- Good morning, Garrl, I heated up breakfast. How is your mana level?

  - Ahhhhhhh, good day, brother, let me see, mmmm, I think I'm halfway.

  - Yes, me too; I suppose the best thing is to wait another day here.

  Garrl started eating his insect and, while I accompanied him, I decided to start the conversation, due to his doubts and questions.

  - Garrl, you were asking me about what an "educational system" is and how to create one; the truth is it's something complex to explain, however, I would like to ask you something first. Tell me, are all kobold pups like you? I say: "Do they learn with the same ease and speed that you do?"

  - I don't quite understand what you're asking me, but I believe I was born with a good heritage, both from our great ancestors and from our people, and I know about the latter the same as I told you before: all "non-wanderers" are born with these two heritages, only differing in the amount and type of knowledge, but then each offspring is taught according to their type of heritage to do the best for the village. I don't know if everyone learns quickly, but they do learn; it's our obligation and responsibility, and every "non-wanderer" knows that.

  - I understand now —he explained to you—. An educational system is a complex structure, just like some of the concepts I have explained to you about a nation, and I don't know if it would be the most convenient to implement in a kobold village. It requires commitment, time, and resources, but I believe we can do something similar, on a smaller scale, that will help our people. I ask you to understand that our dream may be one we cannot finish, but we can plant the seeds for others to complete it. You understand, right?

  - Yes, brother, I understand. As long as we do the best for our people, that's enough for me. Of course, I would like to see it finished, but as long as we can inherit our dream, that would be enough. But don't think our people can't do it, brother, we are kobolds descended from the great dragons, and we can and must always prove it. I know we can!

  - I don't doubt it, Garrl, I know what the kobolds are capable of; just seeing the miasma field a couple of meters away from us leaves no doubt. It's just that everything has to be done "one step at a time"; doing things in a hurried and disorganized manner leads to failure. We must inherit what is needed and when it is needed and in the order that is needed, and we won't know until we are there. I promise to help you in everything I can and to share all my knowledge for the good of our people, and I mean both “wanderers” and “non-wanderers”, because every kobold deserves a chance. That said, pay attention and you can interrupt me if you don't understand something.

  - Yes, brother, and thank you for sharing your heritage again.

  - You're welcome, Garrl, and thank you for letting me share it with you. Let's begin.

  I spent hours explaining to Garrl the structure of a state and how it worked in my world, and we both made analogies with the way kobolds lived. We realized that some things could be applied, while others would be more complicated, that is, if the tribe or village we find lives similarly to how Garrl believes kobolds should behave and organize themselves, as there is a possibility that there are differences compared to our village.

  We know that Tammat tried to make changes and succeeded, according to the great serpent, but none of that was inherited by Garrl. The only explanation, apart from the fact that he didn't inherit that legacy, is that it was the fault of the wise ones, who control the ritual; they possibly didn't trust Tammat, so they sought to ensure that everything she tried to change would be forgotten by future generations.

  Given that, it would be one of the resistances we would encounter; however, I emphasized to Garrl that we cannot impose things, we must show them that it is a better path. We also can't believe that only our ideas are the correct ones; we must listen, debate, and demonstrate with results what the appropriate course for the kobolds is.

  The truth is, I don't know how it will go for us, but at least Garrl is determined. He wants his people to live better than what his heritage tells him they did. He wants to correct several things; he wants to honor his great ancestors by making his people grow. It's noble and admirable on his part, but I know from my previous life that it doesn't always turn out well, though it might be different in kobold culture; honestly, I don't know, but at least I'll be by his side and, while we might be thinking very far ahead and there are many variables that could create significant obstacles, the good thing is that at least we are planning it. Besides, dreaming doesn't cost anything.

  ………………………………………………………..

  It's nice to talk like this with Breigon. His previous world, although human, had great knowledge. It's incredible that the humans of this world have that same ability, but they haven't achieved it. I understand that those achievements took thousands of years to obtain and that they made many mistakes along the way and that they still make them, according to my brother, but now that legacy belongs to Breigon, and he is a kobold, he has the right to pass it on, at least what helps us grow.

  As for my brother, I believe he can be the key to our dream; his heritage could be the change we need. He knows too much and his heritage is thousands of years old; I can't even imagine that number. I know that the inheritance of our great ancestors can be even greater, but it does not seek to create and build, at least the one given to me. I know it's not my ancestor's fault, but I would have wished for their legacy to help us create instead of destroy, and I know that legacy exists; the magic seal is proof of it, but, apart from the great Drazird, I don't know how to obtain it.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Our great ancestor already gave us a part to complete the magic seal and, as my brother explained to me, he will observe us and assess if we are worthy of more of his inheritance, so we can only continue to prove to him that we are indeed worthy. But something tells me that this inheritance is more about the control of mana and magic, and of course, they are useful, and I would be totally honored to achieve the same control of mana and magic as my great ancestors.

  However, Breigon's inheritance is different; it is one that seeks the benefit of all. At least in principle, it seeks to organize things, so that everyone can understand it and be part of it. It's not perfect, of course, but it would be very useful for us, or at least I think so. The inheritance of my brother, the inheritance of our great ancestors, and the inheritance of our people; the three are the key to creating our new inheritance. We must find our people; we must teach them and pass on this change to them; because now that is our duty.

  ………………………………………….

  Both kobolds kept talking about grand dreams, about a kobold nation, a crazy idea, if someone were listening to them, but it was just the two of them and a dragon who, through the eyes and ears of the kobold it contained, wondered: how far could they go? or if they would succeed, because if not …………………….

  ………………………………

  - Great ancestor Drazird, can you hear me? I know that if you haven't commented on everything we've said, it's because you don't see it as necessary, but Garrl would like to know. What do you think? Any advice and guidance is welcome.

  I can't doubt now, Garrl and Breigon might be the only chance for our heritage not to be lost. I'm sorry, Garrl, Breigon, for doubting you just a moment ago.

  - Everything sounds interesting, but don't forget to always demonstrate your lineage, as you did yesterday and on all these previous occasions. Your idea of a kobold nation is strange; dragons never created a nation, but I don't see why kobolds can't do it.

  - Garrl, the great ancestor Drazird, has no problem with our ideas, only that we must never forget the ……………..

  - The demonstration of being worthy! Yes, I know, and we will never stop proving it. Thank you, great ancestor, I truly value your opinion. I told you, Breigon! We can achieve it, if the great ancestor sees no problem, we can and must achieve it!

  - Yes, just remember, Garrl, "one ..............".

  - "One step at a time" I know that too, brother.

  ……………………………………………………………..…

  Kingdom of Jódecas, third expedition

  Isaac didn't have the courage to explain to his father where he was going; he knew that not only would he not allow it, but it could also affect his delusions, so he had to lie partially. He only told him that it would be a well-paid job and that it would last for months. His father was worried, but in the end, he accepted it; he knew his son deserved a better life; and so, he said goodbye to him, wishing that the great spirits would protect him.

  …………………………………

  The great sorcerer Merlan was a somewhat careless man with little experience in traveling to the mountain ranges. At first, he was not at all pleased that Isaac was his assistant, and the boy had no experience in making journeys; he had left the capital, but only on short trips to the nearby forests. However, in his work, he learned how to load carts and warehouses, how to review and maintain inventory control, how to prepare animals for journeys, and all of this was valued by Merlan and even seen and recognized by General Sir Fréderic.

  And finally, the day came when the third expedition set out, a small group of only 15 men with the responsibility of bringing hope and seeking answers. The journey began towards the mana forest and took them 20 days to reach it; it was quite fast as they only made stops for the animals to recover. During all that time, nothing happened, and it would have even been boring for Isaac during those 20 days if the general hadn't put him to train with the soldiers, who were by no means ordinary warriors; they were polished soldiers who taught him to fight better, both individually and in groups, as well as how to use and handle mana weapons. Isaac was more than sure that he had made the best decision, at least until reaching the mana forest.

  He knew about this place and how dangerous it was, not only because of what his father had told him, but the entire kingdom knew it. There were mana beasts, which were by no means ordinary animals; they were bigger, stronger, and had their own magic.

  It was even said that some were very intelligent, to the point of imitating human intelligence, and there were also creatures like kobolds. He hated thinking about those lizards, due to what happened to his father, but even more because of how they were described, as simple little lizards that walk on two legs, weak, deceitful, where their only strength is that they fight in groups and exhibit some level of intelligence, as they formed tribes or villages. That was all he knew the kobolds, and before entering the forest, the sorcerer Menlan called him.

  - Isaac, come, let me explain why we are here.

  - Yes, great sorcerer, Merlan.

  - Just call me Merlan or Mr. Merlan, that's more than enough, boy. Listen, you know we came to explore the caves of the great mana mountain ranges, but what you don't know is that I'm specifically here to check out a reported magical anomaly, and that's all we're here for, to verify if it exists or not, and if it does, to try to study it. We are not here to hunt, we are not here for resources, and we are not here to seek individual fame, is that clear?

  - Yes, Mr. Merlan.

  - Good, what I need you to do until you reach the anomaly is the same as what you've done so far, but you must also be vigilant for any danger and report it. Here, we are all experienced warriors and sorcerers, you don't need to prove anything to anyone, just stick to following orders. Once we reach the anomaly, you will assist me as my aide; afterwards, we will just leave, and I hope that, with answers, it will become clear once again.

  - Yes, Mr. Merlan.

  - Tell me, what do you know about this forest and the caves?

  - Well, apart from being dangerous and valuable for the mana mineral resources, there are mana beasts, bandits, and illegal miners, and you can only enter legally with permission from the crown.

  - Well, do you know why they are protected and forbidden?

  - I don't know it very well, I only know something about a pact among all the kingdoms not to enter, otherwise a great calamity would befall humanity, like the one that happened in the great war a long time ago, or at least that's what my father told me, although I understand that they are just stories to scare children.

  - Wow! You know quite a bit, it's not very precise, but you have a somewhat accurate idea; that's more than enough. Check that everything is ready for tomorrow and rest, and Isaac, ………… not all stories are just to scare children.

  - Yes, Mr. Merlan.