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In the long process, Alf quietly uses a Digestion Technique to lead the liquid from her throat to her stomach. Meanwhile, Elva is shocked stiff as she is made to drink without consent. Finally able to get loose, she pushes herself away from Alf. She turns aside and tries to force herself to vomit the tea, even attempting to dip her fingers into her throat.
Alf: (Calmly seated) Don't bother throwing it out. I made you digest it already. (Says with his mischievous feminine voice.)
Realizing that, Elva freezes.
Elva: You… (Slowly glaring back at Alf) You… you savage!
As she pounces on him, he shouts out and tries to fight her off. Having succeeded, he runs away laughing, with a fuming Elva chasing and directing fire sparks at him. Naughty Alf runs playfully around Raina and Balin while they try to keep the raging Elva from Alf. However, as Alf is about to dash away from their protection, Elva jumps on him, grabbing hold of his legs. Alf yells in struggle, scratching through the sand to get loose from her tight grip. Duke Balin tries to pull Alf away by his armpits while Raina tries to hold back Elva. They are able to separate the two.
Princess Raina: Enough! What is the issue this time?
Elva: (Pointing at Alf) 😠 He—
Alf: (Panting and cute) I just made her digest the herbal to help her.
Elva: (Cooling down) 😤
Duke Balin: You did? How come?
Elva: (Glares at Alf.)
Alf: I just thoughtfully used—
Elva: Grr—ahh!!
She breaks free from Raina's hold, leaving her blank-faced, and chases after the naughty, laughing Alf.
Within minutes, a soothing, clear energy sweeps across the sands, transforming them into snow. Snowflakes begin to fall. Elva stops in her tracks, staring at the falling flakes.
Elva: [It was snowing when the death of my father reached me.] (A tear drops from her eye) [So much has passed…]
A warm hand wipes the tear from her cheek from behind. She looks over her shoulder at the smiling Balin. He takes her palms and places snow in them. Alf then comes and sprinkles snow on her hair, which changes into sparkling snow pearls before fading away. Then Alf turns the snowflakes in her palms into playful, tiny snow beings. Elva rejoices at the sight of the friendly snow beings.
Of course, the season of winter comes with snow fights, and the four youngsters are no exception.
A day, two fives, and two hours later, they reach a hollow tunnel opening, where they unmount from their horses. Princess Raina, holding the Map of Sacred Leads, approaches the massive entrance.
Princess Raina: Here we are—the Shed of Deceit. It first captures your mind and then your inner being.
Elva: You say? Is there a way to fight against the bewitching calls?
Princess Raina: None has ever been acknowledged.
Duke Balin: And the map says no other way around here?
Princess Raina: (Shakes head) So we just need to ensure we are clear of distracting thoughts before entering. (Checks Alf's Dragon Scale) Make haste to cover your Dragon's scales well.
As she looks away from Alf's Dragon Scale, something strange catches her attention—a faint, thin strand of black energy appears from the middle of Alf's scalp.
Princess Raina: Your Majesty… how—? (Speechless)
Duke Balin: What is it?
Princess Raina: There are short strands of black hair on His Majesty's head.
Duke Balin: Maybe 'cause he dyed his hair. Did you dye your hair? He dyed his hair.
Elva: Hm? Styliiing, cool 😎
Alf: I have never colored my hair.
Duke Balin: Then maybe it is a sign of blessing…
Raina lets loose Elva's packed hair to flow.
Elva: What are you—?
Princess Raina: (Pointing at Elva's hair) She also has them. Hers is white.
Duke Balin: H—
Princess Raina: (Shows her hair) Same with me, though I've hidden it since birth. Mine is red.
Duke Balin: What a coincidence then.
Princess Raina: I don't think so. I believe the different colors in our hair show we are somehow connected to the respective colored dragons.
Alf: (Gasps, innocent) So that means—
A loud rumble is heard from afar and black ashes start to descend.
Duke Balin: (Protects Elva's forearm from an ash) Don't let them touch you. Raina, be careful too. (Glances at the tunnel opening) I think it's time to go in.
The rumbling gets nearer. The shifting ground advances rapidly toward them.
Princess Raina: You're right—before—
They try to run from the rising and falling earth, but it sweeps them into the tunnel.
The four: Aaaaaaah!!
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