"What if he's inside the Land of the Dead? It's not impossible—especially if someone with a high level of magic and knowledge of the entry portal's coordinates is involved."
Elana's voice was calm but heavy with implication.
"You know I've been patrolling the borders for the past three years," she continued, her tone sharper now. "Trying to find the cause of the black miasma leaking out. Clearing it has been taxing on my body, but the truth is—despite all my efforts, I still haven't found the root cause. The only thing I've discovered is that this miasma is steadily leaking out of the borders connected to the Land of the Dead. And I think I have an idea why."
She paused briefly, her eyes narrowing.
"It's probably connected to the Holy Land. They've been restless for the past nine years. Trying to strengthen their faith, pushing their influence aggressively. If you ask me, those pu*ks are hiding something. Knowing them, I wouldn't be surprised if they have access to at least one portal. And if they do… it's not impossible for Zhavrik to be trapped inside the Land of the Dead."
Elana's words carried a seriousness that even made Elyndor shift uncomfortably.
Varadon, however, was silent. He listened carefully, then sank deep into thought. If Zhavrik truly was inside the Land of the Dead, as Elana suspected, then the situation was far worse than he imagined.
Finally, he spoke.
"Elana, Elyndor—I need you both to keep an eye on the border region. If you sense even the slightest shift in the barrier, contact me immediately. I'll return to the Thalorein Dukedom and discuss this with Zarvok. Personally, I don't believe Zhavrik is in that realm. I'll wait for the scouts' reports from the other regions before making any conclusions. No… he must still be somewhere along this part of the barrier."
With that, Varadon gave a solemn nod, turned, and departed.
Elyndor and Elana watched his back as he walked away, heavy with unspoken worries. Elyndor exhaled slowly before turning to his wife.
"Elana, do you really believe Zhavrik is in that realm?" he asked, his voice edged with skepticism. "You, more than anyone, know how impossible it is to breach the barrier. Even with our power, finding the exact coordinates for the opening is nearly impossible—it shifts every single minute. One mistake, and whoever attempts it is shredded to pieces. And besides… do you honestly think the angels would risk breaking their oath? Their hands are tied."
His gaze hardened as he continued.
"If you ask me, the only ones capable of tampering with the barrier are those who carry the bloodline of its creators. On the human side, that's the Thaloreins. From the elves, it's us. For the angels, it's the Lyshaan bloodline—those who inherited Michael's power. And lastly, the dragons. Neither dwarves nor beasts were involved in the original formation; their warriors were all too injured back then to take part."
Elyndor folded his arms, his expression skeptical.
"As far as I know, the angels have nothing to gain by interfering with Zhavrik. At least not now. All they'd accomplish is enraging the Thaloreins—and that's a fight they wouldn't win. Which leaves only two possibilities: the dragons or the Thaloreins themselves. But none of the Thalorein's direct lineage have awakened their bloodline yet. That means the dragons are the most likely suspects. Those ancient lizards still bear grudges from Kaelenar's rampage. If anyone would dare target the youngest Thalorein, it'd be them."
His eyes narrowed.
"So tell me, Elana—why did you bring up the angels in front of Varadon? Even if it was just speculation, you should've considered what I've said before throwing their name around. What are you trying to pull this time? If this is another one of your schemes for that so-called 'big picture' of yours, then be ready to face not only the Thaloreins… but me as well. So explain yourself."
His voice dropped colder with the last words, authority lacing every syllable.
Elana looked at him, meeting his piercing stare. For a moment, silence lingered between them. Then she sighed softly, walking toward the sofa. She sat down gracefully, rubbing her temples before speaking again.
"Elyndor, I'm not trying to hurt Varadon or the Thalorein family. You know I consider him just as much a friend as you do. Why would I toy with emotions like that?"
Her tone softened, but her words were firm.
"As for why I mentioned the angels… it's because I know the dragons aren't behind this. I'm friends with the Dragon Queen, remember? We've spoken often. And during our conversations, she told me several things.
First—her relationship with the dragon elders has deteriorated. They've been clashing over their stance on the Thaloreins. The elders want to undermine the Thaloreins, though not openly. They're even conspiring with the human empire's royal family. That coward of an emperor fears the Thaloreins' growing power. Even after nearly a thousand years of war, the Thaloreins not only maintain their strength but continue expanding their influence. He fears that, after his death, by the time his grandson or great-grandson inherits the throne, the Thaloreins will seize control of the empire and shatter the oath. So he schemes with the dragon elders."
Her voice darkened.
"Second—she told me that cultists from the Church of Curses have begun targeting dragonkin. They've slaughtered lesser dragons and stolen their bodies. The Queen herself discovered an illegal tavern run by the Church of Light, where cultists stored drained dragon corpses for blood rituals. She believes these cultists are forming alliances, scheming together for something bigger."
Elana leaned back slightly, her expression thoughtful but troubled.
"And finally—this last part isn't official, nor confirmed. I'm telling you only because I trust you. But you must promise me not to breathe a word until the Dragon Queen announces it herself."
Elyndor gave a silent nod, his stern gaze never leaving her.
Elana hesitated a moment, then exhaled and spoke quietly.
"The Queen is trying to end the hostility between the dragons and the Thaloreins. To do that, she's planning something drastic… a marriage alliance. She intends to wed her daughter to Zhavrik."