When we arrived at Lady Spider's place, the great serpent was not there; it was strange, but we expected to see her the next day. Even so, I couldn't sleep well that night, nor could Garrl, but we justified it by the fatigue from work and the eagerness to finish the magic seal. Upon waking up, I prepared breakfast as usual, we ate it and waited, but she didn't show up and, although we were worried, the spider lady conveyed to us that she would send her offspring to look for her, that she should be around and not to worry, that we should continue with the magic seal, and that's what we did or at least tried to do; but something didn't feel right.

  - I already finished this connection. How's it going, brother? Do you need help?

  - What? ......................... I'm sorry, Garrl, yes, I'm fine, but as always, I'm a bit slow.

  - Don't worry, brother, in the meantime, I think I can make one more …………………. Breigon, the great ancestor Drazird, couldn't help you locate the great serpent in some way, perhaps with the help of the magic seal. Sorry for the question, it's just that I'm a bit worried; she never just left without telling us she would be away for several days and she always returned early.

  - That's a great idea, Garrl! I was thinking the same thing and was worried too. I will ask the great ancestor.

  - I already heard them, Breigon, and yes, it would be possible to locate it, but it would be like the last time we saw the extent of the magic seal, so it would be dangerous for you. It's better to continue with the connections; the big spider is already looking for it, after all.

  - Garrl, if it's possible, but it's like the last time I fainted; the great ancestor can't protect me while searching at the same time.

  - I understand, …………………, but if it's not too much to ask. And if I protected you with my mana? While the great ancestor searches for her.

  - Fine, tell him I'll do it and that his idea would actually work. I know you are both worried about her. Tell Garrl to completely envelop you with his mana; that should protect you, however, it will be less effective. It's up to you if you want to take the risk?

  - I can do it! I don't mind taking the risk.

  - Well, but tell Garrl that before he helps you with this last connection, and we'll do it.

  - Thank you, great ancestor Drazird.

  I explained the situation to Garrl and he immediately helped me finish the connection. Fortunately, the great ancestor already knew what the mana of the great serpent was like, from the first day we met, when he infused his mana into my body. I just had to place my hands on the central stone, have Garrl protect me, and the great ancestor would take care of the rest; with the magic seal covering all the great caverns, it would be impossible not to locate the great serpent; so, we proceeded.

  - Damn it! I hate this feeling.

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  - Are you okay, brother?

  - Yes Garrl, calm down, I can handle it.

  - It's strange. Breigon, may Garrl protect you a little more.

  - Garrl, are you okay? Can you keep protecting me?

  - Of course! I can!

  - NO!

  It was the last thing I heard from the great ancestor, before I sensed from his mana a feeling of anger and sadness, which overwhelmed me, but also Garrl, making him lose his concentration, and then, I remembered nothing more.

  What was that? He wondered. He felt the same as the anger of the ancestors who inherited me, but there was also great sadness. ……………….. Oh no! Breigon, I have to get him out of the magic barrier.

  …………………………………………………………………..

  How much time has passed since that stupid war? We did what we had to do, or at least what we could, and for what? Just to come back and see that we failed and that humans haven't changed; with or without us, they remain the same. ……………. I could use the magic seal and finish them off, but that would damage the caves that Orgarrl sought so hard to protect and that passed down his legacy to Tammat and the great serpent. No, I can't, I also promised Breigon that it wouldn't be used that way, but …………………. I want to kill them! They deserve death! ……………. She was not one of our descendants, but ……………… even so, she helped our lineage and I acknowledge it, without her, none of our legacy would be here; she helped Tammat to strengthen, until reaching Garrl and Breigon. ……………….. I'm sorry, great serpent, truly I'm sorry.

  ……………………………………………………………..

  Everything hurts. What were we doing? I don't remember, am I in this place again? Did I faint? But, ………………………. We are locating the great serpent; I remember it now!

  - Great ancestor Drazird, what happened? Did you locate the great serpent? Is she okay? Please, answer, great … …………..…………

  In that moment, I felt it and knew it: I still cannot see the great ancestor Drazird, but thanks to my kobold self, I perceive his mana, and I know there is sadness in him when asking about the great serpent, and then I know.

  - No, …………………… tell me no, she is fine, she is very strong, nothing in these caves can harm her.

  - Humans, they have their crystal, and I don't know how, but it seems they are coming this way.

  - What humans are coming this way? But then, if she sensed her mana crystal, then she is still okay! We must save her! I must wake up and coordinate a rescue for ……………..…

  - You don't understand, it's just her crystal and that's it, she's no longer here, I'm sorry, Breigon.

  Upon hearing Drazird, I finally understand: "only his crystal" and "the humans have it." Did she die? No! She was killed by humans! But how? When and why did they arrive? Why did she confront them alone? ………………………… Did she die? She died! .......................................... After the shock of understanding what happened, all that was left was sadness, a deep sadness. I recalled all these months with her, how she saved us, took care of us, and helped us. It could have been a short time, considering my previous life, but for me, she saved me in more than one way, she gave me hope, she gave me her friendship, and although anger and a desire for revenge arose within me, I held them back, for now.

  - I must tell Garrl, great ancestor, can you help me wake up?

  - Yes, I can, but Breigon, I know how you think and I know your principles, but they must pay, they must be stopped here and now!

  It was the last thing I heard from the great ancestor, before seeing Garrl in front of me, looking very worried, because of course, I fainted like last time, but …………………… how do I tell him? Instinctively, my body reacted to my feelings and I began to emit the same sounds we made when we cried for the destruction of the village and for Kirkarrg; it was how the kobolds express their sadness and, while doing so, I told him in a choked voice.

  - The great serpent, ……………………….. humans, ....................they killed her, ……………….they killed her, Garrl.

  Garrl said nothing, he just began to accompany him, as I accompanied him, or rather, as we accompanied each other. We had lost a friend, a teacher, an ally; and there, next to the magic seal she helped almost finish, we bitterly cried her loss.