared in her clumsy Human language that Likaro was not allowed to ride her. But Likaro launched a pitifully cute offensive, and for some reason, Ailolin softened and made a bet with her.

If Likaro could climb onto her back through her own efforts, Ailolin would make an exception and let her ride once.

Ailolin regretted saying that the moment the words left her mouth. But after thinking it over, how could an eight-year-old girl, with such a tiny body, possibly climb onto her back? Not to mention Ailolin's reaction speed completely outclassed Likaro's. She could spot Likaro's intentions ahead of time and would never let her succeed.

Even so, Likaro refused to admit defeat and tried every day to jump onto Ailolin's back.

That was why Ailolin remained vigilant at all times, afraid that Likaro might seize an opportunity while she was lying on the ground daydreaming or drinking by the stream. Still, it was rather fun and made her daily life a little more exciting.

This counted as a "game" she played with Likaro.

When Ailolin was lying down, her back was not impossible for Likaro to reach if she tried hard enough. And somehow, Likaro had bribed Guoguo. That wolf actually coordinated with her, willingly acting as a stepping stool for Likaro to climb onto. This made Likaro's chances of success even higher.

That was why Ailolin often kept an eye on Likaro's movements. If she had not been daydreaming just now, she would have noticed Likaro approaching her long before.

It was not that Ailolin was stingy. For dragons, being ridden was an earth-shattering matter. No dragon would willingly allow someone else to ride it, unless the dragon had been completely tamed, or the rider was someone immensely important whom the dragon fully acknowledged and could spend its entire life with.

Neither of those situations suited Likaro. First of all, Ailolin still carried the memories of an Earthling, so being tamed was absolutely impossible. As for someone important, that was even less likely.

Likaro was only eight years old! She was cute, sure, but there was no way Ailolin would have any thoughts about her!

And setting age aside, Ailolin was a dragon now!

She did not even know whether she could transform into human form in the future. Even if she really could, Ailolin had no plans to fall in love.

When she had thought about her life as a dragon before, Ailolin had decided that as long as she was happy and enjoyed herself, that was enough. Something as exhausting as romance did not suit her at all.

She had never planned to fall in love in either her past life or this one, nor did she have any interest in it.

What truly interested Ailolin was traveling the world and going to distant places—farther and farther away.

The regret of never even being able to leave her house in her previous life had to be made up for in this other world.

PS: The weather has been so hot lately that friends have all become acquaintances.

The Winter of That Year: The Day of Farewell Draws Near

A heavy snowfall heralded winter's arrival. The entire forest had been dyed white and become quieter than ever. The birdsong had vanished, many beasts had begun hibernating, and there were not as many active animals now.

"Count to one hundred, then come find me~"

Likaro had changed into thick clothing. As a human, she was actually very afraid of the cold, so she had wrapped herself up tightly.

Hide-and-seek was not challenging at all for Ailolin. Dragons were naturally skilled at tracking; she could tell where Likaro was hiding even with her eyes closed.

Still, so as not to ruin the child's fun, Ailolin pretended not to have noticed Likaro and searched around for her.

Guoguo lay obediently on the ground, watching Ailolin. In fact, it also knew where Likaro was hiding, but in this game of hide-and-seek, it was merely a spectator.

After the snow fell, Guoguo's snow-white fur finally came in handy. Its ability to blend in had improved greatly, though it was not particularly useful in reality. Guoguo did not need to hunt, and following Ailolin meant it would never be attacked by other beasts.

Ailolin was not the only one who had grown. Guoguo had also become much larger. It was hard to imagine how much fruit it had to eat for its body to grow like that.

"I found you." (Her Human language pronunciation was fairly standard.)

"Ah, what bad luck~" Likaro emerged from behind a large tree and stuck out her tongue at Ailolin.

"..."

Ailolin would not tell Likaro that although she had hidden well with her petite body, the mist created by her breathing was visible with the naked eye.

"Then Guoguo will hide next!"

After Likaro called out from afar, Guoguo immediately stood up and vanished in a flash.

Sometimes, Ailolin felt that this wolf was pretty smart. It could even cooperate in a game like hide-and-seek.

But she quickly took back that thought, because the stupid wolf had ignored one thing—its own paw prints left behind in the snow.

Likaro ran across the snow, following the tracks. Ailolin remained where she was, and after a while, Likaro and Guoguo returned together.

Apparently, Guoguo had been found.

"Hehe, Guoguo was way too easy to find!"

Likaro hugged Guoguo and rubbed against its body. In this rather cold season, Guoguo's fur could bring her some warmth.

Ailolin never grew tired of playing such childish hide-and-seek games with Likaro. Honestly, it was very childish, but seeing Likaro so happy made Ailolin happy too.

She wanted to see that smile a little longer, but it was about time to say goodbye.

Ailolin decided that she would tell Likaro about her departure in the next few days.

Thanks to Likaro's teaching, though Ailolin still spoke haltingly and sometimes used the wrong words or did not know them at all, basic communication was no longer a problem. For that, she was very grateful to Likaro.

As for completely mastering Human language, Ailolin was long-lived. She had plenty of time to learn.

A cold gust of wind suddenly blew through the forest, and Likaro shivered. Although she wore thick clothes, gloves, and a hat, she still felt cold.

Ailolin could not feel the cold herself, but she could tell from Likaro's reaction that the outdoor temperature was extremely low.

She did not think anyone should stay outside for too long during the cold winter. Ailolin believed Likaro should stay at home properly, lest she catch some illness from the cold.

So, in her unskilled Human language, Ailolin expressed her thoughts to Likaro.

"It's fine, I'm not afraid of the cold~~"

Likaro sounded stubborn, but her voice trembled slightly.

It was truly too cold in the forest. Likaro's little face had been frozen red, making it obvious that she was forcing herself to endure it.

"Winter. Go home. Do not go outside."

Ailolin's tone was stern. She truly had Likaro's health in mind.

"Ugh..." Though reluctant, Likaro also understood Edafalon City's climate. The winters here were not suitable for staying outside for long, so she could only say, "Then I'll come find you again once the weather gets warmer!"

"..."

Ailolin understood that this was a promise, but she did not respond immediately, because she had already planned to tell Likaro that she would be leaving in the next few days.

Just as Ailolin was about to speak, she met Likaro's expectant gaze, and the words that should have come out were swallowed back down.

Children could be troublesome sometimes...

But Ailolin still hardened her heart.

To her surprise, Likaro did not react as Ailolin had imagined. Aside from looking somewhat downcast and reluctant, she did not cry.

"I understand."

Likaro had known that the Little Black Dragon would not stay with her forever. As the Little Black Dragon's body grew, Likaro had long prepared herself for the day it would leave.

When she had been even younger, Likaro had rescued an injured fledgling. She had watched that fledgling grow up too. Though they had been close, the little bird often gazed at the sky from inside its cage, because it yearned to fly and yearned for freedom.

If even a bird could have such thoughts, how much more so a dragon?

Likaro understood that the forest outside Edafalon City was a cage to the Little Black Dragon. The Little Black Dragon would never be content to live in the forest for its entire life. As a dragon, Ailolin would soar through the skies like in the adventure novels she had read.

Ailolin had never expected Likaro to understand her thoughts. At this moment, she did not know what to say and could only wait for Likaro to speak.

Likaro was strong. She would not cry. Friends parted ways sometimes, and she would not cry and fuss, demanding that the Little Black Dragon stay with her forever. On the contrary, she would bless the Little Black Dragon and hope it flew higher and farther, met more companions, and experienced the meaning of life.

Just like Likaro's own plan for when she grew up—to become a knight and travel the world.

But that did not mean Ailolin and Likaro would never meet again. Perhaps when Ailolin had time, she could come back and play with her.

"Little Black Dragon, your big sister supports you."

"..."

Even now, this child still called herself Ailolin's big sister. But this time, Ailolin did not feel like humoring a child. She remembered what Witch Shia had said: leave Likaro with more wonderful childhood memories whenever possible.

"Thank you, Big Sister Likaro."

"Mm!" Likaro smiled as she always did, but the meaning behind that smile had changed. "There's one more thing. Can you promise me?"

"What is it?"

"My birthday is three days from now." Likaro spoke with some hesitation.

Every year, her father held a grand birthday banquet for her. Though Ailolin could not attend a banquet in the city, Likaro had decided to be a bad child just this once.

Late at night, after the banquet was over and everyone had fallen asleep, she would secretly bring a cake into the forest and celebrate with Ailolin, while also saying goodbye to her.

Though the cake would not be nearly enough for Ailolin, the thought was what mattered.

Naturally, Ailolin agreed to Likaro's little request without hesitation.

Thus, they made a promise to celebrate Likaro's birthday together three days later, after which Ailolin would say goodbye to Likaro.

PS: Today's note is that there is no note.

The Winter of That Year: The Bud Within Her Heart

"Father, I'll return to my room first."

Likaro wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, rose from her seat, and prepared to leave.

Wilfen glanced at Likaro's unfinished food and could not help asking, "Why don't you have much of an appetite today? Are you in a bad mood?"

"No, I'm fine~"

Likaro put on a smile as she spoke to her father, hoping to dispel his doubts.

"Is it because your mother cannot make it back in time?"

His daughter's birthday was three days away, and preparations for the birthday banquet had begun long ago. Unfortunately, Likaro's mother would not return for another ten days or half a month, so she would miss this year's birthday.

Wilfen guessed that might be why his daughter seemed so listless. After all, compared to him, his wife was more loved by their daughter.

After saying goodbye to her father and returning to her room, Likaro's smile immediately collapsed, turning into sadness and melancholy.

Though Likaro would not cry because the Little Black Dragon was leaving, she still felt reluctant in her heart. Her time with the Little Black Dragon had been joyful and precious to her.

By the numbers, she had known the Little Black Dragon for less than two months, yet that time had already made them very good friends.

The Little Black Dragon wanting to leave the forest was a good thing. Compared to herself, a human, the Little Black Dragon's future was bound to be far more wonderful.