Why were they calling each other so affectionately? To answer that, we need to rewind a few months.
After their first meeting in Sky City, Muse and Heifi had become pen pals.
The two little dragon girls communicated regularly via messenger dragon.
At first, they kept it a secret from their parents. That is, until one day, Constantine noticed his daughter stashing an assortment of fancy envelopes and stationery.
Suspicious, he asked her if she'd been writing to someone.
Knowing her pen pal's father was her own father's rival, Heifi didn't immediately tell the truth. She claimed she'd met a new friend from a neighboring clan.
But Constantine wasn't so easily fooled—there were no Dragons bold enough to live next to a Crimson Flame Dragon, much less befriend them.
Eventually, Heifi's lie was uncovered. When Constantine confronted her directly, she admitted she'd been corresponding with Muse, Leon's daughter, for quite some time.
Surprised, Constantine asked to see the letters.
Though reluctant, Heifi knew she couldn't refuse and handed over her collection of letters.
The contents were simple: mundane topics like what they'd had for breakfast, new magic spells they'd learned, or little doodles they'd drawn.
After reading a few lines, Constantine unexpectedly smiled—a rare sight.
Heifi, curious, asked why he was smiling.
Constantine explained seriously,
"Your vocabulary is clearly broader than Leon's daughter's, and your doodles are much better. This proves we've already surpassed their family, even at the starting line."
Heifi didn't understand his reasoning, but she was deeply impressed by his confidence.
Now, several months later, the two little pen pals were reunited in Sky City, overjoyed to see each other again.
Leon didn't mind his youngest daughter being friends with Constantine's cherished little one. In fact, he thought it was a good thing.
When Muse and Heifi stood side by side, their complementary appearances—Muse's black hair and red eyes contrasting with Heifi's red hair and black eyes—created a harmonious balance.
"So, did you come to Sky City just for your daughter?" Leon asked, eyeing Constantine.
Constantine's face remained stern, his serious demeanor causing Heifi to instinctively retreat behind him.
"No, I'm here on business and just brought her along," Constantine replied.
Having known Constantine for years, Leon could easily tell when the Crimson Flame Dragon King was bluffing.
Lesson time with Professor Leon! (pay attention, class):
—To determine if a Dragon King is bluffing, pay close attention to their facial expressions and eyes.
The more serious their expression and the more resolute their gaze, the greater the likelihood they're just posturing!
Smirking, Leon exposed him without hesitation.
"You came here just for your daughter, didn't you? Why not admit it?"
Constantine frowned, maintaining his stance.
"I told you—I'm here on business, and I brought her along."
"Really?" Leon tilted his head. "I don't believe you."
"Believe what you want," Constantine retorted.
Before their banter could continue, Heifi tugged on Constantine's sleeve and asked sweetly,
"Daddy, can Muse and I go shopping together?"
The little dragon girl then turned her bright eyes toward her father, waiting for his approval.
Constantine softened instantly, patting his daughter's head. "Mm."
Leon couldn't help but chuckle. It was a universal truth: daughters could wrap their fathers around their little fingers from the moment they were born.
"Good thing I've had four daughters," Leon thought. He was well-versed in the art of giving in to their whims.
With her father's approval, Heifi smiled brightly and joined Muse as they walked off hand-in-hand.
Leon watched their retreating figures thoughtfully before turning to Constantine.
"You really care about Heifi, don't you? Such a tsundere you are."
Constantine crossed his arms, his usual stoic expression unchanged.
"We dragons raise our young this way."
The conversation reminded Leon of something Rossweise had once told him.
Years ago, when Leon questioned some of her parenting choices, she'd replied with the same words:
"We dragons raise our young this way."
At the time, Leon had countered with,
"But they're not entirely dragons."
That statement had struck a chord with Rossweise, leading her to adopt a few human child-rearing practices.
"You dragons can be so rigid sometimes. Raising children shouldn't be this strict," Leon remarked casually to Constantine.
Constantine crossed his arms again, though he didn't entirely dismiss Leon's comment. If anyone else had said it, Constantine wouldn't have listened. But Leon wasn't just anyone.
Besides, Constantine had always been curious about how Leon raised his daughters—especially Muse and her artistic inclinations.
"So, how should we raise them? Like you and Rossweise do?" Constantine asked, half-joking.
"Of course! Look how well-adjusted my girls are," Leon said proudly, puffing out his chest.
Constantine raised an eyebrow.
"They're not entirely dragons."
Leon and Rossweise: ...
Leon sighed, realizing he'd been hit with his own logic. Years ago, he'd fired that argument like a bullet, only for it to come back now and strike him squarely in the knee.
"In that case," Constantine continued, "Heifi is a pureblood dragon. She should be raised with traditional dragon methods."
Constantine wasn't arguing for the sake of it—he genuinely wanted Leon's perspective, given the differences between raising mixed-blood and pureblood children.
Leon furrowed his brow, considering the matter carefully.
"I don't think raising children should depend so heavily on bloodlines," he finally said.
"What do you mean?"
Leon explained,
"Every life comes into this world like an uncut gem—pure and full of potential.
Pureblood or mixed-blood, it doesn't matter.
What shapes them into who they'll become is the influence of us, their parents."
"If Heifi wants to grow up to be a proud Crimson Flame Dragon King like you, then by all means, raise her your way.
But what if she has her own dreams?"
Constantine hesitated, then admitted,
"No, I haven't asked her about her future."
"Then maybe you should," Leon suggested. Watching Muse and Heifi from afar, he added,
"Children are full of limitless possibilities. We should let them choose their own paths and offer guidance when they need it. That way, when they look back on their childhood, they won't feel regret or resentment about the choices they made—or the ones we made for them."