Having played happily with the Sylph, Larisa had somehow fallen asleep in Guinevere’s arms. Guinevere, who had embraced Larisa to let her get acquainted with the Sylph, also placed Larisa on her lap and snored peacefully.

“Shh, let her sleep. Leave her be.”

Siod, not wanting to disturb the vulnerable sleeping Guinevere after a long time, gestured not to wake her.

“Shouldn’t we change her position? It seems uncomfortable.”

“How often do you think your mother sleeps like that? Leave her be.”

Considering the situation, he seemed to be snoring too. William decided to leave Larisa alone as she slept like an angel.

“So, how did you calm her down? It didn’t seem easy.”

Siod gently patted the sleeping Larisa on the chin. William hesitated for a moment before blushing and speaking.

“I said I would protect her.”

With a sly smirk, William asked, “And your mother?”

“I’m the same.”

William felt a strange sense of camaraderie with Siod. Whether he would acknowledge him as a father was another issue, but there was a feeling of camaraderie as fellow men.

While gazing at the sleeping Larisa, William suddenly brought up a thought.

“Last time, you mentioned something.”

“Hmm?”

“The story about me living a long life.”

“Oh, right.”

William pondered. The idea of being of dragon lineage and possibly living for over a thousand years made him uneasy about forming attachments to someone already.
Originally, William was the type to never raise a pet even if he felt lonely. He couldn’t even comprehend wizards forming attachments to their own bizarre creatures.

But a thousand years. It was an unimaginable story.

“Is that really true?”

“Well, would I lie?”

“I’m serious.”

“I am too.”

Despite the casual tone, William sighed.

“Anyway, if that’s true, what should I do?”

“…….”

“I always thought I would die before my mother. But if that’s not the case… with no mother, no Larisa, and no one else, what should I do then?”

Siod offered a bitter smile.

“Still, I’ll be here.”

“…….”

“William, you’re my first child.”

William, who had been gazing at the carpet edge, raised his head. Their eyes, so alike, met.

“Guinevere was my first love, and you’re my first child. I’ll do my best for you both so that I have no regrets in the remaining long life. I don’t want to live regretting.”

William recalled Siod’s words from a few days ago.

‘She must have been afraid to give love freely, knowing that you might leave first someday.’

Guinevere was an indifferent mother. Always busy, always strict. William never questioned why she was so indifferent…

That night, William tossed and turned in bed.

This time, he realized it was a dream a bit later, as the perspective was at the familiar eye level. The trigger for realizing it was a dream was Guinevere.

Guinevere knelt in front of him, placing one knee down. She spoke with a serious tone.

“William, you will become a great wizard surpassing me.”

His mother had never said such words. William felt a strange sensation as he looked at Guinevere, who blinked her eyes while earnestly speaking.

“Believe in me. From today, let’s study magic together. Then, like me, you can live a long life without aging.”

The mother who spoke like that had a face full of joy. William saw such an expression on his mother for the first time. Feeling awkward beyond endurance, William couldn’t give any response. With a mixture of complex emotions, Guinevere, in excitement, pulled him close and said,

“My son, forgive me for being indifferent all this time. If I had known your talent earlier, I wouldn’t have wasted time like that…”

Confused, William couldn’t say anything in response. His mother’s expectations were burdensome, and he didn’t want to spoil her joy at the same time.

With a complex inner turmoil, William stood there, and Guinevere, oblivious to his state, had a greatly excited expression.

“Oh, I’m relieved. You will live longer than me.”

“Is that really a good thing?”

It was the voice from before puberty. In the dream, William realized that the time in the dream roughly represented a slightly earlier time than reality.
“What are you talking about? Of course. What parent would wish for their child to die first?”

William felt a strange sensation. As a dragon-blooded, he would naturally live a long life. However, in the dream, Guinevere was talking not about his lineage but his talent.

William looked at her with a skeptical expression.

“Mother, I will live a long life anyway, even if I don’t learn magic.”

Upon hearing this, Guinevere became serious and said,

“William, humans can’t live even a hundred years. But look at me. I’ve already lived for over a hundred years. Don’t you want to live for a long time? Huh?”

Guinevere’s tone had turned into one of comforting a child.

“I will pass everything I have on to you. You will enjoy them and be happy for a very, very long time. Please promise to become a wizard. Huh?”

“Mother… I…”