“Eh? Horns?”
Dorothy’s eyes widened into perfect circles as she circled around the dragon girl in front of her, eyes sparkling like crystals, as if she were dying to dissect the girl on the spot.
Even Lucia, for once, forgot to be jealous and simply stared, her gaze fixed on the horns atop the girl’s head and the tail swaying behind her.
“Hello, you two. Let me introduce myself—my name is Molan. As you can see, I’m a dragonkin.”
The girl seemed completely used to the curious stares.
Her self-introduction came naturally, as if she’d done it many times.
“I was just passing by when I overheard you talking about merfolk. I’m also quite interested in the topic and couldn’t help but join in. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Molan? I think I’ve heard that name before…”
“Hi! I’m Dorothy, and this is Lucia. We’re both in the second division. What about you?”
Before Lucia could finish her sentence, Dorothy had already rushed forward and grabbed Molan’s hand, eyes gleaming as she introduced herself with excitement.
If Sheffil had been here, he definitely would’ve smacked Dorothy on the head and scolded her for falling in love at first sight again.
He would’ve told her to calm down—how else could she follow up on her romantic conquests?
But right now, Dorothy wasn’t thinking about love or anything else emotional.
She was simply drawn in by the fact that a dragonkin girl was such a rare sight in her world.
She couldn’t help but want to get closer.
Dorothy and Sheffil had grown up together in a countryside village so remote and dark that even moonlight seemed to avoid it.
Poor and isolated, the place lacked almost everything—except for mysterious ruins and unexplored caves.
Dorothy, with her innate thirst for exploration, seemed born with the instincts of a brilliant adventurer.
While other kids were still clinging to their mothers or playing in the dirt, she had already scoured every inch of land within a hundred-mile radius of her home.
But when she and Sheffil finally explored the last cave, found the final beast listed in the village bestiary, and the thrill of discovery faded…
Dorothy collapsed to the ground and sobbed uncontrollably.
Exploring the unknown had brought so much joy, coloring her life in vibrant hues.
But now that everything had been uncovered, the world seemed to dull.
The excitement was gone—and with it, all the wonder.
That was when a young Sheffil, hearing her desperate sobs and broken words, paused only for a second before smiling.
He gently wiped away her tears, led her to the small lake by the cave’s entrance, and spent the entire night telling her about the vast, vibrant world beyond the mountains—far bigger, far brighter than anything they’d ever known.
From that day on, Dorothy had been starving for a chance to leave those mountains and see the world Sheffil spoke of with her own eyes.
And now, for the very first time, she was meeting a real dragonkin—one of the legendary kind.
“Oh! Then I suppose I’m your senior. I’m in the third division—you can call me Senior Molan.”
Molan looked down, surprised, at the girl clinging to her arm, eyes filled with confusion.
In all her three years at Jadecrest Academy, this was the first time a human had treated her with such friendliness the moment they met.
Most humans were either wary of her or subtly coveting her with greedy eyes.
But this girl—this one was different.
Her kindness was pure and open.
“Okay, Senior Molan!”
Dorothy seemed to realize she’d gone a bit overboard.
She quickly let go of Molan’s arm and took two polite steps back, though the joy on her face was still impossible to hide beneath her wide-brimmed witch’s hat.
Was she really that happy?
Molan began to wonder if she’d unknowingly saved this girl in some fantastical way—just like the characters in those human novels who rescued someone and were repaid with undying admiration.
And the other girl…
Molan glanced past Dorothy to the girl called Lucia.
Ever since Dorothy had latched onto her arm, the girl seemed to be surrounded by an ominous black aura.
Was she okay?
Was she… poisoned?
“Anyway,” Molan continued, “you mentioned the merfolk tribe earlier. I’m very curious. From what I recall, it’s been nearly a decade since the Academy last accepted a student from that race. Could you tell me more about it?”
“Of course!”
Dorothy answered without hesitation.
A chance to chat with a dragonkin—especially such a beautiful one—was far too rare to pass up.
And if possible, she’d really love to become friends.
Maybe even get her contact information…
As those thoughts ran through her head, she waved at Lucia behind her and turned back to Molan.
“Senior, let’s walk and talk, shall we?”
Molan nodded without hesitation.
And Lucia?
“…Ha.”
She followed close behind the two walking side by side, her face twisted into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, muttering under her breath.
“Isn’t this just… wonderful?”