The Blue Mage Raised by Dragons

Book 6: Chapter 217

Hey, Garlic said, lifting the upper half of his body off the ground. He waved his tiny little leg at Vur. Hey. When Vur looked down and made eye contact with him, the caterpillar nodded. Im hungry. Remember the deal you made with my mom? You have to raise me, and I will not raise on an empty stomach.

Vur blinked and tilted his head to the side. What do you eat? he asked the caterpillar.

Garlic rubbed his uppermost legs together like a scammer getting ready to trick a child. How about you give me some of that insect gold?

A loud chattering sound rang out, and a large beetle walked towards Garlic, causing the caterpillar to scoot and hide behind Jefferys legas if the retired guide could do anything to stop Gronion if it really wanted to do anything to Garlic.

Back off! the greenish-blue caterpillar said, waving a balled-up leg as if it were a fist at the beetle. I knew Vur before you did. He promised to take care of me first, and that includes not letting you bully me. If anyones going to get insect gold, itll be me, okay?

Vur rolled his eyes up to meet Tafels gaze. The demon nodded and said, Well, it looks like they can communicate.

Gronion glared at Garlic, but the caterpillar was unfazed. Garlic inched forward, abandoning his human shield, and stood upright. Of course, due to Gronions size, the caterpillar was only as tall as one of the beetles tarsal claws, but that didnt stop him from speaking as if he were larger than life itself. From this day forward, youre going to be my junior brother. Also, you have an older sister too, but she hasnt hatched yet.

Gronion let out a series of rapid clicks.

Who cares if she hasnt hatched yet? Garlic said. Were not going by seniority; were going by who Vur promised to take care of first, and with those standards, youre dead last.

Volearden cleared his throat, drawing Vurs and Tafels attention. As much as I appreciate a good drama between bugs, the armored dragon said, we were in the middle of discussing something important. Even if both towers belong to you, the choice of which tower establishes the portal to Erde is still important.

Why? Vur asked and tilted his head.

Colors swirled on Voleardens armor. Because. The colors stopped moving as Volearden paused. If Vur was the ruler of both towers, then they could be connected quite easily. However, the decision still mattered. Volearden nodded. Because of convenience. If you make the portal here, phoenixes will have an easy time getting to Great Canopy, but all the dragons will have to apply for a transfer to the other tower before they can get to the roost.

And if Vur opens the portal in the other tower, then itd be the phoenixes whore inconvenienced, is that right? Tafel asked.

Exactly, Volearden said and nodded. It doesnt seem important, but for our prides as dragons and phoenixes, it is.

An imaginary lightbulb appeared over Vurs head. Then, well conquer a third tower and establish the portal there, he said. That way, all dragons and phoenixes from Erde will be inconvenienced equally.

Malvina and Volearden exchanged glances with one another. Then, they looked at Vur. I can accept that, both beasts said at the same time. It mightve been a situation where neither side won, but winning was less important than not losing.

Okay, Vur said, turning his head towards Gronion. Bring me the lords of a third tower too.

Gronion let out a sad chittering sound, causing Garlic to snort.

Dont complain, the caterpillar said. You dont even do any work yourself, but youre still going to get insect gold. All you have to do is rip open portals and let your underlings go at it.

Excuse me, Tafel said from atop Vurs head. Ill have you know opening portals isnt as simple as you make it sound. Theres a lot of math involved.

Gronion chittered, and Garlic glanced up at Tafel. Shes agreeing with you, the caterpillar said. Finding the coordinates of a tower is difficult unless you can bring her something from that location.

What if we just merge the two towers together? Tafel asked, looking down to meet Vurs gaze. Instead of inconveniencing everyone, why not make it convenient for everyone instead?

Vur tapped his root bracelet. Can you merge with this tower?

Before he could get a response, loud shouts and protests rang through the air, coming from the portals Gronion had ripped open earlier. Winged ants came out of the portal, holding people with their mandibles. Judging by the cuts and slices, the ants didnt care if the people they captured were injured or not. However, it wasnt just the victims who were injured. Dozens of bugs had sustained injuries as well, their carapaces cracked and oozing green liquids.

Vurs eyes glowed golden, and he waved his hand. A green light washed over the bugs, healing their injuries along with their victims injuries as well. Gronion chittered before nudging Garlic with its foot. The caterpillar blinked. Gronion says you dont have to heal the bugs. Theyre expendable.

Expendable? Tafel asked, raising an eyebrow. She glanced at the winged ants. They didnt seem to care about being referred to as expendable.

Gronion chittered.

Right, Garlic said. Gronion produces them. The caterpillar gestured towards the princess bug. Like so.

Vur, Tafel, Volearden, and Malvina turned to look at Gronion. The large beetle opened its mouth as its body vibrated. Then, it puked out a long string with little white orbs attached to them. Gronion heaved a few more times, producing slimy string after slimy string, not noticing the disturbed expression on Tafels and Malvinas faces. The white orbs on the strings wriggled, and they rapidly expanded, turning into winged ants half of Gronions size.

The more nutrients she takes in, the more soldiers she can produce, Garlic said. They dont live very long though, and their carapaces are very soft for the first couple of hours after theyre born.

I see, Tafel said, turning her head away. She blinked upon seeing a familiar face within the mandibles of a winged ant. Hey, isnt that Kim Hajun?