Finally the day arrived with the entourages that had gone to Denril for the ball had returned.

Ocean had gathered everything he needed for the plan and he was going to have a meeting at night after welcoming the Princes so, he quickly returned to Aurelius mansion.

Ocean reverted to Reina and dressed up well to welcome her father and brother. She wore the bracelet to conceal her mana presence as she was sure that Davian would drop by to stalk her.

Reina stood at the entrance of the Aurelius mansion along with the household personnel waiting for Duke Aurelius and Young Duke Rune. They all looked pretty anticipatory and excited, depite it being quite cold outside and the snow had just fallen in the early morning hours. Yet, the whole mansion was tidied up and the snow was shoveled from the garden and the pathways.

Just a couple of minutes later, the sounds of the hooves clattering against the ground reached Reina’s ears, though the others had not picked it up yet, but Reina was happy to finally have her family back. Though she was also grateful that they hadn’t arrived in the time that she had collapsed. Her mansion was in enough panic during that time, she couldn’t even imagine what Kai must have gone through but they all had handled it well. It was a good thing that Sol was with them.

But she also knew that if her father would come to know of it he would surely be heartbroken considering he was always worried about her. Still, she had promised him that whatever she did, wherever she went, she would always return to her family.

Whatever ghosts of doubt that had lingered in her mind were now all blown away.

Soon enough, the carriages were visible along with the entourage and the servants happily exchanged glances and squeals. Reina waited with bated breath until she spotted the carriage of Aurelius family crest and she smiled as it came and stopped right in front of her. Her father and brother descended one by one.

Duke Aurelius smiled looking at her and he wrapped his arms around her making her chuckle.

"I missed you too." Reina spoke without even needing for him to say it.

After Duke Aurelius, Rune embraced his sister tightly, "I missed you."

Reina chuckled and patted his back. They pulled away and Reina looked at both her father and brother.

"Welcome home, father, brother."

Behind her the household personnel bowed in unison and their voices rang in unison as they welcomed their masters.

"Welcome back, Your Grace, Young Master!"

After their grand welcome the rest of the day went by pretty smoothly with both Rune and Duke Arthur staying with Reina. It was afternoon and the trio were drinking tea in the parlor when Rune breached a topic which made Reina’s eyes go wide.

"What?!" Reina asked, slightly aghast.

"Yes, well, Her Majesty insisted to go with Eric but Grandfather advised her to not make their... closeness obvious and after some argument she announced that she will be going to Ryujin mansion. We tried to stop her to make her come over at Aurelius instead but Grandfather refused that as well." Rune explained and Duke Aurelius sighed.

"What about Zale? Has he tagged along as well?" Reina asked, relaxing back as she knew Miri- the Queen of Mordino would find a way to come to Sestia.

Rune glanced at her still surprised as she could call a monarch of a kingdom so casually by his first name and Duke Aurelius spoke up to answer her.

"He wanted to, but he said he had some important business to attend,"

Reina pondered over his words for a moment before she asked, "Did he leave any message for me?"

"How do you know he would leave some message for you?" Rune asked and Reina looked at him.

"Well, he did tell me about something so, I thought may be he would have given you some message for me." Reina said sipping her tea while glancing at her father and brother.

"He asked you to think about his request again and when you get some time immediately head to Nelius kingdom. He’ll be waiting." Rune said and then leaned ahead, "Now, what does he want from you?"

Reina recalled the things that Zale had told her about Elvenland and wondered just how much she should tell them.

"Tell us everything without hiding, Reina." Duke Arthur spoke sternly and Reina smiled sheepishly at him.

They were smart enough to notice her subtle body language, paused in her speech and eyes to figure out what might be on her mind.

Reina sighed and started telling them about the civil war that was brewing in Elvenland and how Zale had asked Ocean’s help to stop it.

"I don’t have much information yet, and we have to start the trials to pick the King so, I don’t have time at all for that." Reina said making the two men exchange glances.

Reina hadn’t still made up her mind about helping the Elves though she knew as a Dragon she should. Still, she couldn’t handle these two big things which required for her to be thoroughly prepared with plans and teams.

The trio spent their time together until after dinner when Reina glanced once at Rune giving him a subtle nod before retiring to her room.

Reina pulled the curtains of her window and turned the lamp off before she changed her form to Ocean and then teleported to Ryujin mansion.

Once back at Ryujin, she found Sol already waiting for her along with Lyall who had returned to his post as Ocean’s attendant at Ryujin.

"Welcome back, Lyall." Ocean smiled at his most trusted man.

Lyall bowed in response and then they made their way towards the Eastern Wing where the night meeting was arranged.

"Is everyone there?" Ocean asked.

"Some are there, the rest are arriving." Lyall answered.

"What about Her Majesty?"

"We told her that you shall meet her tomorrow morning, so she has retired to her room." Lyall reported.

"I’m sorry, you have to work even after you had travelled for so long." Ocean spoke with a smile and Lyall looked at him.

"I’m fine, Master. The exhaustion I felt disappeared the moment I set foot in Ryujin mansion." He said and Ocean smiled.

"I’ll still grant you a day off tomorrow, take some rest. And I won’t have any debate over that." Ocean said and Lyall smiled.

"I’ll gladly accept it, Master."

Ocean nodded, hearing the sounds of the wind as they moved soundlessly towards the Eastern Wing. The three descended dark stairway and made their way to the room where Ocean could already feel a lot of presences.

Most of them were here, but still some were missing.

Ocean opened the door and walked in finding, Marquis Fairisles, Silas, Rune, Sylvia, Anore, Roan, Enora, Kai and Drac, including the three Underworld Lords waiting inside. Though the room was large enough but with so many people inside it felt like it was a cramped room.

"I apologise for calling you all so late at night and especially, to those who just returned from a long trip today." Ocean spoke as soon as he entered.

"It’s fine, but why did you call for us on such short notice?" Zach asked.

"Yes, what is this plan that you mentioned, Master?" Hawke prompted.

Ocean raised his hand before the others could speak and walked over to the table that was in the center, it was covered by a black thick cloth and Enora and Silas stood the closest to it.

"Since it’s an important matter, I’d ask for you all to be quiet and keep your questions till the end. I’ll answer all of them."

Everyone fell quiet and Ocean started.

"There have been some strange happenings around us for some time now, if I have to give a timeline then it’s been happening from some time before I went to Denril, so, a month ago or even before that." Ocean said and everyone listened attentively.

"The beginning of it was during the parade when there was an attempt to kidnap Kai."

Everyone’s eyes drifted off to the young Dragon for a moment and Ocean continued.

"Then there was an animal epidemic in Lord Snake’s territory and a fire at the Oasis Foundation school."

Everyone nodded, keeping up so far and Ocean then started with the information which they hadn’t know.

"But, apart from this there were more incidents planned for the new year. One happened not here in Sestia, but in Denril. The assassination attempt of the King of Denril."

Everyone stiffened at this news, they knew something had connected these incidents and with the way Ocean was speaking, they surmised that he had finally got the answers to the questions. Nobody asked anything as Ocean took a pause and then continued.

"It’s pretty clear that all of these incidents were connected and the only thing that connected these incidents... was a curse."