Ocean grabbed a piece of paper and pen before hurriedly scribbling the message on it. He folded the piece of paper and then placed a paper weight from his desk on it before he glanced the wall clock.

There was still some time before dinner, he wondered how much time it would take him to fix the situation in Ortbon and return. The second Trial was tomorrow and he couldn’t be absent.

Ocean ran a hand through his head before he placed his palm over the pendant around his neck clasping it gently before his mana flowed into it and the blue light enveloped him. The moment he was about to disappear he saw the silhouette of a black figure appear in his periphery lunging at him before the light covered his vision.

Ocean landed gracefully onto the stone floor and along with him someone else also landed, albeit a little wobbly tightening their grip over Ocean’s shoulders. Ocean turned his head and frowned deeply as he saw who had actually ended up hitching a free ride.

"What the hell-" he gasped watching the two amethyst hued orbs glistening close to his face.

"Master." Davian almost whimpered and Ocean turned his face feeling his heart skip a beat.

"Lord Dragon!" Erisgrirlum and a few other elder Dwarves who were in the room gasped watching him appear so suddenly on the conference table.

The seven Dwarves including the King were discussing about how they would deal with the present calamity and had decided as their last option to request the young Dragon’s help. They weren’t expecting him to appear within a minute of asking for him.

Erisgrirlum watched the other person who was clinging to the Dragon and his nostrils flared as he sensed a human- an aura user at that.

"An aura user, how bizzare!"

"Why would the Dragon have an aura user with him?"

The Elders started discussing and Ocean cleared his throat gathering his composure before prying Davian off him and looked at the Dwarves who looked extra smaller now that he was standing atop their conference table.

"I apologise if my suddenly appearance startled you lot." Ocean spoke and felt the pointy gazes on the being beside him.

Ocean sighed, "This is..."

He glanced at Davian, he had not expected this kind of an improvisation but he had no choice now.

"I understand that we have a pressing matter at hand, and we don’t have time but just give me a minute." Ocean said and grabbed Davian’s arm tugging him down the table dragging him to the corner while the Dwarves watched.

Ocean nearly slammed Davian against the wall glaring at him with icy intensity.

"The hell did you think you did? Why did you jump on me while I was teleporting?" He sneered, his voice low enough to not reach the Dwarves’ sharp ears.

Davian blinked, feeling his heart hammering as he said, "I... I thought you were mad at me... You didn’t even reply to my letter so, I came to see you and... I just saw your leaving and... I don’t know why I just felt like I wouldn’t see you again."

Ocean found it hard to maintain his anger but he did keep his face straight as he spoke, "First of all, when have I ever responded to your letters? And second, there is a Trial tomorrow where would I run off?"

Davian glanced at the Dwarves for a second before saying, "Here?"

Ocean rolled his eyes before ordering, "Return, now."

Davian almost pouted, "I can help you though."

"I don’t need your help, you don’t even know where we are the your presence here could send alarms ringing everywhere."

"But I-"

"This is Edrisyl island." Ocean hissed before Davian could try to plead with him.

Davian frowned a little bit about to persist when his eyes suddenly widened and he asked, "You mean, the land where Elves and Dwarves live?"

"What else do you see here?" Ocean gestured at the Dwarves.

"But why-" he was about to ask when Ocean sighed.

"I don’t have time, leave now. I’ll return in morning or before the Trial."

Davian gazed at the Dwarves, "Can’t I wait here?"

"No, you’re an aura user, they won’t trust you."

"But-"

"Stop wasting my time, Davian. I’ll talk to you once we’re done with the Trials."

Davian inhaled sharply before he asked, "You won’t cut me off again, would you?"

Ocean glanced at Davian who had put up a pleading expression that was enough to melt the hearts of women.

"I won’t." Ocean spoke.

"You will come back, right?" Davian asked and Ocean massaged his temples.

"I will."

Davian beamed and Ocean wondered why he was suddenly using his adorable charms on him all of a sudden.

The number of notifications grew and Ocean ignored it before he stepped back and Davian smiled at him.

"I’ll be waiting for you, Master."

Ocean simply waved his hand and Davian brushed his hand over the brooch that was hooked on his coat and then teleported away.

Ocean schooled his expression into neutrality and turned walking towards the Dwarves, boots hitting the stone floor with a deliberate thud. Whatever softness Davian had dragged out of him moments ago was gone, replaced by that composed, sharp Presence the dwarves expected from the Dragon.

"All right, what’s the problem?" He asked.

"Why was an aura user with you, Lord Dragon?" One of the Elders asked.

"Is that the problem?" Ocean asked and he clamped his mouth shut before glancing at Erisgrirlum.

The Dwarf King exhaled deeply before he spoke.

"The last time you were here, you mentioned that the civil war in Elvenland may be sparked by the third party- the dark forces or demon." He started and Ocean nodded.

Erisgrirlum looked like he had aged a couple of decades and he added, "To know that your words were true or not, I dispatched some spies to Elvenland."

Ocean nodded slowly letting the words sink and Erisgrirlum clenched his jaw before he spoke again.

"Now we couldn’t reach them... They are all dead apparently and only one was rescued but... even she is..."

Ocean’s eyebrows furrowed and he asked, "Is she gravely injured? I can heal her if that’s the case."

"What’s happened to her is far worse than injury, Lord Dragon." One of the elders said.

Erisgrirlum glanced at the other Dwarves, they all gave their nods and he looked back at Ocean.

"Please come along, Lord Dragon." He said before he walked towards the large wooden doors.

Ocean walked beside the Dwarf King with the Elders walking behind them. The King led him past several corridors and stairs going down. Finally they crossed the darker corridor which had more guards and burning torches. They kept walking till they reached a thick metal door which Erisgrirlum gestured for the guard to open and they were faced by the stairs that went deep into the earth.

Erisgrirlum stepped ahead first and as soon as Ocean landed on step on the stairs, his hackles rose and the blood running in his veins seemed like it had turned into ice. He felt the void of presence throbbing in a out of existence somewhere below them.

"Lord Dragon?" One of the Elders who were behind Ocean spoke up as he stopped abruptly.

Erisgrirlum simply looked back and didn’t say anything before he turned back and gestured for the rest to come along. Ocean forced his feet to move and descended the stairs feeling the repulsing feeling growing closer. He was sure that it wasn’t a demon since then the presence would be completely like a void unlike this mixture that he was sensing, it was like when he came across the Witch’s minions back in Sestia.

Ocean didn’t ask anything as Erisgrirlum once at the end of the stairs turned and Ocean followed along.

At some distance, Ocean could hear the sound of snarling and growling along with the clanking of chains as if a chained up beast was trying to break free.

Erisgrirlum stopped before one large cell from where these growls and snarls were coming from, it had a mana barrier. Erisgrirlum opened it showing Ocean what beast was held in.

Ocean expected to see a Witch’s minion inside but what he saw was something else completely. Ocean’s eyes widened by a fraction as he saw the familiar hazel-haired dwarf girl who had round, freckled face and emerald green eyes.

But gone was the innocent face that blushed when he teased her and now was replaced by a feral snarl with her eyes glowing red and her hair all disheveled.

There were thick iron cuffs strapped around her wrists, ankles and neck. She was growling and kicking at the people who had appeared, her chains were thick enough to hold her petite self back which seemed to have become an overpowered beast. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Kelda," her name slipped through his mouth.

"She went with the team of trackers but when the seceond team went to see why the first team wasn’t responding they found her in this state. They had to knock her out to drag her back." Erisgrirlum said.

"Once she woke up, she started attacking anyone in sight, even His Majesty so we had to chain her up."

"She was even shouting something- probably curses at us. But we couldn’t understand a word."

"It’s like she’s been possessed by a demon."

"It was a demonic language dialect."

The Elder Dwarves also filled him in and Ocean simply observed Kelda. He had only met her briefly when he was in Ortbon just a few days ago and she was a cautious but cheerful seeming Dwarf, watching her in this state was infuriating for him.

"We tried to handle this situation ourselves but it was impossible since we couldn’t even know what she was saying... Dragons are known to hold great wealth of knowledge and you did tell me to contact you if I needed your assistance that’s why I found it right to call for you." Erisgrirlum explained.

Ocean tried not to grimace and let his emotions show despite him wearing a mask as he took a step closer.

Kelda suddenly stopped lashing at them and stared at Ocean, her eyes glowing eerily red in the darkness and a smile curled up her mouth. Ocean stopped noticing the sinister look and Kelda spoke.