"Are you sure you want books from all magical schools?" Luna and Nikolina looked at Garon with a hint of skepticism, wondering if they had heard him wrong.
Garon repeated firmly, "Yes, books from all the magical schools."
Nikolina expressed her confusion, "Are you planning to collect them? Books aren't easy to preserve, and their value as collectibles isn't very high."
She didn't believe that Garon wanted the books from all schools for his own use.
Garon shook his head, clarifying, "Not for collecting, but for my own learning. I've already studied spells from the schools of Transmutation, Enchantment, Abjuration, and Conjuration, but I'm not yet satisfied. I want to delve into all the magical schools."
Luna and Nikolina exchanged looks, then stared at Garon, their expressions a mix of awe and concern.
The term 'Magic Addiction' surfaced in their minds. Such a handsome dragon, and yet, a magic-addicted one.
"Lunar, you need to understand, magical knowledge is profound and endless. Even ancient dragons dare not claim mastery over a single school. Your approach might only dilute your focus, preventing mastery in any school," Luna advised with a seriousness that colored her face for the first time, offering Garon a patient warning.
"Yeah, yeah," Nikolina added earnestly, "I've never seen any spellcaster from any race who has dabbled in all schools and ended well. Even deciding to let Lilith study both Hexes and Enchantment took a long discussion with Luna."
Their words were well-intentioned. True dragons live long but not forever. Spending an extensive amount of time studying spells from all schools could be a waste.
Except for gods, only a few legendary beings possess true immortality.
Garon is one of those beings, but they didn't know that, so they advised him out of kindness.
"I understand your concerns, and I appreciate the advice, but I have my own considerations," Garon responded, indicating his resolve and deep personal reflection on the matter.
Realizing that Garon was firm in his decision and not easily swayed, Luna and Nikolina no longer persisted but wished him well, "We hope you succeed in achieving your desires."
Garon smiled slightly, "Whether I succeed or not, trying is never a mistake."
After a pause, he shifted the conversation back to the matter at hand, "Now, let's talk about the Red Flame Staff. What exactly is it connected to?"
Nikolina, also curious, looked at Luna, who carefully chose her next words and then uttered, "Semi-plane."
Semi-plane! Garon was momentarily stunned.
At the mention of the term, a flood of information about semi-planes, inherited from the dragon lineage, surged in his mind.
A complete plane, such as the Prime Material Plane where Garon resided, including elemental planes, hell, the abyss, the Celestial Mountain, and the Menagerie, are theoretically infinite.
A semi-plane might only encompass a few hundred square meters, a planet, or even a galaxy, existing as a finite space.
The size of a semi-plane isn't fixed and can expand through various means. They can be naturally formed or created by powerful spells.
Many powerful beings find suitable semi-planes and transform them into their strongholds.
The ancient dragons rarely show themselves on the Noah Continent; they might be hidden within such semi-planes.
At the mention of a semi-plane, Garon felt a strong impulse.
He wanted a semi-plane as his dragon's nest, which would be infinitely safer than any lair he currently possessed.
"Molton named the semi-plane he discovered the Lava Semi-plane."
"Its interior is dominated by fire and earth elements, spanning nearly one hundred million square kilometers, filled with lava and volcanoes. Every inch is saturated with heat and dryness, and it contains many mineral veins, including those of fire-element gems."
"The connection you feel is a portal that links the Prime Material Plane with the Lava Semi-plane."
Luna pointed to the gem at the top of the Red Flame Staff, "This gem, called the Heart of Lava, is a crystallization of the fire and earth elements of the Lava Semi-plane and is the key to entering it."
Listening to Luna, Garon's breathing grew heavier.
A semi-plane of nearly one hundred million square kilometers could potentially be transformed into a new world, smaller but entirely his own.
At the mention of the semi-plane, Garon already considered it his to claim.
Luna, discerning Garon's ambition, chuckled softly before continuing seriously, "There are many native Fire Giants and Earth Giants in the Lava Semi-plane, and these powerful elemental beings are not to be trifled with."
"They look down on flesh and blood lifeforms but do not mind trading with beings from the Prime Material Plane, exchanging valuable elemental crystals
for items that do not exist in the Lava Semi-plane."
"Taking complete control of the semi-plane is difficult, but acquiring vast wealth through trade with the elemental giants is relatively straightforward."
Following Garon's inquiry, Luna carefully recalled all she knew about the Lava Semi-plane.
Garon exhaled slowly, his eyes shining with determination, "Fire Giants and Earth Giants, understood."
Elemental beings are diverse, and those with intelligence and power, known as elemental giants, possess strength comparable to an adult white dragon and are even stronger within their native planes.
They often form societies and build cities or fortresses, numerous and formidable.
Becoming the master of this semi-plane meant earning the respect of these elemental giants, no simple task.
After thinking, Garon cautiously asked, "Is there an Elemental Lord in the Lava Semi-plane?"
In many planes, the most powerful and influential beings are the high gods who wield quasi-divine powers and hold dominion over life and death.
But apart from the gods, there are beings nearly as powerful.
Devil princes, ancient evils, demon lords, titans, great fey, animal lords, elemental lords...
Elemental lords, also known as elemental primes or wild gods.
Some creatures worship earth or sky gods, fire gods, and such, which may not be true gods but powerful elemental lords.
If an elemental lord existed in the Lava Semi-plane, Garon's plans would be unfeasible for a long time.
Luna shook her head, "When Molton and I explored the Lava Semi-plane, we neither saw nor heard of any Elemental Lords."
Garon's eyes brightened, his spirits lifted.
However, Luna cautioned, "But because I couldn't stand the environment in the Lava Semi-plane, I didn't explore for long and don't know much about it."
"Garon, if you have plans for the semi-plane, be wary of a slumbering Fire or Earth Elemental Lord within; it would be a disaster for you."
Luna, perceptive and intelligent, recognized Garon's ambition.
Garon touched his dragon horn contemplatively, "A hundred million square kilometers is a vast semi-plane, but it's unlikely to have birthed an Elemental Lord."
Such beings are akin to gods in power.
Luna nodded in agreement, "You're right, the presence of an Elemental Lord is highly unlikely."
She pondered for a few seconds, then seriously suggested, "I remember, in the Lava Semi-plane, there are frequent conflicts between the Fire Giants and Earth Giants; you could start from there."
Garon took a deep breath, his eyes bright, "That's a good suggestion."
Meanwhile, Nikolina, who had been listening intently, blinked and playfully poked Garon's dragon scale, then excitedly said, "Garon, when you get the portal, can you take me to see the semi-plane? I've never seen one."
Garon, pleased with acquiring information about the semi-plane, smiled, "No problem."
Luna looked at Nikolina with a resigned expression, "The Lava Semi-plane is all fire and scorched earth; you wouldn't want to stay more than a couple of days."
After Luna's remark, Nikolina pouted and muttered, "Then I'll just play for two days."
As a nearly adult true dragon, Nikolina's curiosity was at its peak, and she didn't want to miss an opportunity to broaden her horizons.
Garon chuckled softly, "When I acquire the semi-plane, you're welcome to visit."
He still wanted a majestic ice crystal palace, and being good to this Crystal Dragon might ensure her diligence in building his palace.
By "acquire," Garon meant to fully control the vast semi-plane, which, even without an Elemental Lord, wouldn't be easy given the strength of the Fire and Earth Giants and potentially legendary elemental giants residing there.
Nikolina jumped up, clenched her tiny fists, and waved them, "Yay, I'm starting to like you more and more."
She then sighed regretfully, "It's a shame you don't want a mate; I'd want to have dragon eggs with you today."
Garon was momentarily at a loss for words. Nikolina's human-like appearance looked fragile, almost as if she could be squashed with a flick, but her bold personality always managed to surprise him.
As a three-year-old dragonling, Garon didn't quite know how to respond.