The Demon continent.

The air was thick with ash, and the ground beneath him was charred and blackened from the dragon's flames. The destruction was immense; once-great cities now laying in ruins. The dragon had been the largest creature he had ever seen, with a wingspan that stretched for what seemed like miles and teeth as long as his arm. Even now, in death, it seemed to dwarf everything around it. Helnik couldn't fathom how such a creature had managed to survive for so long, let alone wreak such havoc on the demon continent. Yet he had slain it, all by himself. Helnik had faced the beast armed only with his sword and his wits and emerged victorious. As he gazed down at the dragon's lifeless eyes, he felt a sense of satisfaction and relief wash over him. He had done what he set out to do, and the demon continent could finally begin to rebuild.

Defeating the dragon king was a great feat, one that would be remembered for generations to come. However, Helnik didn't want anyone to know that he was the slayer of the dragon king. The last thing he wanted was to attract unwanted attention and have to defend himself again.

"I'll keep my victory a secret for now," he muttered to himself.

For a moment, Helnik allowed himself to simply gaze up at the stars. "I wonder what they are doing right now," he thought about his family. It had been four years since he had come to the demon continent, and he began to ponder what they would think after he visited them after so many years of no contact. He sighed loudly before finally rising to his feet and beginning the long trek home.

As he walked, Helnik wondered what his next move should be. He had accomplished his goal of slaying the dragon king, but what would he do next? He had been so focused on his mission that he hadn't really thought about his future plans. He needed to figure out his next steps carefully. Helnik pondered this as he walked, taking in the scorched and desolate surroundings, the aftermath of his battle with the dragon king.

As Helnik walked, he couldn't help but catch a whiff of his own scent.  Helnik thought of his eldest sister, Elinnor's voice echoed in his mind, telling him that he stinks. She would often get mad at him and would demand him to take a bath whenever he came home from a long day of training. He couldn't help but chuckle at the memory, but he knew she was right. It had been days since he last bathed, and he had been so focused on his mission that he hadn't even noticed. He made a mental note to find a river or stream to wash up in soon, not only for his own sake but for the sake of those around him as well. With that thought, he continued on his journey, determined to make it home as soon as possible.

After traveling for a few days and camping by the riverside, Helnik paused for a moment and gazed at the arcane inscription on his forearm. It was a complex magic symbol that glowed faintly in the dim light. He had gotten it after opening a letter from his eldest sister, Elinnor, who had sent it to him shortly after he arrived on the demon continent. When he opened the letter, a light shone through the paper, and the rune inscribed itself on his arm. At first, he was surprised as the rune suddenly inscribed itself upon him. Still, he remembered that strong mages have enough magic and power to mark someone with a rune at long distances through letters like these and his sister was one of the most talented geniuses in the world, something like this was a small feat for someone like her. She had also included a note that read, "May this rune protect you and guide you through your journey." The memory of her words brought a smile to his face. "This is amazing," Helnik murmured to himself, admiring the intricate design of the tattoo.

As Helnik stared at the magic symbol on his forearm, it began to glow brighter and brighter. The tattoo seemed to pulse with energy, and he could feel the magic coursing through his body. Suddenly, he felt a powerful surge of energy, and he stumbled back, feeling like he was about to be pulled apart. The world around him seemed to warp and twist, and he could see flashes of light and color dancing in his vision.

Just when he thought he couldn't take it anymore, the energy abruptly stopped. Helnik was gasping for air, his heart pounding in his chest. He looked around, disoriented, and realized that he was no longer standing in the same spot. In fact, he wasn't even in the desolate demon continent. He had teleported.

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Slowly, the disorientation began to fade, and Helnik looked down at his forearm, where the magic symbol had faded back to its normal state. He couldn't believe it. He had heard of teleportation magic before, but he had never thought it was possible for someone like him to use it. As he stood there, catching his breath, he suddenly heard his sister's voice in.

"It seems like the teleportation worked," Elinnor's voice echoed in his ears.

As he looked around, he saw his sister Elinnor walking towards him. He couldn't believe his eyes. "Elinnor!" he whispered in disbelief, then ran towards her for a hug. But before he could embrace her, she kicked him in the gut, sending him falling back onto the ground.

"What the hell, Elii? Helnik asked, shocked.

Helnik got up, dusting himself off, and gave her a frustrated look.

"First thing you do when you see me is kick me? Nice to see you too, Elinnor." His annoyance was evident in his voice.

Elinnor crossed her arms and glared at him. "Well, maybe if you didn't smell worse than a pig, I wouldn't have to kick you. When was the last time you bathed, Helnik?"

"I've been camping by the river, Elii. You try staying clean while living in the wilderness," Helnik replied defensively.

Elinnor rolled her eyes. "Excuses, excuses. You could have at least tried to clean yourself up before teleporting here. Now come on, let's get you cleaned up before I allow you to step foot in our home."

Helnik laughed, knowing that she had always been very blunt. He got up, brushed himself off, and took a deep breath. It was good to be back home, even if Elinnor was giving him a hard time.

As Helnik looked up at Elinnor, he couldn't help but admire her striking appearance. She had jet-black hair that flowed down to her waist, and her almond-shaped eyes were accentuated by long, beautiful eyelashes. There was a small mole on the left side of her nose, just above her delicate lips. She was wearing a combat jacket and white pants, giving her a tough and capable appearance. If someone were to judge her by her looks alone, they wouldn't think she was your typical mage. Despite her initial harshness towards him, Helnik felt a deep sense of affection for his sister and was glad to see her again after so many years.

Helnik couldn't help but be curious about the teleportation magic that brought him to Elinnor. "Elii, how did you do that?" he asked, pointing to the magical rune on his forearm.

Elinnor smiled with a proud look on her face. "I developed it myself, Helnik," she said, standing tall and confident. "It's a unique form of teleportation magic that I've been working on for a while now. I thought it would come in handy if I need you for something."

Helnik's eyes widened in amazement. "You created this teleportation magic? That's incredible, Elinnor!" he exclaimed, impressed by his sister's abilities.

Elinnor nodded, her small smile growing bigger. "Yes, I did. And I'm glad it worked perfectly," she said, looking at the rune on Helnik's forearm. "That rune is the key to the teleportation magic. As long as that is on your arm I can know exactly where you are and have you teleported to my location."

Helnik couldn't help but feel amazed by her intelligence and magical prowess. "You never cease to amaze me, Elinnor," he said, looking at her with admiration.

Elinnor grinned, her eyes sparkling with pride. "That's what big sisters are for," she said, playfully nudging Helnik's shoulder.

"Elii, can we talk more about the teleportation magic later?" Helnik asked, curious about the magic that had brought him here.

"Of course, but first you need to take a bath. You smell like a troll's armpit," Elinnor said, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

Helnik couldn't help but chuckle at her comment. "Alright, alright. I'll take a bath first," he said, nodding in agreement.

Elinnor led Helnik to the bathroom, where she handed him a towel and pointed to the shower. "Go ahead and take a nice, long bath. I'll wait for you outside," she said with a smile.

As Helnik was about to head into the bathroom, he noticed that Elinnor looked worried about something. Her brows were furrowed, and she was biting her lower lip, a tell-tale sign that something was troubling her. Helnik hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should ask her about it, but decided against it. He knew that his sister would tell him when she was ready. With a sigh, he turned and walked into the bathroom, hoping that a good bath would help him clear his mind.

After a refreshing bath, Helnik came out of the bathroom feeling like a new man. He walked back into the living room where Elinnor was waiting for him. "So, why is it so quiet? Where is everyone?" Helnik asked, hoping for some good news.

Elinnor's expression darkened, and she hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Helnik, We need to talk."