Chapter 2916 Price of Success (Part 2)
"Still, it's not fair, big bro. How come Abominus and Onyx managed to Awaken while Leria and I are still fake mages? We spent the same time on mana geysers and practiced magic together. What's the difference between us?"
"First, that's a wrong comparison." Lith shook his head. "You guys are about the same age, but while you kids started practicing magic during our camping trip, Abominus and Onyx have done that their whole lives.
"Also, there's a big difference between you guys. The level of development of your cores. You and Leria are at the bright yellow whereas Abominus and Onyx had reached the bright cyan when it happened. N0v3lRealm was the platform where this chapter was initially revealed on N0v3l.B1n.
"Why do you think that's the normal threshold for magical beasts? Why do you think Tista Awakened when she was at the bright green? Because their mana cores had reached a point where the practice of magic stimulated a mana flow strong enough to trigger the Awakening."
"I don't want to wait for so long!" Leria cried. "I don't want to Awaken in my old age like Aunt Tista."
"Old age?" Tista replied in outrage. "I Awakened at sixteen! If that's Awakening at old age, then what about Ryman? What about Selia?"
"They are parents." Lilia replied to the illogical question with a puzzled tone.
According to children's logic, fathers and mothers were supposed to be immortal beings. No kid wanted even to consider the idea of becoming an orphan so it was only reasonable that their parents weren't allowed to age.
With all the children staring at her and all the parents glaring at her, Tista opened and closed her mouth a few times in a perfect goldfish impression before saying:
"You are right. I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking."
'Nice save.' Protector said via a mind link. 'I don't mind being called old, but if you put in my children's heads the idea that I'm going to die, they'll have nightmares for months. If that happens, I expect you to take care of the mess you created.'
'Thank the gods you didn't call me old. I'd have hated to punch you in the face in front of the kids.' Kamila said.
She was at the age when that word started to sting and Awakening was too recent for her to fully digest the idea that her life span had greatly increased. On top of that, the passing of time was scary for her as well.
Kamila wasn't afraid of dying of old age, only of seeing Lith pass away before her due to the damage to his life force. At that point, her Awakening would turn from a blessing into a curse.
'Please, gods. Whatever time I have left, make it last no more than a week after Lith is gone. Since we are already here, let's make it a few centuries from now so that Elysia will be grown up and with a family of her own to help her deal with the grief.'
As Kamila silently prayed for her husband, herself, and her daughter, her gaze instinctively moved to the baby girl.
"What are they doing?" She pointed at Shargein, Elysia, and Valeron the Second who were leaning against the playpen in their Divine Beast form and staring at the dining room.
"Why are you crying?" Only then did Salaark notice that in her rage she had her eyes, hair, and hands burning with white flames. "Oh, that's why."
She needed a few deep breaths to calm down and make the flames disappear.
"It's all right, kids. I'm not mad. I swear." She said.
'Not anymore.' She inwardly added.
"So you are not going to hurt Uncle Ryman and Aunt Selia?" Aran shivered like a leaf.
"No, I'm not." Salaark tried to reassure them, but the kids were deeply shaken.
They had never seen her angry and had never considered the danger she posed, considering the Overlord only as their loving grandmother.
"Do you promise?" Leria sniffled.
"I promise." Salaark slouched her shoulders, her vow weighed on her but not as much as the headache from the situation. "I'm sorry for my outburst, but this is a big deal. None of my children has ever Awakened at such a young age.
"Until Shargein was old enough to decide if he wanted to stay in my Nest or leave, I would have not taught him anything but the basics of magic. Spirit Magic and Awakening were supposed to be off the table. This is a mess."
"I'm sorry, Grandma. I should have thought about this." Lith said.
"No, it's my fault." She shook her head. "It's been too long since the last time I had a baby Dragon and I've forgotten they require special caution."
"What do you mean?" Lith asked.
"For example, do you know what that chittering is about?"
"I don't speak Dragon, baby, or whatever that is." He replied.
"First, Shargein has tried to teach them how to use Dragon Eyes, then he has explained them Accumulation, and now he is teaching them how to open from the inside the spells that keep the playpen locked."
"He is doing what?" Lith and Kamila rushed to the kids, picking one each. "Bad, Shargein! Bad!"
"Why bad? Sharing good. Shargein good" The Wyrmling tilted his head to a side, wondering why everyone was making a fuss.
