Deep under the mountains of the Dragon Clan.
The lights of the burning fire illuminated the walls of the natural cave-like lair. The hot air filled the place. Viscous silk-like liquid slowly penetrated through the bumpy rocks and flowed into the huge fire pool at the bottom of the cave.
Lava bubbles erupted from the brightly colored magma pool at constant rate and released more heat into the air.
At the moment, a white figure was in the middle of the magma pool. Her body was soaked within the everflowing magmas. It was the dragon mother that was sitting on dragon throne in the conference hall.
Her body was soaked in the magma as if she was swimming in a spring water. Her neck, white jade like scapula were over the pool. Interestingly, her delicate skin didn't suffer from the magmas. White fog arose as the magma constantly got in touch with her body.
The old woman, Larina, was standing by the blood red magma pool. She was still wearing the plain robes. A lot of sweat had emerged all over her wrinkled face. Her clothes were weat but because of the hot air they dried very easily.
Larina looked at the dragon mother and whispered: "Miss, choosing a new saint is a big event. Why did you agree to their proposal? All those elders have chosen to side with the second princess. It was a loss to dragon clan. I'm afraid that there is hidden nuances that we aren't aware. Although Her Highness Aisha has always been disobedient but she would never make such a thing which would hurt the clan."
Dragon mother's eyes were closed as she replied: "It's not important what the truth is. It is important that many elders supported the second princess and it was time to her to become a saint."
Larina couldn't help but say: "But, you have absolute power. It doesn't matter how many people could support him if you refused. Moreover, second princess is very young. Her talents are far less than Her Highness Aisha's. Hailey may have awakened the blood power but it should be very short time. I'm afraid it would be difficult for her to guard the wasteland. Saint carries an important task!"
"So, Hailey must master the secret combat arts of the Dragon King as soon as possible. She will represent us in the contest against the saints of Sky and Rock clans." Dragon Mother calmly said.
Larina smiled: "I'm afraid it would be very difficult for second princess to comprehend the secret combat arts of the Dragon King even in a year with her qualifications... The tricks that she use will be useless in a combat... "
Larina didn't continue on because it was clear what she was referring to.
The cave was silent once more.
Dragon mother slowly opened her eyes after a long time. The thing is her pupils were ice white instead of the usual blood amber color that Dragon clan members had.
"The frequency has increased in the last two years..." Dragon mother's eyes were concentrated on Larina's body but she wasn't looking at her: "The Kingdom of God will have a new round of selection... "
It was clear that she wasn't answering to Larina's previous statement.
Larina's pupils shrank when she heard dragon mother talk. Her eyes trembled: "It will start again? Miss, do you mean that you were the one...that replaced Hailey with Aisha?!"
Dragon mother's eyes concentrated on Larina's body once more. Larina felt the endless pressure that was focusing on her. Dragon mother softly said: "Aisha is the most talented person born in our Dragon clan for the last hundred years. She has just turned nineteen but has had third degree of awakening. She is much faster than I was back then. Perhaps, she has the chance to complete seven awakenings and break through the cage!"
Larina's face turned pale: "Third degree of awakening?! Did Her Highness Aisha awakened the blood power for third time?"
Dragon mother slowly said: "I would have removed Aisha from saint post even without Hailey. She is the hope of our Dragon clan! She can't be hurt out there. Do you understand me?"
Larina blankly looked at her as ideas popped up in her mind. Her body trembled as she looked at dragon mother: "The awakening of princess Hailey... is it..."
Dragon mother looked deep into her eyes.
Larina felt as if a mountain was pressuring down her shoulders.
"Recently, it has very difficult to suppress my disease... " Dragon mother slowly bent her head and looked at the magma pool. She whispered: "You have to take care of her... She is dragon clan's future..."
Larina was shocked: "Your disease? How could that be? The temperature in here is enough to melt the steel!"
Dragon mother shook her head as her body slowly went into the magma pool.
...
...
In the dark cell.
It's been a day that Dean was caught and imprisoned in the cell. His stomach was growling because of hunger. Dean thought that better his constitution got, the more resistant he would be to hunger. However it was all contrary to his assumption. The better his constitution got the more he wanted to eat. Unless he would go into deep sleep like a snake so that his stomach and all body functions stopped.
That way he could supply energy to his body for long time.
However, his body needed more energy once he did intense exercise. As a result the food in his stomach would be digested and energy would be squeezed out for his actions.
The most disappointing thing was that his demand for energy and heat was much higher than an average person!
He was curled up like an insect in the corner of the cell. He did his best to make tremors in his muscles to heaten up his body. But because of this physical action he got more hungry!
"Am I going to be starved to death in here?" Dean couldn't help but ponder. There was anger and strong killing intent in his heart.
Squeak~~
Dean suddenly heard the door open.
He was overjoyed as he tried to look up. But his body was curled for long time so his body had become stiff.
"Greetings, Her Royal Highness!"
"Greetings, Saint!"
"Saint, why did you come here?"
The voices of guards echoed out from outside.