Meanwhile, Arlan and Yorian arrived at the garden, where the white wolf rested beneath the shade of a tree.
"She was being untruthful, wasn't she?" Yorian remarked, referring to Oriana's lie about her body not feeling the impact of her powers.
Arlan nodded, "I chose not to expose her lie in front of the others, to spare her any embarrassment."
"When did you feel her body was being affected?" Yorian inquired.
"Today, when I held her close, I sensed a noticeable weakening of her energy," Arlan recalled their recent encounter in the garden. "Even if I had asked her then, she would have denied it, and likely become more guarded in the future to hide it well from me."
"Hmm, knowing her, that's highly probable," Yorian agreed. "Now that it's begun, what's your plan?"
"To seek a solution," Arlan replied. "Drayce suggested that you three might propose that I form a bond with her."
