Amaranth spoke to Delphine in a way that would make her tremble before the guardian's booming voice. Simon stood there and became surprised at everything that was happening and became worried about Delphine and what else Amaranth had up her sleeve. Then, Delphine walked closer towards Amaranth and needed to find a way to make her talk about the things that are happening before her. It was an immense magic trick; only the guardian herself could do amongst all other sorcerers.
"Do you think some of your pagan magic will help me along the way?" Delphine asked.
"This has nothing to do with any god and religion. I don't care if you're a Dane or a Saxon," Amaranth said.
"I'm not here for any of your politics, Amaranth."
"Indeed, you're not. All you have to do is lift your sword to the dragon, he will breathe fire onto your blade, and we shall all forget this night ever happened. That is, of course, if you really can forget such a day as this."
"I never forget anything, Amaranth. If this magic helps me along the way, then you have left me no choice."
Then, Delphine walks forward to the elder dragon as the undead army stare back at her with their ghoulish eyes. Delphine did not look back at them, and she refused to find herself in that miserable bunch of people who died in battle and suffered a terrible fate. Simon walks over to a large boulder and hides his face from everything that is about to happen. Ladon walks over towards Delphine as he can have unobstructed viewing of the dark knight; Amaranth stared at them from a considerable distance and did nothing as the procession takes place. The elder dragon could make anyone who is cursed with demonic possessions to be very powerful against their enemies.
Then, Ladon spoke with Delphine, saying, "You have suffered greatly from those who have taken so much from you. Frustration and pain are all you feel on this path you walk. I know what it is you yearn for. I know what it is like to walk in the world and fight against the creatures of darkness. You cannot kill them all. You know their laws. Despite their transgressions against strangers, they are still of mortal blood. What you interfere with now is more significant than you can imagine. It is written, it is their time to give penance. If you continue, you will go down a path you will never escape from.
"You will be cast out... abandoned by all of those you have come to save. But, I can give you all of it... if you do desire it. All I ask for in return is your sword. Your sword for the chance of defeating your arch-rivals and taking the head of the Demon Wolf. All of this, I can give to you... just for your sword."
Delphine looked down at her blade and knew that she could not fight with the same appearance of her greatsword. If she fought back against her enemies with her sword at her normal state, it would be clear that it will shatter. Without dark magic being added to her sword, she would never survive the end of the journey, no matter how long it takes. Delphine would never protect Simon from the greater evil that waits for her; she would honestly believe that this was all done in vain. Delphine's reasoning for going inside the high mountain is right in front of her face, and she could not turn her back from it.
"What is your answer, Ebony Knight?" Ladon asked.
"Yes, I accept your offer. I will not turn away from it," Delphine answered. Then, she lifts her greatsword and points the blade at the dragon's face, and she holds the sword with just one hand.
Ladon did not fear the Crissaegrim pointing at his face; he was an elder dragon who feared no evil and stood up against all the odds. Then, he closes his eyes for a few seconds on what else he should say to her as the guardian stares at those two.
Then, Ladon said to her, "You have proven yourself worthy, Delphine. You fight with the strength of kings and tyrants. Unlike others, you are willing to throw away your own life to drive the night creatures off the face of the earth. You are also willing to protect a young man who also dares to fight on. Unlike those who are destined to receive this magic, none have been more powerful than you. And I think out of all of them. I believe it is you who shall carry this power into your newer onslaughts. All I need to know is one thing: are you willing to die for all of those you may or may not know?"
"I don't need to know anyone. I just do it anyway. For it is not by greed or pride that I shall do this, but I have my reasons... and my problems. But alas, I am willing to die for all the people of this world," Delphine answered. Then, Ladon and Delphine had nothing more to say to each other as the hour past midnight has already come.
The dragon stands up and spreads his wings, and his eyes were wide open as Simon and Amaranth stared at what is about to happen. The undead legion gazed upon the Ebony Knight and the elder dragon; their swords and spears never moved an inch from their hands. There has been enough talk for the whole night as it seems it would be the last time they ever see each other. Honestly, it would be the last time they ever come in contact with each other because Delphine would already be on the midpoint of her journey. Then, the dragon's body started to light on fire as it was about to be released on Delphine's sword.
And so, Ladon breathes his fire and releases it all upon Delphine's greatsword, and she looked away from the flames as she held up her blade. The speed of the hellish flames is faster than a speeding bullet, yet she could not fall on her knees while holding up the sword. Both her strength and the dragon's strength were put to the rest as the flames were being infused inside of her blade. The red flames were still going inside of Delphine's greatsword, and everyone inside the cave was staring at the scene. A few more seconds later, Ladon gives up, releasing his flames onto the Crissaegrim, and Delphine pulls back her blade.
Before any of them could say anything else, Delphine looks down at her greatsword and stares at it for a long while. Although it may not seem that anything happened, she decides to lay a few of her fingers onto the blade. She could feel the fire stinging her fingers, and she pulls herself away from the sword for a while. Even staring at the sword gave her mind so much intensity that it was very hard to comprehend. All she could do was stare at the fiery blade and look on as to what the fire contained.
Then, Ladon said to her, "And so, it is done. You have received what you came here for. I have given you the flames of oblivion itself. I was once born in that place, and I once had a brother who was more ambitious and ambiguous than my father. The next time you use your sword in battle, all of the low-class demons will fear you. They will drop their weapons and would rather kill themselves before you give them such torment. But, I will find it out of my nature to celebrate the deaths of my enemies."
"What will happen to you? What will happen if they're all gone, and you have nothing else going on?" Delphine asked.
Ladon answered and spoke to her, saying, "Drain your fears and sorrows. Do not worry about me, and do not mourn for me when I die. The world can be better off without me. That's why I chose this mountain as my home, but it shall be my home until a certain day comes. On that day, the army of Amaranth will be free from their hibernation and face a threat that's bigger than them. But, it will not be you who will lead this army. Nobody here knows when that day will come. Now... you're done here. Go back on your journey and continue protecting that man with your very life. I think you would want to test out your blade on the next invasion."
And before she knew it, Ladon returned into the shadows and slept there until that one day comes for him. Amaranth was also not being seen as everyone else disappeared from Delphine's sight, and she was left alone with Simon.