"Hiss..."
Before long, a pain-strained groan came from beneath the Elf Dragon's wing.
Annan crawled out with blood at the corner of his mouth. He checked the Elf Dragon first. As a supernatural creature, it wasn't badly hurt and was already struggling to get up.
Annan told it to stay still, then rose, ignoring the crushed grass and soil smeared all over him. He looked up at Prince Aidan and complained, "Is this how you welcome a friend who came looking for you?"
Annan pretended nothing was wrong, but his heart sank. The Talisman didn't react. Has Magic Suppression taken hold here?
His defenses were airtight. Even the ruler of a kingdom couldn't assemble so many protections. But they had one weakness: Magic Suppression.
Of course, Magic Suppression was every Spellcaster's bane.
Prince Aidan looked down at Annan's feigned indignation, and the murderous intent he should have felt toward an enemy gradually faded.
"I told you to stay in Envoy Village."
"I wanted to, but your brother insisted I come find you." Annan hid his feelings and held up the Mithril Necklace. "You really won't reconsider?"
"It's too late."
"How can it be too late? You're a prince. If I take you back now, the Kingdom will help you hide the evidence—"
"Because it's already begun."
Annan froze, then looked around.
There were no strange flames or rumbling, nor had any elves come to investigate the disturbance. Prince Aidan had plenty of time to talk to Annan... and silence him for good.
"Your brother told me a lot about your beliefs, your Ideal Kingdom..."
"What do you think?"
"What I said before. It's too extreme." Annan shook his head.
"You still think so, even after learning what happened to Losthome?" Prince Aidan no longer seemed intent on killing him.
"That's