Gara walked along the dirt path marked with symbols left behind by Agus. These marks indicated that the monsters in the area had already been defeated. Any monsters that appeared here would only emerge at specific times, something Agus had carefully studied.

In the games Gara used to play, this was called respawn.

The mist monsters followed a fixed respawn schedule.

Which meant something was guiding them. Maintaining an orderly system.

Agus had once said that even if monsters reappeared in areas that had already been cleared, at least their numbers would no longer be overwhelming. The Liners fighting them would also remain mentally steadier.

Gara’s thoughts were interrupted when heat spread through the air, making sweat bead on his skin.

Ares attacked the monsters that had been lured in, forming a circle of fire.

The mist monsters, mostly mistwalkers with a few mistwights mixed in, thrashed wildly as they burned inside the ring. They couldn’t escape.

Agus wanted to finish them off immediately, but he couldn’t attack from this distance.

"Why don’t you move the fire slowly, Ares?"

Gara’s voice suddenly came from behind them.

Ares flinched, startled. He hadn’t noticed Gara’s presence at all, having been too focused. Agus, on the other hand, had sensed Gara long ago and was already pondering his words.

"Is that possible?" Agus turned to Ares.

Ares was about to shake his head, but Gara cut in.

"Elementals all originate from the body. If I can control my water, I’m sure you can control your fire too."

Ares knew that in theory. But according to what he’d been taught, everything depended on Talent. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

His Talent was Circle of Fire. Too specific.

Until now, he had trained it as passive control. Occasionally using it offensively when enemies were numerous.

Meanwhile, Gara’s Talent was Unlimited Water. A Talent that only defined quantity, not function. Naturally, Gara’s water could do many things.

Ares admired Gara’s strength, but he also knew their Talents were fundamentally different.

"My Talent is passive control," he said quietly.

"It can’t be moved."

Hearing that, Gara nearly clicked his tongue, but restrained himself. He spoke calmly instead.

"Fian’s Ice Spike can turn into ice cubes. Train."

Bang.

It felt as though Ares had been slapped across the face.

He knew that. But he had forgotten.

He had even doubted Fian several times while watching the young elf train.

After Fian succeeded, Ares’s embarrassment had pushed him to bury the elf’s image at the back of his mind.

Now Gara had dragged it right back out.

Ares fell silent.

Gara was about to change the subject. He wanted to give Ares Magnus’s gift as soon as possible.

But a few seconds later, Ares’s gaze shifted.

There was conviction in it now.

"I’ll train," he said seriously.

Agus clapped a hand on Ares’s shoulder.

"That’s the spirit."

Gara gave a thumbs-up, as if he hadn’t just compared Ares to Fian moments ago.

Shortly after, Gara took a velvet box out of his satchel.

Agus had already told Ares about Magnus and the situation at Palapa Peak. Even so, Ares looked genuinely happy to receive a gift from his grandfather.

The gift reminded him that he was still a descendant of the dragon race.

He opened the box eagerly.

Inside was a crystal ring.

Unlike ordinary crystal rings made from a silver-copper alloy, this one was crafted from platinum, with powdered gemstones embedded near the crystal.

"That old dragon really is excessive," Agus commented with a click of his tongue.

Gara, meanwhile, was stunned by how luxurious the ring was.

Isn’t Ares afraid to wear something like this everywhere?

Should I stop assigning him hard labor?

He watched as Ares slipped the ring onto his finger casually, as if he’d done it countless times before.

"Finally, I can contact my father and grandfather," Ares said.

Then he turned to Gara.

He knew that any communication with the outside world was impossible without Gara’s permission.

Gara caught the meaning immediately and nodded.

He wasn’t worried about this place being discovered by the Dragon Lord’s faction. Magnus wouldn’t have given that ring if there were any risk of their communication being traced.

Seeing Gara nod, Agus nearly protested.

He’d been here for months and still couldn’t contact the outside world without Gara’s approval.

Unaware of Agus’s internal grievance, Gara shifted the topic.

He asked about the dagger Magnus had given him, the one that felt as though it was draining his strength.

"Oh! So that’s why he asked me about your elemental type," Agus said, suddenly realizing something.

"That dagger can be infused with a matching elemental Talent. It enhances attack effects. Even Talents not meant for combat can attack through that weapon."

When Gara had felt his strength being drawn out earlier, it was because his power constantly leaked around his body.

"I noticed you’re different from other elemental Liners," Agus continued.

"For most, their Talent resides in the heart. When activated, power flows outward from there. But you unconsciously keep your power prepared beneath your skin."

Gara blinked, not fully understanding.

"How is that even possible?" Ares chimed in while trying to move his fire.

"That’s incredibly difficult. Even dragons wouldn’t waste stamina keeping their power primed under their skin."

"Because preparing his Talent doesn’t drain stamina," Agus replied.

"Isn’t that right, Gara?"

Gara nodded slowly.

That does seem true. My stamina only drops when I do something complex. Whether it’s controlling water or altering it to produce specific effects.

He hadn’t confirmed it completely yet, but at the very least, it wasn’t a bad thing.

Now, he even had a new weapon.

The small dagger fit neatly into his satchel. As long as he wrapped it in cloth to protect the gemstones, he could carry it anywhere.

...

Madha and Gara continued to stay in close contact.

The night before, Madha had looked worried when she saw how much Gara’s stomach had grown compared to how far along he should be.

That weekend, Gara decided to have his pregnancy checked by a healer.

"It really is strange that your belly is already that big when you’re only two months in," Wina said as they traveled together.

"Usually there’s no bump at that stage. Are you pregnant with triplets again?"

Fortunately, the new babysitters had been accepted well by the triplets and Bel. With Della and Ares also around, leaving them behind wasn’t too concerning.

The healer they visited came highly recommended by Tristan. Duke Alterian didn’t yet know about Gara’s condition, so they kept it secret.

Gara planned to tell his father’s family once Madha returned. He wanted to introduce his children and his fiancé all at once.

"Congratulations, young master," the healer said with a smile.

"The pregnancy is four months along. And your twins are healthy."

Wina and Gara stared at each other. Four months? Twins?

...