Vol 7. Chapter 54: Rhythm

It had been a long time since anyone brought that matter up to Isha.

The last time was over ten years ago, when Rosvisser had just written to saying she was marrying Leon.

If she had to awaken Rosvisser, she had to be absolutely sure of the other party’s character before making such an important decision.

Though back then, she still didn’t know about her sister and brother-in-law’s unusual situation.

But back to the point.

Isha took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, adjusting her emotions.

She turned to look at Valendna.

"Hey, if it were you—after going through all that—would you still yearn for love or marriage?"

As a Dragon King, Valendna might seem a little airheaded most of the time, but she was very aware of just how difficult it was to become a Dragon King.

So that so-called clever liar hadn’t deceived Isha so easily.

He had almost destroyed all the effort Isha had poured into her past—and the beautiful future that might have been hers.

Valendna shook her head.

"I wouldn’t."

Isha smiled. "Mm."

"Then what happened after? When you found out he lied to you, what did you do?" Valendna asked.

Isha raised her brow.

"I didn’t go to confront him. Didn’t even hold him accountable. I didn’t see the point in wasting my time and energy on someone like that. Not long after, he and the higher-up who bribed him both left the Red Dragon Clan. That sort of thing happens a lot when it comes to battles over the Dragon King’s seat."

And what she said was true.

Valendna had also experienced that kind of factional power struggle in the past.

After a long silence, she cradled the still-sleeping Muse in her arms and stood up.

"Alright, let’s head back to the inn."

Valendna hopped off the bench.

"Okay."

It was already late at night, and the street was empty save for the two of them.

Under the streetlight, the tall and short shadows leaned close together.

"How many more matchmaking dates do you have lined up?" Valendna asked.

"Quite a few, why?"

"It just so happens I don’t have much going on lately. I can stick around and help you handle them."

Isha was curious. "Handle them how?"

Valendna planted one hand on her hip, rubbed her nose with the other, and said smugly:

"Hmph~~ Don’t worry. I might not be any help with serious matters, but with stuff like matchmaking, I’ll totally mess them up!"

Isha gave her a pained look.

"That’s such a weird way of putting it. But since you’re offering, then I’ll bring you along to the rest of them."

"Yesss~~ I get to mooch some free meals~"

"Hmm?"

"Oh, I meant—I get to hang out with Isha~"

.

.

"Aren’t you going to let Muse stay with you a little longer, sis?"

A few days later, Isha brought Muse back to the Silver Dragon Sanctuary.

"No need. I’ve already found another way to deal with the matchmaking," Isha said.

Leon and Rosvisser, both busy with their hands, still looked up.

"Another way? What could be more effective than saying ‘I already have a kid’?"

Isha gave them a mysterious smile.

"Obviously—bringing your best girlfriend along."

Rosvisser raised an eyebrow. "Best girlfriend? Since when did you have something like that?"

"Just someone I really get along with. Wind Dragon King Valendna. The one I mentioned before. Back in the day, she and I formed an alliance to hold off Constantine."

Isha continued:

"Now, whenever I’m forced to go to those matchmaking dinners, I bring her with me. She’s lively, always smiling, and a pro at ruining formal occasions. The suitors lose interest in me real quick. Practically speaking, it works way better than saying I have a kid."

She spread her hands.

"After all, some of those leftover old dragons really don’t care whether I have children or not."

In less than a month, Isha had evolved from a staunch anti-marriage dragon into a seasoned veteran of the matchmaking scene.

Her psychological dissection of those aging bachelor dragons hit the mark every time—her experience was undeniable.

Leon and Rosvisser, who had married their first love, didn’t really know what to say about it. In the end, they just laughed it off.

"Alright then, I’ve returned the little snake niece safe and sound."

Isha squatted down, rubbed Muse’s little head.

"When your aunt isn’t so busy, you can come play at my place again, okay?"

Muse nodded obediently.

"Okay."

Isha’s eyes curved in a smile.

"Good girl."

With that, she stood up.

"I’ll be heading back now."

"Not staying for a meal before you go?"

Isha waved her hand, turned as she spread her dragon wings.

"Next time, for sure."

Rosvisser raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Then next time, bring that precious bestie of yours, Valendna, too."

Isha let out a light snort-laugh.

"Who knows, that idiot might even mess up our family dinner too."

"I’m off now, little Leon, little sis—bye-bye~"

"Safe travels, sis."

The red dragon flapped her wings and soared into the clouds.

After a gust of wind, Isha had already left the Silver Dragon Sanctuary under the escort of her guards.

Leon placed the dragon egg he was holding into his pocket, his gaze following the red figure until it disappeared, then turned to Muse.

"Baby girl, you’re ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) finally back. Your big sis has been going crazy waiting for you these past couple of days."

Muse scratched her temple, confused.

"Big sis? Waiting for me? What for?"

"She should be at the training yard in the backyard. Go ask her yourself," Rosvisser said with a smile.

"Mhm, okay, I’ll go now."

Still full of energy, Muse trotted off with her little legs to the backyard.

Sure enough, Noa was there at the training yard.

Noa stood holding a bow in her left hand, an arrow in her right, aiming at a target some distance away.

The target wasn’t very professional—yellow at the center with the smallest area, then red with a wider band, and blue and black on the outermost rings.

Noa released an arrow—it struck the red ring.

She clicked her tongue lightly.

"Still not good enough..."

"Big sis!"

Muse called out while running over.

Noa turned toward the voice, eyes lighting up when she saw her little sister.

"Muse, you’re back."

Muse ran up to her.

"Yeah, Mom and Dad said you’ve been waiting for me the past few days. Is there something you needed?"

Noa didn’t keep her in suspense and nodded.

"You remember last time in class, I said I wanted to practice ahead of time? But no matter how much I practiced, I couldn’t get it right—my hit rate for bullseyes was under ten percent. Later, the teacher said that when we go hunting, your shots are always really accurate. So I wanted you to teach me some techniques."

As she’d gotten older, Noa’s personality had become gentler. She no longer tried to brute-force mastery by sheer repetition like before.

Now she was happy to seek help from others.

"Eighty percent accuracy is already really good, big sis. And you’ve just started practicing," Muse said.

She turned to look at the target, estimating the distance, and added:

"Plus, that target’s set way too far away. This is practically a weighted challenge."

Noa shrugged.

"You know how I train—gotta start on nightmare mode. That’s what makes it fun."

"You’re definitely learning from Dad."

"Hahahaha, that’s hilarious. Learning from that old dummy. Anyway, hurry up and teach me something. I’ve been waiting for days."

Muse thought for a moment, then nodded and took the bow and arrow from Noa.

"I’ll demonstrate once first."

"Okay."

Muse drew the bow, aimed, and released.

Whoosh!

The arrow cut through the air and hit dead center.

First shot, bullseye.

Noa, who had been grinding away for days, knew just how difficult that was. She couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.

"Wow, that’s insanely accurate. How do you do it, Muse?"

"You have to find the rhythm."

"Rhythm?"

"Mhm."

Muse picked up another arrow as she explained.

After bending to notch it, she drew the bow again and took aim.

"The rhythm of your breath, your heartbeat, the flow of air...

Even the rhythm of the bowstring as it shifts moment to moment—if you can find all of that, then—"

Whoosh!

Another shot.

Another perfect bullseye.

Noa was baffled.

Muse’s explanation was just too abstract.

She understood how breathing, heartbeat, and wind could affect accuracy. She’d read plenty of books on that in the past few days.

But what was this “rhythm” stuff?

None of the books ever mentioned it.

"I don’t really get what you mean by ‘rhythm.’ Can you explain more clearly?" Noa asked.

That question actually stumped Muse.

"Explain rhythm more clearly...? I’m not sure I can."

Muse hugged the bow and said dreamily:

"Every time I draw the bow, it’s like... plucking a string. What strength, what angle to pluck it at... Or how the rhythm of breath and heartbeat shifts... I just know it in an instant. I don’t even have to think about it. You get what I mean, big sis?"

Noa: ...

It was the first time Noa ever felt like a "bad student."

Like asking the top student how to solve a math problem and being told, "Oh, just do this and that and that and it’s done~"

The bad student: "Wait wait wait wait—how does that even work?! What even is that?! I don’t get it at all!!"

And the top student is helpless. The bad student is helpless.

Because the same thing can look completely different depending on the person.

Plus, Muse was still young—not exactly a seasoned teacher.

The only way Noa might understand her explanation was if she could travel back in time and talk to Muse’s younger self.

"Okay, big sis, that expression means you got it. You’re amazing!" Muse said with dead seriousness and complete confidence.

"I got nothing, dammit!!" Noa clutched her face with both hands.

"Please, little sis, show me again!"

"No problem, big sis. I can demonstrate as many times as you want. But... you have to promise me something."

Noa nodded vigorously in the name of archery.

"Okay, anything. What is it?"

"Next time the three of us get into a fight, you can only hit second sis and third. Don’t hit my butt again."