Davian and Sol straightened up as they heard what Roan just said.

Ocean was sitting still, his face betraying no emotion but his eyes were a different matter. They looked like they were glowing with the barely suppressed fury that was banging against the barriers of his composed mask. His stillness was like the silence before the storm.

"What happened?" He asked in a seemingly composed tone.

"There was a fire at Oasis Foundation school on the last day of the year," Roan spoke, "Young Master put it out and thankfully there were any fatalities but..."

"But, what? Is Kai all right?" Sol asked leaning towards the communication device.

"Yes, he’s all right but, we found something." Roan said.

"What?" Ocean asked.

There was a momentary pause before Roan said, "It’s better if you see it yourself, Archmage Silas is already here to help us and also, we found the perpetrator, but..."

"He’s dead," Ocean completed as if he’d expected that.

"... Yes," Roan confirmed and Davian frowned.

"But who would dare to do this?" Davian asked.

"It was some infiltrator who entered Oasis a week ago under the guise of being an ex-convict." Roan answered.

"But even his dead body..." Roan muttered and Ocean’s eyes seemed like the seas amidst the most violent raging storms.

"I’m coming back today, make sure you have a proper report and also, I need my vassals and the leaders of the security team in my office the moment I touch there. Understood?" Ocean’s voice could have chilled the hell over.

"Yes, Master." Roan responded.

The glow of the communication brooch faded and Ocean stared at the clear stone for a long moment before he closed his eyes.

Thousands of thoughts were running through his head at lightning speed and he had an iron grip over his anger which was raging beneath. His town/fortress was infiltrated and his people were almost pushed into danger.

Who had gotten enough courage to pull this stunt? He wondered and also thought on how he would pay them back for it.

Did those people forget what he was capable of? The man who took down the Esmertia faction’s prominent heads within a couple of months wasn’t the one they would dare to mess with so, who was delusional enough to do this?

Ocean was thinking of Golden Serpent, she was the first suspect but he couldn’t cross out any other names. He needed evidence before he could shatter them thoroughly.

Besides, he was worried about Kai and his people. Kai wasn’t that strong but he wasn’t weak either, he was capable of protecting the people but it was the fact that he had to be in danger the second time that infuriated Ocean even more.

Davian and Sol remained silent watching as Ocean sat still with his eyes closed. They wouldn’t dare utter a word, the plan was that they would take breaks before going all the way to Ryujin but with the way things were, they wouldn’t be surprised if Ocean went on ahead alone and they had to take the rest of the journey alone.

The wheels of the carriage rattled on against the slick ground and the ones inside sat in silence, Davian and Sol couldn’t help but feel the growing sense of worry after having heard that.

It all seemed too neat to call a coincidence. The fire at the school, the assassination attack on the King of Denril were meticulously planned actions carried out perfectly by the enemy. And the part that the demonic power was used meant that the were up against a demon this time.

Sol knew what had happened the last time Ocean was up against a demon. Sol had been watching Ocean ever since he felt the presence of the demon in Denril and though he knew Ocean would be able to handle that demon on his own but at the last moment, he had ended up sacrificing himself to save Kai. Sol had jumped in to save him that time but it wasn’t easy because of the curse that had kept his mana constrained.

Even after that he had been watching over Ocean knowing that this young Dragon’s presence meant that the cycle would start again. After all, he had failed...

Davian watched Ocean not daring to say anything as he felt the silence inside too suffocating, he knew that the silence of Ocean Ryujin only meant that he would be waging a huge storm all across Sestia on his return. Davian wondered if the enemy knew what was coming for them by what they had done.

Ocean wondered why he wasn’t notified of it earlier, even if the communication device was busted he should have received a task notification about Oasis being in danger but he had got nothing.

"Why wasn’t I informed of this?" Ocean demanded.

[The Preserver clarifies that the attack on Oasis was handled well by your heir so you weren’t needed in that moment.]

"You think that explains it?"

[The Preserver says that if this is something that infuriates you then what’s to come might make you explode of anger.]

Before Ocean could ask what he meant, a notification popped up.

[The Eternal Ascetic had assigned you a quest.]

[Protect Oasis and your people.

Reward: A Devine Relic of The Eternal Ascetic.

Penalty: Destruction.]

"Destruction of what?" Ocean asked.

[The Eternal Ascetic answers that it depends on what you manage to protect.]

Ocean’s anger was sizzling under the surface but he wouldn’t let it show in the tone that he thought.

"So, the penalty depends on how much I screw up."

There was a moment of silence before Ocean asked, "What’s this divine relic?"

[The Eternal Ascetic says that you’ll know it once you fulfill your quest.]

Ocean sighed internally, he knew at some point he might have to face such kind of a quest and it had come to this point that he would have to drive deeper into himself and calm himself or his anger might wreck havoc.

Ocean focused only on his breathing for the rest of the way till the outskirts of the capital where they stopped near the small wooded area.

Ocean and the rest climbed down and the coachman looked at the three.

"I shall take my leave then," he said before he turned his carriage whole Ocean brought up the brooch.

"We’ll have to cut out journey short," Ocean began.

Davian nodded before he grasped Sol’s hand, "We understand, Master. If you want to go ahead on your own then that’s, fine. I’ll bring Sol along safely."

"I agree, you should go ahead, it’s a serious matter." Sol said.

Ocean looked at both of them before he frowned.

"You think I’ll leave you two out here alone after bringing you along half the way?" Ocean asked making the two glance at each other.

Ocean then sighed and started walking ahead towards the woods so that nobody would see them.

"Come," he spoke and Davian quickly carried their luggage before the two hurried behind him.

After walking a bit of a distance, Ocean stopped and turned, facing Sol and Davian. He took the luggage from Davian holding it all in his one arm.

"Carry him," He told Davian and Davian obliged picking Sol up in his arms.

Ocean gave his hand to Davian and Davian grasped it.

"Hold on tight and close your eyes," Ocean said.

Sol wrapped his arms around Davian’s neck and closed his eyes while Davian tightened his grip over Ocean’s hand and Sol before he closed his eyes.

Ocean inhaled and exhaled deeply before pouring a large amount of mana into the brooch. The destination was Ryujin mansion, Ocean’s office.

The bright blue light shot out of the brooch enveloping them all. Davian felt the ground disappearing from beneath his feet, he felt as if he was floating in the space without anything holding him down before he felt the gravity again. His feet wobbled a little as they found the solid ground again.

"Open your eyes now," Ocean said and Davian and Sol opened their eyes to find themselves in Ocean’s office.

Ocean pulled his hand from Davian’s and faced Roan who quickly got to his feet watching Ocean appear. He rounded his desk and even Blake, Esme and Julio scrambled over to him.

"Master!"

Ocean eyed them all before his eyes fixed on Roan, "Where’s Kai?"

"In his room, he’s been going on and out of Oasis to keep the people from worrying too much." Roan answered and Ocean nodded.

"Your Highness, Sol return to your rooms and rest for a while." Ocean instructed Davian and Sol.

"And also, would you mind if I hold onto this for a while, Your Highness, I’ll give you another one soon." Ocean said showing him the brooch and Davian smiled.

"All right."

The two left and Ocean faced Roan who looked extremely tensed. He knew whatever had happened in his absence must have rattled them and they might be waiting to contact him but because of his communication device not working he couldn’t rush back to help them.

Though he was proud to hear about what Kai was doing in his absence. Kai not only handled the fire situation but he was also making sure that the people weren’t distressed. He made a mental note to praise him for it before he leaned his back against his desk, crossing his arms at his chest as his eyes grew icier.

Only one sleek command left his lips, "Report."