The tiny white fluffy little dragon froze. Just moments ago, his hands had still been clutching the edge of the medical pod, but now, in the form of a ball of fluff, his little paws lost their grip and slipped off, his two front paws slowly lowering—
It was over.
He had actually lost control and changed into this shape.
Even after a year with Feeney, Feeney himself didn’t know how to raise a child, and after years of being suppressed, with no normal elders around, the influence of over a decade in the Angel Realm still lingered in Chu Zao.
Chu Zao suffered from an intense sense of inadequacy and would have severe emotional reactions when he failed to do things well.
Especially before Holy Cas arrived, during this year of chaos, becoming a white ball whenever he was anxious or emotionally unstable was extremely dangerous.
To address this, Feeney had put him through lots of training until he could barely control it a bit.
But now—
The more panicked he was, the more nervous he got, the less control he had over himself, and the harder it was to change back.
All around, the Crown Clan noticed what had happened, one by one stunned, the room silent except for the beeping medical monitors.
They watched as the little white ball raised its paws, seemingly a bit dejected as it covered its face.
Zao Zao hadn’t done well…
Amos, closest of all, was dazed for several seconds before snapping back to reality.
This seemed to challenge everything he knew. There was disbelief in his eyes: “Original form?”
Amos tried reaching out and touched the soft, warm ball of fur.
The hopeless little fluff didn’t move, just shrank into its corner, letting its father’s hand gently prod it a couple of times, its soft white fur trembling.
How tiny was this thing???
Amos looked for a long time—
And didn’t withdraw his hand.
Eventually, the little guy stretched out a paw and pushed him away—
A soft little pad pressed to his fingertip.
And then a very soft “awoo—”
—Don’t poke me.
Ahem.
Amos pulled his hand back, stood up straight, and looked down at the little one.
He didn’t move again, but was pushed aside by Solan, who had squeezed up next to the pod.
Solan’s eyes widened, Feiman crowding behind her, both of them about to glue their eyes to the little cub.
A fluffy… ball?!!
So tiny?
What coming of age? This was totally a cub—yes, just a cub!!!
Ebinino had also frozen; when he came back to himself, he scratched his head, glanced at Frey and Anya, and then at Clansis, who had stepped forward despite himself.
No matter how calm or cold a Crown Clan might be, one always had some patience for a cub, and this tiny ball of fluff—truthfully, one only saw Crown Clan this small around four or five years old. For a long-lived race, childhood passed quickly, and such an adorable appearance vanished just as quickly.
And now, after the destruction of their habitat, the Crown Clan had gained a cub, and in his original form too, one that remained so adorable?
This really was—too wonderful!
Ebinino sighed, “Really, how could someone like Amos have such a cub?”
What he meant was, how could Amos have a cub this cute.
Obviously, the Crown Clan around agreed, and none of them could tear their eyes from Chu Zao.
But in Chu Zao’s ears, it sounded different.
He always felt like he hadn’t done well enough, always dragging Uncle Feeney down. If only he wasn’t so weak, Uncle Feeney wouldn’t have gotten hurt so often.
Curled up in the corner, the little white ball snuggled his soft white dragon tail to his chest. His wings were messy and honey-colored eyes were drooping, a little dejected.
His father was Amos.
The same Amos of Uncle Feeney’s stories—the powerful Crown Clan leader, the supreme ruler who had led Holy Cas’s expansion and resisted the pollution for centuries, the dark tyrant feared even by those turncoats in the stars.
And he was only a little angel who had grown up with difficulty in the Angel Realm, lacking even any real ability to fight before coming here. How could he possibly be the child of Emperor Amos?
Uncle Feeney had said he’d be put through tough training if Emperor Amos was around.
The little white ball had tried his best all year, but still hadn’t reached expectations. He felt down—even now, unable to control his emotions, he had changed into this form.
Far too weak…
And Feeney wasn’t here—
Completely surrounded by strangers, the little white ball was sad and anxious, not daring to reach out to what should be his family.
Would they “deal with” him for being too weak?
Chu Zao thought anxiously—
But if he just didn’t reach out, it would be okay.
If he never tried, he’d never be rejected and never have to feel sad.
That was the lesson he’d learned over more than a decade in the Angel Realm.
But next, Amos frowned and pushed past Solan and Feiman who were crowded by the medical pod.
The tall figure now blocked the pod—a bit like a father at last.
He curled his lips a little.
“You’re all scaring him.”
Solan: …Child, really, who’s been scaring him?
Don’t you know?
Although Chu Zao could easily fall into self-doubt, he had ultimately managed to escape the Angel Realm by himself, and over the past year, had grown from powerless to one of Holy Cas’s defenders. He doubted himself and worked hard to protect himself, but he wasn’t fragile.
Blinking up in confusion, Chu Zao sensed something had changed.
Amos had already turned.
His voice was still a bit cold and aloof, but now it was a little dry.
“Rest well… I’ll come see you again soon. Feeney doesn’t need your worry; he’ll wake in at most two days.”
For a newcomer, still in recovery and startled, and covered in injuries, all this attention really wasn’t good for Chu Zao’s rest.
Somewhat awkwardly, Amos reached out and stroked the little dragon’s head, gently.
The little one unconsciously drooped further and laid down fully, only his beautiful, clear eyes looking up.
Amos’s movements gradually grew more practiced.
Chu Zao’s anxious, wagging tail slowly straightened, resting behind him, his wings relaxing a little.
He was well-behaved, yet unfamiliar: “Awoo—”
Understood.
Amos paused for a while. Hearing no call from Chu Zao, he finally pulled his hand back expressionlessly and looked behind him.
Frey would have liked to get a closer look at what was going on.
But, guessing what Amos wanted, he grabbed Anya and Feiman, leaving their mother to her own devices.
Frey wasn’t top-ranked in the Dwight family for strength, but he had the best big-brother demeanor, dragging his siblings out of the room.
“Let’s go for now. Once he’s recovered, we’ll come see him again.”
Ebinino would have liked to stay, but with overwhelming matters to handle since their abrupt arrival at a strange time, and with the local environment, Aberrant Beasts, and diplomatic challenges all piled high, he could only call out, glance one more time, and then also leave.
Clansis pulled back Solan, who was even trying to edge in and pick the little white ball up and out for a closer look.
“All right, don’t bother him.”
Clansis spoke, locking eyes with Amos.
Two powerful leaders of the Crown Clan, both in key positions, needed only a glance to decide how to proceed next.
And yes, this fluffy white cub might seem unusual compared to other Crown Clan.
But that was all.
Clansis saw nothing else particularly concerning.
There were far more important matters to address than this harmless little Crown Clan cub.
Solan finally listened, standing next to Clansis as they walked out, Amos following at the rear.
Solan glanced at Amos’s expression.
“You know, Amos, it’s only been a short while, but suddenly you do seem a little like a father.”
Once a headache, stubborn and strong, now he seemed softened.
Clansis’s voice was cold, only warm when he looked at Solan.
“That’s him realizing he should take responsibility now.”
Every Crown Clan father or mother experienced this at some point.
Clansis thought to himself.
Let this little one heal up first; all other issues could be left for later.
“Oh, and you’re a grandfather now—how does that feel?”
Solan smiled at him.
“Hard to believe Amos has such a cute cub, isn’t it? But I think they’re two extremes—”
One with too much confidence, one completely lacking.
The Crown Clan didn’t demand uniformity, but this was something different; self-confidence issues weren’t just a matter of personality, but clearly shaped by background and environment.
They knew Chu Zao had come from a place called the Angel Realm, but they didn’t know what it was like there or how he’d grown up.
“Should we intervene early? Is Hel in the royal court? Did you send Morlo with him? If not, maybe have Hel take a look—he’s got more experience with cubs.”
The Imperial Tutor family of the Crown Clan had always specialized in such things.
Clansis frowned slightly, weighing the pros and cons; right now, every Crown Clan was important.
Then Clansis glanced back at the medical pod—the door not yet closed. Though he couldn’t see the little one inside, still—
They should take responsibility for their cubs.
Even if technically grown, without proper education and personality development, plans for intervention were needed.
As he was preparing to look away—
He saw a gold coronet trembling up above the pod’s rim, then two snow-white little paws clinging to the edge, and a small head peeking out, looking toward them—honey-colored eyes soft and beautiful.
Adorable, slightly yearning, and hopeful—watching their backs with cautious curiosity, as if afraid to be found out.
When their eyes met, the little white ball flinched, paws disappearing at once, the small coronet shrinking back in a flash.
Clansis couldn’t help but watch those extra couple of seconds.
At last he looked away—
Yes, things must be arranged quickly.
His ice-cold face betrayed no emotion.
This was a responsibility any Crown Clan elder should bear—not just because the cub is cute.
*
The next day.
Royal Court, Hel hurried back.
His brows were furrowed.
“What’s going on?”
All the Dwight cubs had been adults for years; Hel’s lessons were long finished, with only the occasional assignment or activity. The Imperial Tutor family also managed defenses near the imperial star.
This time, they had suddenly come to a much more dangerous place.
Crown Clan hunting Aberrant Beasts outside were returning, and those in the royal court, with any spare time, joined in Holy Cas’s defense.
Hel and Morlo had only just set out when Hel was called back mid-mission by His Majesty Clansis, leaving Morlo alone at their post. Of course, one Crown Clan was enough for most problems; after all, there were still many Crown Clan here, with high density around Holy Cas’s capital, so they didn’t need to be on high alert—still, the pressure was greater than in their original timeline, and the interstellar situation wasn’t clear.
“A new Crown Clan? You’re not kidding me, are you?”
Hel’s face darkened, confused.
“Or is this some trick targeting Holy Cas?”
“There’s nothing of that sort. He’s been with this timeline’s Feeney all along.”
Frey was in charge of briefing Hel.
After a day, the new Holy Cas had pieced the situation together, but as for the Aberrant Beasts and the fence-sitting regions, they were still unsettled about what had happened here.
“Is it clear?”
Hel asked.
“And I hear he’s technically completed his coming of age?”
“Yes, by strict age count.”
“All right then.”
Hel exhaled softly.
He knew well the pride and intensity running through Crown Clan bones, making it difficult to educate cubs, let alone one who had grown up wild, with no systematic learning.
Hel braced himself; this would be tough.
But it was his duty as a member of the Imperial Tutor family, and he wouldn’t back down.
“By the way, how is Prince Feeney?”
“Still unconscious—actually, in pretty bad shape.”
Frey recalled Feeney’s appearance.
He sighed.
“In the end, he was single-handedly holding up this shattered Holy Cas.”
“I’ve heard, most of the people here are badly wounded as well.”
Hel said, slowing as they approached an intersection.
“I never imagined Prince Feeney would be the last one standing. When he wakes, we probably can’t treat him the way we used to—”
A change of attitude would be needed.
“Right,”
Frey smiled faintly.
“Even Amos said he won’t beat Feeney for at least the next few years.”
“To Prince Amos, Feeney always seemed unreliable.”
Hel, though he’d tutored the Dwight cubs, didn’t always know all the details, especially between duties and the siblings’ private interactions. What he knew of Feeney’s unreliability was only hearsay, not direct experience.
Hel exhaled.
“I’ll prepare then. If the little Dwight shows anything odd, please keep me informed, Prince Frey. As soon as he can move about, I’ll begin intervention.”
“All right.”
Frey nodded.
Hel walked a little farther, thinking about the possible personality and teaching approaches needed, when suddenly something occurred to him. He turned.
“By the way—Prince Amos hasn’t left the royal court?”
Usually Amos, as a top force, was deployed at key positions and rarely stayed in place like this.
“Because he’s watching the cub.”
What?
Hel had only heard that the Dwights had a new cub, raised all along by Feeney in this timeline.
But he hadn’t yet asked whose cub it was.
Thinking of the powerful, stubborn Prince Amos, the challenge of being his Imperial Tutor, Hel’s eyelids twitched.
“Don’t tell me that little Crown Clan is Prince Amos’s child.”
Frey didn’t reply, just stood there, calmly regarding Hel.
A few seconds later, Hel understood, and trudged even more wearily toward his quarters—
All right, all right. For a Crown Clan like Prince Amos, he would need the most thorough preparation.
Hel braced himself for hell-difficulty mode.
Frey watched him go, still wondering—why did Teacher Hel look like he was marching to glory on the battlefield?
Chu Zao was actually quite cute and well-behaved, wasn’t he?
Thinking of that little white fur ball, Frey’s eyes softened involuntarily.
That little ball hadn’t yet called him uncle.
Oh… now that he thought of it, the little fur ball hadn’t even called out “dad” yet.
And Amos, too, had surprisingly stayed in the medical center the whole time.
With that, Frey felt unexpectedly balanced again.
*
Meanwhile, at the medical center.
Though Feiman and Solan wanted to come by, there was simply too much for the Crown Clan to handle, and Holy Cas had more pressing responses to make.
At last, the only Crown Clan left at the medical center were the still-unconscious Feeney, Chu Zao, and Amos.
After calming down the previous day, Chu Zao had returned to his usual self. His wounds were all treated, and his condition steadily improved in the care of Holy Cas’s medical tech, now able to leave the pod.
He sat by Feeney’s pod, palm to the door and face pressed close, trying to see Feeney’s state through the frosted barrier.
That was when Amos arrived.
Being alone with Amos.
Chu Zao still wasn’t used to it.
After all, Amos’s temperament was quite unlike Uncle Feeney’s; being around him was truly stressful.
But this time, Chu Zao didn’t immediately turn into a little fuzz ball, but instead sat quietly on the couch.
Amos sat at the other end, looking at Chu Zao’s pale, small face.
Chu Zao was already able to eat; there were some convenient foods on the table.
Occasionally, Chu Zao would take a piece and pop it in his mouth, chewing tiny bites.
As if he was afraid to disturb him.
Amos himself didn’t quite know what to do.
He glanced at Feeney’s pod.
—Was this how the boy acted even around Feeney?
It couldn’t be normal, could it?
Amos exhaled gently, straightening up.
Just then, he noticed Chu Zao was plainly watching him, and, seeing him move, froze up a little.
Sizing him up.
Amos paused, as if afraid of frightening some small animal, then finally met the little one’s gaze and was the first to speak.
“Don’t be nervous.”
Amos said.
“You’re Crown Clan; this is your home. You don’t need to be so guarded.”
Chu Zao was looking at Amos, and at his words, he startled so badly he nearly dropped his biscuit. Flustered, he lowered his head.
“I’m not that nervous—”
Just really didn’t know how to interact with someone with Amos’s presence—a bit afraid.
Whether it was Amos, or Clansis, or Frey.
Chu Zao couldn’t figure out their feelings or whether what he did was right—whether he’d met their expectations at all.
That uncertainty weighed on him; he wasn’t good at dealing with such people—if there were somewhere else or he were more familiar here, Amos might not even have seen him a few times unless he specifically came.
So, Chu Zao always watched them reflexively.
Amos himself didn’t even know why he was here; there were countless things left to do.
But strangely—
At last, Amos sighed.
“I’ve told you, don’t worry. Feeney will wake soon. How did you and Feeney get along this past year?”
Amos’s voice softened, more gentle, as he looked at Chu Zao.
At the mention of Uncle Feeney, Chu Zao’s awkwardness eased a lot.
“After meeting Uncle Feeney, he said he was my family, and taught me lots and lots of things—”
Chu Zao looked up, answering quickly.
His eyes shone slightly—those were things he could never have learned in the Angel Realm.
“I can handle lots of Aberrant Beasts now.”
At this, he finally showed a touch of confidence.
As expected, talking about Feeney put him at ease.
Amos thought of the timid cub he’d seen, raised an eyebrow, and asked,
“So what’s with your original form?”
“When I get excited or nervous I might turn into that… it’s hard to control—”
Chu Zao looked down. He’d just eaten a biscuit, a few crumbs stuck to his lips.
“Uncle Feeney said I had to control it. Here, outside of Aberrant Beasts, no one wants to see me like that—”
Too fragile, too easily hurt; Feeney didn’t have time to ease him in.
With Amos, Chu Zao’s voice was always very quiet—
Amos had only brought it up as a topic; the fluffy cub—he’d seen it, it was whatever.
But, glancing at the crumbs on Chu Zao’s lips, Amos’s fingers itched.
It was like watching a mischievous cub get his face dirty at home; such an odd feeling—but Amos decided to go with it.
He picked up a cloth from the table, got up, walked over to Chu Zao’s side, and awkwardly bent over, wiping the crumbs from Chu Zao’s little face—
Chu Zao froze, stammering as he finished his sentence, tilting his head up to look at the father now completely shadowing him, “Uncle Feeney said if he ever caught me turning again, I’d have to train more—”
Nerves finally overloaded; Chu Zao shrank back, couldn’t get away, and abruptly transformed again into a fluff ball, right into Amos’s hands.
The tiny white fluffy dragon looked up at Amos, tail wagging in panic.
The fur was so soft even Amos was stunned—
He’d seen the fluff ball before, but this was the first time he’d held his own kin’s original form.
Just earlier he’d thought a fluffy cub was nothing to fuss over, but now Amos’s expression turned colder, his usual mask for hiding feelings.
He thought, completely expressionless—
Who said it was nothing to fuss over?
No taste.
Amos slowly exhaled the breath he’d been holding.
And the frozen Chu Zao, startled by his expression, desperately reached out his paws and hugged Amos’s wrist—