It took us several days to recover from our wounds, but the snake helped us at all times; we never lacked food or water, nor safety, as she drove away any threats. During those days, I took the opportunity to talk to her and learn as much as I could, and I realized several things.

  From the great caverns, its name indicated it, a vast network of tunnels and caves, but what I learned new is that this must be part of an immense mountain range, or at least that was what I understood from the great serpent, describing that above us there were immense rocks that extended as far as she could not see, both upwards and sideways; besides, outside she described to me what I believe is a forest or jungle, full of many creatures. The great serpent told us that she didn't usually go out, she didn't like it, she emphasized; she preferred to stay in the caves, I suppose it must be because this is her natural habitat. As a final topic regarding the caves, she confirmed that the glowing rocks or minerals were due to them having mana and told us that they were not dangerous for creatures like us, as long as we didn't expose ourselves too much or use them for magic, but the latter was currently ruled out for us.

  About the ecosystem inside the caves, it turns out that, yes, there are other creatures that are thinking and self-aware of themselves and their surroundings; luckily and for my peace of mind, it seems that not all creatures achieve this. It gave me peace of mind about the creatures we hunted, who, the great serpent confirmed to me, were normal creatures, not like her and the others. However, despite my concern, it turns out that in the great caves, the survival of the fittest and strongest prevails; there is no social structure among the thinking creatures, and it's not that they don't communicate or get along, but each one is in their own world, and if I ate you, I'm sorry, it's part of the natural cycle; only the kobolds were the only ones who did have a more complex social structure of living in villages and having a society and culture.

  He didn't know much about humans; it had been a while since he had spoken to one. She understood that, like the kobolds, they lived in villages, but she had never seen one, nor did she know if there was any near the great caverns. Although she thought there wasn't one, since humans, while they have been coming more frequently, don't come every day either. They come occasionally, every now and then, or they arrive for several days where they stay for a while and then leave.

  Of the few humans she was able to talk to, they were, according to what they told her, explorers, people who recognized her and respected the caves and their ecosystem; however, lately, no more humans like that have arrived. The last humans she tried to talk to only attacked her or got scared; so, she stopped dealing with them. Fortunately, she didn't hate them per se, but if anyone started a fight with her or did something she didn't like and didn't understand reason, well, she took care of putting them in their place and, if necessary, killing them.

  Apparently, she is very strong, not only because of her size, which is already impressive on its own, but also because of her control over mana and her ability to perform magic; although she always emphasized that there could always be someone stronger. In the case of humans, they are dangerous because of their magical tools and their ability to work as a team, and as for other creatures, so far, she hadn't encountered anything stronger than herself, except for Tammat. That last part did catch my attention; apparently, achieving the awakening of our draconian blood would indeed make us stronger. As a final note, he told us that, regarding the war between humans and the great dragons, he didn't know anything apart from the fact that it happened, according to what Tammat told him.

  The days went by and, while it was pleasant to be with Garrl and talk to the great serpent, the truth was I needed to find a way to distract my mind. That's why I started a small experiment to try to measure how long a day lasted here. The great serpent confirmed that the temperature changes were due to it being day or night on the surface, and knowing that, I just had to measure how long they lasted. For that, I tried to create a type of hourglass, using some exoskeletons in the shape of bowls: one with a hole for the sand to pass through and placed on top of a frame made of dry branches, and the other bowl below to collect the sand. I had to do several trial and error tests, and the time interval was neither precise nor exact, as I estimated it based on how long I thought it took for the sand to fall.

  Garrl initially looked for ways to help me with my experiment, but in the end, he got bored and decided to continue training to, in his words, become stronger. But before he did, I emphasized the great ancestor's warning about not using our mana and took the opportunity to warn him that if we didn't let our bodies recover properly, it would also affect us, violating the great ancestor's request. So, upon hearing my words, he sadly decided to continue resting.

  Continuing with my experiment, I finally managed to estimate a time range between 13 to 15 hours between day and night, and if I consider all my variables that add some error to my measurements, to my pleasant surprise and for future calculations, the day in this world must be similar to that of my previous life.

  - Yessssssss! Victory for science! Being on the surface, I'll just have to make a sundial, or some other idea will come to me, to try to measure time more accurately. Yessss!

  - Your brother is quite special. Right, Garrl?

  - Yes, it is, but I still love him just the way he is.

  …………………………………………………………………..

  It was terribly uncomfortable not being able to move; however, Breigon used all that time and even afterwards to ask the great serpent about the large caves, the other creatures, the humans, and magic. That last part was what I was most interested in knowing, since my heritage lacked much about magic and what it was; the great serpent told us that, just like her, we had a mana crystal growing near our heart, and that when we stopped being cubs, we would obtain our mana from it to do magic; I had already achieved it, but I made the mistake of doing it before my body and my crystal could handle it and almost died because of it; I accept the mistake, but not for having done it, since I wouldn't have been able to face that human and without that distraction, Breigon might not have been able to surprise him. Of course, I had to apologize to the great ancestor through Breigon and thank him for saving me.

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  Speaking of the great ancestor, it's incredible that Breigon was chosen to communicate with one of our great ancestors. I would be lying if I said I wasn't envious; I would have liked to have had such an honor. But I know my brother is also worthy, otherwise he wouldn't have been chosen. Besides, that explains a lot about his strange way of being and his heritage, or at least that's what I think. Within my heritage, I don't find anything similar, but as the great serpent told us, it seemed that our village had somehow lost the direction of its lineage. And although Tammat tried to recover it, and even though I don't know what happened, that would explain why the heritage of my village is at least not so correct. However, I would never doubt the heritage of the great ancestors, but perhaps I might about that of our people.

  I had so many questions I wanted to ask the great ancestor, but I was afraid of offending or bothering him, especially because a simple kobold like me might not matter to him. However, Breigon told me to never think like that, that I was incredible. Moreover, the great ancestor saved me because he recognized me as his descendant, my brother told me; Can you imagine it! A great ancestor! He recognized me! I know that I still have to prove to the great ancestor that I am worthy of his lineage, and for that recognition, I will give everything I have to achieve it, but he recognized me! If I could have, I would have jumped for joy, if it weren't for the fact that we were still injured. As for asking the questions, Breigon told me I could do so, however, to understand that in the end, it is the great ancestor who decides whether to answer or not, so in the end, I decided not to; I didn't want to offend him or waste his time, despite Breigon's insistence that I try.

  As for humans, I still hate them despite what the great serpent says, that not all of them are bad; however, after talking with Breigon, and even though I still don't understand many of the things he told me, I could give them a chance to surrender or to seek another path with the humans, this for my brother, and of course, as long as they weren't the ones who destroyed our village; those I won't forgive. I don't know if it's possible to get along with other humans, but if Breigon, who was chosen by a great ancestor, thinks we should try, for my brother and for the great ancestors, I will try.

  There's also the issue of the humans we defeated: the offspring of the great serpent didn't find their bodies, and although they could have been devoured, she doesn't believe so, as there would have been some trace of that; my brother asked, what if the one we didn't kill survived and took the body of the other? And what if that would cause the humans to seek revenge or for more to come? To which the great serpent replied that she didn't believe it was possible, since she herself had already killed humans before and nothing had happened; however, I know that this answer did not leave Breigon calm, nor me either. Apart from that, what the great serpent, or at least its offspring, did find were some of their weapons and the things the humans were wearing that were left where we fought; that did interest Breigon, he said that as soon as we moved, he would see what he would do with them.

  After my brother explained to me what a day was for him and how he measured it with what he explained to me was the change in temperature, several of these passed when we finally managed to move, even with pain, but we could move! Thanks to the great ancestors! I was going crazy, but unfortunately, my brother insisted that I neither perform nor attempt to do magic, nor physical effort, if I didn't want to disobey the great ancestor who was watching me through him; but then, what could I do? The great serpent already provided us with food and protection, but Breigon then asked me to help him make armor and clothing for us, using what the humans left behind and the remains of the creatures we ate; I know our people wear garments, since, although our scales are strong, any extra protection is welcome. However, using the humans' things did not please me, nor having to use their weapons; but once again my brother convinced me that the important thing was to make ourselves strong and that everything counted.

  Another thing we did to distract ourselves was play. I love playing with my brother, but he started saying that he wanted to measure what he explained to me was a day. At first, I helped him, but then I got bored and told him I didn't understand what use it would be to do that; that I might as well go train, but he sentenced me again that the ancestor was watching me through him, and if I thought of disobeying him, and of course, with sadness, I swore I would never do it, but I was bored, and my brother knew it, then he started explaining to me the importance of measuring time. Then, one question led to another, and before I knew it, he told me he was going to teach me the basics and that my "general education" was starting. By the great ancestors, what had I gotten myself into!

  The days passed between games and my brother's "general education," and while some things he passed on to me were interesting, others were not so much, but it was his heritage that he was transmitting to me, and since I couldn't do anything physical or magic, I put in the effort. I also thought that the great ancestor wanted me to learn that; however, one day when my head hurt from not knowing how to do a math operation, I asked my brother, "Why did the great ancestor want me to learn how to do that?" To which he replied that it was not a command from the great ancestor, but that it was he who wanted to teach me how to do that; I swear I thought about cutting off my brother's tail. Although, as I said, I liked some things, I hated others, but I never complained or said anything because I thought it was what the great ancestor wanted; however, despite my anger, I knew my brother was just trying to share his great inheritance, just as I shared mine with him. In the end, I just told my brother that next time he should clarify when he was teaching me something, to tell me if it was him or the great ancestor imparting that inheritance; and yes, I asked him to explain to me again how to solve that operation. What I do for my brother!