All the other imp in the room had sensed the weight of their master's aura. Even at this distance, they had been disturbed by it, and they feared what could happen to their leader who was the nearest to it right now. When the aura had been the most oppressing, some of them fell to the ground, incapable of moving.

Then came the screaming voice of Asterife and after that nothing. The weight in the air vanished and silence came back in the room.

The imps who were down stood up again, then looked at each other. Together, they ran to see what happened to their leader. What they saw was Asterife on his back with the master next to him, trying to wake him up, a desperate look on his face.

"Asterife! Answer me Asterife! "

Maximilian had turned the body of Asterife, putting him on his back. Seeing the imp laying motionless, face on the ground, had been like an electric shock. The man had jumped on his feet and run the few meters separating them before falling on his knees.

"Master? "

Imupa and the other imps were standing around Maximilian and Asterife, not really knowing how to react.

"Umipa, I think it's my fault. We have to help him. Quick, give me the Havenbag, I must give him a health potion. "

"It wouldn't work master. "

Maximilian looked at umipa who had a sorry look on her face.

"What? Why? Umipa, explain to me, please. "

"We are invocation, master. We don't work like you do. We live by and for mana, nothing more. And even with that said, he is not in any condition to drink anything. "

Maximilian stood and came to umipa. Putting his hands on her shoulder, he put one knee on the ground to level his head with hers, looking her in the eyes.

"There must be a way to help him, Tell me please. "

The female imp was clearly not in her place here, so close to the master. Fidgeting a bit, she told him.

"I suppose there's a way. You could transfer some mana to him. But beware, it's not the same as charging any Artifact. It takes

a lot of mana to revitalize an invocation, you could d..."

He didn't even wait for her to finish. He was once again next to Asterife. Putting his hands on the imp's chest, he concentrated on giving mana to him.

*I'll make it. If I can recharge a freaking crystal of life, I sure as hell can save him.*

But it wasn't working. Maximilian first let his mana go so it would be taken by the imp, but his mana just dissipate into the air.

*Okay, the crystal was taking it by himself but here it seems like I'll have to...*

Concentrating, Maximilian accumulated more and more mana in his hands, while the over imp looked at him without a word.

*there, it should be enough. The truth is I think more would definitely destroy him. Odds, give me good luck.*

Making a little prayer to the god of luck, he pushed his hands slightly on the imp's chest. The mana sphere he made disappeared inside of Asterife, making his body jumped as if he had received a defibrillator discharge.

Suddenly opening his eyes, Asterife coughed violently. Around him and Maximilian, the other imps didn't hide their joy. The imp leader sat with the help of Maximilian. Looking around him, he seemed kinda lost.

"What...what happened? "

"You come back from far away, my friend. "

Umipa came kneeling next to Asterife.

"My lord, the master saved you. You were nearly gone. We...we couldn't feel you anymore. "

Maximilian questioned.

"Feel him?"

It was Asterife who answered him, after a gentle smile to umipa.

"Yes master, feel. Us imps are very aware of each other, it's better for us, to work more efficiently. When one of us, in the same group, isn't felled anymore, that usually mean... "

Asterife stood before going on his knees, face on the ground, bowing even lower to Maximilian than when he did it before. Umipa and the others' imp imitated him.

"Thank you master, I owe you my life. "

Maximilian was embarrassed by the imps gesture. He knelt in front of Asterife and bowed to him, under the surprised look of all of the imps in the room.

"Master? What are you doing?"

"If your honor makes you kneel for me because I saved you, mine asks I Bow for your forgiveness. It was my fault you nearly died. All because I couldn't use my power correctly. "

The imps looked at each other, incredulous.

"Master, you don't have to bow to us. We are nothing more than tools for you to use, invocations you pay for."

"That's not how I see it."

Asterife looked at Maximilian as the human was standing up again.

"Yes I summoned you. Yes I pay for your work, and so what? The fact I summoned you was the way we met, and you are rewarded for your help. All that doesn't change the way I see you all. When I look at you, I don't see mere invocations, I see allied. And when I call you, Asterife, I don't order a slave to appear... "

Maximilian extended his hand to the imp leader, who seemed to not believe him, as if it was too good to be true.

"I ask a friend for help."

Asterife stayed there a minute, in silence, just looking at the extended hand in front of him.

"In all the history of my clan, never has it been mentioned a day where a summoner treated us as friends. I... I don't know what I'm supposed to do... "

Maximilian slightly smiled at the imp.

"Just take my hand, accept me. Not as a master, but as a friend. "

"You ask us to not call you master anymore?"

"You can call me however you want... Well as long as it's not insulting if possible. "

Umipa coughed in her fist to suppress a laugh at those words, but lowered her head when Maximilian looked at her.

"No, no, don't be ashamed."

Tired of waiting, Maximilian helped Asterife stood. Then turned his attention to umipa. Once again, he extended his hand.

"Don't be afraid of me. Talk to me, laugh with me, mock me a bit when what I do is silly. That's what I want of you."

Umipa looked up to Maximilian, then at Asterife who still seemed uncertain of what to do. She looked again in the master's eyes, so deep blue with that little bit of gold. Almost without noticing, her hand reached to his and she caught it. Maximilian smiled with all his teeth as he pulled her up, making her stood next to him and Asterife. Maximilian addressed the other imp in the room.

"And that works for you as well. This is the place of the ones I call my friend. Not on their knees on the ground, but standing by my side. "

They all looked at each other, then, one by one, started to stand. When all were up, Maximilian looked again at Asterife, once again extending his hand to him.

"So? You think you could be able to treat me as a friend? "

Asterife slowly raised his hand and shook Maximilian's.

"I can at least try...my friend. "

And like that, the tension between Maximilian and the imps almost disappeared. Of course the man wasn't expecting a total transformation in their behavior, but at least, it was clear to them they were more than welcome to come to him if anything happened, or just for talk.

After he made sure Asterife was okay by making him drink a bit, not water from the waterskin but mana water he made appeared by magic.

"I wonder how you can drink that, for me it tastes awful... "

"Oh you know, it is for us invocations the same idea as tea for you human, even if yours is particularly rich in mana."

"Tasty for you?"

"Indubitably "

"Fine then, I let you handle things here, I've got research to pursue. "

Getting back to where the scrolls were, he picked and read one after the other.

"Spell to cast fire spikes, no. Wind blade, already know it. Putrefaction? Well that is not something I don't want to l..."

Curse magic skill acquired, putrefaction spell acquired.

"... God damn it."

Not really cool with the idea of curse in general, Maximilian let the two new skills alone for now.

"So, next we have another fire spell. Ice spell. Oh, electric spell, neat. "

New skill for electric magic, maximized.

And like that all the scrolls were read. There was a lot of attack magic scrolls, one or two curse scrolls Maximilian definitely didn't like.

"Who would like to putrefied someone... That's fucked up."

One or two utility scrolls, like making a fire camp or even a sleeping spell.

"What about the sleeping spell? Hmm, maybe for insomniac mage...bah, who cares."

But no teleportation spell was found. Maximilian hit the remnants of the library with his foot, cursing his bad luck.

"Mas... Sir?"

Maximilian turned around to see umipa standing there, apparently wondering how to call him without being too familiar.

"Umipa, what can I do for you?"

"Lord Asterife send me to tell you we have almost finished and also to gather the scrolls for the Havenbag. "

"Oh, very well. But let me help you, it will be quicker. "

They started to pick up the scrolls, umipa using her imp training making sure nothing was forgotten. After all were assembled, Maximilian Bow to pick them up and heard something, like a little laugh when you try to suppress it. Looking in front of him he saw umipa looking at him with her hand before her mouth.

"Mind telling me what is so funny?"

"I know you want to help, but putting scroll in your hood seems a bit overdoing it... "

"In my...what? "

Check behind his head in the large hood of his coat, Maximilian felt indeed one scroll. This must have been blown away in the energy wave Maximilian emitted, bounced on the ceiling and fall back in there without him noticing. He opened and read it, then read it again, not believing what he saw.

"It...it can't be... "

"Sir?"

A big smile appeared on the man's face as a new skill was discovered, teleportation. He literally jumped in joy while umipa looked at him, eyes wide open.

"Are you alright sir?"

Realizing what he was doing, Maximilian calmed himself, although the big smile stayed on his face as he talked to her.

"Oh I am alright umipa. Thanks to you, I now have a way to get out of here. The scroll you discovered was about a teleportation spell..."

Umipa stayed silent for a while before asking.

"Sir, I'm sorry to ask this but why is it so marvelous for you?"

"Well, it's a spell I didn't know. "

"You didn't know the teleportation spell? But you're a Mage. That's one of the first spell they learn if my memory is correct. "

Scratching his neck, Maximilian laughed a bit, kinda ashamed.

"Well, if you must know, I didn't exactly follow the normal way to learn magic. I have power even archmage would be envious of, but there could be simple spell unknown to me and known to simple disciple. "

"Oh...now I understand, thank you for the enlightenment, sir. Is there something else we should take with us from here?"

Looking a last time around himself, Maximilian made sure everything was taken, but the furniture that is.

"It's fine, we took everything we could from here. Let's go back to the others."

as they were going back, Maximilian took a moment to examine his new teleportation spell.

It was quite simple, this spell allow him to transport himself and others, the more he took with him, the more mana was needed, and appeared next to one of the big crystal, simply called a journey crystal, like the one in the throne room where he met Dragnïr.

*it's a good thing I touched it, or else I would be in such a mess...*

the rules were simple. First, a mage could only teleport to one of the crystal he made contact with at least once in his life, so for Maximilian, only one choice.

Second, a journey crystal could be closed, but only by a powerful barrier requiring a lot of power...or several mages.

*I guess it makes sense. If there's one in a city, they would want to control when someone can enter or not.*

Maximilian and Umipa went back to the other imps, putting the scrolls in the Havenbag. Maximilian stretched himself, satisfied with the last past hours.

"It's been a very productive day so far. And thanks to you all, it didn't take long. I was wondering, I met the carriers, the elders, is there another cast in your clan?"

"Yes Maximilian..."

Asterife had begun and try calling him by his first name. Of course it was evident this was new to him, but it was OK.

"...Actually, one other cast is well used in our services, the butchers."

"Butchers? You mean like...?"

"I mean butchers Maximilian. They are called when there is cutting, slashing, monsters body to take care of. They are...how to say this...interesting fellow, but I'm sure you'll find them useful as well."

Maximilian thought a moment, an idea in his head.

"Is there a limit to the size they can handle?"

Asterife seemed a bit taken aback by the question.

"Not that I know of, why?"

"I think I may have a work for them. Let me pay you here and I'll call you back very soon..."

"Very well, we'll wait for your call, as always."

Maximilian payed them, with a big bonus to Asterife, almost forced to take it as an excuse for the troubles earlier.

After the imps were gone, Maximilian attached the havenbag and the waterskin on his belt (the havenbag at his back, left side. The waterskin at his left side.) and used the teleportation spell, concentrating on the journey crystal in the throne room.

The sensation was interesting, like falling down a hole but not feeling the fall damages.

As he appeared, nothing seemed to have change. Darkness was still only broke by the feeble crystal light, the body of DragnÏr was still here, still warm when Maximilian touched it.

*I know it's not been that long, but still...i could swear he's going to start breathing again anytime...*

Maximilian Made some little fire sphere appeared and made them slightly go in the air, illuminating the room with magic made torches.

Before the body of the dragon, he took a moment to pay respect.

"Dragnïr, those presents you made me, I thank you for them. Thanks to you, I feel ready to go and explore this new world. As a last mark of respect, I'll make sure what's left of you will not be wasted. Goodby, and thank you again."

Once again, Maximilian called Asterife, the imp appearing and slightly bowing.

"You called, my friend?"

"Indeed. So this is what I would like you to take care of."

Maximilian pointed at the dragon's body behind Asterife who turned around.

"So what is it that you w... HOLLY SHIT A DRAGON!!!"

Asterife made a jump that took him a good meter back. Maximilian couldn't suppress a laugh at the imp reaction.

"Please don't mock me, this took some years away from me."

"Sorry, sorry, it's just so out of character to hear you swear like that...so, can you help me?"

"I don't think this will be a problem."

Asterife summoned two dozen of carriers, Umipa with them, and two dozen of another kind of imps. Those one were larger than the others, with a more ruthless look, and a lot of different instrument, from knife to hammer and a lot of other things, at their belt. One of them, seemingly speaking for the others, took a step forward and hit his chest with his fist.

"Hello boss, me and my pals are the butchers, we will take care of the monster bodies so you don't dirty your pretty face."

One or two of them smirked a bit at that. Maximilian looked an instant at Asterife who was sighing.

"Told you master, they are quite special."

"It's okay, I like them."

Scratching his chin, the butcher leader seemed inpatient.

"So, what is it you need us for?"

Without a word, Asterife and Maximilian pointed at the dragon's body. All the imps turned around and stepped back a bit, some more quickly than the others.

Bowing to speak near the butchers hear, Maximilian said.

"Please take care to not dirty yourself too much with the dragon's blood..."

The butchers and other imps looked back at him. The butchers' leader pointed at the dragon than at him, mouth opened.

"It was you who...?"

Maximilian simply nod, a little smile on his face. The butchers all straighten themselves as one and got to work.

While the imps were busy literally dismembering the remnant of the dragon, Asterife spoke to Maximilian a bit.

"Between us, was it really you who...did this?"

"Killing the dragon, yes. But not by choice to be frank."

"I don't understand."

"Let's say it happened because of a god casting a teleportation spell on me, and I appeared...inside this dragon's chest."

"Aouch...I suppose it didn't survive for long after that."

"Not that much, no."

"Okay, thanks for the explanation."

"Anytime my friend, anytime."

Even if their manners weren't the best, the least you could say about the butchers was that they were very effective. The massive form of the dragon's body was taken care of at an incredible speed. First it was the scales, one by one taken off the body, from tail to nose. Then came the spikes and horns. After that, they attack de flesh itself. Having nothing in particular to do, Maximilian was making more mana coins while scanning the different body parts going in the Havenbag. He was surprised to see, in the description of the dragon's flesh,"edible" was one of the characteristic.

*Damn, I could eat Dragnïr's flesh...I swear I will only do that on special occasion. It's dragon's meat for god sake, I cannot sell it, that's for sure, it wouldn't be respectful.*

The scale and horns were forge parts, even if Maximilian didn't know right now what he would do with it.

Dragnïr's organs were all very rare ingredient for alchemy, and the size they had indicated the vast quantity it could be used for...quite a lot actually.

*Who knows how many adventurers had live their life searching those kinds of ingredients...i have to read the alchemy book, I don't want to waste any of those.*

A good hour later, the butchers had finally finished taken care of the meat and were now trying to break the bones.

If they could spread to different parts earlier for the meat and scales, making their work quicker, they had to form groups of five to manage taking the bones apart.

Seeing the bones were cleaned from any flesh or any fluid, Maximilian decided to help them.

"What are you doing boss? It's not something you could do, let us handle the hard work."

Signaling him to wait a moment, Maximilian grasped one of the dragon skeleton's rib and tear it off easily under the wide eyed butchers.

"I killed it, remember?"

"So...sorry for the disrespect boss."

Seeing the butchers getting all humble, Maximilian give them the rib.

"There's still work to do guys, don't go all timid on me now..."

"You can count on us boss"

With that said the work get back on track. Maximilian was taking the skeleton apart while the butchers broke the bones in smaller pieces, or powder, to put them in different jars that were after that put in the Havenbag.

With the help of Maximilian, the skeleton was soon taken care of and nothing subsided of dragnÏr's body, only the traces of his blood on the ground that the butchers could not recover.

"Okay, it's done. I want to thank all of you for your help. The treasures rooms and the disposal of the body would have taken me so much time alone. I will now pursue my journey, but be sure I'll call you again if needed."

All the imps saluted him, the carriers slightly bowing and the butchers hitting their chest with a fist.

All but Asterife disappeared after being paid. Slowly walking to the only door in the throne room, Maximilian took some time to talk with him.

"So, where are you going next, Maximilian?"

"I don't really know Asterife. This world is new to me. But before I get to travel, I've got to get out of here, and I don't know why, I feel like it's not going to be easy..."

"This could be true my friend. If what I've learned is right about dragons, there's one thing they have in common."

"What is it?"

"They like to take for lair the most inaccessible places, be it top of mountain, or end of dungeons. And looking by those window, I can assume this is not a mountain, at least not her top."

"Sooo... dungeon?"

"Probably yes."

"With traps?"

"I suppose."

"And monsters who's only objective in life is eating adventurer like me, even while I'm still alive?"

"Most certainly."

"My god this is going to be fun."

First Asterife thought the man was sarcastic. Then he saw his big smile and just sight while laughing a bit.

"You truly are a special one."

"See you later Asterife."

"Take care, Maximilian."

And the imp disappeared. Maximilian pushed opened the big wood doors to reveal a set of stairs going up, situated above the emptiness and darkness from which, if you fall, you could be sure you wouldn't come back.

"And here I come, adventure"

With those words, Maximilian climbed the stairs, leaving the throne and treasures rooms behind him.