226 Rumor has i

"They want WHAT?!" Remian coughed into the communications crystal.

On the other side, George sighed. "Well, they say they just want to use Kara-Goth as a secure base, and they're asking for our cooperation and aid, but I think in the end, they just want mana. If we can give them mana, they might just go away."

Remian coughed again. "That's never going to happen. George, if you give them mana, they're going to keep coming back for more."

"Really? I mean, we don't really have much anyway, and we need all we have for our airships. Speaking of which, we might be about to run short… think you could scrounge up another mana mine?"

"I haven't felt any mana around here, or around Kara-Goth. If I had, we'd have dug it up by now." Remian frowned. "With the war going on, can they even spare an airship to come all this way?"

"The Tide has hit the northern continent, I heard. In other words, everyone's too busy fighting Wilds to fight each other. I think the world war is on hold until the Wilds are cleared and everyone finds more mana to continue fighting."

"Just how big is the Last Mana Lode?" Remian had to ask. "It must be huge for so many countries to make such a fuss over it."

"About that…" George's voice actually lowered. "I heard there's miles of it, and…"

"And what?"

"Rumor has it, the crystals are purple."

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Purple mana crystals! That was the Tier between blue and red. Each was worth ten blue crystals of equal size. Miles of purple crystals could be worth billions of yellow crystals. It was no wonder the countries nearby were going mad over it. They were spending the last of their mana reserves bidding in an all-or-nothing gamble.

"So why is Ashdale coming here instead of trying to seize the Last Mana Lode?" Remian pondered.

"Because the Storm Pegasus King is sitting right on top of it?" George pointed out.

"And what about here? There are half a hundred such Kings and worse over here."

"I'm guessing they don't know that."

"Did you tell them?"

"Didn't get the chance. I get the feeling it's already too late."

Remian sighed. "I guess they'll have to see it for themselves to believe it. As if the destruction of their colony here wasn't enough."

"Back then, all they wanted was ore and lumber. Now they want mana. I think they're going to be a lot more determined this time."

"Right." Remian groaned. "Well, whatever. Maybe they'll just go home after searching in vain for a few weeks. In the meantime, whatever you do, don't tell them about what's in the far south."

"What's in the far… oh. Right." George suddenly gulped. "I better let everyone know."

The message was clear.

Do not, do NOT tell Ashdale about the Source of Magic.

***

At that time, Mindy was arriving at Ecclesia with the Ravens.

Father Petrov met them at the airport. "Hello, Mindy! I'm glad you've arrived here so soon. Your recruits have been badgering me about the Frontier."

"Really? How many did we get? Did you tell them about the dragons?" Mindy asked, eyes wide.

"Oh, yes! And there are a lot of them eager to see the dragons. There are over a hundred of them, in fact, many of them top geniuses!"

"Over a hundred?!" Mindy stared. "Father Petrov, you didn't tell them about… you-know-what, did you?"

"That? No, I didn't say anything." Father Petrov said.

"Then why do I have this really bad feeling about these new recruits?" Mindy asked, frowning. "You're sure you didn't tell them?"

"Not a word."

Huh. Maybe they really did just want to go see the dragons.

"Chirp." From her shoulder, Chirpy looked at her quizzically.

"Nothing, I'm sure it's fine." Mindy said. "Maybe that bad feeling in my tummy is just hunger or tiredness. It's been a long flight."

"That it has. Come with me. I've booked you and your crew rooms at the airport inn. You mentioned something about enrolling new students into the Ecclesia College of Magi?"

"Yes, we need to talk about that."

***

Overnight, news began to spread that the world war had come to a complete and unexpected stop. Both sides had been beaten back by the Wilds and now strange beasts rule over the neutral zone, beating back every country's forces into hasty retreats.

The Ashdale-La Vive side had turned westwards for help. Rumor had it, Libertaria, Torres and Azte might soon get involved on their side.

The Germat-Auria side simply regrouped and prepared for focused push into the Neutral Zone. Rumor had it, they were making deals with the Dragon Empire for mana and military support.

Everyone was on edge to see how Ecclesia, the Dragon Empire, and Libertaria would move.

***

Meanwhile, Mindy brought her old friends and new crew to enroll in the Ecclesia College of Magi.