The next day, Leon departed. I sat there fiddling with Nakros' message stone, considering calling him as I had the twins work on their strong points. Tyrnius went to study magic while Misa tried to master her martial arts.
("...Let's call him.") [Solace]
Transferring mana into the stone, I could hear Nakros' voice on the other side.
"Hello?" [Nakros]
"Nakros, it's me." [Solace]
"Ah, junior! It's been a while. Finally decided on what you want to do?" [Nakros]
"Yeah, there's just one problem." [Solace]
I explained how I picked up the twins and the situation about Fina and the others. I made it clear that I wanted to go to Metus, but I can't just bring the kids with me.
"That's really funny. To think you'd pick up disciples before me. As a matter of fact, I think you're the first to have disciples among us." [Nakros]
"Really?" [Solace]
"I have adopted children, the second disciple is too occupied with research, and the third is just a warmonger. We really don't have time to teach anyone else." [Nakros]
That's pretty interesting.
"Uh-huh. So, what do you think I should do?" [Solace]
"Personally, I'd get someone else to check on Fina." [Nakros]
"...Why?" [Solace]
Nakros clicked his tongue in a playful fashion.
"You forget, humans can sense your general area because of your curse. They'd know you're in Metus the moment you set foot there." [Nakros]
"Then I'd fight my way through." [Solace]
"Not a bad idea. However, what will you do when you reach Fina? Whisk her away to a life on the run?" [Nakros]
"I…" [Solace]
I didn't have an answer to that.
("What do I do?") [Solace]
How could I have not planned that far. I've been thinking only about myself, just like before. Chances are, I'd just make more trouble for those around me.
"Listen, junior. I'm not trying to say it's a bad idea. How about this? I'll take your twins to Master so he can watch over them. In the meantime, you can go to Metus separately." [Nakros]
"Huh? I thought I couldn't go because of my curse." [Solace]
"That is true. The general area humans can sense you is around the size of the Misty Forest. …I think. That's why people spend a long time trying to find you there. Well, aside from the abnormal amount of mist covering everything." [Nakros]
"Where are you going with this?" [Solace]
"There are enchantments that can lower your curse." [Nakros]
"And we'll be using that?" [Solace]
"Let me finish. And no, we won't be using that. Lowering it will make the general area smaller, making it easier to locate you." [Nakros]
"So then what?" [Solace]
"We'll enhance the curse. We'll make the general area so large no one would be able to find you easily even if they know you're in Metus." [Nakros]
"That's great! Let's do it then!" [Solace]
Nakros then made a slight pause.
"Eh… There's kinda just one itsy bitsy problem…" [Nakros]
"What is it?" [Solace]
"It's kind of… permanent?" [Nakros]
"I don't really care." [Solace]
"It'll make it harder to remove the curse, you know?" [Nakros]
"Elcrid told me the only way to remove the curse is by getting a god of equal strength or having the same god that cursed me to lift it. I don't think I'm getting rid of this anytime soon. I really don't care." [Solace]
"Then it's settled. I'll be there in a week." [Nakros]
"Got it." [Solace]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Over the course of a week, I trained Misa and Tyrnius impatiently.
I pushed them a little more than usual, trying to cram what I can into them before I had to separate with them. I knew they'd be in safe hands, but I couldn't help worrying about them.
"Master, today is the day we meet your fellow disciple?" [Tyrnius]
"Right." [Solace]
"What do we call him? We call you Master, and your master Grandmaster." [Misa]
That… was a good question. What do I have them call Nakros? If I think of it as a family, and I'm the dad, Master is the Grandpa, then Nakros is…?
"Uh… Call him… Master-Uncle." [Solace]
I think that's how it works. My logic is flawless. Anyway, Nakros flew down from the sky not too long after.
"Hey. Those the kids?" [Nakros]
"Yeah. My disciples. Misa, Tyrnius, introduce yourselves." [Solace]
The two rushed over and gave their greetings.
"Aw, aren't you two adorable? Have you guys heard from your Master that I'll be taking you to your Grandmaster?" [Nakros]
The two nodded.
"Good. Did you two pack your things?" [Nakros]
The two glanced at each other.
"Ah… Nakros, I forgot to tell them to do that." [Solace]
"That's fine. I still need to place the curse enchantment on you anyway so they can do that in the meantime." [Nakros]
I motioned for them to go pack. I also gave them two large leather sacks I made out of practice to put their stuff in. While they did that, Nakros had me take off my shirt before scribbling something on my back.
"This is gonna take around an hour or two." [Nakros]
"That's fine." [Solace]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
After approximately an hour and forty five minutes, Nakros completed the enchantment.
"It's done. Wanna see it?" [Nakros]
He created a water mirror behind and in front of me so I could see the reflection of the enchantment. It looked like a magic circle, just… a little different. It's kind of like the style? To put it in another way, it's like saying a normal magic circle is print writing, and the way Nakros made it looks cursive.
"I spent some effort to make it look cool. People your age care about things like this right?" [Nakros]
I raised a brow.
"Nakros, how old are you?" [Solace]
"Two hundred fifteen. Why?" [Nakros]
"What?" [Solace]
Something doesn't make sense.
"How old is Master again?" [Solace]
"In his twenties? Almost thirties?" [Nakros]
"And you're older than him?" [Solace]
"Is there a problem?" [Nakros]
"Isn't the disciple supposed to be younger than the master?" [Solace]
"Dragons age slower. I'm biologically twenty two." [Nakros]
Is that how it's supposed to work? I feel like something's off. Or maybe that's just my common sense from earth kicking in.
"If you're satisfied, it looks like we're done." [Nakros]
Nakros slapped me on the back, causing my skin to sting.
"Ow…!" [Solace]
"Oh, sorry. I forgot about the side effects." [Nakros]
Turns out, my skin gets sensitive for a short amount of time after an enchantment like this.
"Okay, ready to head to Metus?" [Nakros]
I pulled my shirt back on before replying.
"Without a doubt." [Solace]