"No ! no! Let me explain," Nathaniel hastily interjected, attempting to clarify the situation. "I was the one who trapped Lucius on the wall, but everything happened so fast. He consumed it all, and I didn't know what happened next."
"That's a lie!" Riven shouted, his disbelief evident in his tone. "When did you start supporting Lucius?" Elara demanded, suspicion lacing her words.
"That tiger creature who spoiled the call of the master's challenge—could he have also broken the ancient death chain? This seems intriguing. Keep this secret out of the sect. No one must hear," she declared, settling into her seat with an air of dangerous calm.
"Your Majesty, we can't just believe Nathaniel..." began Riven , trying to voice doubt. Elara swiftly cut him off, striking Nathaniel and leaving him breathing heavily.
"Can't you see? He didn't lie. Or are you hiding something? If he had the power, he wouldn't be powerless like this!" Elara scolded fiercely, her frustration apparent. "Enough! Call on the challenge for both of them," the mistress commanded, her laughter ringing with a dangerous edge.
"No, no, no!" Wolfram stammered, overcome with fear at the potential consequences. "If he wins, I'll kill him and consume him in my dragon's beautiful core," she declared, the chilling threat hanging heavily in the air. With that, she banished them both from her presence.
Meanwhile, Riven reappeared in Flower Valley, only to find Aurelian still present.
"You haven't left?" he questioned, noting Aurelian's lingering presence.
"Yeah, did you help with my request?" Aurelian inquired, hopeful yet anxious.
"No!" Riven replied bluntly. Aurelian hissed in frustration and vanished, leaving Riven to call out his name, fear clawing at his heart. Aurelian was on the brink of facing a fate he might not escape.
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