In the protection of the cave filled with Nixies, the white dragon and I talked for hours. I learned about the location of the other dragons, what they looked like, things they hate and things they liked. She also gave me vague information about other worlds, asking me to look for the other dragons and get their permission.

It seems that the history of this world was a closely guarded secret, that would anger the gods and possibly destroying Eorth’s dimension. It was incomplete, but she said that the catastrophic tragedy that happened eons ago resulted in the creation of the other worlds.

A tragedy that led to creation?

I can make a guess about how and why it happened, but without any clues to go on, in the end, it just an incomplete guess. It might be the reason for our presence here or it will be a lead on how we can go back to Earth.

I also found out that lady Nix was the most studious of the four dragons. She liked learning new things, especially observing how the elements correlated with each other.

After a few hours of discussing the relation of the elements and Eorth’s creation, the moon rose magnificently in the night sky. We completely forgot the time and was so deep into our conversation, that we might’ve continued to talk until...

[Bro...]

I heard a weak voice calling for me. The only ones who would call me that way are the twins, but that voice sounded so afraid and weak that made it sound unfamiliar.

[Bro... help...!]

Again it called, this time, for help. I knew then that it was Andi. I held my hand up to lady Nix and paused our conversation while I strengthen the weak connection to Andi.

[Andi? What’s wrong?]

I closed my eyes and blocked my ears, focusing on the weak voice of my brother. Unlike Nadi, we can freely speak our minds using telepathy so even if he couldn’t talk with his mouth, he still can with his mind.

[Bro... I was attack...ed... unknown... forces... please...]

His voice flickered with a weird pause. He’s most likely under attack or badly injured that he couldn’t concentrate on telepathy!

[Andi! Tell me where you are! I’ll send Nadi to get you so set up the warp card in your position!]

I said hastily, ignoring my surroundings and focusing all my magic into reaching him. While I wait for a response, I switched to call Nadi.

[Nadi, can you set up a warp point remotely?]

I asked just in case Andi was unconscious. Even though Nadi’s mana control is unstable, she has this uncanny creativity that let’s hear create weird but useful magic. Warp is an example.

In theory, it was possible to warp or teleport, but without basis nor any calculations prior to execution, I can’t turn it into magic. But this wasn’t the case with Nadi.

We were both magicians who can use chantless magic and uses the mana outside our bodies to supplement our magic, but our differences lies with out imagination and control.

In the past year, I’ve experimented and practiced magic understanding mana as a form of energy and magic reactions and results using scientific processes, like natural phenomena. Compared to Nadi, hers is used and practiced with her creativity. For example, she explained to me how she imagined the teleportation. She said, unlike me who have a wider knowledge in science and physics, she used fiction as a base.

In teleportation, the based it on a game Andi played. To use the magic, she needs two gates on both ends from the starting point to the end point. Then all she has to do is find the presence of the gate she embedded with her magic, and activate it with the help of the person on the other end or activate it herself, remotely.

The gates are basically embedded on the waterproof cards that I made for her and can be used anywhere in the Eorth, hypothetically. Feeding it with mana can activate it, but without the other end activated, it can’t function. In this case, Nadi can remotely activate it, but it would take some time compared to activation from both side.

[Yes big brother. Which one? Yours?]

A cheerful voice echoed in my head.

[No, I need you to activate Andi’s. We got cut off earlier but he said he met with some enemies stronger than him. He’s possibly heavily injured or cornered to the point he couldn’t concentrate. I need you to go ahead, make sure he’s safe. I will follow once you activate a gate through mine.]

I said a mouthful of orders to her.

[I found where the gate is but big bro, what about big sis?]

She answered after a short pause. Li has been sleeping for almost 3 weeks now and she might wake up soon, so we need one of us to be there in case she wakes up, but our lives are much more important.

Right now, Li is safe under Mastris’ protection. Prince Theo is also there, I don’t understand his attachment to Li but... can I count on him to stay with Li?

[Nadi, call the prince and connect me to him. I need to ask a favor.]

I bit my lip as I decided to lower my pride. It wasn’t a hard decision, I was just feeling embarrassed after all that I said to him.

[Ok, be right back!]

Now, as for my gate...

I opened my eyes. I turned to look at the friendly dragon and asked for permission.

“Lady Nix, you asked earlier if I can come back and talk with you from time to time. I can fulfill that wish as long as you give me permission.”

Her face as filled with questions as to what happened earlier and what I’m asking now.

“You see, I have magic that can open a gate here so I can immediately come whenever I have time. All I need, is your permission to set this up and allow me to remotely activate it. I also ask that you don’t destroy or throw it away, because it will be another cold trek up her in Mt. Hrīm...”

I smiled wryly at her. At my proposition, she looked at me with excitement but immediately hid it from me. I guess she wanted to maintain her image of an ancient being?

Well, too late for that... hahaha...

I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

『Thou hast this one’s permission.』

With a serious face, she nodded. Then, I hastily dug in a corner of the cave and sealed the card in the whole with clear ice using magic.

I touched the card over the ice and passed quite an enormous amount of mana. After some time, a flat oblong blackness appeared. It hovered directly on top of the card, it contracted and swirled like some kind of black hole. On the side, it was thinner than paper and from the back, it looked the same as the front.

Currently, the gate is black because it wasn’t connected into anything. Passing through won’t pose any danger of disintegrating or any injuries, but if I did try right now, I will get stuck inside the black hole forever. Or at least until another gate opens, and that’s if it opens near me. If not, I’ll be in that black limbo.

I warned the dragon, she can activate the gate herself but never enter out of curiosity, because I’m afraid we might lose the ancient dragon that governs water forever. She agreed telling me to explain to her what happened earlier.

I told her about Andi and Nadi. About what might’ve happened and what I need to do next. She seemed even more excited and asked me to tell her more about it after the incident. Seeing her like that, I wanted to ask why she isolated herself.

[Big bro! I brought him!]

I was interrupted by Nadi’s cheerful voice. Afterwards, a gentle but noble voice entered my head. It was the prince’s voice, his words gave a feeling of authority but the gentleness gave off kindness.

[Lucas? Can you hear me?]

I was envious of this man. Even as weak as he is compared to Li and I, he seemed like he was in the same wavelength as Li. It was weird, odd, absurd! A weak prince that gave off strength like Li’s, just what in the world is that weird strength that puts me off?!

[Ah, yes! Your highness, I have a favor to ask.]

Absorbed in my thoughts, I answered back. Even if I don’t ask this nicely, I’m sure he would gladly accept. I mean, he seemed too attach to Li. Is he in love with her?

[Go ahead, as long as it is something I am able to do, I will gladly help.]

His kind voice was annoying and added to that was his kind words.

Hey me! Tell me, why are you so annoyed at this guy? This wasn’t the first time...

[... Then, can you watch over Leila? I need Nadi’s help so I don’t have anyone to watch over her.]

I hesitated to say, but said it anyway and I already know he will agree but, his obvious happy voice was irritating.

[Of course! As I’ve told you, I owe Vi—Leila, you and your siblings too, when you protected and saved Lord Mastris. I will make sure she is safe until you return.]

I suppressed the creeping irritation. I guess if I’m relying on him, might as well say my thanks.

[T-thank you...]