"Well, I already fixed some mistakes in the elven part of the spell which has freed up some mana. I plan to use that to expand the inner barrier from the column to the entire city. Then I just need to boost the connection between Core and the spell core."

Dragon says "That should work. That is a much more sensible plan than I was expecting from you. It looks like I was right, getting a mate really helped your mental state."

"Um, I guess."

Dragon says "Although, I am disappointed that your soul hasn't improved at all since I last saw you."

"Ahem. Anyway, does that mean I have permission to alter the spell?"

Dragon says "First, show me how you plan to alter it."

I instantly create a copy of the spell matrix between us and then show him the changes. As I show him the first set of changes he nods, but when I show him the second set he shakes his head.

Dragon says "That is too inefficient. Instead, you should just use the inner barrier as the medium between the two. That way, as long as Core is inside the barrier she will be connected and it won't take any extra mana. You can instead use that mana to expand the barrier to cover the orchards as well."

"You're right! That is an even better solution! I should have thought of that."

Dragon says "Your skills have improved a lot, but I still have far more experience than you do."

"Okay. I will do it that way. Any other advice?"

Dragon says "Nope. Any other changes would affect the barrier and that can't be allowed to happen."

"Just out of curiosity, why did you help create the barrier instead of just destroying the spider?"

Dragon says "Because if I fought the spider the entire mountain would likely be destroyed. At the time, I didn't want to destroy the temple."

"That makes sense. Do you think I could destroy the spider?"

Dragon says "Not a chance. At your current soul strength you wouldn't survive a single hit."

"What? What does my soul strength have to do with anything?"

Dragon says "Remember the attacks you could barely sense? Well those were soul attacks."

"The spider's soul is strong enough to affect the real world?!"

Dragon says "Correct."

"That's so unfair! I wish you had told me sooner, I wouldn't have put off leveling my soul for so long."

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Dragon says "I told you that strengthening your soul was important."

"All you told me was that it would allow me to keep more memories in my next life. That wasn't anywhere near as important as the other things I had going on. You should have told me that I needed a strong soul to fight the spider!"

I see the dragon's claw moving towards me for a split second and then I am no longer in the soulscape. I find myself back in my body, lying on the floor of Core's room, with my head ringing. I'm guessing that the dragon was annoyed by my answer, or the fact that I didn't pay attention.

Core says "Ash, are you alright??"

"Other than a headache, I am fine."

Core says "I didn't feel anything. Did something go wrong with the spell?"

"Nope, I just annoyed the dragon. I will be fine in a minute."

Core says "Oh. Was he annoyed at you for messing with the spell? Do we need to give up on the idea?"

"No, it's not that. We spoke and he gave me some pointers for the spell. But then I said something stupid and got myself smacked."

Core says "Um, that doesn't sound like a smart thing to do."

"It wasn't. I never claimed to be smart. Oh, I heard you talking to someone?"

Core says "Lin came by to check on you and to ask me to teach her the written form of the elven language. I also talked to Yui for a while. You were working on the spell for a few hours."

"Why did Lin want to learn elven?"

Core says "So she could read in the library."

"The tower's library?"

Core says "No, the city library."

"I thought that we emptied the library out completely?"

Core says "You did, but once we retook the city Yui returned the books. After making copies of the ones she wanted of course."

"That figures. Lin will probably be in the library for at least a week. Then she will just move to the tower library. I hope she warned Bella."

Core says "I don't know about that, but I can tell you that Bella is inside your castle. Your kids are still running around the city in their miniature forms. To be honest, I can't handle that much cuteness all in one place!"

"Oh, it gets worse. Just wait until you see them play-fighting with each other. I've been trying to think of how to use the cuteness as a weapon."

Core says "Are you looking for a weapon against the demons? Or against all the women around you when you get in trouble?"

"Um, the second one. I doubt even that level of cuteness would work against demons. On the other hand, I know for a fact that it would work against the goddesses."

Core says "Is that who you are the most worried about?"

"Yeah, pretty much. They are the ones I tend to get in the most trouble with. Not to mention that I can't fight them if they get mad."

Core says "Instead of weaponizing your kids, you could always just stop doing things that will piss them off. Wouldn't that be easier?"

"No, not really. A lot of the things that piss them off are things that I need to do to get stronger. Or things that I do to satisfy my curiosity."

Core says "From what Myria has told me, those are the same things that piss her off as well."

"Yeah, they are. Speaking of, I expected to see her by now. Where is she?"

Core says "I don't know. She said she had something that she needed to do. She left the same day that she ordered the construction of the road to the island."

"Something she had to do? I didn't give her any missions."

Core says "Sorry, that is all I know."

"Alright. Well, anyways, let's get back to modifying the spell."

Core says "Sure!"

I already had the changes planned out, so making them is fairly easy to do. The only real difference is that I use all the available mana on the inner barrier. It ends up reaching a little past the orchards, enough to cover most of the farms.

After that, it is a simple matter to make the inner barrier the medium between Core and the spell core. The dragon was right, it works perfectly and doesn't use any additional mana. Just as I put the finishing touches on the spell core I get tackled by Core.

Core hugs me and says "I can feel it! I can leave my room!!"