As Kael and Igni put the still-sleepy Cirri back to sleep, Kael turned towards Igni, placed him on his lap again and grinned.
Igni could finally talk now.
It was nothing short of a golden opportunity. There were so many things Kael wanted to ask and learn.
Yes, most of the time, he could understand what Igni was trying to tell him because of their connection. That, however, had its limits.
He couldn’t have an actual conversation with him.
Now, however, it was different.
“Are you sure you are okay?”
He questioned once again, just to be sure.
Yes, he was that annoying kind of parent who only knew how to worry about his child.
Even if he had a lot of questions, his worry for Igni still overpowered everything else.
“Yes, Father, I am more than fine.
I feel… different.”
Igni nodded, rubbing his head on Kael’s hand while Kael rubbed his bulging belly.
“Different? Different how?”
Kael questioned.
“My connection with Flames is much stronger than before. Earlier, I used Dragon Magic to conjure flames, but…
Now, it feels as if Flames themselves would bow down to me.”
Igni answered, and Kael’s expression changed.
Too many things that he had no clue about were said.
“Wait, wait, wait, I am lost.
This was actually what I wanted to talk to you about. How did you cast magic before? What is this Dragon Magic you mentioned?”
Kael questioned.
He still hadn’t forgotten how Igni created Fireball for the very first time. That day, Kael figured out that the little Dragon directly influenced the Fire Elements and moved them as he wished. However, when he tried to copy it, he failed.
Back then, Kael thought it was because the number of Fire Elements he could control was extremely limited.
However, even now, when he could control a higher number of Elements, he couldn’t even form a little spark, let alone a Fireball.
Something was missing.
Kael just didn’t know what it was.
“Dragon Magic is a Magic limited to us Dragons. It allows us to interact with Elementals with our thoughts alone, making it possible to conjure magic with minimal Mana.”
Igni answered intelligently.
“So… I cannot use it?”
“A Human should not be able to.”
Igni shook his head.
Kael sighed in disappointment.
“What about now? You said you feel different now. What changed? What do you mean when you say the Flames bow down to you?”
“It just became… easier for me to control flames. While I still use Dragon Magic to conjure Flames, it has become much easier for me, as if the Flames themselves are waiting for me to command them.”
“So that means now you need even less Mana to cast stronger spells?”
“That is correct.”
Kael was awed when he heard those words.
“Igni, you are getting more and more broken.”
“Broken?”
Igni tilted his head as he stared at his father. Kael just chuckled as he playfully rubbed Igni’s snout and smiled,
“I am saying you are getting stronger and stronger. It is becoming difficult for me to catch up.”
“I will make sure you never catch up.
I will become strong enough to protect Father.”
“Will you now?”
Kael chuckled.
“You know…”
Then, his expression changed as he stared at the screen in front of him.
[Ancient’s Call]
“I might have a way to get stronger as well.”
One of his Talent Abilities he awakened today, or the ‘EX Ability’ as the System calls it.
Kael stared at the ability for a while, and its description became more detailed.
[Ancient’s Call]
[Description:]
[An extraordinary ability that allows you to teleport to the Ancient Sanctum, a separate dimension where the Ancients once thrived. Within this realm, time flows differently, allowing you and your bonded beasts to train, battle, and grow stronger at an accelerated rate.]
[Effect:]
[Randomized Entry: Each time you activate this ability, you are teleported to a different domain within the Ancient Sanctum, influenced by the Ancients you have awakened.]
[Trial of the Ancestors: You and your Bonds will engage in battles against echoes of powerful ancient creatures to hone your abilities and unlock deeper potential.]
[Time Distortion: Time moves differently in the Ancient Sanctum. One hour inside the Sanctum equals only six minutes in Nerathis.]
[Deathless Domain: Every time you leave the Sanctum, your injuries and those of your Bonds are healed. You and your Bonds cannot die inside the Sanctum.]
[Cooldown: 24 Hours]
‘Should I try it…?’
Kael thought inwardly.
The ‘Deathless Domain’ attracted his attention. It was a place where he could go all out without worrying about anything.
A temptation Kael couldn’t ignore,
So…
He decided to use this ability, and the moment he thought about it,
Whoosh
A crack appeared in front of him.
Yes, a crack, in the very space in front of him.
“Father…?”
Igni frowned, even Kael was surprised.
The crack was becoming wider and wider. It sparkled like a soap bubble, all rainbow colors and shifting light. It looked like a doorway made of gems, with emerald, blue, and gold swirling inside. It glowed softly, as if tempting Kael to walk in.
‘Is this… a portal?’
Kael wondered.
‘Am I supposed to walk through it?’
“Father, be careful.”
Igni muttered in a tone much more serious than before.
The Little Dragon even freed himself from Kael’s embrace and stood in front of him, true to his words, he was protecting his Father.
“Igni?”
Kael called out with a frown, he wanted to know what the Dragon was thinking or… sensing.
“Father, the energy coming from the other side…
It’s unfamiliar.”
“Unfamiliar?”
“Yes, I have never sensed something like this…
It’s… not from Nerathis.”
“You can tell that?”
Kael was taken aback.
Hearing a strange question, the Little Dragon turned around, somewhat understanding the situation.
For this thing to appear just when his father talked about getting stronger…
“Father, do you know what this is?”
“I…”
Kael thought about it for a moment.
A Portal suddenly forming in front of him… all of this was still too new for him.
But, if he thought about it, everything around here was new to him.
He was talking to a literal Dragon for God’s sake!
“I do.”
Kael nodded, then, a wide grin appeared on his face and,
“It is our new playground.”
“A playground?”
Igni tilted his head in confusion.
“That is correct. A playground where you do not have to hide. A place where you can go all out, a place where we can face different challenges and grow stronger together.”
“Together with Father…?”
“Exactly.”
Kael’s smile widened and,
“Do you wish to try?”
“I do.”
Igni nodded, his amber eyes shining brightly, unable to hide his curiosity and excitement.
Igni, however, wasn’t the only one excited for it.
“Nyu!!”
Cirri, who had woken up again, cheered as well.
She had absolutely no clue what was happening in front of her. However, seeing her father and brother smiling, she joined them as well.
Whatever they were going to do, she was going to follow!
Or at least… that’s what she thought…
“No, not you.”
Kael quickly picked the little thing up and placed her back inside the Sanctuary.
Then, he turned towards the Fire Dragon and,
“Let’s go, Igni.”
“Yes, Father.” Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire