When Garrl invited me to train, I thought about trying to launch myself from the cliff where I was and attempt to fly or at least glide to get used to my wings, and then, determined, I took a run-up, but before I could jump, I reconsidered.

  - Nooooo, it's that simple!

  He stopped me immediately; I must have looked like an idiot trying not to fall from the momentum I had. Damn! I miss you, "me kobold," you wouldn't be afraid and would know what to do.

  - Come on, brother! You can do it! It's in your blood, honor our flying ancestors!

  - It's easier said than done, Garrl! It's easier said than done, Garrl! Remember that I was human and humans don't fly! Remember that I was human and humans don't fly!

  - But did you do it during the fight? Were you flying when you hit that human?

  - The truth is, technically I didn't fly, I just propelled myself with my mana to launch like a projectile! Although I used my wings to stabilize my trajectory! I wouldn't say I flew!

  - Ahhhhh, that's right, I did something similar to propel myself, but that uses a lot of mana; it would only work once, if I needed to jump a great distance. …………………. Brother! And if you cover yourself with mana, you can feel safer! And if you cover yourself with mana, you will feel safer! If you fall anyway, it will protect you!

  - That's a very good idea, but right now I prefer not to spend mana! Give me a minute and I'll come down, so I won't be shouting!

  While my brother was coming down, seeing him do it with wings seemed strange to me; if I had wings, I would already be flying, but my lineage comes from our great terrestrial ancestors and I feel extremely proud to be their descendant. My body is a bit larger than my brother's and stocky; I know that physically I am stronger than him, although that doesn't define a fight. And I have been more than clear about that since the first times he beat me with his "self-defense."

  The good thing is that now, knowing that my brother was human, I can see his oddities with a bit more understanding, and while it worries me, he has already shown me that he can get used to it and I know he will honor his heritage and lineage.

  - Garrl, do you know how long we were asleep?

  - No, but it must have been several hours, as I have already replenished quite a bit of my mana; but I also perceive from the temperature of the cave that it must be night outside.

  - You're right, I also replenished a large part of my mana, and it's true, it must be night. That's advantageous; if there are humans outside, they must be sleeping or resting. Humans are diurnal, not nocturnal. If you agree, Garrl, I think it would be best to go to Mrs. Spider; now we can communicate better with her and try to find out if there are more humans. I would also like to take Tammat's crystals and the great serpent's crystals to where they belong.

  - Yes, of course, but once that's done, we train; I want to know how strong we've both become.

  - Hahaha, very funny and that's why you want me as a sparring partner, but you're right. But to train properly, it would be better knowing that we can spend our mana without worrying; besides, we must thank everyone who helped us and pay respects to those who gave their lives.

  - I know, brother, without everyone's help we wouldn't be here, I am very clear about that, but tell me something, brother, what is a sparring?

  - Haha, of course I'll explain it to you, Garrl, come on, I'll tell you on the way back.

  ……………………………………….

  After hiding the great serpent's nest and taking a bit of water, we set off back with the crystals from our mother and friend; at first, we just kept talking about different things. But at one point, I wanted to know how much we had changed, so I decided to challenge my brother to a race. And although he didn't see the point at first, in the end, I convinced him, and we started our little competition.

  At the beginning, we were even, but little by little I started to win, until I had to stop and slow down so we wouldn't get too far apart. This confirms it: apparently, I am faster and have more physical endurance, but I know that he, upon learning to fly, will beat me at least in speed. Each of us now has strengths and weaknesses, but I know that together we will find ways to complement each other.

  - I beat you, brother.

  - It's not fair, Garrl, my wings were getting in the way, it's like having an umbrella stuck to my back that opens or closes, I'm still not used to it.

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  - But I know you will, Breigon, together we will prove our great lineage. Now let's go, we're almost there and I almost forgot. What is an umbrella?

  - Haha, let me take a breath and I'll explain it to you too ………... You know, Garrl, I'm glad to know that now I can talk and say things about my previous life, and that I only have to explain them to you and not have to deviate from the topic or lie. Thank you for being understanding and accepting me, but it's better if I teach you more terms and concepts so we can communicate better; I will also try to speak better and avoid unnecessary terms or concepts.

  - For me, I have no problem, but if you are going to pass on more of your inheritance through your "general education" classes, it is only fair that you also allow me to inherit more of our great inheritance and, above all, that you train with me. You know, Breigon, for me you are and will always be my kobold brother. Who you were before doesn't matter to me, although I admit that your story still sounds incredible to me. However, you don't have to hide anything from me; we are together, never forget that. Now let's go, we're almost there.

  We keep walking and upon reaching our friend's nest, we see that most of the human bodies are no longer there. I know that this is how caves fulfill their natural cycle, and Breigon knows it too, but I can perceive a feeling of discontent and sadness in his mana. I haven't asked him how humans honor their dead, and truthfully, I shouldn't care, but now, knowing the truth about my brother, I must accept, even if I don't want to admit it, that he still feels something for his former kind. I wish it weren't so, but as far as I understood, he was human for much longer than he has been one of us.

  - You know, Garrl, I know you must hate these humans; I partly hate them too, but those who died here must have a family that will never know what happened to them. I know that humans started all this, but most of them, I suppose, were just following orders and were surely taught that we are monsters or beasts that must be eliminated for the good of their kingdom or nation. Their greed possibly brought them here, but so did their ignorance. I never believed that one day I would cause so many deaths, and that hurts, it makes me feel guilty, even though I know we were just defending ourselves; …………………………………………… please, Garrl, I hope you don't misunderstand me or think that I want to defend the humans for their actions. I know I've told you this several times, but seriously, I don't want us to continue down this path of bloodshed, there has to be a way, there has to be!

  There it is again, that concern for humans; even though I can now understand where it comes from, it hurts me to think that my brother feels guilt for those who have harmed us, our people, and our friend so much. I know, from my ancestor, that hatred is not good, nor does revenge bring liberation, but still ……………….

  - But don't think I'm naive, Garrl, I know the evil of humanity, I know what it is capable of, its irrationality and its greed; it's just that I don't know, but I want and must try it …………….. But don't doubt that now I am a kobold and, as I told you, I am proud of it and I want to prove that I am worthy. I want to try to fulfill our dream and I will fight for it against anyone.

  - I understand you partially, brother. As I mentioned, I also don't want to keep inheriting hate, but I won't lie to you that I don't like humans, except for you, who, even if you say you were human, I don't see you as one of them; I don't know if there are humans like you, at least in your way of thinking. I also don't know if I can get along with them or even trust them, but I promise you that as long as they don't harm us, I won't harm them, even if my heritage demands it; I won't.

  - Thank you, Garrl, ………………….. Thank you for being so understanding and sincere.

  - Don't mention it, you are Breigon, you will always have my support and I will trust you. Now let's go, let's give the crystals of our mother and friend the rest they deserve.

  We kept walking and found Mrs. Spider. Her mana is more stable and replenished; that's a relief. Despite her physical wounds, she seems to be recovering adequately. She, upon seeing and sensing us, greets us with her warm mana. We told her that we managed to perform the ritual with the great serpent's brood and that we just have to wait. We also told him about our concern regarding whether there would be more humans. But, to our relief, other creatures have already informed him that there are no more on the surface. Since upon seeing the miasma field, the few that remained left. That's good because it gives us a breather, but they could still come back better prepared. While the field is active, they have already shown that their magic barriers and armor can withstand it.

  - You shouldn't worry about that, Breigon; their magic barriers are certainly strong, but they consume a lot of mana, something you can't use for an extended period. That's why they were so desperate when they realized the miasma field; for humans to be able to re-enter here will be very difficult for them, as long as the magic seal remains intact.

  - That reassures me quite a bit, great ancestor, so we are safe for now. But surely this will bring us more problems in the future, since they won't stop and that, unfortunately, I know.

  I immediately tell Garrl and Mrs. Spider what Drazird told me, so for now we can be calm and plan what we are going to do. And the first thing was to thank our friend Mrs. Spider for everything; she saved my life on more than one occasion, as well as to ask her to thank those who helped us, and to seek to hold or coordinate a meeting with everyone to clarify everything that happened and to better organize ourselves, but first, we wanted to say goodbye and give the Tammat crystals and our friend the great serpent the rest they deserve.

  And the place we had decided to leave their crystals is where all this began, the reason for the kobolds' arrival in the caves, Tammat's sacrifice, and why we won this battle, "the magic seal." We left them together inside the magic barrier where only we know and can enter for now; there we gave rest to the crystals of our mother and our friend, with deep gratitude and admiration for who they were and for what they bequeathed to us, with the promise to continue our journey and prove that we are worthy of our lineage.

  - "Thank you both, for everything."