"Okay now that, that is settled, let's move on to a more important subject. Who is Mangrell and how do you even know him?"
Zakhir was honestly confused this time. "Do you really not know him? I thought you were his successor, I smell his powers on you"
Jeffrey took a deep breath. "I don't know him and what is this successor thing you're talking about?"
"Mangrell is a wizard from my time and his powers are still so complicated to me, he didn't have any limit, he can create anything with that stupid book of his" Zakhir harrumphed.
Jeffrey gasped and then he brought out his sketch. "The book didn't happen to have this pattern on the lock, did it?"
"So you have seen it?" Zahir said, looking closer.
"It's a long story" Jeffrey sighed. "Anyway from the way you speak, you seem to have some prejudice against him"
"Oh you have no idea, that stupid wizard turned me into a lizard and I had to stay like that for a whole week, he claimed it was an experiment. I a dragon was reduced to such a life form even lower than you humans" Zakhir said with an angry expression.
"So you guys were buds? I don't get it" Philip said with a confused expression.
"He saved me once and I replaced him by offering my friendship" Zakhir said.
Jeffrey resisted the urge to scoff, it must have been a big deal if he spoke about it. Every book about dragons describes them as prideful so Mangrell certainly must have saved him from something fatal to get his recognition.
"Is Mangrell still alive?" although the question sounded stupid, Jeffrey still felt he should ask. Even if he was very sure the life span of dragons was more that of humans he still felt Mangrell was a weird character.
"How should I know? he never stays in a place for too long and sometimes even go on vacation to one of his mini dimensions"
"Say what now?" Philip gasped.
"He had his own dimensions, that sounds more stupid the more I think of it?" Jeffrey frowned. The thought was illogical.
Zakhir stared at their faces and could not resist laughing. "Do you think a human that can make dragons fear him is an ordinary person?"
"No, but still, having his own dimension is simply preposterous" Jeffrey shook his head.
"I never said dimension, I said dimensions. The last time we met he had ten, listen, kid I have no idea why Mangrell gave his ability to you but I can tell you're not making the most of it" Zakhir said.
"Is there a possibility that he's still alive?"
"I do not know but there's an 80% chance he's still alive" Zakhir shrugged. "Don't try to find him though, if he is alive then he'll come find you himself"
"This Mangrell guy sounds cooler and cooler" Philip said seriously while Jeffrey rolled his eyes.
'There's so much weird stuff to go around, it's best if Mangrell clarifies this himself, there's no way one man can own an entire dimension even if he is a wizard' Jeffrey thought we're on point but the possibility of what Zakhir said being the truth still weighed on him.
"Is there anything more you know about him?"
Zakhir sat quietly and then tried to remember. "Not much but he was an orphan and as a child exceptionally curious well that is what he said and there is one thing he away says, I still can understand him no matter how hard I try"
"What is it?" Jeffrey asked with furrowed brows. Mangrell had become a puzzle having more than a million pieces so he needed every piece he could find.
"Do you know the strongest weapon in the world?" Zakhir suddenly asked catching the trio off guard.
"Is it beauty?" Serena asked and the others stared at her in disbelief, what was she even talking about?
"A gun?" Philip scratched the back of his head.
"What is the used of this suspense, you're forcing 'someone' to think even though they don't have the ability. Just say it"
Serena sent Jeffrey a piercing glare after realizing that someone was her. Zakhir on the other hand clicked his tongue at Jeffrey's cold attitude.
"Fine. Mangrell always said an empty sheet has the power to create and destroy life"
"As in a sheet of paper?" Philip hung his mouth open and Jeffrey wasn't any different. He had not been expecting such a response at all.
He was going to continue his questioning when Serena's stomach suddenly growled.
"Sorry" Serena blushed in embarrassment.
"It's also hungry" Philip said.
"Alright let's stop and go have lunch" Jeffrey then turned to Zakhir "Can you eat human food, because there's no dragon food in Trost city, probably the entire dimension"
"Your mouth is really bad you know that?" Zahir scoffed before following after them.
* * *
Tina had just finished eating when Moon came out of her room. She walked into the parlor with dark circles under her eyes.
She had been depressed the entire day. After the quarrel with Jeffrey, even if she was upset she could still think so she decided to check out Caroline's book and after reading almost 150 chapters of 'Mighty Caleb' her shortcomings were laid before her.
She wasn't looking down on herself but in terms of characters hers were plain.
Reading 'Mighty Caleb' made her feel like Caleb was real which was something she never felt when reading her own book.
She had never felt the need to stress about character design but reading Caroline's book made her realize she must have placed herself in Caleb's shoes many times, Every decision Caleb made was always in line with his character, there was never a sudden smartness.
'Am I really that terrible, her book is better than mine I should apologize to Sun, I messed up big time. Should I talk to Chibi, she'll probably use this chance to mock me but I want to know how Sum helped her'