We spent that day just talking, recovering our mana, and looking for what would help us continue our journey. The invisible crocodile remained just as invisible, and while we knew it was watching, it no longer emitted that feeling of wanting to hunt us in its mana.

  Now, that didn't mean the crocodile didn't make threatening sounds, which Garrl responded to with his own sounds, but that was it; I think, despite everything, he is quite clever.

  He hasn't awakened his self-awareness like the great serpent or the Mrs. Spider, but due to his size and mana, he should achieve it soon. It's not something that happens overnight, the great serpent told us, as it takes time, nor can it be controlled; one day it just happens, and that's it, it's a strange phenomenon if you ask me. The only thing I understand is that it is influenced by natural mana and only in creatures that have mana crystals; it would be interesting to investigate it later.

  - Hey, brother, I'm already a bit hungry. Weren't you going to cook that thing you called roasted fish?

  - Well, for that we should first catch a fish, but I don't know if it might still be dangerous with that crocodile.

  - Not at all, brother, he just wants us to keep our distance and not intrude on his territory; besides, with all our mana almost recovered, we can sense where he is. Tell me, Breigon. Is fishing complicated? Would we have to enter their territory?

  - Not so much, I saw some fish near the shore, mmmmmm, well, let's give it a try. Help me find a long and flexible branch to make a fishing rod. And when we are fishing, we will always be on the lookout for the crocodile. I really want to eat fish; besides, who knows when we'll come across this opportunity again.

  After explaining to Garrl what the art of fishing consisted of and crafting our fishing rods with the Mrs. Spider thread and hooks made from insect exoskeletons, we proceeded to try to catch some fish, but it hadn't even been half an hour when Garrl was already bored, so he stopped and just watched the crocodrile. But we took advantage of that free time offered by fishing to try to decipher how the crocodile did what it did: camouflaging or becoming invisible using mana.

  However, no matter how much we thought, we couldn't find any answer that would help us imitate it. The most we could come up with was that his ability was related to the mana bubble he created around himself. Possibly, in some way, he changes the refractive index of the water surrounding him and thus creates the illusion of being invisible, I thought, but even if that were the case, that technique would only work in water and I hope that's the case; I don't want to run into an invisible tiger or something, but. However, it might be possible with enough skill to do the same in the air; honestly, I don't know, it's just an idea.

  For his part, the great Drazird also didn't know anything about that ability; he did know that it existed in creatures like that "crocodile," but dragons didn't need to hide, so he didn't know how that magic worked. Well, it's not like I was stressed about it, but like many other things since I arrived in this world, I'll have to investigate it later and with more calm.

  And so, we spent the day, and at the end of it, I managed to catch several fish; I suppose it was a good day, I thought. We recovered all our mana, restocked, reaffirmed our lineage, and have a clearer idea of what our dream is. From any angle, it's an excellent day, which will end with a delicious roasted fish. I thank God for this food that is not an insect or another arthropod.

  - Garrl! The fish is ready; come on, let's have dinner.

  - It smells delicious, brother, it was worth the fishing, even though it's a bit boring.

  - Yes, I don't like fishing either, but I wanted to eat fish again, although I regret that we don't have at least a bit of salt; that would give it a better flavor. I hope to find salt or some other similar seasoning someday.

  Out of nowhere, Garrl took his fish and swallowed it whole, not even chewing.

  - Hey, Garrl! You didn't even taste it.

  - What are you talking about, brother? Of course I savored it! Besides, it's small, you can eat it in one bite, I don't have to tear it apart. By the way, it's very good and different from the insects and frog meat we've eaten.

  - Don't remind me, Garrl, because a lot of what I ate was to survive, but this fish is different, because I'm going to savor and enjoy it, like you can't imagine, hahahaha.

  Immediately, with my claws, I tried to remove the meat from the bones, while Garrl just looked at me with eyes of bewilderment and swallowed his fish in one gulp; however, in the end, it was almost impossible for me to get a good piece of meat that would allow me to chew it properly, so I had to imitate Garrl and swallow them whole. It wasn't the same, but at least it was fish. I guess I'm still trying to feel what it was like to be human. It's not that I haven't accepted that I am a kobold and that I don't feel proud of it, it's just that old habits are not so easy to forget.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  - Breigon, then humans, because they don't have snouts or fangs, chew their food and then swallow it, right?

  - Well, yes, technically that's how it is, that's a natural part of the human digestion process, and it's not that they can't swallow their food without chewing it, but it would make digestion difficult for them. Moreover, being able to chew not only makes it easier to ingest food but also allows you to savor each bite with your taste buds.

  - Mmmmm, I see, I don't think we can do that; our snouts and fangs wouldn't allow it, but you tried, how did you do it?

  I knew what Garrl was looking for with this conversation; he must have sensed my feelings of nostalgia through the mana, and he seeks to comfort me, understand me, and teach me that I am now a kobold.

  It's nice to know that he wants to help me. Now more than ever, I know that telling him I was human was a great decision; it will make this transition from human customs to kobold customs easier for me.

  And so it was that strange discussion that evening, about how to chew with a snout that wasn't designed for it. I have no doubt! Today was an excellent day!

  ……………………………………………………….

  Kingdom of Jódecas, third expedition

  They were the worst days of his life; Isaac repeated it to himself every day. The journey through the forest was not only difficult and slow, but the horses were always nervous and with good reason.

  It was known that most of the animals in this forest are mana beasts; and while not all of them are aggressive, they did encounter a kind of wild boar that attacked them in the middle of the night, killing two horses and injuring a soldier before they could take it down. It didn't cause more destruction thanks to Mr. Merlan managing to immobilize it with a spell, and it was then that they could finally land several consecutive attacks, as somehow the beast was protecting itself with its mana, but in the end, it was defeated. And that was despite the fact that they supposedly explained to Isaac that it was only a low to medium danger mana beast. "I understand now why this forest is dangerous," Isaac said to himself.

  Unfortunately for the expedition, losing those horses slowed the journey even further, and they also lost three soldiers, as the general sent the wounded soldier with two others to escort him. This place was not safe for someone injured, but neither was it safe to send him alone. They thought about sending Isaac; however, Merlan claimed he needed him. Moreover, the general realized that, since Isaac was the least experienced, it was safer, according to him, for the boy to be with 8 warriors and 3 sorcerers than with 3 warriors, one of whom was already injured.

  The truth is, General Sir Fréderic was a good man, strict, but he cared for his soldiers while focusing on the mission; and so, they continued their journey through this forest.

  As they continued, they did not encounter any more dangerous mana beasts, "thanks to the great spirits," Isaac told himself, but that did not mean the journey improved. The paths were becoming increasingly difficult and complicated. They took approximately the same time to reach the caves as they did to reach the forest, even though the distance was much shorter, although the journey didn't seem so.

  "The mana caverns," Isaac said to himself, were beneath an immense chain of mountains that crossed several kingdoms, but the kingdom of Jódecas had the main and easiest entrance; or so it was said. In the distance, they managed to see that entrance, but Isaac knew that it was inside those caves where his father lost his sanity, and he wondered if what he said was what really happened or if there was something more than mere kobold whelps speaking strange languages, and above all, if knowing it would help him and his father in any way.

  - Isaac! ……………… Isaac!

  - Sorry, Mr. Merlan, I got distracted.

  - Boy, I need you more focused than ever. Drop my gear and follow me, we're going on foot.

  - Yes, sir, ………… but we are still a considerable distance from the entrance, wouldn't it be better to camp near it?

  - Remember I told you we were coming for a magical anomaly, well, follow me and you'll see it, if it's still there, although I hope it's not, despite my desire to investigate it.

  Issac was confused by Merlan's words; however, he would fulfill his task. They were walking along with the general, 2 soldiers, and a sorcerer; the others stayed behind setting up the camp, quite far away to Issac's bewilderment. And out of nowhere, Merlan stopped.

  - According to the report, this is as far as we can go. Hand me my things, boy, and you, we will cast the revelation spell; if it is still there, we will be able to see it, and if not, we will proceed cautiously until we reach the entrance, before sending good news to King Erick.

  Intrigue gnawed at Isaac, but he knew he had to be patient and not interrupt during the spell. The magic was incredible, and he could use it thanks to his armor and sword, but only the magic they contained, and once it was depleted, they would just be an ordinary armor and sword until the mana was replenished; that was what they explained to him. However, the sorcerers could conjure different magics, depending on the spell recited, and that was what he was about to see. From the staffs of both sorcerers, a light emerged that flew through the skies until it struck something in the air, and that something began to become visible before Isaac's astonished eyes, who did not understand what he was seeing.

  - SHIT! — said the general.

  - By the great spirits! it can't be possible that this exists. ............. Isaac! Prepare a messenger bird; I'm afraid I must report terrible news to the king.