Splash-

I dipped my feet into the refreshing water and looked up at the sky.

White and cozy clouds were drifting across the blue sky.

As I absentmindedly gazed at the sky, I suddenly opened my mouth and murmured.

“You know, you give off a feeling of blue.”

Was my voice always like this…?

While I was lost in such thoughts, I heard a questioning voice beside me.

“…Blue?”

I wanted to turn and look, but my head didn’t move as I wished.

It felt like it was my body, but not my body.

Although I felt a tinge of regret, I reminded myself that it was just a dream and continued to gaze at the sky absentmindedly.

Watching the fluffy white clouds slowly moving in the clear blue sky was a pleasant sight.

If I could also dip my feet in the refreshing water and feel the gentle breeze, it would be perfect.

I was in that exact state now.

Even though it was a dream, it was so pleasant that I didn’t want to wake up.

“The color of the sky, it’s exquisite and cool. It’s a color that brings immense happiness.”

Next to me, I heard a cough.

Seems a bit awkward.

I knew someone who would cough when feeling awkward.

A secret habit of a mysterious stranger that only I knew.

Before I could even think of the fleeting face of someone, my body spoke again.

“That’s why I want to become white.”

As I spoke, the corners of my mouth rose as if I found it amusing.

“Because blue and white go so well together.”

The head that was looking at the sky slowly turned.

The person who was coughing awkwardly came into view.

My heart skipped a beat.

Even though their appearance wasn’t exactly the same, I could immediately tell.

The man in front of me…

“No matter what form I take, you can find me, right? You have to recognize me. You know, Shaik?”

It was Shaik, right away.

In response to her words, a more mature-looking Shaik brightened up and smiled.

“Of course, Anna…”

…Shaik’s whispering voice gradually faded away.

As I smiled at him, I handed him a white flower that happened to be blooming nearby.

“Next time, it’s your turn… Shaik.”

What did he say?

I tried to concentrate more to listen, but the dream kept slipping away, and I woke up.

* * *

Drea blinked her eyes.

And in that state, she absentmindedly looked up at the dark ceiling and got up from her bed.

“…What was that? I had a strange dream.”

The early morning dream ended too quickly.

She woke up in a daze, contemplating what had just happened.

She remembered the dazzling blue sky, the adorable fluffy clouds, and the clear and cold water, but she couldn’t recall the person she saw in the dream.

“It was a man…”

The face that she missed so much that her heart ached.

She clearly remembered how he sat and how he looked at her, but his face wouldn’t come to mind.

What did he call me…?

She held her head in frustration, but as time passed, the remnants of the dream quickly faded away.

“You stupid Drea.”

Drea, who was blaming herself with her forehead against the smooth blanket, suddenly lifted her head.

“Shaik…!”

By the way, did Shaik wake up?

As soon as she thought of Shaik, nothing came to mind, whether it was the dream or anything else.

Drea rushed to Shaik’s room, banging into things along the way.

* * *

It was still early morning, so the room was dim.

Drea quietly entered the empty room and gently examined Shaik’s face as he peacefully slept.

“What kind of mess is this?”

Shaik’s face, which she saw again after just a month, was too pale.

Drea sighed in frustration as she stared at his tired-looking face, as if he hadn’t properly eaten or slept.“I thought he would eat and live well without me.”

…To think that he couldn’t eat or sleep properly.

Strangely, her heart ached.

The irony was that it wasn’t the pain of sadness.

Thump, thump, thump.

Her heart pounded restlessly.

“…I’ve been waiting for you to come out like this, after all… You also like me, don’t you? Right, Shaik?”

Drea shyly smiled and reached out her hand to stroke Shaik’s forehead.

She tidied his disheveled hair and admired his adorable and untidy face.

It was a face that never seemed boring no matter how many times she looked at it.

“Actually, Shaik, I missed you too. I was so lost and sad, not knowing how to stop liking you… It was just… like that.”

…I didn’t even think you would come to find me.

At that moment, Shaik’s long eyelashes trembled and lifted.

Through his half-closed eyelids, Drea saw Shaik’s emerald green eyes.

Surprised, Drea withdrew her hand from Shaik’s cheek and froze.

Shaik’s hazy eyes stared at Drea, and he made a peculiar expression.

“…What should I do?”

He murmured in a voice devoid of strength.

“I can’t keep the promise… even if I search for you now.”

What?”

What is he saying?

Shaik’s eyelids slowly drooped again.

“…I’m sorry.”

“…”

“There’s someone… more precious than you.”

What does that mean?

Drea’s startled heart sank.

“I’m sorry… When we meet, I’ll explain… I… really… we met.”

Shaik murmured, his eyes closed.

Without seeing Drea’s bewildered face at all…

“…I’m sorry for not keeping the promise.”

Irresponsibly, he fell back into sleep.

News came that Shaik had become exhausted while trying to break the barrier of the Dragon Sanctuary, and Kalexia and Leah rushed to the sanctuary.

It had only been a few weeks since Kalexia had left through a dimensional rift, as he had just returned.

For Kalexia, who had traveled to a place where time flowed differently, it was only a short outing, but apparently, a whole month had passed.

And during that time, there was an incident where his descendant had intruded into the Dragon Sanctuary.

“What on earth happened? Anyway, those Dragon folks! These mischievous brats. Except for the White Dragon, they’re all a mess.”

Kalexia went to the palace with a face full of confusion. Leah accompanied him.

“Oh, my goodness.”

As soon as they opened the door to Shaik’s room, Leah let out a sigh-like exclamation.

Leah approached Shaik, who was lying as if floating, and hugged him tightly.

“My poor great-grandchild, how did you end up like this?”

“Well…”

Kalia and Gaia looked at each other and let out identical sighs.

“Shaik went to find Drea…”

“What?”

“To put it simply, it’s a long story.”

Gaia explained the events on behalf of Kalia.

Drea, who had been chasing after Shaik, suddenly disappeared. Shaik, who had been holding up well, suddenly became cold and distant ten days ago. And the child who had been staggering from lack of sleep suddenly disappeared and ended up at the Dragon Sanctuary.

“So, is this all happening now because he wanted to meet Drea?”

“Yes.”

He had partially broken the barrier of the sanctuary just to meet Drea.

Was Shaik always such a bomb-like troublemaker?

Oh well, who knows. Anyway, it was the first time Shaik had caused such a commotion.

“And after all this chaos, Drea… Have they met?”

Even Kalexia and Leah, who were listening, couldn’t help but laugh and speak.

Though Shaik, who had grown up, wasn’t as affectionate as when he was a baby, he was still a very beloved child to those around him.

But he was particularly cold towards Drea, which had made everyone feel sorry for her.

But now, it was unbelievable that Drea wouldn’t meet him, and he was even trying to enter the sanctuary with torn limbs.

“…Oh my, really. These kids are making such a fuss about their love life.”

Leah, who was gently stroking Shaik’s flushed cheek, smiled and shook her head.

It wasn’t as serious as being in a state of fervor or encountering a formidable enemy, which was a bit of a relief.“Goodness, this troublemaker. He should have done it when he had the chance.”

Leah laughed as she ruffled Shaik’s hair while he was sleeping.

Kalexia also smiled warmly as if a burden had been lifted.

With the hand ruffling his hair, Shaik woke up from his sleep.

“Oh, are you awake, Shaik?”

Everyone’s gaze focused on Shaik.

After having a long period of sleep, Shaik woke up after a whopping 19 hours.

With a dazed expression, Shaik looked at the adults who were staring at him, then turned to Kalia with a puzzled expression.

“…What about Drea?”

“This troublemaker, look at him waking up and immediately asking about Drea.”

Leah smiled as she gently stroked Shaik’s hair.

His hair was messy, but Shaik didn’t seem to mind as he stared intently at Kalia.

“What about Drea, Mother?”

Kalia smiled awkwardly.

‘How should I put this…’

Certainly, even when Drea flew in carrying Shaik, she was in a state of quickly wanting Shaik to recover.

She had waited for Shaik who wouldn’t wake up, and when she finally fell asleep, Kalia felt relieved, thinking that she had come back…

“Drea, she went somewhere earlier.”

“…What? Where?”

“I don’t know exactly… but she said she didn’t go to the sanctuary and that if you try to enter again, it’s not allowed. Anyway, she said she’ll be back after going somewhere for a moment.”

“What?”

Shaik shot up from the bed.

With a pale face, he quickly got out of bed, and everyone tried to stop him.

“Shaik, it doesn’t seem like she went far. Let’s wait, okay?”

“No, I can’t wait. I don’t want to wait. It’s anxious and painful.”

Shaik stumbled as he ran out of the room without even properly putting on his clothes.

Amidst the bewildered gazes of the family members who looked at each other as if to ask what to do, Kalexia stepped forward.

“I’ll go.”

“What? Grandfather?”

Kalexia chuckled and took off his heavy cloak, handing it to Leah.

“Well, because a man’s heart is not something a woman can understand. I’ll go.”

…It would be heartbreaking for Simon, who was on a business trip, to hear this.

He couldn’t be there to witness the moment his son truly became a man.

Anyway, Shaik, weakened as he was, couldn’t go far.

Fortunately or unfortunately, it started raining outside.

Running on the drenched ground, Shaik summoned the Earth Mole and Airo.

“Find Drea quickly!”

Urging the elementals, Shaik ran.

After a few hours of sleep, his body felt much lighter.

Of course, if he pushed himself in this state, Shaik, no matter how much of a prodigy he was, would collapse again tomorrow. But he wasn’t in a state to worry about tomorrow that hadn’t come yet.

‘Drea…!’

How did I find you…

When Shaik hugged Drea, whom he hadn’t seen in a month, he even thought that it would be okay to die at this moment.

And as soon as that thought crossed his mind, he deeply realized how much he loved her.

As he smelled Drea’s scent, he could breathe, and as he embraced her warmth, the blood circulated through his stiff body like a rock.

“I love you…”

He hadn’t even said the words yet…!

Shaik wiped away the rainwater hitting his face and staggered forward.

The heat rushed to his head, but that wasn’t the issue at the moment.

Shaik arrived in the city with quick steps.

Since he had only woken up in the afternoon, the surroundings were not bright.

“Drea!”

Shaik searched every nook and cranny of the city, with the fire in his eyes, but he couldn’t find Drea.

However, his forehead felt hot as if the imprint was burning.

As if trying to let him know that Drea wasn’t far away.

“Drea! Damn it, Drea!”

Why did she suddenly disappear again, why?

Because I didn’t say I was sorry? Huh?

Damn it, I’ll say it a hundred times, a thousand times. I’ll say I’m sorry and that I love you the most in this world thousands of times. Until you say you hate me, until you say I’m annoying.

His heart felt like it would burst.

Why does his heart feel so heavy, even though she’s not his first love?

In that moment, a tingling sensation ran through his forehead like an electric shock.

Shaik instinctively knew.

Drea was nearby.

Just as Shaik turned his body towards a dark alley, he collided with someone’s massive shoulder.