<"Are you hiding up here?">

Fengari, who was running elegantly on the roof of the Magistrat, ran towards the edge and took an interested look down. Several mages had gathered and seemed to be talking energetically, so no one noticed the small cat above them.

"I just wanted some quiet time to think", Cale confessed, as he lay on his back and stared up at the darkening sky. Cake had rejected the Eldest's suggestion for now, so Damian simply asked him to think about it in peace.

"I don't understand you humans", the feline form surprisingly admitted aloud.

"Yeah, I don't understand them either. I don't even understand myself", Cale interjected, closing his eyes. So many new things had happened in the last few weeks that by now he was wondering where it had all started. His plan was perfect. He wanted to be recognized as a High-Magician, to gain power over the Magistrat's decisions and to use Grischa's knowledge for himself. After that, he wanted to take a year off to also expand his influence in Sylve and Frignez, while inconspicuously preparing the three countries for war. He deliberately left Winstest out of it, because he knew the country too little for that and also didn't have the time. Everything could have worked out wonderfully, after the second wave of attack he would have joined forces with Sylve and then selectively killed the creatures. But why... why did Grischa have to expose him back then? This revelation had made a huge mess after only 5 years of work. It had destroyed his whole plan and Cale was forced to rethink his plan for the next 15 years in just one night. Cale was in no position to blame anyone for the future getting so out of hand. From the beginning, it had been he who held fate with his bare hands.

"Fengari", Cale finally gave voice, glancing at the small figure. "Aren't you afraid?"

"Afraid? Me? Have you forgotten who I am?", she returned with a sneer.

"I mean, I basically told you that the world was going to end. Doesn't that make you think?"

"I can't say that I haven't thought about what you've revealed to us. But that does not mean that I am afraid. The word does not exist for us", she threw back and began stretching her body.

<"We dragons believe that everything is done in the will of the gods, Caleb">, another, surprisingly female voice spoke up. Chioni had made herself heard and had overheard part of the conversation.

<"So you assume that even your death serves a higher purpose because the gods want it that way?">

<"Simply put, yes.">

Cale held back from commenting further. To him, it felt like talking to members of the faith community on Winstest. They ignore all logic and invoke everything they did as the will of the gods. But unlike the humans, Chioni had actual contact with one of the gods, so Cale could understand where this radical viewpoint came from.

<"What about you. Why are you afraid of death if you have the gift of rebirth?">, Fengari spoke up, which made Cale sigh. It was an idiotic question to ask someone who had already died five times why he was afraid of death.

<"It's not like I'm afraid of death itself. It's more like I have a problem with what I leave behind. After all these decades, I can't get over the death of the people I care about. In fact, that's the only reason I haven't given up yet. Secretly, I hope to create a future in which everyone can be happy.">

<"And by what do you define happiness?">, Fengari interjected and jumped on Cale's chest, causing him to flinch briefly and then look into the little dragon's bright eyes. <"Your idioms may be exemplary for someone of your race, but you forget something. The opinion of others. Have you ever given them the chance to decide their future on their own? No. You decided for them and that, human child, is a fact.">

<"Why are you so in favor of me sharing the secret with the rest of the world, Fengari?">

<"It affects them all, not just you. Just look at your leader for once. You gave him the freedom to make his own decision and by doing so, he managed to bury his ambivalence and see the obvious. It is only because you gave him the choice that you have come this far, human child.">

Cale sighed at Fengari's call. She was absolutely right on that point. If the Eldest had not been able to voice his opinion as he had, Cale would have known nothing about the disappearance of the gods. In all likelihood, he would never have received this information if others had not interfered in his life. Cale had a plan, but in reality it was a stopgap with no real future. Even if he managed to protect people this time, after his death all efforts would have been for naught. There was no point in continuing to focus on the small details, he had to start getting to the root of the problem.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

<"I understand what you're trying to tell me, Fengari. It's just that it's not that easy. I don't think my friends, let alone strangers, are ready for the truth.">

"And that's where your issue lies. How can you claim your friends are 'friends' if you don't trust them?", Fengari shouted out loud as if scolding him. Cale's blood, on the other hand, froze in his veins. In fact, he had never looked at his behavior from this side before. He demanded all people to trust him, yet did not muster the confidence towards them?

<"Don't yell at him like that, Fengari. I still need him">, Chioni spoke up, which is why the little dragon only let out an offended growl.

<"Is there a reason you made contact?">, Cale cleared his throat and straightened up, causing Fengari to jump down and go back to her post.

<"Yes. I made contact with the dragons on the other side.">

That was a statement Cale hadn't expected to hear like that. He assumed that the group of dragons in the mountains of Sylve would take care of the problem with the Thormods on their own, but why were they suddenly involving the dragons they had once distanced themselves from?

<"I thought you had parted ways?">

<"That was the case, but we have put aside our differences for the moment, which is why most are willing to hear our story.">

Cale was impressed that Chioni had managed to bury the past in a day to work toward a greater common good. Although he wasn't entirely sure what factors had led to the conflict, he was amazed that both sides were seeking a peaceful resolution.

<"What do you want to tell them?">

<"Everything. I see no reason to hide anything from my brothers and sisters">, Chioni replied in a confident voice. Basically, the dragoness intended to tell dragons all over the world that Cale could not die. However, it was this very thought that made Cale nervous. <"But...">

<"But?">, Cale repeated in wonder.

<"I respect it if you want to withhold your identity.">

Was this what Fengari had been alluding to? This situation? Chioni was letting him independently choose his fate, even though she didn't have to. She would deliberately keep things secret from her peers if Cale desired them? What was it about this fact that left Cale so incredibly depressed?

<"It's fine, you can tell them about me. If you want, I'll be happy to take part in the conversation myself">, Cale stated calmly. Cale didn't really know himself why he didn't care that the dragons knew about it. Probably just because they didn't know him and wouldn't attack him either, if the words could be trusted that dragons weren't allowed to touch an Apostle of a god.

<"That would have been my second question. Now then. Think about whether you trust your friends and want them to be part of this conversation.">

<"What do you have in mind?">

<"Well, for the moment, I just want to inform my family of the situation, and then... I want to talk to the leaders of your civilization.">

In a split second, Cale was on his feet, horrified and panicked, before screaming out loud.

"What?"

<"When you look at the facts, this is a necessary conclusion. We dragons are strong, but not omnipotent. Even though I never thought to say this once, but... we need your support.">

"Do you intend to launch an offensive against the Thormods?", Cale interjected indignantly, before realizing that a mana source was rapidly approaching his location. It was unmistakably Grischa.

<"Not necessarily, but it could come down to that. But I am more interested in what my brothers and sisters think of what has happened.">

Cale felt a chill run down his spine when he heard Chioni's statement. Basically, the dragon lady was planning to pull the world war forward by several years, which Cale saw as more than premature. It was life-threatening, if not suicide.

"I knew it, I heard your voice. What are you doing here?", Grischa suddenly spoke up, causing Cale to turn around to the back. His friend was standing in full gear a few feet behind him, so Cale assumed he must have flown onto the roof.

<"I'll give you until midnight tomorrow, after that we'll proceed with or without you">, Chioni calmly gave the word and Cale could literally feel her presence disappear in the next moment. Unwillingly, he stared at his friend, who quietly approached him before he felt Fengari against his legs.

<"Did you know about this, Fengari?">

<"No, not really. Chioni had merely forbidden me to hunt for the Thormods on my own, nothing more.">

<"That's why you came here. You had hopes I would do it, didn't you?">

"Hey, what's wrong? You don't look so good, Caleb", Grischa interjected, now standing face to face with the young High-Magician.

<"That was one of the main reasons, yes. But the part about my support wasn't a lie. I want to stay here, among you humans, and help if I can.">

Cale sighed. He really wanted to give himself a break and not suddenly think about going to war. And to top it all off, he should reveal his history and involve the other countries in this endeavor. So much for them respecting his decision. Starting a war would inevitably mean involving the people.

<"Are you angry?">

"Of course I'm angry, Fengari!", Cale roared. Two surprised looks immediately latched onto him, and Cale himself was also puzzled at having lost his temper.

<"He can hear you">

"I'm aware of that", Cale replied, completely ignoring the fact of how disconcerted Grischa just looked at him.

"Well, that was unexpected. I didn't think your opinion would be so easily swayed. You had already toyed with the idea, could it be?", Fengari gave in, causing Grischa to take a step back in surprise.

"Well, i was forced to", Cale pointed out, looking sharply at Fengari. "The Eldest will kill me if I tell him what you're up to."

"I doubt it. From what I've seen so far, your leader seemed to have similar thoughts."

"What?", Cale admitted in surprise, watching as Fengari took a few steps to the side. Both Grischa and Cale followed the small figure with their eyes.

"Well, it's just a suspicion, but... didn't you say your leader could see the future?"