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

On the other side, George sighed . "Well, they say they just want to use KarGoth 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 airs.h.i.+ps . 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 KarGoth . If I had, we'd have dug it up by now . " Remian frowned . "With the war going on, can they even spare an airs.h.i.+p to come all this way?"

"The Tide has. .h.i.t 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?"

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"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 . "h.e.l.lo, 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 .