I already knew, the sorcerers told me, the magic barrier was very weakened after that explosion, it could no longer be reinforced, only sustained; still, I asked them to try. That last crossbow attack was not even half of the original attack, there was no more mana left. We lost!

  I saw how my unarmored soldiers fell victim to the miasma and those with armor were attacked by various creatures; there was no longer any order or military structure, it was chaos and everyone was looking for a way to survive, although I knew that no one would succeed, including myself. I manage to get up at a thousand costs; and I look back at both kobolds. They did all this, who are they? What are they? What's going on here? In that moment, I see it approaching me; it was that arachnid that seems to still be alive despite its wounds. I raise my weapon, even knowing the outcome of what's to come.

  - So, this is how my last adventure ends, but I will fall fighting; I only regret not being able to return home and say goodbye, besides having failed in my mission.

  ……………………………………………………….

  We won! Breigon and I did it! Although we ran out of mana, we were both exhausted and my chest hurts. It's not good to overstrain our crystals, although as almost adults we can endure it, it was very dangerous, but we did it! Let's take revenge on everyone and prove ourselves worthy of our lineage. In that, I see my brother. I also manage to awaken the blood of the great flying ancestors. You always surprise me, right, brother? But something didn't look right about him, he looked more than exhausted.

  - Garrl, ………………, thank you for saving us in the nest, ………………….., thank you for considering me your brother……………………, I would have liked to accompany you in our dream, ……………., sorry for hiding the truth about my… ……….., I was afraid you would reject me, and I am still afraid, ………….., please, just take care of yourself …………….. And thank you really, brother.

  - Breigon!

  I only saw how my brother fainted. I didn't know what was happening, I took him in my claws, this shouldn't be happening, it managed to awaken his blood. What's happening?

  ……………………………………………………..

  What's happening? Where am I? ... The battle is real! The magic barrier!

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  - Don't worry, we won.

  In that, I manage to see my kobold soul; not only is it bigger, but it also looks physically different, and does it have wings?

  - What happened to us? What do you mean we won?

  - I think you will remember everything that happened, don't worry. I'm sorry, I didn't have any other idea. But look, this is our new body, and yes, now we have wings. You'll have to get used to it, but being able to fly will be incredible. Our scales and claws are stronger, just like our mana. Our antlers is cooler, right? ………………… We managed to awaken the blood of our great ancestors, and we ended the battle by destroying the barrier and that weapon; we also managed to help our brother, we did it together, he also awakened his blood, it's incredible. I know you love him, protect him and trust him.

  - I don't understand.

  - I know, but you will understand ………………………. I don't have time left. I know our lives haven't been easy, more so this one than the other, I think, but you know, our human father was right: giving your best allows you to say goodbye to me with a smile, right? Don't blame yourself for what happened here, I believe you, there must be good humans out there, but these are not, so I repeat, DO NOT blame yourself; instead, find a way to prevent this from happening again.

  - No! Wait, we're together, this is your life, I've already lived mine.

  - I knew you would say that.

  I try to take it in my hands, my kobold soul, but it just fades away in my arms, while it only smiled at me, as its memories come to me.

  I didn't know what to think or feel: relief? Because we won and Garrl is safe, sadness? For those we lost and for all this slaughter, pride? To achieve completing the seal and being considered worthy, and now what? In that moment, I hear him calling from afar, it's Garrl, it's true, and then I see him behind me, a great winged dragon, like the ones from the movies I remember.

  - Come on, your brother is waiting for you, Breigon.

  ……………………………………………………

  - Brother! How can I help you? I no longer have mana, what do I do? Please, don't leave me, we have to fulfill our dream, I can't and I don't want to do it without you. Please, great ancestors, help my brother. What should I do?

  - Garrl? Calm down, I'm here.

  - Breigon! For our great ancestors, don't scare me like that, I felt as if you were disappearing.

  Garrl began to make the same sounds of sadness that we kobolds make, but interspersed with sounds of joy. Poor thing, he doesn't know how to feel; neither do I, but for now, I'm just glad he's okay, we'll figure out what to do later.

  ………………………………………………………………..

  Hundreds of kilometers from the great caverns, a king whose weary eyes had seen centuries pass, watched from afar as a field of miasma rose at the beginning of the mana mountain ranges. It was not a risk for his people, or at least that's what he thought; it would need to be investigated, but he recognized that magic from no more than a couple of centuries ago, and with nostalgia and concern, he wondered if this time would be different.