Most of the island was blackened and was covered in the thick black miasma which choked the life out of everything that drifted close by including the birds flying high up in the sky and the aquatic life around the shores.

Even the people of Ortbon started feeling the change in the atmosphere as they quickly abandoned the towns and hurried over to the mountains to keep distance between themselves and the death that was approaching them.

In Elvenland, Aelfric and the Elders were at a loss about what was happening, most of the Elves were rushed within the palace walls but that didn’t mean that they were safe as the Dark Forces and the Dark Elves were approaching them at a swift pace and their army wasn’t doing well.

"What’s the status?!" Vaelorion demanded of the soldier who came to report.

There was a long gash on the soldier’s arm which wouldn’t stop bleeding and what was worse than the dead mana seemed to have infected him and the Elf was clearly in agony but he was kneeling before Vaelorion.

"Th-The enemy keeps pushing forward and a-a lot of our soldiers have fallen... S-Sir Rhylen st-stayed back when a strong o-opponent appeared." He spoke between short breaths and Vaelorion’s eyebrows twitched.

He was furious, this was exactly what he feared. The retaliation from the Dark Elves reaching the point where they would wreck havoc over their peaceful kingdom. The peace had only been a mirage that their King was chasing and now it had left them to a civil war where their people and soldiers were dying.

"Understood, go and get treated now." Vaelorion ordered.

The soldier staggered to his feet, gritting his teeth but he had only taken two steps before he collapsed.

The servants in the room hurried over and carried him away while Vaelorion stormed out of his room and towards the throne room.

He threw open the doors to the throne room finding Aelfric inside along with a few of the Elders, some injured soldiers and one person whose mere sight made him see red.

"... and that’s when-"

The soldier stopped as Vaelorion stormed inside and stomped right towards the sole Dark Elf who stood there.

Vaelorion thrust his arm out reaching for Xeveris who had dared to appear in their palace but Aelfric stepped in between blocking Vaelorion.

"Your Majesty!" Vaelorion screamed in pure fury, his eyes bloodshot and veins standing taut on his neck.

Aelfric didn’t seem fazed as he stared at Vaelorion, still standing between him and Xeveris.

"Calm down, Elder Vaelorion." Aelfric said.

"You say that even after everything that’s happening outside?" Vaelorion demanded and the glared at Xeveris from over his shoulder.

"And you’re even protecting this vermin? Have you lost your mind?!" Vaelorion shouted right in Aelfric’s face.

"Vaelorion, watch your mouth!" Elandor shouted.

Elieria stepped closer to Vaelorion and placed her hand over his forearm.

"Vaelorion, we understand your anger but please calm down and listen first."

Vaelorion glared down at the petite Elf woman, he was tempted to yank his hand back but his fury hadn’t completely blinded him so, he gritted his teeth and relaxed his shoulders a little.

"Tell me." He spoke, the ire in his voice still unyielding.

"The information of the Dragon was accurate... There are Dark Forces on this island and they have manipulated the young Dark Elves." Caldris informed him and Vaelorion scowled at him.

"What?"

Elandor sighed, "Nobody noticed it until Xeveris and his people left their colony to seek out their youngsters. That’s when they encountered the Dark Forces, the Dark Elves who didn’t belong to any of our kinds. There also were some strong curse users. One of them..." His eyes drifted over to the soldier who cradled his arm.

"...was using Hell fire."

Vaelorion’s eyes widened, "That’s absurd!"

"It’s not, we saw it with our own eyes, His Majesty Zale of Nelius Ocean is also on the island...on the word of the Dragon." Xeveris answered, though the last part of his words sounded more like he himself found it hard to believe.

Vaelorion didn’t believe it either, "You think I’ll believe any word that comes from you? You’re saying you encountered a Dark Mage here? On Edrisyl?"

"That’s true, Lord Vaelorion." The soldier who had been quiet for all this time spoke up.

Vaelorion turned his izy gaze on him and the soldier continued, "We didn’t see the Hell fire user but there was another Dark Mage who was using illusion kind of magic...a-and Sir Rhylen tried to fight him but..."

Vaelorion’s eyes grew sharper hearing that, "But what?!"

"B-But his injuries were too grave so...one of the Dark Elves stayed back to fight while we brought Sir Rhylen back here."

Vaelorion found that hard to believe, he had not seen a stronger warrior than Rhylen on Edrisyl in the present day and age, if not for Erisgrirlum.

"The Dwarven army is already engaged in battle with the enemy as we speak." Elandor said.

"Xeveris and others have rushed here to warn us and we need to protect Yggdrasil before it’s too late." Aelfric spoke finally and Vaelorion looked at him.

"At first we thought that our kids were marching west but we encountered the rogue Dark Elves and Dark Mages." Xeveris said, "I have sent my people east since that’s the only other way the kids would be."

"You call those rampant bastards kids?" Vaelorion spat.

Xeveris couldn’t refute, he had chosen to come here alone to warn Aelfric and others about the Dark Mages and he knew that some of the Pure Mana Elders, especially Vaelorion hated Dark Elves and his hatred was justified too.

Years ago, when the war was waging between Demons and Dragons, the Dark Elves though had sided with the Dragons but there were some who fell for the unbridled and surplus power that the dead mana of the demons and their followers.

Some such Dark Elves who had been in alliance with Demons had infiltrated Edrisyl under the guise of aiding the Pure Mana Elves. They were given place to stay in the houses of the Pure Mana Elves and nobody doubted their intentions at that times.

Vaelorion who was a young man at that time had believed that there was no way the Demons would break through Edrisyl until the Elves of both kinds and the Dwarves had unity.

But his belief was shattered when the very Dark Elves they had sheltered attacked Yggdrasil and created a rampage quite similar to the present in which Vaelorion had lost his wife and his young daughter. He had the misfortune of watching them burn alive before his very eyes but he couldn’t do anything to save them.

Till the present time, he would think of them and feel helpless.

"I apologise in their stead, I should have stopped it in the beginning but..." Xeveris bowed his head and Aelfric turned placing his hand over Xeveris’s shoulder.

"Nobody could have known about the Dark Forces, Xeveris. We also had been living under the impression that we had completely eradicated any Dark Forces on the island."

"You are not making it sounds like it was partially our fault, Your Majesty." Vaelorion spoke and Aelfric looked at him.

"It is." Aelfric said firmly, "and shall I add as to why this war sparked up?"

Vaelorion’s eyebrows twitched, "What do you mean?"

"Didn’t you send Sir Rhylen and some of the knights to block the exits of Dark Elves’ colony? You thought I wouldn’t catch the wind of it?"

Vaelorion opened his mouth to argue about it but then he simply sighed, he could see no further point in dragging this on. He didn’t think he was at fault and the Dark Elves clearly were the naive ones to fall for the lies of the Dark Forces but now that it had come to this, he had to push his frustration back and look for a way to protect Yggdrasil and the remaining Pure Mana Elves. Besides, there was one thing that he had been wanting to ask for a while now.

"You mentioned the Dragon sending Nelius Ocean King Zale Turquoise here?" Vaelorion spoke still glaring at Xeveris.

"Yes."

"So, when is the Dragon coming?" Vaelorion asked.

Xeveris glanced at Aelfric before answering, "I don’t know...I had never heard about the Dragon until Aelfric told me."

The eyes then turned to Aelfric who pulled out the blue mana stone brooch from his robe’s sleeve.

He held the brooch in his palm while everyone stared at him.

Aelfric poured his mana into the brooch and the mana stone glowed softly in his palm.

The sound of the thunder crackled through the brooch and everyone exchanged surprised looks and Aelfric brought he brooch close to his mouth.

"Lord Dragon?" He spoke with uncertainty in his voice.

For a second there was no other sound other than thunder and rain which made everyone in the throne room hold their breath.

"Lo-" Aelfric started again but the single word from there made him and the others pause.

"Aelfric?" A sleek masculine voice seeped through.

"Ah, yes!" Aelfric responded, nervous.

"Your servant Rheanor-"

"I know," the voice interrupted without listening fully.

"The situation is bad I assume," the voice continued.

"Yes," Aelfric admitted.

"Protect Yggdrasil, I’ll be there in..." There was a pause, "...a few minutes."

Vaelorion who listened to the insolent seeming voice couldn’t take it anymore and blurred out, "You just heard that the situation is bad here!"

"Hm? Who is it?" The voice asked, "Ah, let it be. I’m in the middle of a battle here too. I’ll be there in a few minutes."

"Wait! You’re a Dragon, your first priority should be protecting Yggdrasil!" Vaelorion shouted.

"Fifteen minutes." The Dragon spoke before the line went silent.

"Hey, hey!" Vaelorion shouted at the mana stone brooch, the glow of the stone faded and Aelfric stared at the stone.

"We can’t just sit here and wait for him." Vaelorion said.

"I agree, the Dragon said he will be here in fifteen minutes, but till then we should do our best to keep Yggdrasil safe." Elandor said.

Aelfric faced the Elders and then looked at Xeveris who gave him a nod.