"you accepted Tarlonnd's invitation?!"
In Gawain's study, Heti, who had just learned of this, stared wide-eyed at her smiling ancestor, her face full of shock and bewilderment.
"That's right." Gawain had known Heti would react this way. He smiled and nodded. "Of course, I won't be leaving immediately—at the very least, I'll wait until the Goddess of Magic incident has been completely settled and all domestic affairs have been properly arranged."
The shock on Heti's face had not entirely faded, but seeing her ancestor's smile and hearing his calm response, she realized this was not a whim. Her ancestor had likely made this decision after careful consideration. It was simply that this decision... was far too unexpected, leaving her at a loss.
"Come to think of it, I really should discuss this with all of you," Gawain said as he looked at Heti, suddenly patting his forehead lightly. "This is no longer a matter concerning me alone. My decision was somewhat hasty."
"No, that's not what I meant," Heti said quickly, shaking her head. "I was just too surprised. Since you've made this decision, you must have your own reasons."
"There are many reasons. The dragons are a powerful and mysterious force, and for mortal nations, an opportunity to make contact with such a force is rare. Tarlonnd holds too many mysteries and unknowns. I suspect their civilization may far surpass that of the Loren Continent, and that is something we need to observe and understand. The dragons are a civilization that has endured through multiple Magic Tides, and intelligence in that regard is extremely valuable to us." Gawain laid out his reasons methodically, then shook his head. "But personally, those are not the most important reasons. The most important thing is... they have a god who has descended into