ASTHIA DARCK'S POV:

My sudden appearance within the 48-hour window had to seem coincidental. Hiding Jay's current state was required if I wanted to guarantee a genuine reaction from Amelia and Jean, but I had to convince the King at all costs. As long as both girls heard the news for the first time alongside the King, I was positive that he would understand the urgency of the situation.

An alliance had to be made...

The current and future leaders would all need to ally in an attempt to stop the calamity that was approaching the continent. That was Jay's goal, and I was going to see it through. He had entrusted me with this mission, and if I couldn't manage this, then I was not worthy of welcoming him back and accepting the necklace that hung around my neck.

"Princess Asthia Darck of the Dragonkin," announced the soldiers in front of the door, their voices penetrating the giant wall and reaching the ears of the audience that awaited me.

"Let her in," echoed a voice. The irritated grumble that had answered the announcement caused me to smile slightly, but I quickly hid my amusement.

Both royal guards stepped back, pushing the towering doors open. I entered a giant circular room, a round table located in the middle as all the members of the Imanian government sat around it. King Roy was the first who caught my eye, his stern glare radiating with hostility.

"Welcome, Princess," said Roy. I remained neutral with all my answers; hiding how I truly felt about the situation would facilitate my delivery.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. It is an honor to be here."

"I must say, it is certainly surprising to see you here in Imania," he continued with a slightly harsher tone.

"It seems things have taken a turn for the worst. Imania is now our only hope for salvation."

Roy lifted his hand to his mouth in a pensive manner, but the minuscule grin that appeared on his face still managed to slip through his fingers. He was beginning to see opportunities for seizing more power, something that excited him to his core.

"You were unable to push back the Dwarven armies, then?" he asked. I could feel a slight hint of worry for his daughter's safety within his question, but the King didn't seem to be too concerned about the situation."That is not the problem, Your Majesty," I announced. I waited a bit, letting the shock that my words had caused die down.

"I-It's not?"

"The Dwarven invasion created a monster, and I'm here now to seek your help in defeating that monster. If it isn't stopped, it will annihilate all of Auroria."

"What's this monster you're talking about?" asked Amelia, her expression beginning to show signs of discomfort. Was she already guessing what I was about to say?

"The Supreme Commander of the Dragonkin, Jay Cadmium. He has become Auroria's first SS-rank adventurer," I echoed, letting my words bounce off the stone walls with an everlasting ring.

"Jay has?" muttered Jean in confusion.

"How did he manage to surpass us so quickly?" added Amelia.

"He absorbed a primal power. He has become the fifth successful host of the Elder Wyvern," I responded.

"The legendary beast?!" exclaimed Amelia, the girl briefly losing her cool before returning to her seat. "S-So why does Jay Cadmium wish to destroy Auroria?"

Revealing the plan in mind would lead to nothing, but I had already prepared an answer that would satisfy their curiosity while remaining partially accurate:

"He's been consumed by the rage of the Elder Wyvern. I'm afraid we don't have much time until he begins his assault. I would say it's safe to assume that Ares Hearth has already been killed..."

"Ares Hearth is dead?" boomed Roy, his voice silencing the rest of the murmurs that had arisen from the advisors and ministers.

"I believe so, Your Majesty. The only way we could stop Jay from destroying this continent is by working together. This includes me, the S-ranks of Imania, as well as the Vye Twins from Nethnore. If we do not work together, then I fear that everything will be destroyed."Jean's eyes gazed deeply into the table as her mind pondered on the situation at hand. She looked at me, asking the question I had hoped to hear.

"The Dragonkin are not in danger of the Elder Wyvern's rage, though. Why risk your own life to save those who have tried to exterminate you?"

A small glint in her eyes indicated that she had purposely asked the question to help me with my task. I understood now why she was considered Jay's equal in cunningness.

"We Dragons don't want to live in a barren wasteland. We simply wish to co-exist alongside the other nations peacefully. That is what we have always desired ever since we have revealed ourselves," I said, turning to look at King Roy right in his eyes. "Please, Your Majesty. We only wish for your assistance in helping us stop this calamity before it's too late."

"I'll consider your offer. I'll give you my decision when I'm ready," he grumbled, returning to his thoughts as I simply nodded, bowed slightly, and exited the circular room.

The massive doors closed behind me with a loud thud, signaling the end of the meeting. I let out a long sigh of relief as I walked down the giant corridor. Getting King Roy to accept was only the first step. I knew the real challenge lay in negotiating with the Fei, who saw our existence as a threat to their kingdom.

Am I doing good, Jay?

I smiled weakly, remembering that I had no way of communicating with him any longer. While our link remained opened, I could sense a deep void occupying the other end of the tunnel, a void that overpowered the dim light that used to speak back to me.

My thoughts circled back to the present. Announcing Ares's death had been a necessary guess, but something told me I was correct. Either way, this now officially made the Dwarves the weakest nation within Auroria, and the two superpowers were sure to begin shifting their looks toward the vulnerable territories.

Did that mean they would lose interest in the Dragonkin?

No... thinking that would be too hopeful. The Fei had declared war on the Dragonkin out of fear of invasion or a loss of territory, not because they sought new land in the south. I decided to clear my mind and find something that would help me wait for my answer.

I estimated that King Roy would take at least a full day to deliver his final verdict on the situation. I thought of what I could do in the giant city of Eloria, and the answer seemed to jump out immediately.

It had been a while since Jay's family had seen their son. Maybe my presence could bring them some comfort? I doubted that they viewed me as very close, but if I could help them, then I'd go see them.

Would revealing the truth about Jay be the better course of action? Or would lying about their son's wellbeing help them cope with the unfortunate conditions that they were forced to live in?

"I guess I'll decide when I'm there," I muttered, exiting the castle. I took out the dark cloak supplied by Amelia from my space bracelet, swinging it around my back sharply and letting it rest on my shoulders. I put the hood on, making sure to cover the black horns that lay on my head.magic

I was no longer welcome in Eloria.