a home

"No, no, no," Ratatoskr said with a sad face. "I... I... I-I-I... dropped my food. How could I let that happen?"

"Lilith, please! Can I have some more? I beg of you."

Lilith looked at the little, sorrowful squirrel and laughed softly. "Sure, sure, Ratatoskr. But make sure you don't drop it this time, because I don't have any more to spare. The rest is for me."

By the way, teacher, it's been months since I learned to teleport, and now I can do it more or less as I want. But how do I teleport to my own realm? I can't seem to understand it, and Aurora doesn't know either.

As Lilith spoke Aurora's name, the necklace around her neck began to glow, and a translucent spectral form of a dragon emerged.

"It is as the young one says," Aurora spoke, her voice echoing with ancient wisdom. "I have guided her as much as I can about the leylines, but since I never mastered teleportation magic when I was alive, I can't fully grasp what she needs now. So, please, Ancient One, guide her further."

"Oh, oh, that was faster than I expected, Lilith," Ratatoskr said with a mischievous smile, his whiskers twitching. His small claws fidgeted as he wiped away crumbs from his face. "But the teleportation magic you're using right now, that little hop across space? It's just a fraction of the full picture. You'll need to learn how to open teleportation portals before I can guide you further on what you're truly asking for."

"Portals?" Lilith's brow furrowed in frustration as she crossed her arms, feeling the familiar weight of Aurora's necklace resting against her chest. "I thought I was almost ready to return to my own realm, but it seems like there's still so much to learn. It's never as simple as I hope."

As Lilith spoke, the spectral form of Aurora, the ancient dragon spirit bound to the necklace, floated a little closer, her shimmering form casting a soft, ethereal glow around them. Aurora's eyes, filled with the weight of centuries of wisdom, regarded Lilith with sympathy.

"Patience, young one," Aurora said in a low, soothing tone. "Mastering the leylines of magic was only the beginning. Learning to harness those threads and weave them into stable portals will take time and discipline."

Ratatoskr, having finished his last morsel of food, wiped his paws and let out a hearty chuckle that made his little body shake. "Oh, little one," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You're trying to run before you can even walk steadily! Look at how far you've come already. A few months ago, you were barely scratching the surface of teleportation, and now you're talking about crossing realms as if it's a simple stroll."

Lilith sighed, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "I know... I know. I've come a long way. But it's hard not to feel impatient when I can sense how close I am."

Aurora hovered nearer, her translucent wings flaring slightly as if to comfort her. "You are indeed close, Lilith, but understanding the magic of realms requires more than just instinct. It requires deep knowledge and attunement with the forces that bind worlds together. Opening a portal to your own realm is not just about distance or direction—it's about understanding the connection between you and that place, your anchor to it."

Ratatoskr nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! Imagine it like this—you're not just walking through a door. You're creating the door, choosing the right one among a thousand, and making sure it stays open long enough for you to pass through. It takes skill. And trust me, Lilith, when you do figure it out, it'll feel like second nature. But for now, learn to walk before you try sprinting through the cosmos."

Lilith exhaled deeply, nodding as she absorbed their words. "Alright, alright. I'll take it one step at a time."

"Good," Aurora said, her form flickering for a moment. "Now, shall we resume our practice?"

Ratatoskr grinned widely, already reaching for another snack. "And I'll be right here, watching and snacking. Keep at it, Lilith. Soon enough, you'll be opening portals like a pro."

Lilith rolled her eyes playfully at the squirrel. "As long as you don't drop your food again, Ratatoskr."

"It's getting late," Ratatoskr yawned, stretching his tiny limbs before curling his tail around himself. "This will be enough for today."

Lilith, drenched in sweat and exhausted from the intense training, sat down on the ground, gasping for air. Her muscles ached, and the weight of the magic lessons began to press on her. She wiped her forehead and glanced at the little squirrel, who seemed far less affected by the long day.

Ratatoskr watched her for a moment, his bright eyes softening with concern. He snapped his small paws, and in an instant, a shimmering portal materialized in the air before them, swirling with vibrant shades of blue and gold. "Come, Lilith. It's time for you to take a rest and a well-earned bath."

Lilith blinked, momentarily startled by the sudden portal. "Teacher," she began cautiously, her voice curious, "where does this portal lead?"

Ratatoskr grinned, a mischievous spark in his eyes. "Oh, this? It leads to my home, here in this realm. I've been starting to miss it a bit, and I was thinking I'd bring you there tonight. You could use a proper rest and a good bath, don't you think?"

Lilith raised an eyebrow, intrigued but still wary. "Your home? I didn't even realize you had one here."

"Of course I do!" Ratatoskr said proudly, puffing out his small chest. "With all the food you've been giving me these past months, I figured it's about time I give something back. Yes, yes, I know," he continued, waving his paw dismissively, "I've been teaching you to teleport, guiding you and all that. But, Lilith, you've given this old one so much more than that."

Lilith smiled softly, touched by his words. "You've done a lot for me too, you know."

"Bah! Don't mention it," Ratatoskr said, though his eyes twinkled with affection. "Besides, my home is spacious, even if I'm not that big. I have plenty of room—even some of my bigger friends, giants included, can stay comfortably at my place."

"Giants?" Lilith laughed, momentarily forgetting her fatigue. "I didn't expect you to have such large friends!"

Ratatoskr chuckled, his whiskers twitching. "Oh, you'd be surprised, little one. There's a lot you don't know about me yet. But enough chatter—come on, through the portal! You'll see for yourself. My home is peaceful, cozy, and has the best bath you can imagine. Trust me, you'll feel like a new person after."

Lilith stood up, though her legs wobbled slightly from the day's training. She looked at the swirling portal before her, then back at Ratatoskr. "Alright, lead the way, Teacher. I could use some peace and quiet after today."

With a nod, Ratatoskr scampered through the portal, his small form disappearing into the shimmering light. Lilith hesitated for only a moment before following him, stepping through the gateway into whatever awaited her on the other side.