The training was brutal, Cosmael chose to simply be a mirror of Evem but that only made things worse.
Having their techniques overlay was confusing and near impossible to read, not because of the heightened magnitude but because Cosmael used those techniques completely differently.
She was also not opposed to grabbing random swords of light and charging in for a melee. nor was she as stingy with the elemental imbuing and coated them randomly in fire, lightning and water.
After the destruction of several water blades created a puddle between the teams she then used physics. Hitting the water with lightning then fire to turn it to steam.
That was how it ended. With a light blade to mine and Quatal's throats.
After that, we called an end to the training, it was a costly affair and we need to be in peak form for the fight the next day. Instead, Cosmael and I taught Quatal and Eve a bit of weapon usage.
Quatal preferred using her body, which was fine, but I wanted her to know how to use weapons so she would have an easier time countering them.
"Dad, what do we do if this creature has been modified like the Crackling Jabber?"
"Cry... Reinforce our minds with mana, divine aura and all the willpower we can muster and look for a message, do not read, just destroy."
They all nodded and we turned in, Quatal wanted to spend the night with us, which meant Cosmael wanted to spend the night with us, which meant movies and snacks for everyone. Flookuro was a bottomless pit for snacks, which made me grateful I could conjure food, because otherwise our family would be beggars in no time.
The next day the girls were bouncy to say the least, the dramatic events that seemed to swipe at us from around every corner had built-up the family's stress level, but between watching their dad have a breakdown over a bug and watching me plan out our trip to the dwarves, their share had been curbed somewhat.
"Dad really wants to see them, they connected with him more than any other sentient species. He was still partial to snakes above all though." Cosmael mused, making Quatal turn smug like she had won something.
"Don't worry Little One, I love all my children the same... Absolutely and always. Whether full of mirth or choler, my love for you three will never change."
They were grinning and it filled me with joy knowing mine brought theirs, to have those so bonded to me our emotions harmonised was both beautiful and terrifying, but I chose to ignore the terror.
We eventually came to our target and that was when my demeanour changed to one more stoic. To the stout-folk, a greeting must be made with neutrality, neither over friendly or hostile, either sent a bad message.
I stood at the threshold of the mountain, some five-hundred metres from the guards at the entrance, but did not shout. "Greetings, stout-folk of the mountain, I am Adam, hailing from the east and I come bearing ore and ale of eras passed."
It seemed impossible that they would hear me and the girls, barring Cosmael, bore quizzical expressions, which only grew deeper when after a while I received a reply.
"Bloody hell! A human with manners, what sky did you fall from?" The voice was deep and carried a guttural roll to it, yet sounded like it came from someone right next to me.
"I have fallen from many skies, depends on who threw me and how hard..." The joke was met with immediate laughter as a trio walked down to meet us, the girls clearly had questions but chose to wait, knowing there would be many more.
"In all my years, I never thought I'd meet a human who had a tongue and wit such as yours boy." He laughed as I did.
"If it helps I'm not human, my wife and I are fledgling gods and our two daughters here are a feathered serpent and a deva. I've been on good terms with dwarves for as long as the stone remembers."
"A deva as a daughter? What ya do to make that one? Oh right.... God ye said. Guess dat'll do it. Wait... Did you say god? Sorry t' ask but ya got any proof of such a thing?"
"Before I show you, do you mind if I take a step inside?"
"One, not at all, but don't make it two til I'm sure on yers."
I stepped inside and knelt to the ground, touching the hard stone of the mountain I simply asked the questions. "Do you remember, my old friend? He who saved, he who slayed and he who saved again? The one who told tales of forgotten clans, he who told tales of you in your youth? He remembers you well old friend and that's a bond I would renew."
My words spoke to the mountain itself, not one of those nearby and as boulders fell the dwarf's jaws followed as did those of the girls when the ground cracked to bar our departure.
"My god, the stone never shed tears for a tall one before and I never saw one shed tears for it. You are honoured guests of the mountain, now follow me, we have traditions to follow."
"I am a friend of the mountain, but my kin are not, are they welcome to?"
"My friend, I was standing where one of those tears fell, I don't want to be at my post when the mountain cries again."
"Then this is Eve, Quatal and Cosmael, don't mistake the latter for a milk-drinker, she won't appreciate it and she puts even me and her mother to shame." I chuckled. "Also, I need to explain everything before their heads explode, so lead the way whilst I do. I'd rather talk with you over ale anyway."
The dwarf laughed and started leading the way and I made a gesture that they could ask their questions.
"Have you been to this mountain before?"
"No, there is an inner core of mana and that's what acts as the consciousness of a Dwarven mountain, when it rises to the surface the stone births a few dozen dwarfs."
"The planet itself remembered you?"
"Honestly I have never spoken to it directly before, I was touched that it did. I never felt worthy in the past, knowing I might one day slay its children."
"Why did you stand so far away and how did the dwarf hear you?"
"A man should not enter another's without permission, the mountain is their home, not the city within. He heard me because the dwarf felt me speak through the mountain, they can each hear everything if they wished, but they would probably regret it."
"Aye! He ain't Wrong! Believe it or not we're a rowdy bunch!" The dwarf laughed, enjoying hearing how much the tall stranger knew of his people.
"What does it mean to be accepted by the mountain as an outsider?" Cosmael asked, she may know much, but she had no way to know the meaning of something that had never happened before.
"It means, little lass, he could be a clan leader if he wanted, king if there were still other cities left. Only they or maybe a few mountain-crafters can actually talk t' the stone and get a response." I froze. "Ay? Summing wrong, Adam?"
"No other cities? How many children has my friend lost this era?" I tensed.
"Lots. I ain't surprised it's happy t' see a friend."
"I'm sorry, I took much and time took the rest, I'll try to heal you as best I can in time." The ground rumbled beneath us, as though shaking with anticipation.
"Startin' t' think your relationship wasn't all wholesome. Hahahahaha!"
"Dear, do I have to worry?" Eve chuckled.
"Sorry t' interrupt, but if ya hadn't already, warn them now, won't be long."
"Cosmael, grow to about six foot, no dwarf will mistake you for a child or shrink more if you want to be mistaken for one. Eve, I will be getting drunk, we will both be fighting, pregnancy will keep you sober but not out of a fight. Quatal, sit with Cosmael, they won't fight her regardless, drink your milk and don't fight no matter what. Oh! And Little one... You have to stop me and your mother killing anyone accidentally, I will be too drunk to hold back and your mother only hits me and monsters."
"Don't know what dwarves ya met before, but pregnancy won't keep her sober."
"We're fledgling gods, the first of our kind and this is the first pregnancy, it could harm the baby."
"Fair enough then. I'll tell the lads and the maids. No child falls ill in the stone."
"The mountain is a mother herself, she won't tolerate it." I explained when Eve look confused again.
"But fighting's okay?" She asked bemused.
"A mother who can't defend herself, can't protect a child." I finished.