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I finally received word from Ayla to come and receive the perfect Cure.
Felix, who had rushed to the Greenhouse in one breath, stopped in front of the door and briefly straightened his clothes.
He smoothed down his disheveled hair several times as he came here, then reached for the doorknob.
But strangely, he couldn't bring himself to open the door.
The thought that this was the last day he would receive the Cure from her made him feel bitter and regretful.
He took a deep breath, steeled his heart, and slowly opened the door.
"Ayla, I'm here..."
However, as soon as he stepped into the Greenhouse, he was greeted not by Ayla, but by thick steam.
The sight, as if he had entered a forest covered in fog, made him frown involuntarily.
'What is this?'
He carefully walked inside, being careful not to accidentally touch the flowerpots.
Fortunately, it wasn't long before he saw Ayla busily moving through the hazy steam.
A large pot was placed on a brazier with small flames flickering, and Ayla was diligently stirring the Magical potion inside with a ladle.
Occasionally, she would grab a handful of herbs placed next to her and throw them in.
Seeing this, a feeling of emptiness made him laugh.
It was because it was compared to his appearance just before meeting her, when he was diligently tidying up his clothes.
'I feel like a fool for expecting something.'
Ayla, sensing his presence, turned her head. A deep sense of joy appeared on Ayla's face as she discovered him.
"When did you get here?"
"A little while ago."
"I'm making Peony's Antidote right now. Just a moment."
Ayla weakened the fire on the brazier, then pushed through the steam and approached him.
Her soft pink hair was tousled, and beads of sweat were forming on her forehead.
Her cheeks were flushed red, perhaps because of the heat from the boiling medicine.
Yet, in Felix's eyes, even that appearance looked cute and lovely. He could feel his heart pounding, even though he tried not to be conscious of it.
As if aware of his gaze, Ayla brushed back her hair and said awkwardly.
"Sorry, I'm a bit of a mess right now because I'm busy."
Felix unconsciously reached out and brushed back her stray hair.
"Not at all. You always look..."
At that moment, Ayla looked up at him with surprised eyes. Felix couldn't continue speaking and closed his mouth.
A short silence followed awkwardly.
Ayla, as if trying to change the atmosphere, took out a medicine in a transparent crystal bottle from her pocket and held it out.
"...Here! This is the complete Cure. You've waited a long time."
"Not at all. It was completed faster than I thought."
Felix shrugged and readily accepted the medicine. He felt strangely complicated.
When he didn't drink the medicine right away, Ayla tilted her head as if puzzled.
"Aren't you going to try the medicine?"
Felix smiled and asked back.
"I'll do it later. Have you taken it, Ayla? How was it?"
At his question, Ayla smiled brightly and answered.
"It's the best. I don't know how to express how good it is beyond that."
Her face looked refreshed, as if she had shed all her burdens.
It was understandable, as she had escaped the dreaded Mana insensitivity.
He felt a mixture of emotions, but Felix didn't show it and said playfully.
"People would be surprised if they knew. Not only did you become the owner of the Divine Beast, but now you've become the strongest Mage on earth."
"...Are you teasing me again? You seem to be getting a bit mischievous these days."
When Ayla glared and grumbled, Felix laughed in disbelief.
"Of course not. You wouldn't believe how many people are trying to get close to Ayla through me these days. I've already received several invitations on the way here..."
Felix frowned unhappily, recalling what had happened earlier, when.
"Piyo!"
The cry of an unfamiliar creature was heard from somewhere.
Turning his gaze, Felix soon discovered the Black Dragon in a large basket.
Come to think of it, this was the first time he was seeing the Black Dragon in person, which he had only heard about.
"Isn't he cute? His name is Piyo."
Ayla held Piyo, who was clamoring for attention, with a happy face.
"Look. Even though he's this big, I can now hold Piyo in one hand if I use Reinforcement Magic."
Ayla proudly lifted Piyo, who was as big as her upper body, as if to show off her strength.
Then, Piyo rubbed his face against Ayla's cheek as if to show off, and glared at Felix.
Seeing this, Felix narrowed his eyes.
He knew well that Dragons were intelligent beings that surpassed humans, thanks to meeting Debens earlier.
'Moreover, when they become fully grown adults, they can Polymorph into humans.'
It was clear that the cunning Dragon was using his cuteness as a weapon to curry favor with Ayla.
"...That's amazing. But by any chance, is that a male?"
"Yeah, that's right. Why?"
Just as he expected.
Felix frowned as his prediction came true.
"You're not always carrying him around, are you?"
"Why? He's still young, so he has a hard time being away from me."
At those words, Felix made a dumbfounded expression.
"He's not young."
"Not young? He acts like a complete child."
"He's already grown up. His mental age is probably similar to ours. Divine Beasts grow up quickly."
"..."
"But the reason he's acting like a child... I guess he knows best."
As soon as Felix finished speaking, Piyo cried out urgently.
"Pi, Piyo! Piyo Piyo!"
It was as if he was explaining that it was a misunderstanding. Felix raised one corner of his mouth.
"Look, he already understands our conversation."
Ayla stared down at Piyo at Felix's words.
But his sparkling eyes were nothing but innocent.
"I know... but his body is still a baby."
Ayla hugged Piyo even tighter, as if she couldn't bear to ignore him.
It was absurd to Felix. To call that body, which was only half the size of a human, a baby.
Of course, it was still a small body by Dragon standards.
"Even though fully grown Dragons can turn into people?"
"I know that, but it'll be a long time before he becomes an adult... Ah!"
It was then that Ayla was awkwardly making excuses. The Magical potion, which had been simmering on low heat, began to bubble and overflow.
Surprised, Ayla quickly approached the pot and lowered the heat even further.
Felix was slightly annoyed that the Dragon was interfering with the opportunity to be alone with her, but he was relieved to see Ayla engrossed in making the medicine.
He leaned against a nearby table and watched her from behind.
As he unconsciously followed her busy figure with his eyes for a while, the conversation he had with the Duke a while ago came to his mind.
"But... what exactly did Ayla say that made you so sure that I was your biological son, Duke?"
"That child told me about what you went through before you entered the orphanage. She said you were captured by some men and barely escaped. Then you were found in an alley in Delpore Street."
"..."
"The moment I heard that, I was sure. That you were my lost son. The place where I lost my son was also near that area."
The more he recalled his memories, the clearer his mind became.
As all his thoughts gradually became organized, Felix came to a conclusion.
Ayla must also know the future like him. Or she had experienced the future directly and returned to the past.
It was hard to believe, but there was no other way to explain it.
And it was a good opportunity to ask her about it.
Felix opened his mouth quietly.
"By the way."
"Yeah?"
"The Duke said that Ayla was the one who helped him realize that I was his biological son."
The view surrounded by steam was still blurry, but Felix could tell.
The moment she heard his words, Ayla had stopped all her movements and froze.
"As far as I remember, I've never told Ayla about that."
"..."
"But how does Ayla know about my past?"
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