Leonie expected that making a portal would entail a lot of hard work. She believed that they would all have to help out to achieve their goals together.

She anticipated it would be similar to the way her grandfather built his first house. Of course, she knew about it only from the tales told next to the fire by her father and mother. Yet, in her heart, she was right there, participating in his labor.

He built the whole house by himself, using mud and hay for walls, and rocks for the foundation. The story said that although it required a lot of hard work and dedication, the house's location did not suit her grandfather's needs, so he moved the entire house in a much more beautiful place.

It took a lot of sweat and blood, but he finally made a perfect house by the lake for his family to enjoy. His hard work paid off. Although the house has changed over the years, the place stays the same in honor of the person who taught them that hard work paid off.

Perhaps that was why disappointment trickled into both hers and Rim's hearts when with one theatrical motion of his hands, that Leonie was pretty sure was unnecessary, Toras created a swirling portal. It seemed too easy, and Leonie's family had a deep-seated distrust for everything that appeared too simple.

"Is that all?" Leonie asked, trying not to sound too disappointed.

"Yes, yes, I know. You thought that we would need to do many difficult tasks to accomplish it, and here I just waved my hands, and it was all done.

It's magic, my children. Magic is simple if used correctly. However, it's not only what meets the eye." Toras said.

"What do you mean?" Leonie asked.

"Well, nothing is infinite. When you are making bread, you can't just keep using flour you need to make it or buy it. Everything has its price, and I have to pay the price even for something as amazing as magic." Toras said.

Leonie never thought of it like that. She knew that the resources of the forest were limited. That was the reason they could not hunt only one animal, to avoid reducing its numbers too much, and yet she always saw magic as something boundless, albeit rare.

However, what Toras was saying made a lot more sense. If everyone could use magic all the time, more people would use it, especially during the winter's arctic weather, where all barely survived.

"How do you pay for magic?" Leonie asked, unable to curb her curiosity.

"Well, it depends. Doing a good deed even when you don't need anything. Planting magic seeds around the world also helps, as well as helping out a magical being in need or helping any living being." Toras said.

"Can I have magic? I've been good!" Nald, who was eavesdropping, said.

"I am afraid not, my boy. Some things are only found in the person's very essence, in their blood. It makes them who they are. I didn't choose to be a Mage I was born one.

I am not always happy with my fate, but I respect it. That is all we can do. Respect whoever you turn out to be, my boy." Toras said.

Although Nald did not understand the mysterious words spoken by his father's friend, he nodded his head solemnly, safe in the knowledge that he would understand when the time came. It often was the case with his father and his friends who were not Hunters.

"Anyway, Leonie, I've just made the portal. It's up to you and Rim how you want to adjust the cave and the other details that would make it more comfortable for a dragon," Toras said.

"Alright, I guess that makes a lot more sense than what I assumed would happen," Leonie said.

The swirling of the portal stopped, and it blended in so well with the surrounding area that if she had not known it was there, Leonie would not have been able to see it or recognize that it was a portal.

"What happened?" She asked.

"It's a defense mechanism. You don't want everyone to know that there is a portal in your backyard, and now no one will notice.

You can always tell where it is if you pay close attention to the slight shimmering around the edges of the portal.

"That's great!" Leonie said excitedly.

"I checked the cave. It's safe, no bears or anything so you can go check it out," Toras said.

"Won't you come?" Leonie asked.

"No, I need to have a word with your mother." He said.

"Okay," Leonie said.

As Amitola and Toras proceeded to the house, Nald, Leonie, and Rim were more than happy to jump into the portal and explore the cave, the newly added mystery to their lives. It was as if they were setting off on an adventure.

"Wait a minute," Leonie said minutes after entering the cave.

"What is it?" Rim asked.

"It's too dark in here. I need to go and get some candles." She said.

"I can make the fire," Rim said proudly.

"No!" Leonie yelled more forcefully than she intended.

"I mean, you don't have full control of your powers yet, and I don't want anything to happen to Nald." She said.

"You are right. I am sorry. I wasn't thinking. Sometimes all the wisdom in the world can't help if you don't remember to check what the best thing to do is." Rim said.

Leonie could feel that he was angry with himself, but was not sure how to approach the subject, so she decided to brush it off for the time being.

"It's alright. It happens to everyone. I'll just run to the house, get the candles, and be right back.

Don't do anything fun without me or else!" She said.

She could see Rim and Nald laughing at her threat, and she was happy she could take Rim's mind off his problems, of his inability to integrate all the knowledge he possessed into his everyday life.

Running into the house excitedly, it did not even cross her mind that her mother and Toras were in the house.

However, as she was leaving her room with a few of the spare candles, raised voices drew her attention.

That was how she found herself eavesdropping. Unlike her curious little brother, she rarely did that, but she felt compelled. It was a reaction of an inquisitive child, but she regretted it soon enough.

"Amitola, you have to tell the girl the whole truth! She needs to know! It's up to you now to tell her." Toras said.

"I know, but Toras, I am afraid. She might seem strong, but knowing too much might break her. I can't allow for my little girl to suffer even more. I need to find the right moment to tell her." Amitola said.

Leonie hunkered in closer, although she knew it would be better for all of them if she just walked away. Yet, she could not fight against her need to know what her mother was hiding from her.

It was a strange feeling of wanting to know more and yet being utterly terrified of learning the truth. Her whole body was shaking in anticipation and fear.

"Amitola, there will never be a right moment. You are her mother, you will always want to protect her, but don't you understand that you are not protecting her! Not knowing might drive her insane!" Toras said.

Leonie could hear her mother's sharp intake of air which made it clear that what Toras was telling her did not occur to her and that she was scared of the new knowledge.

"I...I thought it would protect her. She is so young." Amitola said sobbing.

"I know, but for her to be ready in time, it's necessary to at least know what it all means. Don't you think she deserves to know why she had been plagued with nightmares her whole life?

Trust me, she has been through more in her nightmares than either you or I can begin to imagine. She is tough. I am sure that she can handle the truth, or at least as much of it as you know." Toras said.

"My poor little girl," Amitola said through tears.

That was when Leonie had too much of the conversation, the mystery, and she ran out of the house as if she was being chased by a swarm of angry bees.

Adventure with Rim and Nald was what she needed to distract her from what she might soon come to learn. She was sure to make it an awesome adventure since she was sure that learning the truth would change everything.