(Yuuta's POV)
Grandpa took a deep breath, his eyes distant, as if the weight of memory pressed down on him.
"If you learn the rest of this story," he said softly, "you might feel sympathy for her. Maybe even sorrow. But remember this—history cannot be changed. And it cannot be lied about."
I met his gaze, firm and steady. "I want to know, Grandpa. I'm not a kid anymore. I can understand even though it's not earth history but I still belong to Nova world through Erza."
He studied me for a long moment before nodding.
"Very well," he said quietly. "Then listen carefully. Here's what really happened."
He leaned back in his chair, and his voice dropped into that storyteller's rhythm I'd come to know so well.
"After everything that happened, the Black Dragon Queen made a wish. A real one—from the heart.
She didn't want power. She didn't want vengeance. She wanted something simple, something deeply human—
a child.
A little dragon child of her own, like her sisters had. Red, Blue, Yellow, White—they each had their own lands, their own legacies… their children.
And her?
She had nothing but silence.
So, filled with hope, she went to the Gates of Heaven. She truly believed—believed—that God would bless her.
But she was wrong.
Standing outside the gates was God Himself, waiting for her.
She raised her head proudly and declared, 'I want a child. Bless me.'
It wasn't a question. It wasn't even a plea. It was a command.
And God did not take kindly to that.
He looked at her—calm, patient—and said, 'You've asked the wrong way. Learn the right way to ask, and then I will bless you.'
She was furious.
'What do you mean?' she shouted. 'Aren't you the God of justice? Isn't this injustice? Why are you denying me?'
But God only replied, gently, 'Blessings cannot be demanded. They are not prizes to be taken by force. They are gifts. And gifts must be asked for... with humility.'
But she couldn't accept that. Not then.
'You hate me!' she cried. 'That's why you won't give me a child! You never loved me!'
Even then, God didn't grow angry.
He simply said, 'I love all my creations equally—including you. I promise you this: when you truly understand what it means to ask the right way… call out to Me again. I will hear you. But know this—your time is not endless. You have 500 years.'"
I frowned. "But… it was so clear. Why didn't she just ask nicely? Even I get it—you just have to show some respect."
Grandpa gave a small, sad smile. "It's easy for you to say, Yuuta. But imagine being her. A being of immense power—so strong, some say she could rival God Himself. All her life, she stood tall, above others. How could someone like that bow their head? Her pride... it blinded her."
I was quiet for a moment. "So… what did she do?"
"She returned to her kingdom—Nova world. Not defeated, but determined. She told herself, I will find the answer.
She scoured every corner of the world—old temples hidden beneath the sands, sacred texts locked away for millennia. She spoke with angels. Bargained with demons. Sat in silence with ancient sages. Even walked among mortals in disguise.
No answer.
Years passed. Decades turned to centuries. One hundred years. Then two. Then four. Still nothing.
The world changed around her. Civilizations rose. Her sisters' descendants built great empires—Atlantis, Gumina, Luminous…
And she remained the same. Alone.
After a thousand years, she was no longer the proud, untouchable queen.
She had wandered so long, carried so much silence, that it began to weigh on her. Heavier than any crown.
And one day… she couldn't carry it anymore.
She fell to her knees. No one saw her—not her subjects, not her sisters. Just the wind, and the stars.
And she cried.
Not in rage. Not in frustration. Just… sorrow.
She whispered, barely loud enough for the universe to hear, 'What good is all this pride… if I can't even feel the joy of being a mother?'"
My throat tightened.
Grandpa's voice was barely above a whisper now.
"And for the first time… she did what she never imagined she could.
She asked again.
Not as a queen. Not as a dragon.
But as someone… broken.
She called out to God—this time not with arrogance, but with trembling breath and a heart laid bare.
And God…
He listened."
Grandpa's voice lowered again, softer now. Almost like he was afraid to wake the past.
"God heard her prayer," he said. "She was completely broken by then—no throne, no pride, no strength left in her voice. Just desperation. The desperation of someone who had waited far too long… and lost too much."
He looked at the fire, eyes reflecting its glow.
"But God… He appeared. Because He loves all His creations. Not just the good. Even the fallen. Even the proud."
She was on her knees, trembling, barely able to hold back her tears when He came.
God looked down at her gently. "What troubles you, my daughter? Why do you weep? Did you find the answer I asked you to seek?"
She couldn't even look up. Her voice cracked as she whispered, "Lord… I couldn't find it. I've searched for centuries. I've begged angels, demons, even mortals. But I failed."
Then she looked up, eyes red. "Please… please, hear my prayer. Give me your blessing… even if I don't deserve it."
God's face was kind, but His eyes… were heavy.
He shook His head slowly. "I am pleased by your humility. Your heart has changed. But… it's too late now."
I blinked. "Too late? What do you mean 'too late'? He said He would bless her!"
Grandpa nodded solemnly. "He did. But He also told her—she had only 500 years to find the answer. That time had passed. The world had moved on. And her sisters' kingdoms had grown strong and vast."
She stared at Him, confused, heart pounding. "Why?" she asked. "Why now? Why not give me a child—even if it's late?"
God sighed. "Because it is no longer the right time. The balance of the world has shifted. If you lay an egg now… the world will rise against you. Dragons, humans, monsters—many will try to stop you. Not out of hatred, but fear. They will see your child as a threat. A kingdom born from you… would terrify them."
She whispered, "But why? I've harmed no one. I've only wandered, in silence."
God looked at her with sadness. "That silence was loud, my daughter. You grew too powerful. The world has not forgotten your strength. Imagine what they will think of a child born from you—a child who might inherit even greater power."
She shook her head, tears falling. "No, Lord… I would teach my child to be kind. To serve You. To follow the right path. Not to use their power to harm others."
She begged.
But God looked away.
Because deep in His heart, even He feared what might come.
In just a thousand years, she had become a legend. A force that no army dared to challenge. If something were to happen to her child… she could burn the world in grief.
I clenched my fists. "But that's not fair. I mean… I get the risk. But she suffered so much. She just wanted a family."
Grandpa nodded slowly. "Yes. But God sees deeper than we do. He knew… if she laid an egg now, she would be vulnerable. Her enemies would sense it. They would strike. And in her pain… she might destroy everything. God didn't want that. He didn't want her to be hurt, or for the world to suffer either."
I swallowed hard. "So… what happened? Did God just leave her there? Alone?"
Grandpa shook his head. "No. God gave her something else instead. A gift. A land—vast, untouched by war or time. A place of peace, hidden from the world. He called it The Silent Lair."
"But she refused it," he added. "She looked at that beautiful land… and said, 'I didn't ask for land. I asked for a child.'"
She fell to her knees again, heart raw. "Please. Please… just one child. That's all I ask. Let me love someone with all that I am."
I held my breath. "So… did God agree?"
Grandpa finally smiled.
"Yes. He saw her tears. Saw her soul laid bare. And He agreed. But…" he paused. "Only under one condition."
I leaned forward. "What condition?"
Grandpa's voice dropped to a whisper.
"He said… 'You may have a child. But you must give Me something in return. Something precious.'"
"What did she have to give?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
He looked at me, eyes serious. "Her dragon form."
"Dragon form?" I asked, my eyes wide.
Grandpa nodded slowly, his voice calm but heavy with memory. "Yes. That was God's condition. He agreed to give her a child… but only under one rule."
He leaned in just slightly.
"She had to live like a human. Carry the child like a human mother would. No magic. No transformation. And most importantly…" He paused. "She was forbidden from ever taking on her dragon form during the pregnancy."
I frowned. "Why?"
Grandpa's voice lowered. "Because if she did… the child would die. Not as a dragon, but as a fragile human. And no one would ever know he was hers. He'd vanish from history, as if he'd never existed at all."
She had every right to protest. To say it was unfair.
But she didn't.
She looked God in the eyes and simply said, "Yes. I accept."
Not because it was easy.
But because being a mother mattered more to her than anything else.
So she shed her wings, left behind her ancient power, and walked into the world as a simple human woman.
"She lived quietly after that," Grandpa said, a faint smile forming on his lips. "Far from the cities. Far from the politics of dragons and human. And she wasn't alone."
He glanced at me, and his eyes softened.
"She had three children with her. Not her own by blood, but ones she had saved during her thousand-year journey."
"Wait," I said. "You mean… she had adopted kids?"
Grandpa nodded. "Yes. One was rescued from a slave market. The second, from a cursed forest. The third… was born in fire, abandoned at birth."
My chest tightened.
"She found them, raised them, and taught them everything she knew. They weren't ordinary. Over time, they grew into legendary warriors—powerful beyond imagination. They became known as her Royal Guard. And they would later swear an oath: To protect her child, no matter the cost."
She wandered with them through forests, over mountains, until they found a peaceful village—Monster Village, hidden far from the eyes of men and dragons. The villagers welcomed them without question.
It was there she settled.
And her belly began to grow.
Every night, she would sit under the stars, rubbing her stomach, whispering stories to the life growing inside her.
"My sweet child," she would murmur, "once you're born, we'll go see the mountains, the oceans, the cities that glitter under the moonlight. We'll even go meet your Heveanly Father —yes, the one who gave you to me God. Just be strong. Stay safe. Your mother will always be here, Always I love you My child."
I listened in silence, a strange warmth spreading in my chest.
"She sounds… like a real mom," I said softly. "I mean… I never knew mine. I grew up in an orphanage. But… I used to imagine that maybe she said things like that. Before she let me go."
Grandpa didn't say anything for a moment. Just gave me a look—quiet, gentle, full of things he didn't need to say.
Then he spoke again.
"She was happy, Yuuta. Truly happy. For the first time in her long life, she wasn't a queen, or a dragon, or a legend. She was just… a mother-to-be. Surrounded by peace. Her guards were proud, excited. The villagers prepared for the birth."
His tone shifted.
"But there was one thing she forgot."
My heart skipped. "What?"
"The war," Grandpa said. "The ancient war between dragons and humans. It might've ended… but the wounds never really healed. The fear never disappeared."
"She was nine months pregnant. Her smile could light up the whole village. Her child was strong. Kicking. Alive. The Royal Guard stood watch every night."
He paused, staring deep into the fireplace. The flames flickered in his eyes.
"And then… he arrived."
I sat up straighter. "Who?"
Grandpa's voice dropped to a whisper.
"The Hero."
It felt like thunder echoed in the room, even though everything was silent.
"The Hero?" I repeated. "Why would he…?"
Grandpa shook his head. "He came without warning. Alone. Carrying a holy blade forged by both gods and men. A blade meant to kill dragons."
My mouth went dry.
"But she wasn't a dragon anymore," I whispered. "She was human…right??"
Grandpa's eyes narrowed. "That didn't matter. To him… she was still the Black Dragon Queen. The threat to World."
To be continued...
Hey readers,
So… turns out not locking any chapters has consequences 😅
Now I gotta do actual work (yes, a real job) to survive — shocking, I know!
I recently started a new job, so updates might be a little slower than before. No more daily uploads for now, but I promise I'll try my best to keep the chapters coming (between shifts and coffee breaks 🥲).
Thanks a ton for all your love and support — you're the reason I keep writing (and also crying while checking my bank account 😭).
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— Your broke but passionate author, Benatt ✍️💸