Vol. 5 Ch. 86

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, its rays filtered through the leaves, casting golden patterns on the forest floor. The gentle sound of flowing water accompanied the crackle of a small campfire that Leon and Mevis had set up by the riverbank for a brief rest.

“We’re pressed for time, Teacher Mevis. Do we really need to stop, light a fire, and have something to eat?” Leon asked skeptically.

Mevis, hands on her hips, calmly sat down. She skewered some small fish she had gathered and placed them over the fire. The flickering flames reflected in her dark eyes as she replied evenly, without looking up,

“Eating won’t delay us much, Prince. Besides, judging from the map, we’re already near the source of the pollution. Don’t worry—this won’t affect your test score.”

Leon nodded, his gaze lingering on the fish Mevis was cooking. He blinked and asked,

“But if we’re so close to the pollution source, how can you be sure those fish are safe to eat?”

“I brought these from downstream. They’re clean and natural.”

“But what if those fish swam downstream from the polluted area?” Leon countered.

“Prince, are you eating or not?” Mevis asked, her tone as neutral as ever.

Leon huffed, “I, a Silver Dragon Prince, would rather starve, jump into the river, or die than eat—”

Minutes later, Leon was munching enthusiastically. “Wow, this is delicious! Teacher Mevis, your fish-roasting skills are amazing!”

The title of "Prince" suddenly seemed ambiguous. Was it the "king" in "Silver Dragon King," or the "king" in "King of Contradictions"?

Mevis smiled faintly, taking small, delicate bites of her own fish. Despite the lack of seasoning, it was surprisingly tasty, likely because the long day of trekking had worked up an appetite.

Leon observed Mevis as she ate. Her table manners, even in the wild, were notably refined—far from the informal style he was used to at home with his wife and daughters. It was clear she’d received formal etiquette training.

A thought crossed Leon’s mind: for a survivor of a disbanded dragon clan, maintaining such habits despite adversity suggested she or her family had once held significant standing. However, it wasn’t something he could casually inquire about. Observation was one thing; prying would be rude.

Leon’s attention drifted to a ring on Mevis’s right index finger. The black material gleamed faintly in the firelight, but it wasn’t crystal or diamond. It looked like some sort of metal.

Noticing Leon’s curious gaze, Mevis raised her hand and examined the ring. “Interested in my little accessory, Prince?”

Leon snapped out of his thoughts, scratching his head with a sheepish smile. “Ah, no. I just thought the material looked rare.”

Mevis blinked and replied after a moment’s thought, “It is rare.” Then she said no more, resuming her meal.

Realizing she didn’t want to discuss it, Leon shifted topics. “Speaking of rings, Teacher, I noticed neither I nor the Silver Dragon Queen wear wedding rings. Funny, huh?”

Wedding rings? Rings? We don’t even have wedding photos, Leon thought ruefully. Being a couple that started with an unexpected pregnancy meant some things had been… rushed.

He laughed it off, giving a quick explanation. “My wife and I don’t like flashy displays, so we decided against wearing rings.”

Mevis nodded. “I see.” She didn’t press further, and the conversation shifted back to lighter topics.

After finishing their fish, Mevis stood and sprinkled dirt over the fire, extinguishing it. “Let’s keep moving, Prince.”

“Got it,” Leon replied, rising to follow her upstream.

An hour later, they reached the pollution source.

A small waterfall fed into a pool of water now darkened to an ominous purple, faint mist rising from its surface. The surrounding vegetation had withered, leaving the area eerily lifeless.

Standing on a treetop overlooking the scene, Mevis pointed. “Prince, look above the waterfall. That seems to be a nest.”

Leon followed her direction and spotted it: an insect nest, faint purple mist seeping out. “Judging by the size and location, it’s likely a flying dangerous species,” he surmised.

Mevis nodded. “Since it has a nest, it’s likely territorial. We can wait here for it to return.”

“Good plan.”

The two settled into position, ready to observe.

During their vigil, Leon occasionally glanced at Mevis, and Mevis would occasionally return the look. Each time their eyes met, they both quickly averted their gaze, pretending nothing had happened.

The awkwardness reminded Leon of the early days with his wife, when they’d been equally hesitant and coy in their exchanges. But Leon, a graduate of the “Model Husband Academy,” harbored no romantic thoughts toward Mevis.

Still, there was something about her gaze—curious, contemplative, and layered with a complexity beyond mere scrutiny.

“Prince, the target has appeared,” Mevis said suddenly, breaking his train of thought.

Leon shook off his musings and looked toward the waterfall.

A massive butterfly with iridescent wings descended onto the nest.

“It’s a Poison Winged Butterfly Queen,” Leon noted. “No wonder the river’s polluted. During its mating season, it releases pheromones to attract mates. These pheromones are toxic to the environment.”

Mevis nodded. “This clears up both the pollution and the butterfly’s behavior. The academy will be pleased with the results.”

“Why’s that?” Leon asked.

“Family members’ involvement is part of the evaluation. It reflects whether they took the test seriously,” Mevis explained.

“So, if I go up there and take out that butterfly queen myself, Noa’s final score is guaranteed to be perfect, right?” Leon asked, his excitement evident.

Mevis sighed, suppressing a chuckle. “Prince, while I know you’re capable, this test emphasizes teamwork. We should at least symbolically work together to defeat it.”

Leon scratched his head but relented. “Alright, fine. You just shout ‘Go, Prince!’ from the side, and I’ll handle the rest.”

Mevis laughed softly. “That works. But we’ll do it together—symbolically, of course.”

Leon, eager to act, nodded. “Let’s do this!”

The two moved into position, standing side by side on the treetop.

Under the moonlight, a silver glow outlined their forms, lending them an almost otherworldly appearance.

As a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, a single one fell at their feet.

The moment it touched the ground, they vanished, leaping into the air.

Two figures soared gracefully toward the nest, lightning crackling in their hands as they pierced through the darkness, illuminating the night sky.