Growth spurt

I felt awake for quite a long time ago, but the warmth that surrounds me is pure bliss - so I don't dare to move. Actually, even if I wanted to, I would wake Cecilia up. Which is far more scary than it sounds.

Slowly I open my eyes, to look after Saphira. Unexpectedly, she was not in her helmet and neither was she on Cecilia's side of the bed. A bit forcefully I turn around, but still manage to keep Cecilia asleep. Our little friend wasn't on my side either, the door was still closed. Saphira couldn't have left that way, she also wouldn't be able to leave this room. Shortly after standing up I notice something surprising. It was cold. Not human capital cold, but actually cold. Snowy forest cold, that makes your fingers, nose and ears numb.

The source was pretty obviously Saphira, but I couldn't find her - and she wasn't old enough to do that yet. I walk up to the closet and put on clothes that fit the temperature, I also get a blanket for Cecilia - but as soon as I reach the bed, it was warm again. Completely untouched warmth, inside of a room of icecold air? Seems weird... Was Saphira able to control her thermal ability?

A squeak, followed by a few tapping sounds marks the point I spot Saphira at. She had hidden under the bed, for an unknown reason. But now it was certain that something weird was happening. Saphira was now way bigger and had a wingspan as big as my two arms together. But... How?

It's little blue eyes looked up to me, but they seemed to have matured aswell. Like it skipped growing up entirely. Was my mana too strong and forced her to grow faster? Or were the archives incomplete, maybe even wrong?

No matter what, this is a thing I have to report to the other generals, through that - I have to wake her up.

First, I try soft and slow. A few taps on the face, a little shaking with that showing absolutely zero progress, I start harsher conditions. I take the blanket off, then tickle her. Nothing. Once again, a squeak drags my attention to Saphira. She seems to be doing something... It works, Cecilia is waking up.

Cia:" ...Why is it so cold?" Her voice was still sleepy, but seemed to be shivering a bit due to the cold aswell.

Ce:" Saphira helped me to get you out of bed, take your time and dress up - then meet with me and the other generals at the entrance of Götterfels"

Cia:" ...Okay, I'll take my time..."

I kiss her on the cheek, then hurry to get Servve, Rhage, Lyght and Laurin to gather aswell. Rhage and Laurin were easy to be found. Rhage hogged the library since we got here and Laurin tended to work along his fellow leprechauns. And both of them did just that today aswell. A short exchange on their conclusions upon arrival promised us a way to conquer the demons with more certainty. Rhage found out that demons have such weird, mysterious and brutal mana that a simple manastone was able to react on any demon in one hundred meters distance.

Pretty useful, especially since our equipment was almost done now - with a... little upgrade, I suppose. Unlike we planned, we had found a gigantic chain of ores, so the leprechauns insisted on making the best armor they could for everyone - if they weren't able to fight directly. He showed me a piece of armor and it had quite the abilities. Even with my full force, it didn't break. Unless I reinforced my leg with high amounts of magic and then kicked right through it. Even above that, any ranged magic was literally suffocated in the area around the armor.

It was simply caught in the air and dispersed. Slowly, but with our numbers even demonic magic would be depleted before it could reach anyone that was unable to block. Leprechauns were unbelievably adept at defending against magic. Laurin never told me, but I really think they are hiding something. But all those thoughts aside, the meeting about Saphira is about to begin.