Cale had spent the night in the crypt, keeping a low profile while Fengari had a heated discussion with other dragons about what exactly she was going to do now. It was interesting to watch the dragons get together and make elaborate plans to kill all the Kormantends.

Or Thormods, as their real name was, after all.

Meanwhile, Cale had been talking with Palaios and had been able to learn a few things. His little girlfriend Chioni, it turned out Cale was correct in his guess, had been caught by a Thormod a few days before the attack on Groka. When the Dragon Queen disappeared that evening in the spring of 25, 1145, it was like two strokes of fate in one. They were still living on the Holy Island at the time, but their quarrels among themselves led to the formation of several groups, and one of these groups followed Palaios to the east, where they eventually settled. Cale never noticed any of the chaos, as the dragons were not particularly interested in interacting with humans.

Fengari was one of the exceptions. Since she was one of the youngest among them, she was open to everything, and that's why she had nurtured Cale so resolutely. Palaios himself avoided people, but when an Apostle came to his lair as a visitor, he too was interested in what this one wanted here.

Cale was somehow relieved that he was an Apostle and that Palaios had realized this immediately. The dragons had a very different set of values, which is why they would respect the Apostles of the gods and not dare harm them. Probably out of fear of the gods, but Cale kept the ulterior motive to himself.

The only thing he was still struggling with was how to make contact with Mellontikos. How did one establish contact with a god who seemed to no longer exist?

"What are you guys thinking of doing now?", Palaios quietly chimed in. Chioni and he had curled up and were lying in their little cave, a good meter beside them, Cale had made himself comfortable. Cale had told him his whole life story, from beginning to end. From his childhood to the years of the war, even his life after the 3rd wave... the years when Cale's despair was at its greatest. Palaios and Chioni now knew the ups and downs of Cale's life and understood what the world would face in the future.

A war of humans against creatures, probably triggered by the Thormods.

"I don't know. For now, I will go back to my city and keep it alive. I will educate the residents about the creatures and hopefully be able to keep them in check until I find a solution to my problem. Or do you have another suggestion for what I should do with that time? I would be open to other opinions."

"No, I'm afraid I don't", the big dragon Palaios replied soberly. It seemed hopeless for both of them. The only anchor Cale currently had was the Elder's Igrikum. His current only connection to his first, real life. Maybe it was worth a try? Perhaps Cale should focus less on protecting people and more on himself?

Cale sighed and buried himself under the thick coat he was currently using as a blanket. He watched as Fengari broke away from the hunting group and approached Cale's moping group. With an elegant, upright stance, she stopped in front of the three and fixed her gaze on Cale.

"Would you like to accompany me?", she asked quietly, as Cale looked at her in wonder.

"On the hunt?", he completed, confused.

"Yes. We're about to head north", she stated matter-of-factly, as Cale sat up straight.

"I doubt I'll be much help to you."

"I know. But maybe you'll find out one or two new things that be of help for you humans."

The dragon seemed to have overheard part of the conversation, that much was certain. Thoughtfully, Cale rubbed his head. He wasn't exactly eager to comply with the Thormods like this, but on the other hand, it wasn't that risky for him than for others. He could easily give himself the Igrikum if they caught him. By now he had felt practice at it.

"I think I will accompany you for a bit, yes. I'll go home afterwards, though", Cale stated matter-of-factly and stood up. He swung his jacket over and glanced at Chioni and Palaios, who both looked at him. "In the capital of Exarion, there was a very high house where I live. If you need me again, you can find me there. Just don't be surprised that people will attack you."

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Cale wanted to maintain the relationship between him and the dragons, who knows what use they might be to him in the future. Perhaps they would also agree to help protect the people. As he understood it, there was no one left to give them specific instructions, since the Goddess had always taken over this task. Therefore, Cale no longer considered it impossible, even if he did not want to provoke a quarrel. After all, they were still dragons he would have to contend with.

"That won't be necessary, but thanks anyway for the offer", the white dragoness raised and bowed her head to him, her spouse doing the same. "And thank you for everything you've done for us, too, Caleb. It's not only worth a lot to me, but to all my siblings as well."

"I have to thank you, too", Cale replied, bowing as well before standing up and swinging himself onto Fengari's back. "See you around."

Elegantly, Fengari swung into the air, allowing Cale to hold onto her with both hands. The flight felt different the second time around. He was no longer afraid of it and almost enjoyed flying surrounded by a good 10 dragons in the sky. They all crept unobtrusively up above the cloud cover; in the distance, far to the east behind the sea, the sun was just slowly rising.

Cale was relieved. For the first time in his life, he understood what was wrong with him, though not completely. He was glad that he had learned the truth and grateful that the Eldest had given him this abstruse idea. Inwardly, he was almost looking forward to telling the Eldest what had happened.

Gods? As strange as this thought was, it seemed logical to Cale. Who else would be able to bestow upon him the gift of rebirth? To make him immortal, so to speak?

Thoughtfully, he clung to Fengari's horn with his right hand while looking at his left. The feeling of the mana of Mellontikos and of Chioni had burned itself into his memory. It was as Palaios had explained to him today. One could perceive the mana almost with ease and pass on the feeling. Strangely, it felt like they had become a part of him. A form of mana sensitivity that even Cale had yet to experience.

"Here it is", Fengari announced after some time, stopping in midair, her followers as well. They had come uncannily fast, uncannily far. At the distance, Cale would arrive in the capital before daybreak. But he decided to stay with them a while longer and see the Thormods with his own eyes.

It was almost as if everyone took another deep breath. The dragons and Cale were silent for a moment, calming their bodies, and in one go they all shot through the cloud cover at the same time.

Excited, Cale held onto the large dragoness as his body tingled with excitement and the next moment he saw the ground. It took him a moment to spot the creatures, but by the time he noticed them, it was too late. All at once it became incredibly hot and the dragons spat enormous masses of fire to the ground. Cale didn't realize at first that among the rocks, trees, and creatures, some Thormods were running around in a panic. Creatures that carried Chioni's mana - and not a few at that.

It was as Sefra had told. The creatures shared the stolen mana. With wide eyes, he watched Fengari fly across the sky, destroying all life beneath her feet. She concentrated her fire on the Thormods, who tried to flee in great leaps and bounds. There were not many, maybe 9 or 10 of them, but one also carried Cale's mana.

"Do you sense him? The Thormod with my mana?", Cale asked screaming while Fengari ceased fire, pulled herself into the sky and took another dive. She didn't even have to answer him, Cale knew. The Thormod that disappeared the fastest from the scene was the one Fengari was targeting.

Cale watched the dragons do all the work for him. It was incredible. The ground turned red behind them as they all followed the Thormod to the north. Cale could see the creatures with his own eyes for the first time, and also watch it teleport away for the first time. Something he had thought impossible until recently.

But Fengari was right on his heels. She shot across the ground like lightning, not even seeming to pay attention to where the Thormod was teleporting. Holding onto the dragoness with both hands, Cale looked down at her face as the heat rose.

And then, somewhere just ahead of them, he suddenly sensed three people. Surprised, Cale straightened up. The Thormod was luring the dragons straight toward these three people, and Cale was suddenly afraid that they were his esteemed fellow mages. He acted without thinking much.

Instantly, he caused a barrier to form around the three people, just seconds before the Thormod shot past them and Fengari rushed in behind him. She caught the barrier full force with her fire, and Cale felt his Igrikum straining against it. Abruptly, Fengari stopped in midair and at the same moment the other dragons shot past them. She drew back her fire and fixed her gaze on people on the ground, who stood terrified under Cale's barrier.

"By the three gods, Caleb. I noticed them too late!", Fengari exclaimed , looking up at Cale scrutinizing.

"It's all right. I know", Cale admitted, jumping down from her back. "You'd better hurry, or the others will hang you."

He hovered a few feet beside the large dragon and merely smiled, causing the dragoness to bow gratefully and take off with a powerful flap of her wings. Fascinated, Cale watched the dragon hurry after the sea of flames before turning his attention to the burning ground.

It was not the High-Magicians, as Cale had feared at first. He sensed no Igrikum from them, but he had another problem at that moment.

Why had he helped the people in the first place?