By the time Deren got home that day, it was almost dark.
The Black Dragon watched worriedly as Deren walked in, his face somewhat pale.
Stellagosa, meanwhile, waved at him with a smile and formally said goodbye.
"What happened? Tell me the truth!" Onyxia said sternly, beginning to interrogate Deren.
"Do you think that Blue Dragon did it on purpose?" she said thoughtfully in the direction Stellagosa had left.
Cold sweat broke out on Deren's forehead. He had not expected his old companion to see through what he had done at a glance.
"I-I just feel pretty tired!" he said, forced to change the subject.
To his surprise, the Black Dragon gave him a gentle hug. "I know. Of course you're tired after shopping with such an energetic female dragon. I can't believe she monopolized you for an entire day. You've worked hard!"
"Uh..." Deren no longer knew how to answer that.
"Sit down. I specially had Jaina stew some soup." The Black Dragon was very understanding of Deren's efforts.
Sinestra kept studying Deren, suspicion flickering in her eyes. She caught every one of his tiny expressions, but ultimately said nothing.
The family sat down to eat, with Deren becoming everyone's darling.
Onyxia personally ladled soup for Deren. Jaina brought out new dishes, while Anaiwena, who usually loved excitement most, ate quietly. Every now and then, she would give Deren a secretly delighted smile.
"Ahem." Unable to bear the strange atmosphere any longer, Sinestra coughed to express her displeasure. The mood in the household had become downright bizarre.
Deren felt terribly guilty. He had opened three new maps in one day; that efficiency far exceeded his expectations.
And every one of those three new maps was a fatal secret.
He had tried to refuse, only to be refused in return.