It took a little over two hours for Cale to reach the vicinity of the Holy Island and spot the first dragons. They glided gracefully through the sky - some in groups, some alone. Some had noticed his presence but kept their distance, watching him from afar.

The first familiar mana Cale sensed was that of Aforsio. High above the clouds, the dragon circled, watching his every move. The closer Cale got to the island, the more familiar mana sources he could feel. The number of dragons was impressive - significantly higher than back in the mountains of Sylve, and far higher than on his first visit to the Holy Island.

Then, without warning, he sensed her: Parousia.

Her mana lay like a veil over the island, heavy and imbued with power. Instinctively, Cale slowed his pace. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as the memory of his death came flooding back – and the feeling of being killed by the dragon queen. A mixture of relief and fear overwhelmed him.

If Velence's words were to be believed - and Cale did believe them - he was back in reality. Not a world where mana had almost dried up. Not one where dragons fought over the disappearance of the gods.

But Mellontikos was not there - Cale could tell. He remembered Chioni's words - that both Mellontikos and Parelthon often disappeared, but Parousia always remained. Despite everything, he was relieved to finally have one of the big questions answered.

He dropped his shape-shifting and headed for the center of the island. A handful of dragons followed him, but not a single one dared to speak to him. Cale paid no attention to them. With his bright eyes, he spotted the large square at the tip of the island, where dozens of other dragons had already gathered. All eyes were on him as he slowly floated down from the sky. But his attention was focused on a single figure.

The golden dragon - the goddess of the present: Parousia.

She raised her head majestically and spread her enormous wings. The assembled dragons instantly backed away. Even Palaios, who was standing at the edge, looked small next to her. Parousia stepped forward, her steps measured, her gaze condescendingly directed at Cale.

Cale's heart raced.

"A new apostle", Parousia announced in a clear voice and stopped. Cale also stopped. In his child form, he placed one foot behind the other and bowed deeply – as he had done before King Leonhardt. "Trouble didn't take long to arrive. What is your name?"

"Caleb Leuen", Cale replied calmly.

"I don't like the sound of that...", she muttered. "What happened? Since when have you had so much mana?"

"Excuse me?", Cale blinked in confusion. "I don't quite understand the question."

"Your mana. Yesterday you didn't have... so much."

Her cold gaze made him tremble. It was surreal to be facing the one who had killed him - and even more unsettling was the thought that she didn't know what had happened. Wasn't she a goddess?

"Forgive me for being rude, but... does the gift of rebirth mean anything to you?"

"The gift of... ah. Mellontikos..."

"He bequeathed it to me. At least, I assume so."

"How many times has it been activated?"

"Six times."

"So this is... your seventh life?"

"Certainly."

Parousia was silent. Cale couldn't guess what was going on in her head.

"I have a feeling that this isn't our first meeting."

"No", Cale confirmed quietly.

"How much do you know... about the future of this planet?"

"Planet?"

"Your home", she corrected. "How much have you witnessed? How old are you really?"

"About 304 years", Cale replied calmly. "Based on my current knowledge, the Thormods will launch an attack on Altona in 17 years and conquer the continent in 20 years. I don't know what happens after that. I only learned the truth about the Thormods, the dragons, and this world in my last life."

"Quite a lot", murmured the goddess, closing her eyes. "According to your words, you have not met Mellontikos, is that correct?"

"That is correct."

"Then you do not know why he interfered in my time."

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"That is also correct."

"I see... that problem child", she murmured. Cale looked at her in surprise.

She called Mellontikos - the god of the future - a problem child? What had happened between the gods? Had Mellontikos interfered to often in things that were none of his business?

"Is he telling the truth?", Chioni asked. Graceful and elegant, just as Cale remembered her.

"Yes", Parousia confirmed. "Mellontikos' gift is powerful. If even I don't remember the conversation, something must have happened."

"May we know what this is about?" Velence, leader of the dragons, interjected. The tension was palpable.

"Mellontikos is trying to prevent the fifth great war in the world. It will happen in the next century."

Cale froze.

A fifth great war? So catastrophic that even the gods had to intervene? Had he been working toward the wrong event all these years?

A quiet doubt began to grow inside him - gnawing, relentless. Had all his efforts, all his sacrifices, been just a minor prelude? Just the beginning of a much greater catastrophe beyond his imagination? Did he even have a choice? Was he strong enough for what awaited humanity?

"So you don't know why Mellontikos gave me this gift?", Cale asked quietly.

"No", the goddess replied coldly. "Until recently, I was unaware of your existence and this future. He often acts without consulting us."

"Then... can you take this gift from me?"

"Only Mellontikos himself would be able to do that."

The answer hit him like a fist in the face. He was not yet free - not as long as he carried the gift of rebirth. Not as long as he had met Mellontikos.

"Give me some time. I was planning to look for him anyway."

"I understand... thank you very much", Cale muttered. But his thoughts were racing. "May I act at my own discretion?"

"As his apostle, I cannot give you orders", Parousia said calmly. "You act on your own."

The statement made Cale more skeptical than it should have. Even the goddess couldn't order him around? Was that really true, or was she just saying it to reassure him? Should he wait for Mellontikos, or could he really do what he thought was right? If he changed the current events, how would that affect the future? Would Mellontikos be angry about it, or would he remain calm?

"I plan to wipe out the Thormods. Will you interfere?"

"Not as long as I see no reason to. Unlike Mellontikos, I don't really care about humans."

Cale flinched at the comment - the indifference hit him like a stab.

"Don't look at me like that. Humans aren't the only species we need to worry about."

"Are you talking about the dragons?"

"Among other things", Parousia confirmed, turning her head questioningly to the side. "Are you planing on asking me let their power to you?"

Cale held his breath for a moment. He had hoped to count on her support. But with the return of the gods, the dragons would hardly act against their will. Their loyalty was unshakable. Therefore, he had already come to terms with having to act without her help. But now?

Parousia turned away before Cale could reply.

"Velence."

"Goddess Parousia", Velence replied in a calm voice.

"You have the gift of seeing the truth, do you not?"

"That is correct."

"Good. I want you to keep an eye on him while I am away. Help him - if it is within your power."

"Very well", Velence said with a nod.

Parousia turned back to Cale.

"Do not start a war in my absence", she ordered. "I expect you to behave yourself, Apostle Caleb Leuen."

Cale nodded, confused. The next moment, the dragon queen's body disintegrated into glowing fragments – like dust in the wind. As if she had never existed. Confused, he stared at the spot where she had just been standing.

When Cale fell to his knees, the dragons around him broke out in chaos. Velence was immediately surrounded and tried to restore calm, while Cale was completely ignored.

<That didn't go as expected.>

Cale remained seated for a good minute when he felt a breeze behind him. He didn't have to turn around to know who was standing behind him. So he closed his eyes and tried to breathe calmly - to prepare himself for the conversation to come.

"Apostle", Palaios spoke up - the dragon who had told him pretty much everything about the gods and dragons back then. "Forgive me, I have a question for you."

"Palaios", I said, turning around. Surprised, Palaios raised his head and sat up straight - his suspicious gaze fixed on Cale.

"It almost seems to me that you know me."

"I do", I confirmed, slowly straightening up. "It is a pleasure to see you again. How may I help you?"

Suddenly, Palaios seemed to lose the courage to ask his question out loud. His gaze wandered skeptically to Chioni, who had not moved from her spot. She hadn't taken her attention off him for a single second.

"You said you're from the future...", he began cautiously, and Cale immediately guessed what he wanted to hear from him. "How much do you know about us dragons?"

"That depends on what exactly you mean", he asked, looking over at Chioni. "Or are you talking about the mark on her chest?"

Surprised, Palaios jerked his head back, causing Cale to look up at him.

"In the time I come from, you helped me a lot", Cale began calmly. "All of you. Including Chioni, Velence, and Fengari. Without your help, I wouldn't be here."

"So... Chioni was still alive when we met", Palaios announced with relief. "What a blessing. I had expected her to have been sent away."

"The gods did not exist in the time I came from."

Suddenly, it became so quiet around us that all you could hear was the whistling of the wind. Without exception, all the dragons turned toward Cale, even those who had been discussing among themselves just a moment ago. Confused, Cale turned me around, only to get stuck on Velence.

"Excuse me", Velence said, approaching me. "What did you just say?"

"In the time I come from, the gods did not exist", Cale repeated. "There were problems with nature's mana, which is how we got on the subject."

"How is that possible?", a dragon, whose name Cale did not know, asked.

"A world without gods?", interjected another.

"So thats why Parousia knew nothing about..."

Chaos ensued. Cale could no longer make out the individual voices and looked around for help from Palaios, who seemed overwhelmed by the situation himself.

"QUIET", Velence shouted loudly, causing even Cale to flinch. "I will speak with the Apostle."

Like frightened animals, the other dragons crawled back as Velence approached Cale. Cale no longer recognized him. There was no trace of the calm, friendly Velence he had come to know. Instead, standing before him was a stranger who looked down on him from above - as if Cale were vermin that he had to destroy.

"Velence...", Cale anounced nervously.

"I suggest we move this conversation elsewhere", Velence interrupted him, looking up at Palaios. "Chioni and you will accompany us."

"And Fengari", Palaios interjected, completely unimpressed by Velence's direct order.

In the distance, Fengari's head rose above the crowd with a shocked exclamation.

"Why me? I haven't done anything wrong, I swear!"

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