Sabrina and Kavan decided to kill two birds with one stone later that evening. Kavan had already asked to meet with his friend, Ace. He had initially called Ace to be a fake witness but since they don't need a fake witness anymore, he is only meeting him to catch up with him since they've not met up for a while.
Dr Kaito wanted to meet Sabrina that evening too. Sabrina and Kavan decided that they can both meet Ace and Dr Kaito at the same time. It would be like a gathering of friends. Of course, Sabrina will meet with Dr Kaito individually to talk about their dragon things first before they join Kavan and Ace. They can't discuss dragon and dragon shapeshifter clan issues in front of other mortals.
They all agreed to meet at a casual restaurant bar in the city. It has outdoor seating on the rooftop of a swanky hotel that overlooks the city. Sabrina arranged to meet Dr Kaito earlier, around six o'clock while Ace will be arriving around seven o'clock. She figured whatever she needed to talk to the other dragon about will be done in an hour. It's not that complicated anyway.
Dr Kaito arrived just on time, his tall huge figure commanding attention the moment he stride in. A few people, both men and women, turned to stare as he made his way to the small table Sabrina had chosen to sit at the corner, facing the view of the city and away from most other tables. It is a private little corner, preferable for their secret conversation that they can't risk other mortals hearing.
She could sense him walking in and the sense of awe among the mortals he left in his wake. When he reached her, he gave her a wide grin and sat down. They ordered some drinks before she started her story. She told him about what happened at the clan council of elders and how she accidentally unleashed some power beyond her comprehension against her head of the council of elders. Dr Kaito whistled in admiration after she finished with her story and end it with the part about her being on the run.
"Wow. That's some dragon shapeshifter drama you got there," he said.
"Tell me about it…I have to face some mortal family drama too but that's another story for another day," she said.
"Do you have any idea how I can solve this problem with my council of elders?" she asked him.
Dr Kaito sat silently for a moment. He looked at the skyline before them, his profile sculpted and elegant. He sure chose a nice looking human body and face, Sabrina thought. Much nicer than Dashen and the other dragon shapeshifters from her clan. She wondered if he had chosen an actual human's face and body or he had modified and created it from a mix of different humans, like what she did.
"I was thinking about it on my way here since you told me you are on the run and hiding from your elders," he started to say. "I think you should face them," he said.
"What? They will definitely take away my powers and banish me to some heavy labour work in the palace for centuries!" she protested.
"No, no, not go up to them at the palace, that would be suicide, what I meant is to make it so that you face them outside of their elements," he said.
"Outside of their elements?" she doesn't understand.
"The elders are more powerful in the palace but once outside, in the human realm, their powers are almost like the rest of us and besides that, they will not be able to use too much because they can't start a magical war right here where humans can see it," he said.
Dr Kaito does have a point there. But how do you lure all 12 of the elders out to the human world to meet her? It's not as if she is all that powerful. She told him that.
"You don't have to get all of them. I think what you can do is to meet with a few of them, maybe four or five and try to get them to your side," he said. "Do you know which ones would be more sympathetic towards you?"
She shrugged. She doesn't really know the elders well. She was too much of a rebel to bother much about the elders. The only one she knows quite well is Dashen and even him, she couldn't trust.
"I doubt that any of them are sympathetic towards me, not even the elder I was serving as his wife in the mortal world," she said.
"You know, not any young dragon shapeshifter is powerful enough to regain their powers and then bind up an elder in the clan palace," Dr Kaito remarked. He looked thoughtful.
"I have a feeling that there is more to them just being stickler to the rules of young dragons not being allowed to find their human match," he conjectured.
"Is it possible that you are in line to be promoted to the clan of council elders?" he asked.
Sabrina can't help but laugh at this. It sounded preposterous. Not the patriarchal clan of council elders. She told Dr Kaito as much.
"Really? I never realised that. In our clan, we have a mix of both males and females in the council of elders," he was surprised.
Sabrina, too, was surprised to hear that there were females in other dragon shapeshifter clan council of elders. So, it was only the sea jade clan.
"I think now I know, they realised your potential but didn't want you to gain power to join the council of elders, so they are finding other ways to stop you and block your power, this includes stopping you from being with your human match," Dr Kaito said.
This makes perfect sense. She automatically gains more power when she has found her human match and if they are to officially get married in both the human and dragon realms, her rank will go up too. So, all that stupid rules about her being 'underage' was just a ruse. They didn't want her to rank up and take a spot in the council of elders!
"So, what should I do? I don't think any of them would want to take my side if I am seen as a threat who could take their place, at least one of their spots," she said.
"You know what, I think I need to consult some of my seniors in my clan about this, I am certain they can help to mediate this between you and your elders," he said.
"You can do that? I mean, your clan can do that? Aren't other clans not allowed to meddle in the affairs of another clan?" she asked. She clearly remember reading that particular rule somewhere.
"Well, no harm trying, our clan isn't as bureaucratic as yours, they are infinitely more open minded and they have relaxed the whole 'younger dragon must serve as an elder's married spouse in the human realm' ridiculous rule for a long time now," he said.
Sabrina is relieved. This sounds like there is a solution in sight. It feels like things are looking up after all.