Yui says "Ash, you can be really infuriating at times!"

"What did I do?"

Yui says "Can you at least tell me how you are able to see the life force?"

"Actually, I can't see it. I can just barely feel that it is there, and that only started after I had healed a lot of people."

Yui says "What does healing have to do with it?"

"Well, when I heal someone, the spell interacts with the life force. At first I didn't even notice it, but as time went on I started to be able to feel it a little. Mainly when I was healing a serious injury."

Yui says "That doesn't help me at all!"

"Help you with what?"

Yui says "If we can't figure out how to do what you do with the life force then we can't automate the ritual. That means you will have to be present for the procedure of every single beastman."

"Yeah, I was planning on it. What's the problem?"

Yui says "That will take up too much of your time. You need to spend that time getting stronger!"

"You don't need to worry about me getting stronger, Yui."

Yui says "Yes, I do. I didn't hear what Krenocia told you, but I can tell from what you said that there is a problem."

"Just let me worry about that."

Core says "Ash, this all depends on you. Without you everything will fall apart!"

Yui says "Core is right, there is no one else who can do what you do! So we are going to worry no matter what you say, and if you won't listen to us I will tell everyone else what's going on."

"No! Do not tell the girls or the kids!"

Yui says "Then convince us that you have a plan that will work!"

"Actually, I don't have a plan at the moment. Which is why I don't mind spending some time to improve the future of the beastmen."

Yui says "Have you thought about the Knight Commander test?"

"I considered it, but I am worried it would take too long. A lot would happen while I was out of reach."

Yui says "That is probably true. So what do we do now?"

"If I can get things settled down and running smoothly then I will consider doing the Knight Commander test. For now don't worry so much. While I have a time limit, it is not something immediate."

Yui says "You can ask us not to worry, but Myria heard the same things we did. She won't be so easy to convince."

"Luckily, right now she is too excited about her new abilities. If I am really lucky then she will have forgotten what she heard."

Core says "I wouldn't count on that."

"Yeah, I know it is most likely wishful thinking."

Yui says "So, what do you plan to tell her when she asks about it?"

"The truth. I try not to lie to people, it always comes back to bite me later."

Yui says "So, she will be just as worried as we are."

"Maybe, maybe not. My strength has increased a lot since I was summoned, without me really trying. I will get stronger, no one else needs to worry about it."

Yui says "That is not going to convince her."

"No, but there isn't much she can do about it. In order for someone to help me get stronger, they would have to be stronger than I am."

Yui says "That eliminates just about every creature I know of."

Core says "Except the dragon, and maybe the demon lords."

"None of which I can easily talk to. Yui, do you have records of beasts that the mages studied?"

Yui says "Yes, why?"

"I was wondering if you could identify what species Haku is. Brother Tiger didn't recognize it."

Yui says "Scanning. Well, except for the black markings he matches a species in the records, but that's not possible."

"The black markings appeared when I named him, so ignore them. Why do you say it is impossible?"

Yui says "The species he matches is from the oldest records I have, those from the main continent. So it is impossible for him to be that species unless you have visited the main continent and didn't tell us."

"No, I rescued him from some bandits here on the peninsula."

Yui says "Hence why it is impossible. There is no way for him to have crossed the land bridge at his age."

"I admit that is unlikely, but there are other options."

Yui says "Like what?"

"Humans trafficking rare animals is the first thing that comes to mind."

Yui says "From the main continent? You think that is possible?"

"Where there is profit to be made, you would be surprised at what lengths humans will go to."

Yui says "I won't argue with that, but how did they cross the land bridge?"

"They probably didn't. It's more likely that they came by sea."

Yui says "Why do you think that?"

"Because, that way they avoid both the land bridge and the demon's territory. Unless it is something the demons are behind."

Core says "Why would the demons be behind it?"

"Well, they have humans under their control. And smuggling would be a good way for demons to infiltrate the human lands."

Yui says "You mean like the demon that kidnapped you?"

"Exactly, but this is all just a guess. It would explain how Haku got into the hands of the bandits."

Yui says "Well, I can't say it is impossible. In fact the empire kept a garrison on an island to watch for the demons sailing around the land bridge."

"Did they ever try?"

Yui says "Not that I know of, but I don't know what happened after the empire fell."

"Wait, did the island get wiped out by the dragons?"

Yui says "I'm sorry, I don't know."

"Where is this island?"

Yui says "Off the coast of the beast lands, it sits between the beast lands and the land bridge."

"That is a pretty good location. You said it was a garrison, how many people were on the island?"

Yui says "There was a garrison of five thousand troops, plus a few thousand sailors to man the ships. There were also civilians living on the island, but I don't know how many."

"Sounds like there were enough people that if the dragon didn't hit them they could have survived."

Yui says "Why is this important?"

"Because, if ships are coming from the main continent that island would be the perfect place for them to stop. If they are using large ships then if they came to the coast people would notice. But if they offload cargo on the island and then bring it in on smaller ships no one would notice. It might be worth taking a look, do you have a map showing the island?"

Yui says "Of course." and shows me the map.

"That isn't far from the coast, I could fly there easily enough."

Yui says "What are you planning, Ash?"

"Nothing, at the moment. At some point I will probably go check it out, but it isn't a priority."

Core says "So, you are just curious?"

"Yeah. It happens to me a lot."