Ocean was given a fresh set of clothes which were a tad bit uncomfortable for him considering he was of a tall build unlike the Dwarves. He wore a large flowy white shirt with a deep green bow hooked with his communication brooch and the thick black trousers. The sleeves of the shirt came right up to his forearms while the trousers were more of capri pants.

Ocean looked at himself in the mirror and couldn’t help but chuckle.

"It’s been a while since I last saw the modern day fashion." He muttered to himself while the maids stood embarrassed.

"I guess this is all I could get," Ocean said looking at them. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

One of the maids who had short ginger red hair stepped ahead, keeping her head down and said, "Please give us some time, we will take your measurements and sew the clothes accordingly, Lord Dragon."

Ocean hummed a little before he shrugged, "Fine. I’ll go and have an audience with your King till that time."

The maids gasped hearing this and kneeled, "We beg for you to wait for some time, we shall get you proper fitting clothes."

"Pray not go out like this, we will be beheaded for not serving you appropriately!"

Ocean watched them and then sighed, "How much time will it take?"

"Please give us... two hours." The maids requested and Ocean hummed.

The storm outside was still raging on and his mana enhanced rain was still splashing all over the island so, Ocean just decided to wait.

"Fine, but bring me some food then." Ocean said running his hand through his damp hair.

"Yes, Lord Dragon."

The maids left in a hurry and Ocean went and plopped down on the fluffy huge bed. The Dwarvian craftsmanship and technology was for display in every corner his sight went.

He lay there in his short clothes feeling the comfort of the deep earthy scent that was around the room along with the sound of the rain whooshing outside the window.

Ocean closed his eyes and the serene softness of the atmosphere didn’t take long to help him drift off into oblivion.

The darkness followed and there were a lot of sounds speaking at once, neither voices were familiar but it seemed as if every voice carried the same emotion. Prayers.

"Help us."

"Save us."

"Oh, benevolent One!"

"We need you!"

"Please..."

The voices poured unceasingly in the darkness before the light poured through, it seemed like a star had suddenly exploded and the shards of light floated all around Ocean.

He blinked looking around, the space was quite different from what he had ever seen. It was an empty space with nothing but golden spangles floating around. He reached out and touched one golden strand that flowed right before him and instantly the images poured through.

The images of people, it was hard to discern who or what they were but it looked like a village. The happy memories followed with the sounds of laughter and vooces echoing all around. Suddenly, the darkness burst through and the laughter turned into wails, the happy village was now bloody and burning.

Ocean let go of the golden thread and suddenly he was back in the earlier empty space.

"What’s this place?" He whispered and suddenly a voice seemed to burst through his head.

"Come."

Ocean felt his heart jump and he jolted awake, sitting up in the bed breathing heavily.

It was a voice that reminded him of when the Supreme Aqua Dragon had first spoken to him. The voice filled with so much raw power that it was enough to burst his eardrums. But having someone call for him with the same intensity was something he hadn’t experienced in his life after that. Even the remains of the dead Dragons weren’t this powerful.

Ocean ran his hand through his hair and gulped calming himself down. The storm was slowly dispersing outsife, leaving behind only the drizzle and the clouds.

There was a knock on the door and the maids walked back in with the neatly folded new clothes in their arms and the trays of food.

Ocean rose to his feet, letting the maids take over changing his clothes as he pondered over whether the sound he had heard was it of Yggdrasil or the Elves who must be praying.

Regardless, he was here so he had to solve or at least know of this problem before it was time to leave. The trials wouldn’t start before him and the preparations of the enemy plan were also done. All that was left now was to make Eric the King of Sestia.

He ate the soup and some steak that the maids had brought but it couldn’t satiate his hunger.

"Where’s your King?" He asked and the maids flinched.

"Take me to him."

After a couple of minutes, Ocean was seated before Erisgrirlum and a large feast that seemed more like it was for half an army than a single person.

"Are you acquainted with Zale Turquoise, King of Nelius kingdom?" Ocean asked as he dug in.

Erisgrirlum blinked before leaning ahead, eyes cautious.

"Yes, I am."

Ocean nodded, chewing on his bite, after swallowing he said.

"He told me about the situation with Elves and requested that I intervene and help them as it is also affecting the trade between them." Ocean gave a brief explanation.

Erisgrirlum frowned a little, King Zale of Nelius was a young King, he was conspired against and even had been driven out of his kingdom a few years ago. But then suddenly, one day he returned and turned the kingdom upside down, purging the corrupt people who had pushed him out and finally took the throne.

There were rumours that he had made a deal with a demon for the power but when Erisgrirlum had met him during his coronation, he looked sane and of clear mind. He did mention getting a powerful helper who had aided him in returning to Nelius but, he had no idea that it was a Dragon.

"You are pretty young to be intervening in such matters, Lord Dragon." Erisgrirlum warned and Ocean hummed.

"Age doesn’t really matter here, if one is meant to stand against the circumstances then they have to even if they are young or old." Ocean said taking another large bite of the turkey from before him.

Erisgrirlum observed the young Dragon before he sighed, "I understand. So, you are determined to help the Elves."

"Yes, I am. But I can’t blindly rush in and tell them to stop fighting. So, I need the information, what’s the root cause of problem, who’s fanning the embers of civil war, what is the present condition. I need to know it all."

Erisgrirlum was mildly surprised and impressed by the young Dragon’s plan of action.

"And what will you do once you find out the answers to those questions?" He asked.

"I have a plan, I’ll just need to make some adjustments in it so that there won’t be much issues while stopping this war."

Erisgrirlum tilted his head slightly and asked, "And if I may ask what your plan is?"

"I can’t tell you that now," Ocean said avoiding the glass of wine which Erisgrirlum noticed.

"Why don’t you drink the wine? Since we have a special guest, I have ordered for my finest wine to be served." He said gesturing to the goblet and Ocean chuckled.

"I don’t drink, Your Majesty."

Erisgrirlum cocked his thick brow.

"Never?"

"Never."

"Why is that?"

"One should always be in their senses." Ocean said, "The moment one loses their focus, they become a target for enemies."

Erisgrirlum was even more impressed as he leaned ahead with the hint of a smile on his stoic, stony face.

"Then, you want me to answer your questions so that you could stop the civil war in Elevenland." He surmised and Ocean stopped eating.

He faced Erisgrirlum with a serious expression on his face.

"Yes," Ocean said.

Erisgrirlum stayed silent, observing the young Dragon. There was something about him which seemed strange, he just couldn’t put his finger on it.

"And you’re going to do it all alone? Wouldn’t you need the support of an elder Dragon? Or your own parent Dragon?" He asked.

Ocean’s eyes grew a little somber, "I am not quite in contact with the elder Dragons and as for my parent Dragon then... He’s no more."

Erisgrirlum frowned a bit sensing that he touched a sensitive topic but he maintained his composure.

"I see... Then, it might turn a little hard for you to achieve your goal." Erisgrirlum said, "Elves and us, Dwarves are devoted to Dragons but, we are not blind. We have our own thought processes as well, the Dragons are great for us but we don’t let it dictate us. That’s why, I am asking about your plan. You’re a young Dragon, there are more seasoned Elves and even the Elf King who wouldn’t listen to you even if you go over there and told them to stop the war."

Ocean nodded, it easy pretty much obvious with the way Erisgrirlum was treating Ocean. He was treating Ocean with cordiality but there was no such thing as unconditional respect that Ocean usually got from his people. He had expected this as Zale had already warned him that even though the Elves worshipped Dragons, it might still prove hard to convince them.

"So, I shall provide you with my assistance." He announced making Ocean’s eyes go slightly brighter with hope.

"But," He added, "I have a condition."

"What is it?" Ocean asked.

Erisgrirlum leaned ahead slightly with a grim expression on his face.

"Elves and us have been in trade for several centuries and the present circumstances are harming us as well. But, we refuse to interfere in their internal matters." He said, "Even if the problem arises tomorrow and you require someone to fight from your side. The Dwarves will not fight."

Ocean nodded slowly accepting it, "I can give you whatever information you need, I can even help you infiltrate Elvenland but, apart from that you won’t receive any help from the Dwarves."