"Good thinking." The Shadow Dragon nodded. "Sit down. There's a lot I need to say."
The Master conjured several chairs and as many tendrils of Spirit Magic, allowing Zoreth to form a mind link with everyone.
'The last thing she needs is reliving her trauma over and over.' He thought. 'Once is already too much.'
Zoreth shared everything about her capture, Raum's origins, and his plans. She left out everything about Solus' tower, the treatnts she had received, and the thods Lith had employed to cure her.
The Shadow Dragon closed the mind link by explaining her newfound abilities, but not how she had discovered them or her training thods.
"Damn." Tezka said. "Your brother was crazy. Raum, I an."
"Thank the gods Bytra called for Lith's help." Kigan nodded. "Only a Guardian could defeat an Eldritch of that caliber inside his own lair."
"How much stronger have you beco, exactly?" Orulm asked.
"In my Dragon form? I have no idea." Xenagrosh shrugged. "I spent most of my ti in my humanoid body since I can turn into a Dragon whenever I want. If I had to guess, however, I'd say that I'm as strong as when I forced my cores to rge."
"Except that now there is no ti limit or backlash." Orulm pointed out. "That's your natural condition."
"There's more." Zoreth said. "Now I have unlocked both my human and troll powers. Nelia, I'd like to give another go at Light Mastery with your help."
"If you have half the talent for light magic the trolls of old had, it should co easy to you." The Griffon nodded. "Call whenever you are ready."
"I've noticed you've left out many things in your story." Vastor said. "Care to explain?"
"Rest assured that I have not betrayed your secrets, Father." Zoreth replied. "I am simply keeping Lith's as well. He asked not to share anything of his research with you, and that's what I'm going to do.
"You are free to study my life force, but don't expect any explanation from ."
"I understand and respect your wishes." Vastor nodded. "Just a few questions. Kigan and I are evolved humans as well. Can you teach us how to use our powers?"
"No." Zoreth shook her head. "That's part of Lith's secrets. Ask him, not ."
Orulm snarled, and a few hybrids clenched their hands in fury, but no one complained.
"That's fine." If the Master was upset, it didn't show. "Did you learn anything during your stay in the Desert that you can share with us?"
"Not really." She sighed. "I was in so much pain the whole ti that I could barely think. There is one thing I have to say, however. For the ti being, I'll do everything you want, but only about procuring and delivering inanimate resources.
"I don't want to have anything to do with the test subjects for your experints anymore."
"Sa here." Bytra squird on her chair, wringing her hands.
"Are you sure?" Vastor's expression hardened, but his voice remained calm.
"Please, Father, look at my mories again." Zoreth grabbed the Master's hand, and he re-established the mind link. "I can't do it anymore because while before I just knew what happened to our victims, now I am one of them.
"I've spent days in their shoes, and surviving the experience only makes things worse for . Before trying to explain and justify what we do, Father, please answer this." Zoreth held Vastor's gaze long enough to ensure he was listening to her.
"If soone with plans as grandiose and noble as yours kidnapped Zinya for their experints, would you care for whatever you were about to say to , or would you gut them like a fish and hang them with their own intestines?"
"The latter." Vastor replied without a mont of hesitation.
"Then you can understand how I feel." Bytra shivered so hard that Zoreth had to cover her with one of the heavy blankets that still lay on the floor. "I didn't even get to gut the bastard. I could only watch Zor suffer and die slowly in my arms."
"I have no more questions, then." The Master nodded and stood up. "Co on, we have made Zin and the kids wait for too long already. Let's celebrate Zoreth's return ho like she deserves."
***
Blood Desert, Salaark's Palace, at the sa ti.
"Thank you for everything, Elina." Aryk and Lilax gave her a deep bow. "You've taught us a lot, and we'll never forgive your kindness."
"That's fine." If the Master was upset, it didn't show. "Did you learn anything during your stay in the Desert that you can share with us?"
"Don't be silly, children." She crossed the distance and hugged them one at a ti. "This is not a goodbye. You can co visit us whenever you want. Isn't that right, Grandfather?"
The two youths froze like deer in headlights at physical contact and didn't return the embrace. Lilax and Aryk knew they wouldn't stay long in the Desert and had done all they could to not get attached to Elina.
Yet after years of fear and isolation, it was hard to let go of the only gentle touch they rembered, and their eyes misted with tears.
"Indeed." Leegaain nodded. "I'm not going to abandon these children. They'll have a roof over their head and warm food on their plates for as long as they need. They will be my honored guests and are free to travel when their studies allow them."
"Studies?" Lilax swallowed hard. "You an there's more to reading, writing, and counting?"
The past few days had been enough to master the alphabet and the numbers, but everything else still needed work.
"Only if you want to." Leegaain replied. "I don't expect you two to beco scholars, but once you're done with the basics, you are free to delve into whatever subject of your liking. If studying isn't your thing, then you need to learn a trade.
"I'll provide for that too, but don't underestimate the task at hand. You guys are socially awkward, and your manners are terrible." His words made Aryk and Lilax blush, and Elina scowl. "It's okay while you are at ho, but not outside.
"The rest of Mogar doesn't owe them compassion, Elina. I just want them to have a normal life, and this will take ti and effort. I don't an to rush them, but you know what happens when a child lacks discipline and spends too long wallowing in self-pity."
Leegaain hadn't ntioned Orpal and didn't need to.
Elina rembered how much her lost son hated chores and responsibilities. How Orpal had always tried to do the bare minimum to avoid getting scolded and then demanded to enjoy the fruits of the labor of his siblings.
'They are no ln, but Grandfather is right.' She went pale at the thought. 'If we spoil them now, Aryk and Lilax will never get back on their feet and use their tragic past as an excuse to justify their failings.
'They need discipline and structure more than they need a vacation.'
Truth be told, after spending years in the streets of Dekari, having five als a day, a personal room, and a warm bed was a dream co true for the youths. They already felt spoiled and wished to repay their savior for his kindness.
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