Saeldir made his way back through the bustling halls of Khazadrim, his mind heavy with the weight of the conversation he had just left. The Dwarf king's reluctance to part with the Starsteel was expected.
Saeldir go inside the chamber where Erend, Adrien, and Billy waited. He found the trio seated around a sturdy wooden table.
Saeldir took a deep breath and addressed them. "I have spoken with the Dwarf king about the Starsteel. I explained its importance in forging weapons powerful enough to combat the Great Calamity."
Erend, Adrien, and Billy listened intently.
"The king, however," Saeldir continued, "is reluctant to agree. The Starsteel is a closely guarded secret of their kingdom. I'm sure that now his advisors is saying to him not to agree to it, they fear that it will revealing its location and properties to us could lead to their exploitation and their vulnerability."
"Damnit. I thought we already agree to work together. Turns out, there is still trust issue here," Billi said.
Adrien frowned, his frustration evident. "So, what do we do now? We've come too far and seen too much to turn back now. There has to be a way to convince them."
Saeldir's eyes met Erend's, a glint of resolve shining through his own apprehension.
"There might be a way. The king and his advisors need to see clear proof of the power we possess. They need to understand that we are not just asking for their metal to exploit them but that we have the strength and purpose to use the Starsteel."
"You mean... you want me to show them my Dragon power," Erend said.
Saeldir nodded slowly. "Yes. They need to witness firsthand the might that we bring to this fight. Your Dragon power are our strongest arguments. If they see what you are capable of, it may sway their decision."
Billy glanced at Erend, a mixture of concern and encouragement in his gaze. "You want to do it?"
Erend took a deep breath. "Sure, why not?"
Saeldir gave a firm nod, then said. "Very well. I will arrange for an audience with the king and his advisors."
Saeldir moved with purpose through the labyrinthine halls of Khazadrim.
The air around him began to shimmer with heat, a low rumble resonating from deep within his chest. The gathered Dwarves watched in rapt attention, their skepticism slowly giving way to awe as the temperature in the room rose.
Flames began to dance along Erend's arms, their golden light casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. The fire swirled and grew, coalescing into a blazing aura that enveloped him entirely.
The raw aura of ancient and strong power was now unmistakable, its presence filling the hall with an otherworldly heat. The king himself could feel that.
The Dwarves' expressions shifted from disbelief to shock, their eyes wide with wonder. The advisors exchanged incredulous glances, while the bodyguards took a cautious step back. Even the king, with all his stoic composure, couldn't hide the astonishment in his eyes.
"This is the power of the Dragon," Erend said, his voice a resonant growl beneath the roar of the flames. "With this power and your Starsteel, we will have more strength to combat the Great Calamity."
Erend could still hear the murmurs of disbelief from few of them. So he decided to add some more for the show.
The flames that had enveloped him slowly dying down. He took a deep breath, feeling the familiar surge of energy coursing through his veins, and decided to reveal more of his Dragon nature.
He activated his Dragon Scale.
Closing his eyes, Erend focused on the deep well of power within him. He could feel the transformation beginning, his skin tingling and his muscles tightening. The room seemed to darken slightly as the air grew thick with an energy.
Suddenly, his skin began to shift and change. Black and red scales started to emerge, creeping across his flesh like living armor.
The scales were sleek and glistening, each one reflecting the light in a mosaic of crimson and obsidian hues. They covered his arms first, then spread across his chest and up his neck. His hands morphed, the fingers elongating and nails hardening into sharp, claw-like tips.
The transformation was mesmerizing and terrifying all at once. The Dwarves gasped, their eyes widening as they witnessed Erend's metamorphosis.
The advisors, who had been so skeptical moments before, now exchanged looks of sheer astonishment. Even the king leaned forward, his normally impassive face betraying a hint of shock.
Erend opened his eyes, now glowing with an intense, fiery light. His voice, when he spoke, was deeper and carried an undeniable weight of power. "This is the true nature of my Dragon power. I am not merely a wielder of fire Magic."
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