Drayce had been preoccupied with border matters for several days, ensuring that the shield he had erected between Thevailes and Megaris remained intact. Following the last attack, Zaria seemed to have either calmed down or was biding her time for the right moment to strike.
"Dray, you've been teleporting back and forth. You must be exhausted," Seren remarked as she placed food on his plate. Find your favorite tales at m v l e mp yr
"It's not tiring, don't worry," Drayce reassured her.
"Any trouble at the border?" she asked.
"For now, everything seems alright."
"Tonight's the full moon."
Drayce nodded. "Slayer and I will leave for Griven shortly. Don't wait up for me tonight."
"Don't worry about me. Just focus on helping Oriana and Prince Arlan."
Drayce nodded again. "Yorian is with them, so we have better support."
"Mister Yorian does seem like an angel who appeared in our lives suddenly," Seren commented. "Speaking of him, I was wondering if our mothers have reached Agartha."
"I'm sorry, my Queen. I forgot to tell you. Mother sent me a message. They've reached Agartha and are already working on the issues we're facing."
"That green-eyed woman in my dream, did they find her?"
"They did," he confirmed. "She is a black dragon, King Draven's mate, and the reincarnated deity of fire. The fire element in you belongs to her." Drayce explained the entire situation, detailing how things had unfolded. (Note: Kindly refer to the book, The Devil's Cursed Witch from chapter 445 onwards for further details about how Seren got the hellfire)
"So, are we going to Agartha to return what belongs to her?" Seren asked.
"Not yet. Even if we go there, there's no way to transfer the hellfire from you back to her," Drayce explained. "Mother is also working on reviewing Aureus' uncle, whom you saw in your vision, along with King Draven's mate."
"So he is alive?" Seren asked. "In that vision, I felt like he was gone. I could feel his energy disappearing. Was it the wrong vision?"
Drayce shook his head. "Something managed to protect his core, which came as a surprise to everyone. In the last message I received, I only learned this. By now, he may have already woken up."
"Mister Aureus would be glad. He protected me last time, and I wish for his happiness as well."
Drayce nodded thoughtfully, contemplating whether he should reveal that Dusk is Aureus. Just as he was about to speak, Seren said, "It's good that we're not leaving for Agartha yet. It seems Prince Arlan and Oriana need you."
Drayce hummed in agreement. "Until Arlan's issue is resolved, we're not going anywhere."
"Were you scared, my Queen?" Drayce asked as he walked toward her.
She shook her head. "What happened? Slayer looks angry."
Drayce explained the situation, and Seren felt equally sad and enraged for Arlan and his family.
"What are we going to do?" she asked.
"Now that we know her well, Yorian and Oriana will plot something, and we'll help them," Drayce explained.
"I will help if there is anything I can," she said, though her tone was not confident. "Though I know I can do nothing but grow plants and then burn them accidentally."
Drayce patted her head, knowing she still felt bad about not being able to protect him. "As long as I'm here, you don't need to do anything. My powers are enough to protect both of us."
"How about I grow a plant on that witch's head and then burn it with hellfire?" she chuckled.
"I'm afraid a plant won't grow over her rotten head," Drayce replied, drawing a sweet laugh from her.
"There's something else I want to tell you," Drayce said.
"Hmm?"
"You know Zaria is Oriana's master."
Her laughing eyes immediately showed a tinge of anger at the mention of the one who almost took Drayce away from her. "I know." Her tone was angry. "Being Oriana's master won't affect my will to kill her."
"I hate her as much as you do, but we have to take her help in our mission of protecting Arlan from that evil witch."
"How?"
"Only a powerful black witch can break the blood curse, and Zaria is the only one in existence that we know. Oriana is going to seek her help, and she's sure that as her master, Zaria will help her."
Seren understood the implication and said, "That Zaria has caused a lot of harm to innocents. Let her do one good deed by helping our friend. Then we might give her a less painful death."
"I knew you would understand."
"Nothing is more important than saving a life. You don't have to think about what I feel. I want the same thing as you—to protect Prince Arlan, and I'm fine if we have to take our enemy's help to do that."
Drayce hugged her. "I feel like every passing moment makes me love you more."
She chuckled lightly. "I feel the same."