After the breakfast, Ocean and Sol decided to take a walk in the garden. Ocean had noticed that Sol also wanted to talk about something which he was hesitant to bring up before everyone, so, he thought a walk would work and he would have enough time to process whatever he wanted to discuss.

The snow storm from the other day had wrapped everything in its white embrace. But the diligent royal personnel had cleaned up the pathways for the people to walk around without having to worry about slipping.

Sol was bundled up well in layers of clothes while Ocean had only his simple attire with his signature coat on. Ocean waited for Sol to start as they walked until they reached near the gazebo which had a white swing.

It was clean so, Ocean gestured at it.

"Let’s sit,"

Sol nodded and the two took a seat, Ocean’s long legs reached the ground so, he swung them back and forth and Sol swung his short legs.

Ocean tilted his head back and closed his eyes for a moment feeling the chill in the air, he could hear the sounds of the people who were gathering at the palace. The King had summoned the nobles to explain about the last night’s events. Though they hadn’t found the culprit the King was going to announce that he would establish an investigation team for it.

According to Ocean’s advice, he had given that responsibility to Duke Damon Lancaster and Crown Prince Arian, before leaving Ocean had planned to make them in charge of his network in Denril.

"Are you tired?" Sol asked.

"No," Ocean spoke without opening his eyes.

Sol maintained a brief pause before he spoke, "The type of demons you fought last night are called, Eaters, they work under a specific Demon Lord called, Gluttony."

Ocean’s eyes opened and he turned his head looking at Sol.

"What?"

Sol clenched and unclenched his fists before he released a deep sigh.

"I didn’t expect this to start to soon," he mumbled.

"Sol, can you speak in a way that I can make sense?"

Sol looked up at Ocean, "How much do you know about demons?"

"Only the basic things that they were defeated by the Dragons years ago and they can be summoned and they possess human bodies, their blood can infect people and animals and turn them berserk. Their soul stone can also do the similar thing." Ocean summarised.

Sol sighed, looking far from impressed.

"What?" Ocean asked.

"Demons are the creatures who are as strong as Dragon’s," he said making Ocean frown.

"Wait, aren’t Dragon’s stronger than Demons?"

"No, why do you think Saintess Miella had invoked Gods for help?" He asked and Ocean shook his head.

"She invoked Dragons, didn’t she?" Ocean asked and Sol sighed.

"She prayed to the Gods not exactly to the Dragons," Sol clarified and then looked down at his hands, "The Gods weren’t allowed to interfere with the human world even after the demons started destroying everything and nearly half of the world was under their rule. At that time, there were Dragons who descended because of the desperate pleas from the humans who were at that time ready to accept help from absolutely anyone from the heavens."

Ocean was hearing this story for the first time, Sol continued.

"The King of Dragons had heard the prayers and despite the Gods asking him not to, he led his Dragons to the human world to help them... The human world was devastated and he could see that they were barely holding by... but among them there was still one person who was a ray of hope for them."

"Saintess Miella." Ocean prompted in a low voice and Sol nodded.

"It seemed like she had limitless kindness and courage. Standing up to the demons even though she knew she was too weak and helping those who were abandoned by everyone. A Goddess among humans..."

Ocean felt the strange feeling in his chest, it was as if his heart was clenching from within. Sol’s tone was also drenched in melancholy.

"Just as one would imagine there were only the demons, they had armies. Their armies mainly comprised of the shifters that they had took control of by using their contaminated blood and... because of their aura."

"The shifters’ aura was a reason they were a part of the demon army?" Ocean gasped.

"As you know, the power of demons is a complete opposite to mana and aura is another form of mana which is a variant that they decided to use to control the other species." Sol explained and Ocean’s eyebrows jumped.

"Is that why shifters tend to hate the mana users?"

Sol nodded, "At that time along with humans, Elves, Dwarves and Merfolk had managed to stand beside the Dragons for the war."

"Merfolk use aura too, don’t they?" Ocean asked and Sol nodded.

"Yes, but their bloodline has been passed down from Dragons so they couldn’t possibly go against them even if they use aura."

Ocean’s jaw dropped, "Whoa."

Sol cleared his throat as he continued, "Even though Dragon’s had descended the earth but it still took them a decade to completely see the end of it. The Supreme Dragons and the Lesser Dragons also faced fatalities along with a great number of one’s beside them. The Demons were strong and they had various types of creatures on their side."

Sol’s eyes then moved up to Ocean’s, "Including the Eaters whom you faced."

Ocean could feel the icy chill in his eyes, but also something vast beyond them. It was impossible for him to know so much without actually being there at that time. So, he was a Dragon who had descended from the heavens to protect the humans before he ended up in this state.

"I’ll explain about the demons and their armies after we return but till then, you must be careful. If those Eaters were here then, more would be coming soon." Sol warned and Ocean nodded.

Earlier in his vision, he had seen a woman and Sol together. Could it be a vision from the time of the great war?

"Hey, Sol," Ocean started, wondering if he should ask about that beautiful woman, "did you-"

"There you are!" Ocean turned his head as he heard a familiar voice and looked at Asher and Gareth who were approaching him.

"Asher?" Ocean spoke and he stopped before him looking at him up at down.

"Are you all right?" He asked.

"I am," Ocean said and Gareth sighed deeply.

"Thank God!"

Asher then looked at Sol and then gulped, "Did you know something was going to happen that’s why you asked me to tell Angelina and the kids to not attend last night?"

Ocean nodded, "Yes,"

Gareth’s eyes widened, "You knew?!"

"I don’t need to explain but Crown Prince Arian and I had planned it together so that we could save everyone." Ocean lied.

Gareth was shocked but Asher simply narrowed his eyes at the obvious lie but then sighed.

"I could stay back last night as I had to escort the other people and even in morning, I heard you had some problem." Asher said and Ocean hummed.

"The morning thing wasn’t a problem, I was just stretching after waking up."

Sol and Asher gave Ocean a look while Gareth sighed.

"It’s such a misfortune," he mumbled, "But at least, your family hasn’t lost another member."

Ocean blinked and then remembered that ’Mirielle,’ his cousin was dead.

"My sister is worried sick about you, Master." Asher spoke crossing his arms at his chest.

Ocean looked up at him, "Come over for lunch so that she’s comforted a little."

"Asher, your wording..." Ocean sighed.

Gareth frowned a little at Asher, displeased at his way of talking, "Sir Asher, please don’t be so hard on someone who had saved so many people just last night. I’m sure he must be tired!"

Asher looked at Gareth before he ran his hand through his hair, "You don’t need to worry about him, Your Grace. This man isn’t the type to get sick or tired."

Gareth was about to scold Asher when Ocean spoke up, "He’s right, Your Grace."

Gareth looked at Ocean who stood up and plucked Sol from the swing holding him up in his arms.

"If it isn’t a hassle, I’d like to come for lunch today since tomorrow we need to return home." Ocean said with a smile.

Gareth blinked, "What?! Tomorrow? But isn’t the entourage of Sestia leaving in three days?"

Ocean smiled, "Yes, they all are leaving in three days but, I had to rush here on a special request and since I do have a lot of work that I need to tend to so, I would have to rush back now that my work here is done."

Gareth stared at Ocean who stood in front of him and he couldn’t help but feel nothing but admiration for this man who stood so strong in every situation.

He had lost his sister and had gone through so much humiliation just last night, yet, he had fought and saved everyone who doubted him. He was still standing before him with the grace holding up a child looking at them with a warm smile.

He was just like the Saintess his wife always told him about. Surely, it must be in their blood.