Chapter 27 - Next step

“Yareth?” Rael looked at him with confusion as soon as he heard the name. Not because the name was someone he didn’t expect. but because he didn't expect to hear it from Tiberius. He knew him as a confused and scared alien who could be used to accomplish his goal. However, Rael was unprepared for his confidence.

Rael was correct in his thoughts, but he was missing something. Tiberius was scared all the time because he didn't know how to deal with the problem. In a magical world, the only thing that can be used is magic, which he has never had. But now he could actually use it. So, instead of thinking like a scared alien, he began to think like a human with a goal.

"He attacked you," Felix broke the silence, "and I don't think it's a good idea to ask him for assistance."

"Also," Layla continued, "he is in the dungeon, stripped of all his royal status. You can't just go and get him."

"I know, but he can." Tiberius looked at Rael.

“You want me to break into the dungeon of Virelia and save the prince? The prisoner with probably the most guards and protection?” Rael asked.

“It might be too much. You are right.” Tiberius looked down.

“It is doable, but I will need help. If I go alone, I might cause unnecessary chaos, which will result in multiple criminals running out.”

“If there is a way I can help you with it, I will.” Tiberius offered.

“Not you. You wouldn’t be that useful there. But our dear explorers could help me on that,” he smirked, looking in Layla’s direction.

“Just a reminder that you are our ally, not captain. You can’t just order us to help you with that.”

“Who says I am ordering? I am kindly asking. Because everyone is here because we want to save kids, don’t we?”

Layla let out a loud sigh after hearing that. She looked around in the hopes of finding answers from other members, but she only had herself. Felix was trying to catch his cat, Tom and Carla was whispering about something, Ivy was looking at Tiberius with aggression and Tyler… He was not even with them, just reading his book with all his might.

“Okay,” she said, “we will help you. Only if it does not involve kids.”

“That won’t work,” Harald joined their conversation. “Even if Rael takes your deal, kids won’t agree. They want to be in this.”

“It does not matter,” Ivy replied. “I won’t let them in on this.”

“But here, their word should have more weight than you might think,” Tiberius joined. “While I do agree that using kids in a fight won’t be a good idea, we still need to give them something.”

“Shut up,” Layla raised her voice. “You came here a few days ago. You don’t know what they went through.”

“And that is the reason they should be part of it. Since I came here, I have seen them train nonstop. To enhance their magic, to fight better. Why do they do it? Have you ever thought of that?”

“Because—”

“Because they don’t want to be a burden to you all.” Tiberius interrupted. “You have been cleaning their backs since the day they came here. You think they are okay with it? You think they want to be dependent on you?”

“Kid is right,” Harald agreed. “Every day, I heal multiple injuries of camp members. Some are just small bruises, but some come to me with a broken arm or leg. But as soon as they heal, I see them with another injury. Not because they are careless. Because they want to be like you. Because they want to be able to stand their own ground.”

“We can’t put them in danger.”

“Who says we need to put them in actual danger? Just give them some missions. Serious ones.”

“Like what?” Ivy asked.

“I don’t know, maybe hunting—”

“They do their hunting already,” Rael interrupted. “They are not kids, Ivy. I know how you think about them. But they need to face real life slowly. I have been keeping them away for a while but I don’t think I can anymore. Especially after we went to take Tiberius.”

“Kidnap,” Tiberius mentioned.

“Yeah, kidnap Tiberius.” Rael smirked. “I couldn’t just barge into the city. Even I have limits. So I took a few of them. They did a clean job.”

“True, no one was expecting that attack.” Tiberius agreed.

“Ever since that day, they have been training harder than they used to, with a hope to be part of a mission.”

“As if you have never sent them off to the city before.” Ivy said annoyingly.

“That was their own choice. They wanted to visit their family and I let them. How would I know that someone was going to kill their parents?”

“You knew,” Felix disagreed with a smile. “But who cares? The past is past. Let’s look ahead. What is the plan?”

Silence fell over the tent. No one spoke, and they began to consider their next steps. They had a general idea, but the specifics were unclear.

“Felix, Carla,” Layla called them, “How long would it take for you to get the overall structure of the dungeon? We need to know every corner of it.”

“Two months at least,” Felix replied. “As much as I know, Virelia has the biggest dungeon. And my sweetie can’t keep that much in his mind.” He added, patting his cat’s head.

“You two,” Layla ordered, “go get the structure of the whole dungeon, so we can come up with a plan to take the prince out.”

“Without Tom?” Carla asked, holding Tom’s hand.

“Yes. I need Tom here.”

She exhaled with his nose aggressively, and left the tent. Felix and Tom followed her behind.

“Me, Ivy, Tyler, Tom, and Rael will help with the training of Tiberius and the kids.” Layla added. “If you guys are insisting on putting kids in real life, they will need more than a few punches.”

“Great plan, but I have a suggestion.” Rael interrupted.

“What is it?”

“Well, as you know, this crystal is a mana converter,” he said, taking it from Tiberius. “This doesn’t give free mana; this converts his life essence. So, if he tries to use elemental magic like the rest of you, he will be an empty shell in a year at best.”

“What do you suggest then?” Tiberius wondered.

Rael bent down and extended his arm beneath the table, retrieving a book from there. It had no image, just the text 'History of Magic.'

“This is the book I got from a cave in Tanshy.” Then he looked at Tiberius. “While I wanted to show you the cave, it would be too much for you, after all you witnessed in a single day. And there wasn’t anything exciting except for this.” He pointed at the book.

“So you expect me to study history?”

“No. While this book talks about how magic and mana came to daha, there is another part of it I want you to focus on.” Saying this, Rael opened the book and searched for a specific page, with the title ‘Prime magic.’ “This is the part I want you to focus on.”

“What is it about?”

“Well, I don’t wanna explain it too much, since it kind of bores me, but it is about the first four types of magic that existed even before elemental ones. Time, Gravity, Creation, and Destruction. "I want you to learn and master them."

“There are more magic types than elemental and ability?” Layla questioned.

“Yes, there are. But you cannot use them; only he can.” Rael pointed at Tiberius.

“Why?”

“It is simple, really. While Prime magic is not bound by mana unlike other types, it requires another type of cost.”

“And we don’t have it,” Layla continued.

“No, actually we all do.” Rael disagreed. “The problem is magic itself. A body can hold at most two types of magic. One elemental is what your body is born with and the other one is ability magic, and only if you have it. Either you can’t learn the third type, or your body will destroy itself if you force your way.”

“What type of cost are we talking about?” Tiberius asked.

“Well, I don’t remember honestly. It has been a while since I have read it. But effects should be slow as long as you use them with caution.”

“So you want me to put everything I have, physically and mentally, for a chance to go back?”

“I am not asking you something I haven’t done.” Rael replied.

“I hope it is worth it,” Tiberius said, taking the book. “Let me read this first. Give me a day or two. Then we can train however you guys want.” He added, leaving the room.