Journey to Cuiyi'aorshu

"Click."

The door to the dark prison, which had been silent for days, slowly opened. The blinding sunlight made Mevajena and the others in the cages unable to open their eyes. Vaguely, they saw a human figure slowly walking into the prison. Just as the four of them thought a "new roommate" was joining them, a familiar voice came from the figure:

"Sorry! I've been absorbed in researching new magic lately and accidentally forgot about all of you. Please forgive me!"

"Are you Sordil?"

Mevajena stared at the youth before her in astonishment and asked incredulously. No matter how vivid her imagination was, she could not equate the silver-haired human youth before her with that seven-colored giant dragon. They were two beings who could not possibly be related. Yet that utterly familiar voice left her no choice but to believe this dreamlike reality. Mevajena was not the only one shocked. The other three dragons in the dark prison stood frozen as if struck by lightning, so stunned that they did not even realize their jaws had dropped to the floor. After a long while, Black let out a piercing scream. Feeling the pain in his arm and seeing the blood flowing continuously from his palm, the poor fellow finally believed that this was reality rather than a nightmare. Overwhelmed by emotion, he fainted on the spot.

"Of course I'm Sordil. Who else would come see you?"

Sordil said matter-of-factly. In truth, he personally felt that his appearance after transforming was still not perfect enough. Perhaps because of the powerful figure who had sent him here, when Sordil used Transformation Magic to restore his appearance from his previous life, even his hair and irises turned silver-white. Yet when he transformed into the appearance of Asland's companions, that problem did not occur. This made him wonder whether he had somehow offended that "Big Sister." Otherwise, why would she only "modify" his face?

"But aren't you a dragon? How could you...?"

"How could I be human, right? Didn't I just say so? I've been researching new magic. This is naturally the result of that research!"

Sordil picked up where Mevajena had trailed off and explained the reason for his transformation. At the same time, he walked up to Mevajena and opened her iron cage for her.

"I think we should find a better place to talk. And right now, you need a hot bath and something to eat. After that, we'll need to discuss how to deal with the four of you."

Sordil casually took Mevajena's right hand and led her out of the iron cage, softly laying out the arrangements ahead. Mevajena had yet to recover from the fact that Sordil had changed from a dragon into a human, so she simply let him lead her out of the cell. However, to the other three, this scene was no less shocking than Sordil's appearance just now. The three of them turned to stone once more.

"Where are we going now?"

After leaving the prison, Mevajena finally came back to her senses. Blushing furiously, she pulled her hand from Sordil's grasp and asked in a coquettish tone. Sordil, a hopelessly dense straight-laced guy and shut-in, did not notice her reaction at all. Without even turning his head, he said:

"Obviously, I'm taking you to your room. What, were you planning to bathe and eat in my room? No matter how close we are, we should still pay attention to personal hygiene. Besides, I'm a germaphobe. There are some things I don't want to share with anyone else!"

Although Mevajena did not understand the various strange new terms spilling from Sordil's mouth, she did grasp the two key points in his words. First, she no longer had to stay in that cramped, dark cell and could have a spacious room of her own. Second, Sordil was actually saying she was not clean enough. At that thought, Mevajena could no longer endure it. She raised her right foot and kicked him directly in the backside. Thus, the clever student Sordil was honorably transformed into a shooting star streaking across the sky.

"Ah!"

"Bang!"

Following close behind them, Black and the other two watched the scene unfold and felt as though their hearts were about to explode. Holop and Black hurried after the flying Sordil, while Fordisg ran up to Mevajena with cold sweat pouring down his face and said in extreme panic, "Little sister, what are you doing? If you treat your brother-in-law like this and something happens to him, what are we supposed to do? When that time comes, who in all of Fostadu will be able to save us?"

"Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? What brother-in-law? I haven't married him, so where did you get a brother-in-law from? Besides, he's a dragon. How could something happen to him so easily?"

Hearing her brother's words, Mevajena said with her cheeks flushed red in anger.

Although Mevajena's face was red because she was angry at her brother for talking nonsense, Fordisg took it as embarrassment from having her feelings exposed. Thus, Fordisg's view of Sordil began to change. He was no longer an enemy, but his future brother-in-law. Of course, for now, he still had to keep a close eye on things for his foolish little sister and make sure that rotten brat Sordil did not trick her away. Thinking of this, Fordisg felt that he would have plenty to do in the future. But then again, Mevajena was his only family.

While the brother and sister were each lost in their own thoughts, Holop and Black flew back with Sordil, who was covered in dirt. Just as Mevajena had said, even though Sordil had taken human form, he was still a dragon. Flying that far had only gotten him a little dirty; his body was otherwise unharmed. Afterwards, under Sordil's guidance, the four found their respective rooms. Once Mevajena's matter had been settled, Sordil immediately began preparing the next stages of his plan without stopping to rest.

Three days later, Sordil set out on the long-planned operation with his brand-new bodyguard team. The group of seven secretly left Fostadu and headed toward the Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu.

Kingdom of Donagunov

After listening to Xizalanza's report, Irene's lips curled into a faint smile as she said, "I never expected that the true ruler of Fostadu wasn't Hadessta, but his son Sordil instead. And I certainly didn't expect Sordil to be so slick and cunning!"

"Her Majesty the Queen, what do you mean by that? The ruler of Fostadu is clearly Hadessta. He personally replied to Your Majesty's letter, and that Sordil never made a single decision from beginning to end!"

Xizalanza did not quite understand the Queen's words, so he voiced his confusion. But the Queen had no intention of answering his question and dismissed him.

Standing alone by the window, Irene gazed in the direction of Fostadu and murmured softly, "I'll help you for free this time. Next time won't be so easy! I hope you put on an impressive performance and don't disappoint me. Otherwise..."

Kingdom of Tsuyioru Xiu

Belmod slammed the letter in his hand onto the table and shouted toward the Cuyis Tree Sea, "This is outrageous!"

"Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. It is not yet time to fall out with them, so we must endure this humiliation for now."

The Chancellor stood behind Belmod with his back bent, offering his earnest counsel.

Though the anger in his heart remained difficult to quell, he had to swallow the bitter fruit he had planted himself, no matter how foul it tasted. Belmod did his best to calm down before ordering the Chancellor:

"Inform General Langu to keep a close watch on every move made by the Kingdom of Donagunov. Also, the moment any dragons from Fostadu are discovered entering Donagunov territory, report it immediately!"

"Yes! This old servant will see to it at once."