(Gavin)

"Gavin!" Michael tackles me, wrapping his arms around me in a hug.

He's taken to the Fairies' dress code… which is minimal or nonexistent. He went with the latter. Warren's floating in the air a few feet behind the beastborn, dressed in his tunic, as always.

"Hello, Michael," I say, then look at Oberon. "Is your father available? I wished to ask him something."

"He'll probably want you in Zelv," Warren tells me.

"Maybe," I say.

"What's with the aura?" He asks. "You don't need to do that-"

"It's not something he can help," the Fairy King approaches us from the side. "Lord Yggdrasil informed me of your Advancement, Gavin. Congratulations on reaching the Second Tier."

"Oberon," I dip my head to him, pulling the Beastborn off of me and throwing him at his boyfriend. "May we speak in private?"

He nods, leading me to a quiet room fortified against eavesdropping.

"What brings you back?" He asks. "Especially to speak with me? I'm sure it isn't the return of your father… yet."

"Not yet," I shake my head. "I was actually wishing to look at the Grimoire."

"Why?" His expression turns serious.

"To memorize every page of it, in every form they take on," I answer, and he raises an eyebrow. "I have nearly fifteen hundred INT, Oberon. Considering that it increases the capacity for what we can learn, as well as what we can remember, it doesn't take me much effort to memorize anything."

"And why should I allow you to?"

"Because I believe," I say. "That the Grimoires contain a secret that would allow me to take down the Boundary of Sages."

Oberon thinks about that. He's aware of it, and what it does. He's also mentioned that he knows the location of the Tower in this region as well, though I never asked for that, so he never gave it.

"You are aware of the potential problems that could cause, yes?" He finally decides.

"The Boundary of Sages," I say. "Has no purpose that I can discern, other than to separate the world. From Michael's travels and my own experiences, I can see no reason for its existence. If the world is united, it could become a stronger place. In addition, the Boundary stands in the way of my Order. I do not need your Grimoire, but it is one of the more easily-accessible ones, as I know its location."

Oberon stares at me, but gives in. It's likely partly my CHA, and partly my Tier III Species, but I knew he would give in, as much as he wants to keep the Grimoire hidden.

Plus, he knows he couldn't stop me if I truly wanted it, so that might have factored into his decision as well.

The Fairy King leads me out of the hall and through the roots of Yggdrasil, leading me down a tunnel taking us deep underground. The presence of Divinity fills the air here, likely from the tree's presence.

After nearly an hour of walking, we reach a chamber guarded by four powerful Spirits. Oberon speaks in Silvar, intoning a spell, and the magics within the door allow us to enter the chamber beyond, granting us exactly thirty seconds to pass through the door before it seals itself back up.

Resting on a pedestal in the center of the room stands the Grimoire, the room itself illuminated by glowing green crystals lining the walls. The Grimoire currently rests open to a page on fire-based Spirit magics.

I touch the pages of the Grimoire, then close it and lift it up.

"What are you doing?" Oberon sounds furious.

"Wondering if you knew about this," I indicate the spatial ring underneath the Grimoire. Oberon approaches, and his expression confirms he was unaware of the extra 'gem'. "You didn't, did you?"

"I've never lifted the book before," he admits, then frowns. "How did you know about it?"

"Each Grimoire seems to have its own spatial ring beneath it," I answer. "Do you want it, or may I take it?"

"Mine," he grabs it, slipping it onto his finger.

Greedy, greedy.

"They're all roughly the same size," I set the Grimoire down. "Containing the same amount of space within. Thank you."

He nods, and I flip the Grimoire to the first page, beginning to read each version of it, memorizing every aspect of it to recreate later. The entire time I read the Grimoire, Oberon watches me intently.

"Did you find what you needed?" He asks when I close the Grimoire.

"No," I answer, and he growls. "I actually needed the runes within it, Oberon. I have to compare them to my others, as well as decipher how they work and interact with each other. It'll take me time to sort everything out. The more spells and magics I have to work with, the easier it'll be for me to sort it through."

"How many have you looked at?"

"I have two," I answer. "One with the more powerful Mana magics, and one with the more powerful Aether magics. I've looked at yours, the one with what seems to be the weaker Spirit Magics, and will be visiting a friend of Michael's, who has the one containing the weaker Mana magics."

"Michael's mentioned his father possessing one," he says.

"Ah, right," I say. "He possesses one containing Health-based magics. I'll have to stop by there and see if he'd be willing to allow me to read the Grimoire."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Why are you looking at the runes?" He asks. "The Dekami Runic Language-"

"It is a complicated situation," I state. "And I would like to be going. Thank you, Oberon."

He stares at me, then sighs, then allows us to leave the chamber.

Once we're up at the surface, I locate Michael and ask him what the fastest route to his father and the Max kid friend of his would be. He tells me which Dungeons to go to, then I depart, reaching his father's forest and cave network in just a few hours.

Several of the beastborn are outright hostile at my presence, but the way their tails are down… they're also scared. They don't want me here, not knowing who I am, but their instincts tell them that I can wipe them out with ease.

It only takes me a few minutes to locate Michael's father, who's chatting with a beautiful she-wolf beastborn, likely Michael's mother.

"Gavin?" Matthew asks in Jozan when I approach.

"Indeed," I nod. "Hello, Matthew. I was wondering if I could examine your blade of light."

He thinks for a moment, then realization hits his face.

"May I inquire as to why?"

"To memorize every facet of it," I answer. "To test a theory that could allow free travel between all, without the secret means."

He nods, then beckons for me to follow, his wife following as well. The chief leads me through several caves and tunnels, taking me deep underground, to a room fortified with powerful magics based through Health.

He places a hand against the door, flooding a rather hefty portion of his Health into it, and the door opens, allowing us to enter.

This room is illuminated through standard light crystals fixed into lamps on the wall and hanging from the ceiling, with several shelves of tomes lining the walls, a table standing in the center of the room.

My Magic Sense allows me to easily discern the runes hiding behind one of the shelves, revealing another sealed room. Matthew lifts the shelf, easily and carefully moving it to the side without scraping the ground, then places his hand on the wall. A push of Health later, and the runes glow crimson, then the wall opens, allowing him to enter.

About a minute later, he returns with the Grimoire, setting it on the table in the center.

"Did you find it, yourself?" I ask.

"No," he shakes his head. "My great-grandfather discovered it, along with a spatial ring, elsewhere. It's what has allowed my pack to grow and flourish the way we have, though I only I and my wife know of the Grimoire itself."

"We believe," his wife speaks up for the first time since our trip here began. "It to be best that others do not learn the secrets contained within this tome. We have selected the techniques and magics within it we believe can be of use to our pack, but the rest mean little to us. Reaching a caliber of power required to use most of them is beyond our dreams."

"May I?" I ask, and Matthew pushes the Grimoire across the table. I flip through its pages. "So you have the one with the greater Health techniques and magics that Tristan created. Which techniques do you have?"

"The ones towards the back," she answers. "The more simple ones. We've also taken a few of the enchantments and alchemy recipes that can be found within it."

"Would you like the Grimoire?" Matthew asks, and I look at him, raising an eyebrow. "My son has told me of your Order, and its purpose. Feeling this power radiating from you, I know that there is little that can stop you. If you swear to protect the Grimoire, then I have no issue parting with it."

"I swear on the blood that flows within my veins," I say. "That I will protect the Grimoire to the best of my ability."

I glow with Nies's confirmation – and his giggling in my mind – and the two alphas nod.

"Thank you," I send the Grimoire into my ring. "I will guard it well, and use its knowledge to further my Order and the nations and societies that arise from it."

At least, what begin to and will after I die. If Nahor is to be believed, that could come anytime in the next two or three years, meaning that my Order will only start to gain true traction when I pass.

Matthew resets the seal, then returns the bookshelf, then the three of us make our way back to the surface. I thank them for allowing me to examine their blade of light, then depart, making my way to the Dungeon Michael directed me to.

It takes me a day to reach where Michael said was the location his friend was living at when they last saw each other, which would be the best place to start looking, as he's likely managed to leave here without fear of dying, after being given the Dragon's blood essence for the potion to increase his LIF.

Two pillars stand beside a stone archway set into the face of a cliff on a continent with only a dozen or so major cities, despite being larger than the one I grew up on. It's mostly forested with some mountains, as well as containing a great number of cliffs.

I pass through the archway and down the stone tunnel, reaching the sanctuary quickly. Rows of stone benches lead up to the altar, behind which are two sets of doors. Golden flames burning on dark green candles rest in stands to either side of the altar.

Standing in front of the altar is a boy around thirteen or fourteen, his expression wary. He has pitch-black hair and piercing green eyes, as well as a fit, strong body clad in an entirely-black outfit. A spatial ring the same size as the others from Tristan Lightblade rests on his right thumb. He has more than a dozen spells at the ready, prepared to fight.

"I am not here to fight, Max," I say.

"Who are you?" He asks. "And how can I believe you?"

"I swear on the blood in my veins," I say. "That I am Gavin, ally of Matthew Burrclaw, and the one who supplied him with the Dragon's blood essence that was brought to you, to allow you to attempt to create the potion that would increase your LIF by a point, as well as someone that your own patron, Ekre, once attempted to make a Blessed of his own."

I glow crimson with Nies's confirmation, along with his laughing – this time out loud, into the temple itself.

"Ekre confirmed this," Max relaxes, but only slightly.

"I come bearing a gift," I hold out my hand, a dozen vials of the crimson essence appearing in the air above my hand. "A dozen more vials of said essence, from a Dragon slain recently. I am sure a recipe as difficult as that would likely have yielded a failure."

"And what do you know of difficulty?"

"I have a similar recipe," I explain. "Though it uses phoenix tears. It stems from the same source – a Grimoire of magic written by Tristan Lightblade. While yours possesses knowledge of weaker magics used through Mana, mine possesses knowledge of powerful magics used through Mana."

"Why have you come here?" He asks.

"I wish to look through the Grimoire you possess," I answer. "Not take it – not unless you wish to entrust it to me – but simply look through it. I believe that the Grimoires left behind by Tristan Lightblade may possess a secret that can take down the Boundary of Sages."

His expression says he knows of it.

"You know of it?"

"It's mentioned in my Grimoire," he nods. "He noted that he wished to tear it down, that it was a foul thing, but that he was missing something important to it – something vital."

Tristan called it a foul thing and something to remove? Did he know something of it?

"Actually," I say. "He had it all along – he just didn't know it. It's contained within his Grimoires. I don't need all of them, but the more I look through or have, the easier it will be for me to figure out. It's contained within his spells and enchantments."

"The runes?" He asks, and I nod.

He came to that conclusion quickly, likely having already suspected it.

"You seem more mature than a boy of thirteen."

"Only my body didn't age."

"The brain wouldn't, either."

"The mind does," he says. "While the brain does hold me back in some regards, I am nineteen, just as you."

"I'm eighteen."

"Michael said-"

"I went somewhere where time passed a lot explained," I say. "More than a year passed here while only a day passed. It was functionally different."

"Another world?"

"The Grimoire?"

"Yeah."

Tristan did seem to also use them as his journals, so it makes sense that he'd mention other worlds.

"So," Max says after a few moments of silence. "If I allow you to read through the Grimoire, you'll grant me a dozen vials of dragon's blood essence?"

"Yes," I say. "However, I have another proposal."