Quietly, Cale had crept out of his own apartment and walked with mixed feelings in the direction of Grischa's apartment. To his surprise, he didn't meet any other people, which is why he arrived there unnoticed and stood in front of the door for a moment, undecided. He could clearly feel his friend lying in the room next door, probably asleep there.

When he opened the door, he could feel his heart starting to beat like mad and he became nervous. Without making a sound, he closed the door again behind him and suppressed his mana, but this time not completely. It seemed rude to him, as if he were breaking into a stranger's home - which, indirectly, he was doing. Whereas, Grischa had allowed him to come into his home at any time.

With big steps, he went to Grischa's half-open bedroom door and peeked out cautiously. A window in Grischa's room was open and the wind gently made the curtains move, so Cale's attention fell on it at the first moment. He then glanced at Grischa, who was asleep with his face toward the window and didn't really seem to notice the visit. Gently, Cale approached Grischa, who finally noticed the presence.

Saying nothing, the green eyes caught sight of him, while Cale remained almost rooted to the spot between the bed and the window. It took him a moment to notice that Grischa wasn't fully awake, and he remembered that he was quite the morning person. The flying curtain obscured Grischa's view for a moment, so Cale moved closer to him and knelt down in front of the bed, as he had with William.

The man surveyed him for a while before speaking up in a dry voice.

"Why don't you say something?", Grischa spoke up quietly. Guilt overtook him at that moment. Was Grischa mad at him? Because he had disappeared again? Because he hadn't told him about the time travel? Because he knew Cale was responsible for the headache?

"What exactly do you want me to say?", Cale stated quietly as he squatted upright in front of Grischa, holding his slightly shaking hands close to his body.

"Go back to sleep, it's not even bright yet", Grischa interjected almost amused, which abruptly relieved Cale. A smile tugged at his face and his nervousness was gone all at once. He raised his hand and caringly ran it over Grischa's face. He seemed fine and his mana was also fine, which reassured Cale.

"Go back to sleep, it's not even bright yet", he repeated, and satisfied, Grischa closed his eyes. For a moment they were both silent until Grischa's hand came out from under his blanket and he reached for Cale's hand.

"Where have you been?"

"I was talking to some new friends about the gods and the world", Cale explained truthfully. He wanted to talk to the Eldest first before he told about his encounter with the dragons. After all, this brought a problem that Cale could not handle alone. His actions put the entire Magistrat at risk if the wrong people found out about it.

"New friends? Weren't we enough for you? Are you going to leave us behind again?"

His friend's words sounded sad, causing Cale to look down at the ground unintentionally.

"I won't leave if I don't have to", he replied, as he recalled Fengari's face. Cale was pretty sure that their encounter would not be the last. Besides, he had also been toying with the idea of going back to the Holy Isle recently, but he postponed that until the new year for now. He couldn't distance himself that far without being sure that people would survive without him.

"Is Exarion a prison for you?"

"It's complicated", Cale explained, looking again at his friend, who held his hand tightly in front of his face. "I don't know what to make of it myself. I actually love Exarion, but equally I pretty much hate it. But I don't really have a choice, do I?"

"You always have a choice, Caleb", Grischa replied softly. "You just don't see it because you're up against a wall you can't get over."

"You're probably right about that, actually", Cale confessed. "But there are things more important in life than my own will."

"And if you followed your own will? What would you do then?"

"If I... if I could really do what I wanted... then I would buy a house on the Sylve coast and open a small library."

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"Pretty unspectacular... I would have expected more", Grischa replied, yawning so that tears came to his eyes.

"For you, perhaps. I'd be glad of some rest."

"I can understand that", Grischa confirmed with a tired look. Irritated, Cale watched Grischa loosen his grip as if allowing him to leave. It almost seemed as if he was still half asleep and didn't realize that Cale was really present.

"Get some more sleep, we'll talk when I get back", Cale quietly spoke up. Grischa didn't object and merely closed his eyes, which Cale took as a 'yes'. Quietly, Cale exhaled and straightened up. Grischa didn't move anymore, so Cale left the bedroom without comment. Once in the hallway, he made his crystal appear and tried to make contact with the Eldest as he walked towards his apartment.

"Are you back?", was the first thing he heard from the Eldest.

"Yes. Can we talk?", Cale replied monotonously. Consciously, he let his mana leak out a little more clearly, while he found that the Eldest was not in his apartment. Therefore, he quickly turned around and headed towards the exit. If the Eldest was not in his apartment, he was probably in the office.

"Where are you?"

With his head held high, Cale stepped out into the cold and he glanced at the group of mages talking with Rangar. Quickly, he disappeared behind the wall, feeling no interest in talking to him now.

"On the way to your office"

"Come to the kitchen", the Eldest asked, causing Cale to stop in front of the stairs in surprise. The kitchen? Why the kitchen? The kitchen was the room where most mages usually stayed. It was the hub and anchor of supplies in the house, so what was the Eldest doing there?

"I'm on my way", Cale simply replied, disconnecting.

Cale didn't question the decision much as he turned off and followed directions. As expected, he also encountered a few people who bowed politely to him. As he neared his destination, he could clearly feel the Eldest's mana, so he cautiously opened the door. The old man was sitting at the edge of the table, holding a drink in his hand, while a few strange faces faced him. The Eldest instantly spotted Cale and the others also turned around in sync.

"Come in", the Eldest commanded. Silently, Cale nodded and closed the door as he approached the crowded table with his head held high. "Do not be surprised. These are mages here who would like to join the creature classes."

"Students of mine?", Cale admitted in wonder, skeptically glancing over the wild bunch. He hadn't expected that.

"You could say that. She'd rather be taught by Zod Adenia himself than by you."

Cale had to laugh at the statement, which must have shocked the others. The Eldest merely remained silent and took a sip of his hot drink with relish. Even though he didn't show it, he probably found the situation amusing as well.

"I told you that their claim was irrelevant", the Eldest added calmly. Cale had to grin as he stood next to the Eldest and leaned against the wall. The mages, who were skeptical of him, watched Cale unobtrusively.

"I can assure you that it makes no difference. Zod is like my twin brother to me. What he knows, I know. It makes no difference who holds the class", Cale explained, which caused the mages to exchange silent glances.

"Sorry about that, we didn't mean to be rude", one of them raised his hand, which is why only Cale waved it off.

"That's all right. It's your right to make your own decisions. It's just that we're not in the situation to move so freely, unfortunately. That I have become the teacher has its reasons, even if it may seem strange to the outside world. In the Magistrat I am probably the only one of us who really knows every creature", Cale explained matter-of-factly and the Eldest nodded in agreement.

The mages said nothing more in response. Some of them seemed to be considerably older than Cale, which had probably led to the discussion in the first place, but none would dare to be disrespectful to a High-Magician. At least not openly.

As far as nothing has changed, next week should be the official start date. When Cale had come to town, had seen dozens of pieces of paper announcing the Magistrat's intentions. Written across it was that the new school year would begin next week, and at the same time public classes would be held in the evenings for anyone interested. The Magistrat didn't name names, but the mages still must have somehow learned that Cale would be one of the teachers.

Immediately, Cale tapped Yusuf Mirai and sighed inwardly. If not Yusuf, then who?

"If there are no other questions...", Cale politely gave the word and looked down at the Eldest, who stood up at this sentence. The mages, who were also seated, stood up as well. "... then I would suggest changing the premises, Eldest."

The mages before them respected the statement unconditionally, bowed, and thanked the Eldest for his time. After a brief pause, Cale walked toward the exit and held the door open for the Eldest, who exited without much comment.

The two walked side by side in silence for a few moments, as mages were out in the hallways. Only when Cale was sure no one could see or hear him did he begin to speak.

"You were right", Cale announced, locking themselves in a sound barrier. "The dragons are not the enemies of the humans."

"That's what I thought when I saw your face. Were you able to find the dragon from your insight?", the Eldest inquired.

"Unfortunately, no."

"No?"

"The dragon from my insight is the god Mellontikos. At least that's what the dragons from the mountains of Sylve claim."

"The god of the future?", the Eldest replied, puzzled. "Well... that kind of explains a lot."

"You think so? I rather feel it raises more questions."

"I meant more that it explains how you got such a gift. Only the 'why' is unclear."

"My words", Cale confirmed, following the Eldest out into the open.

"So you were in the mountains, did you meet... other dragons? From the way it sounded just now, that seems to have been the case."

"Yes, I did. And you won't believe what they told me."