Just outside the foot of the mountain was a hole. Well, more of a cave than a hole, but carved out of magic. It was nearly six meters wide and tall, and went down at an angle so steep that you'd need to be able to fly to get out without a rope and pitons. It wasn't straight down, but it was steep enough at the opening that most wouldn't know the difference at a glance. Just like when I leapt from the fort's walls, I created a powerful updraft and slowed my descent. I landed, not exactly gracefully, but without injury, and placed my hand on the luminous braids, pouring mana into them. The tunnel lit up for a few hundred feet past the opening.

"This should have been lit already." I said, confused. From the distant darkness, I saw a group of about twelve familiars making their way towards me.

"Oh! Thank the dragons! The braids ran out of mana on our way up, and we were told not to use any fire magic, so we couldn't find them in the dark." A Neame said, fluttering up to me. "We have just been following the wall for quite some time." As the approached, I noticed that each of the familiars was carrying loads of dirt in crates, empty daljars by the dozen, and empty bags.

"I'll light up a few more on the way. Why can't you use fire magic?"

"Something about trapped gas and the air." The Neame said. "You would have to ask Chancellor Aye-Aron that. He is the one in charge down here. Now, if you would excuse me, I need to get these supplies dropped off and refilled." He said, and flew up and out of the tunnel. A few moments later, a dozen Neame flew in, and started using mana wrapping to carry everything out. I knew why the opening to the tunnel was such a sharp drop, I was one of the ones who helped decide it, but still, it seemed like such an inconvenience for the workers.

Turning away, I started my descent and noticed a few runes that had been broken. Summoning some supplies to fix them, I did what I could before filling them with mana again. A moment later, fresh air started swirling around the tunnel for a few meters. As I went, I fixed a few more broken runes, and filled up the braids that started to dim or had already gone out. After a certain point though, that was no longer an issue, and the cave steadily grew brighter. Not from some ominous light source, but because these braids simply never needed to be refilled. The ambient mana was enough to keep them lit. I passed other convoys of Neame and familiars on the way, each heading towards the top, and some even passed me on the way down as I stopped to refill the braids. It was like a busy ant colony. Some Neame and familiars were working on the walls, installing runes, or upkeeping and replacing braids, or digging out traps. Special one, meant to help kill the dragon. That's what this tunnel was, in truth; a mile deep kill-box. Every few meters there was a trap for the express purpose of causing extreme injury to the dragon, and a few Neame training to work it properly. Sela-Car designed them herself with Chaos-Magic in mind. As I walked, I passed a few places where fighting had clearly taken place. Blood of various colors was splattered on the walls, and the bodies of dead Echoes poked out from underneath fallen rubble. My mind flashed back to the last time I'd seen them, trapped under this very mountain, latched firmly onto my arms and legs. I had to take a deep breath and avoid looking at them or else the claustrophobia would start to set in. Thankfully, the tunnel was large enough that it wasn't causing me to freak out. It had to be, so that the dragon would be able to fit into it. There were other bodies too. Not Neame, but other creatures, probably familiars who died in the fight. Left to rot in the face of a much more pressing issue.

Finally, I arrived at the portal. It swirled and twisted on itself like crashing waves, then it would flatten out and swirl inward like a whirlpool. It was mostly a deep green, but the edges shimmered and reflected the light in all angles, making them glitter like a rainbow occasionally. All around were Neame at work, digging this swirling mass out of the earth and rock, and they were nearly done. The workers also seemed uneasy, swaying as if they were standing on water. One of the workers fell over, got picked up by a pig-like familiar with a prehensile tail, and was carried past me out of the cave.

"Farnír, welcome." A voice nearby called out. It was Chancellor Aye-Aron.

"Is that Neame okay?" I asked, concerned by his lack of concern.

"Oh, he will be fine. Our workers have been cycling out from mana-sickness ever since we unearthed this world-split. They need only to cast some spells and get the excess mana out then rest. Nothing to worry about." He said. Another Neame nearby then proceeded to fall over and also get carried out by a dog-like familiar.

"Why aren't the familiars effected?" I asked.

"The are, but their masters will fall unconscious before the familiars die, so we have yet to-" Suddenly, a familiar fell over limp, followed quickly by the Neame it was by. "Apep's whispers! Fimmtíð, take him out, and someone move that familiar." One of the Neame from my class that I'd named appeared, and used mana wrapping to carry the Neame out of the large open area. They went out through the tunnel I'd entered from. A few other Neame then used mana wrapping to pick up the familiar and place it out as well. "Well, only once. Anyway, how are you, Farnír? Was there something you needed?"

"I'm okay. No, I just… needed to see it for myself." I said, looking once again at the portal. It was the first time these eyes had seen it, but it looked exactly as I remembered.

"Ah, yes. It is rather something, is it not? How powerful the dragon's must be, to be able to cross through this split."

"Even they can only stay inside for a few seconds." I said, and watched that twisting mass silently for a few moments. It hummed and crackled like static electricity, then would switch seemingly randomly to a roar like a train's horn. Almost as if it knew the ferocity of what was trapped inside, and struggled to keep it contained.

"My I ask you something, Farnír? What is it exactly? This split."

"It is a bridge between worlds."

"What is a bridge?"

"It's a tunnel between worlds."

"… Ah. So, it connects two different locations together?" He said.

"Sure."

"You are one of the few beings alive who knows how to use this split, correct?" Aye-Aron asked.

"No."

"No?"

"As far as I am aware, only two dragons out of them all knew how to use this portal. And both of them were the Ashem."

"So, the Chaos Dragon inside cannot use the split?"

"Yes, but that won't stop him from trying."

"May I ask you another question, Farnír?"

"Okay."

"Should you need to face the dragon directly, who do you honestly believe would win? Because as far as I can tell, your power is not unlike the dragons'. Even standing this close to the world split, you are unfazed."

"He would."

"Are you certain?"

"Yeah. Unfortunately."

"I am less than convinced." He said. His feathers ruffled slightly as he moved so that I was between him and the portal.

"Dey- the dragon has centuries more experience than me. I can cast two spells at once, but he can cast up to five. He wasn't the greatest magic caster of all dragons, but he was a contender in terms of pure skill and adaptability. There was even a time when some of the dragons wanted him to become the Ashem. But that was long before I knew him."

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"Are you saying that the Chaos Dragon was nearly the divine dragon? That is blasphemy." Aye-Aron spat.

"Well, that's what he claimed." I said.

"Surely he was lying."

"Maybe, but at the end of the day, there were only a few dragons capable of beating him. Ashem, Nidhögg, and his own son."

"In that case, how can we win? I know your plan for the tunnel, to drain him of his mana, but will that be enough?" Aye-Aron asked.

"We're throwing bodies at the problem. I know that, but it's all we can do. Fill the tunnels with familiars to attack the dragon as he tries to escape, and Neame with the Railgun spell to whittle down his mana trying to heal, and runes that prevent Chaos-Magic from being used, and maybe we can… maybe. Our only hope of victory is to exhaust him of mana. If we fail-" I thought my bag, where the nuclear arrow was stored "-we die."

"I am no warrior. My skills lay with strategy. I dislike having so little information on my adversary, and trusting such a… desperate plan."

"Desperate times call for crazy ideas."

Making my way out of the tunnel was tough. I couldn't use Chariot because it would deafen everyone in the tunnel. So instead, I just distracted myself from the burning in my thighs as I walked by singing the only song I could think of. "Þat mælti mín móðir, at mér skyldi kaupa fley ok fagrar árar, fara á brott með víkingum, standa upp í stafni, stýra dýrum knerri, halda svá til hafnar hǫggva mann ok annan, hǫggva mann ok annan." Was it dumb, yeah, but it brought back good memories of sailing. Sure, we didn't actually sing the song itself much, but it's good anyway, and it really is better in Old Norse. But the Neame I passed looked at me like I might eat them when I was singing. Looking around, construction was going well, and for some reason, I felt… light, confident maybe; that the plan may work. Exiting the cave, I cast a healing spell on myself and the burning soreness left.

Sleep came easily that night. Everyone across the fort was tired, but even still, the sounds of construction and training echoed out. It was the first time I'd slept in a few days. Healing and being summoned repeatedly was starting to take its toll. And we only had about three days left.

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Suma's POV

"When was the last time you slept?" Queen Ompera asked. She came to check on everyone in the healing tents. I was busy treating a construction worker who had been injured setting up a runes and a magic circle. He made a mistake, resulting in severe burns and- "Lady Suma?"

"Ah, my apologies, my Queen. Sleep… yesterday. After King Hidra joined us in training and became Farnír's familiar." I answered, slightly disoriented. My mana had run out multiple times today, treating injuries and training. Some soldiers brought us daljars to use and ease the burden, but they can only do so much when-

"Lady Suma, that was days ago." Her head tilted, and she looked concerned.

"What?" I asked. "Surely you are mistaken, my Queen. I only entered the tent today."

"According to the other healers, you have been working nonstop since yesterday. I must say, I had not realized you possessed such mana reserves. Perhaps it is because Farnír accumulated so many familiars?"

"May I ask what you mean, your majesty? Why would Farnír's familiar contracts matter?" I asked, confused, dazed, and dreadfully tired.

"You once told me Farnír had no magic when you formed your contract with him. Perhaps that is why your reserves did not substantially improve when you formed your contract?" She suggested. "Somebody catch her!" She shouted suddenly. And then, the world started to turn sideways. Or more accurately, I did. Without noticing, I'd lost my strength and fallen off my perch. Thankfully, someone caught me with mana wrapping.

"I shall fetch a daljar." A voice said. Probably one of the other healers.

"She does not need mana. She needs rest." The Queen said. "Take her to her quarters. Lady Suma, I order you to get some sleep."

A part of me wanted to argue, but I had already fallen asleep. I dreamt of the ocean, of singing, and saw Zachariah, leaning over the side of an old model of sea-flyer. Only part of him was clearly visible. The rest was like smoke, slowly drifting into the wind behind the vessel. I landed on what was left of his shoulder, and leaned against his head. It was Zachariah who was singing, his mouth, eyes, and part of his chest were all that truly remained of him. I did not know the song, but felt great peace listening to it.

"Þat mælti mín móðir, at mér skyldi kaupa fley ok fagrar árar, fara á brott með víkingum, standa upp í stafni, stýra dýrum knerri, halda svá til hafnar hǫggva mann ok annan, hǫggva mann ok annan."

"It is nearly time now, my friend." I said, but it was not my voice. "How much longer will you last?"

"Not long. A day, two at most." Zachariah said. "How are they fairing, Ambos?"

"Well. But every moment helps." I said. "Are you in pain?" There was no answer from Zachariah; his mouth had turned to smoke and drifted away. Instead, I started to sing the song, from the beginning. "Þat mælti mín móðir…"

"Lady Suma?" My eyes opened, and it was midday. It was night, I think when I fell asleep. Looking up, I expected the Queen, but saw one of her attendants; Svend. "I apologize for waking you, but you have been asleep for nearly a whole day. You and Farnír both. He awoke only recently. Then he ate a small mountain of food, and went to teach one of his classes."

Confused, I said, "I am… thirsty."

"Should I prepare a river?"

"Huh?" I asked, stretching my wings. "Oh, um, I do not…" I was in my quarters, in laid in my roost.

"I will bring you some juicy fruits. Anything else?"

"You do not need to-"

"It is her majesty's command. So, I actually do." He said, making it clear that he would not hear another word about it.

"Well, then, just the fruits. Thank you." With that, he flew away. And I was left with the memory of the dream.

After eating, I returned to the healing tents. Surprisingly, it mostly empty. Which was deeply concerning. Most of my life has been spent in tents much like this, and finding one empty was akin to finding a particularly large daljar of potent mana laying beneath a pile of gold coins. Suffice to say, it does not happen, and if it did, it would be extremely suspicious.

"What happened? Why are the tents empty?" I asked one of the other healers.

"Queen Ompera ordered more healers to assist us after they carried you away, and we took care of everyone. It has been relatively qui- I mean, empty since."

"Did you almost say the 'q' word?" One of the other healers, who had been perched nearby and seemed to be drifting off to sleep, spat.

"No!" He lied. "Anyway, Lady Suma. Do you not have a class to attend?"

"Ah, yes." I said, and flew away.

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Queen Ompera's POV

The dim glow of the luminous braids lit the rooms. There were seventeen perches, but less than six were being used by myself, King Hidra, Chancellor Aye-Aron, and our retinues.

"Any dramatic changes?" King Hidra asked.

"Some." I replied. "Everyone who received a name has had their mana amplified, but that was to be expected. However, the change was more potent than we expected."

"I have noticed my warriors are able to train markedly longer than before. Not to mention this magic circle…" He spread his wings and revealed the familiar's mark. "Why did we never consider using something like this before?"

"Could it be so remarkable?" Chancellor Aye-Aron asked.

"My spells are sharper, more precise and powerful than ever. Tell me, how do I appear to you and your eye, Queen Ompera?"

I focused my Mana Gaze on him, just as I had done to Lady Suma and Farnír while they slept. King Hidra's mana had not increased significantly, but it was flowing differently than before. Just like a familiar's does, his now flowed more quickly as it passed near the mark emblazoned on his body. There was something like a small vortex of mana just above the mark.

"It is just like the rest. A significant increase in the speed of mana flow. Those who were named directly by him underwent a more impressive change." I explained.

"And what of Farnír himself?"

"His mana has always been… tumultuous. Like seawater tossed in a storm. Before gaining Zachariah's memories, it was far more uncontrolled. After naming so many Neame and making contracts with them… his mana reservoir increased. Though I would barely be able to tell at this point. His control is no different than before. Lady Suma however, she has undergone significant improvement."

"That is no surprise. She is effectively a brood matriarch now." Chancellor Aye-Aron said.

"What's that?"

"There is a term in my country for those who amass mana reserves by contracting countless familiars. The marks use in your country and mine are similar, so I suspect something similar is happening."

"Why have we never heard of this before?" King Hidra asked.

"Because most of them die quickly and in agonizing pain in the attempt."

"Please explain." I said.

"In order to get the fullest effect, you must name a familiar after bonding with it." Chancellor Aye-Aron said.

"Ah, of course. So they name too many, and die from the strain?" I asked.

"Exactly. But seeing as Farnír has a seemingly endless amount of mana and a circle of his own, that may never happen to him." He said.

"A familiar's bond is two ways. Both parties benefit. One gains a circle, the other gains a portion of the familiar's mana." King Hidra said.

"And since Farnír had no mana when he was made a familiar, Lady Suma received no excess mana. Until now… as Farnír makes dozens of new bonds, and names each." I realized.

"How much mana does she have now?" Chancellor Aye-Aron asked.

"More than twenty times what she had before."

"Demi-dragon." King Hidra said quietly, as if merely thinking aloud.

"What?" Chancellor Aye-Aron asked.

"Something one of my spies reported some time ago, about the warlords of the Southern Union. They had found a means by which to steal mana from their slaves. The more slaves one had, the more powerful they became. They called them Demi-dragons." He said.

I thought about what I had seen of Lady Suma's mana before. It was calm and peaceful, controlled. Like a cloud or a gentle stream. Now, it was more turbulent than before. Nothing like Farnír's, but not quite like it once was. More like… a storm cloud. "By my best estimation, Lady Suma now how the equivalent mana a Royal Mage, at least."

King Hidra chuckled. "Queen Ompera, if you do not offer her a noble title, then I will."

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