"Grandma Akira? Gran? Can you hear me?"
Akira slowly opened her eyes. She saw the handsome face the prince and mumbled, "If I only knew everytime I fainted, I'd see a handsome face, I'd have done this more often in my teenage years."
Lady Tara giggled. "The first time she fainted, she saw Lord Napat's face. And now Prince Karki," she explained, for the benefit of everyone in the room. Lord Airavan burst out laughing.
Prince Karki left to pack his belongings. "Grandfather, I would like to prepare myself before I serve lord Napat. Let me be part of this school from day one."
Lord Airavan nodded. "You have my blessings. Come home often. I shall try to meet you as may times as possible. Send me a message every week."
Prince Karki laughed. "Grandfather! I am not a kid anymore. But I shall do as you say. I will rely on your guidance."
Just before parting lord Airavan said, "Let no one know about what was discussed in this room, even our own brothers. Nagas are chatty, and may share some information that should not be shared with someone that should not be trusted."
Prince Karki nodded. "You have my word."
When they reached the surface it was already night time.
Prince Karki had changed his tail to a pair of feet, as glinding through snow was not very convenient. He had draped himself in a silken material woven and crafted by the nagas.
Lady Tara had worked on that material with her magic and had made it more fashionable.
They made their way back to the igloo that Princess Tara had built. She built another one next to it, about the same size and lit a small fire inside.
"Prince Karki, you may rest in there. It may not be very comfortable, but it will protect you from the blizzard. We will start the construction at twilight tomorrow."
Lady Akira gave him her shawl, moving him slightly. She may look in her twenties, but she was very much grandmotherly.
"If you still feel cold, just let us know. We don't have much with us now, but we will find something tomorrow to make your stay more comfortable."
He gently hugged her. "Granda Akira, don't worry too much about me. Go rest."
At twilight Lady Tara started her chant. Akira completely sealed the area from watchful eyes with her talismen. Their presence would now not be felt by any being, nor their voices heard.
Using Naga magic, Prince Karki sealed the land, three sixy degrees from intrusion and any magic known to the Pātālans.
"I do not possess the knowledge of mage magic, so I cannot build a barrier for that right now. But once we have mages arrive, I promise to fuse in their magic and weave it with mine. This place will then be indestructable by any Gayan or Pātālan spell."
Akira nodded her gratitude. "I don't think any Gayan spell is strong enough to destroy the Naga's barrier, but nonetheless, we will go by what you suggest."
Now it was left to Tara. She painstakingly built a huge castle with over three hundred rooms, complete from dungeons to the library with ice and mana from the tea flower she had brought.
This activity took her three days of intense concentration and chanting, with Prince Karki ocassionally helping out by weaving his magic.
"The skeletal structure is complete. However, we need to infuse the building with earth and fire, so it does not melt even by a dragon's fire."
Akira gaped at the skeletal structure. "Lady Tara, Prince Karki, if this is what you call skeletal, I believe the finest of our architects will hang their heads in shame at its sheer level of magnificance.
Tara looked pleased. Karki bowed. "Gran seems easy to please."
Tara whispered, "she looks fierce, but is a complete softie. That is why I like her."
Akira pretended she didn't hear that. She? Fierce?
She turned to Tara and Karki. "We now go to Shambala."