The mages looked surprised at that revelation and Thamoryn stepped forward.

"A parallel dimension?" she repeated.

Aiden nodded, and there was this certainty in the way he did it. Thamoryn had long come to accept that Aiden now operated at a level where his judgment could simply be taken as fact.

After ruling out every other possibility, including the fact that it couldn't have been a Limbo Dome, since he would have perceived their mana presence if it were, then it had to be something somewhat similar.

So when he stretched out his supernatural awareness and discovered the parallel dimension layered beside their own, he knew this had to be the only place the possessed mages had been taken.

Oberon with a frown on his face, then asked afterwards. "How are we going to get there?"

Aiden didn't answer immediately because this was the tricky part.

A portal could work but only if he could see where he was portaling to, and right now he had no visual reference for the other side.

And just as he considered the matter any further, a new notification appeared before him.

[New Quest Assigned]

[Permanent Quest: Find the missing mages and save them from possession]

Before anyone could say anything else or press for answers, the throne room doors opened again and Grandal walked in with Helena at his side.

One of Aiden's avatars had left a letter at Grandal's doorstep. Even though they weren't on good terms, Aiden still regarded him as a capable mage. And every capable mage he could reach received the same letter.

Grandal hadn't planned to come at all, but after Helena arrived in Dragonhold the previous day, seeking him out first, he eventually decided to bring her to the palace.

Surprise spread across the faces of the former captains and Ursula's eyes widened when she saw Helena standing there. She walked toward her quickly.

"Helena," Ursula said softly. "How are you? how have you been?"

Helena nodded but her expression remained gloomy. "I've been better."

Then she looked up toward Aiden and her voice broke slightly. "I came seeking your help. Lucas and Lysandra went missing after being possessed by dark spirits, and I don't know how to find them or where to begin"

She dropped to her knees before anyone could react, as her grief pushed past her composure.

Ursula and Grandal moved instantly, both kneeling beside her as they tried to lift her back to her feet.

"My lady…" Grandal pleaded in concerned voice.

Truth was, Elandria was in a terrible state as well. Most of Lady Arnarra's children had become victims, Taenyra included.

The Lady Ruler and the few elves who remained unaffected, were just as lost about how to handle the situation. What to do or where to even start from.

That was the real reason Helena had come to Dragonhold.

Her twins were the only things she lived for, and if stepping back into Dragonhold was the only chance she had to save them, she would take that chance even if it meant putting her own life at risk.

Aiden didn't hesitate. "I'll help," he said firmly. "I promise."

He didn't bear any sort of animosity towards Helena. All of that, was all in the past.

Helena felt this feeling of relief and simply nodded.

Oberon, now wearing an even deeper frown the moment he saw the former queen, looked like he was about to step forward and voice an objection.

But Thamoryn placed a hand on him and gently shook her head.

He drew in a slow breath, clenched his fist, and stepped back.

Aiden then turned back toward the rest of the room and addressed everyone present.

"The meeting ends here for now. I'll figure out how we reach that dimension and we'll move forward from there."

Actually there was an idea, but this was an assumption he had to make certain of first.

The gathered mages began dispersing slowly and conversations broke out in small groups as people made their way toward the exits.

Aiden watched as Helena left with Grandal and Ursula walking on either side of her.

Laela and Arianna approached him once most of the crowd had cleared out and Laela spoke first. "Why didn't you bring up the Holy Grail?"

"Yeah," Arianna added, "everything you said was only half the reason you even called for the meeting."

Aiden glanced toward the back of the room where the hooded figure still stood watching him. "Because there was an uninvited guest," he said quietly.

He turned back to his women. "Excuse me for a moment."

They both nodded and stepped aside while Aiden walked toward Lucina.

"I can tell when a deity is in my presence," Aiden said once he was close enough. "You finally got tired of watching me from afar?"

Lucina smiled beneath her hood and her golden eyes gleamed faintly. "Oh, I see you've noticed."

"Why are you hovering around me?" Aiden asked bluntly.

Lucina tilted her head slightly. "You could at least say thank you for the Amazons helping you," she said. "They only did that because of me."

Aiden's expression didn't change. "What are you doing here?"

Lucina's smile widened and she dropped the coy tone entirely. "There's no need to cut corners," she said simply. "I saw how it all happened at Dellheim, so I'm here with a deal."

She paused and met his eyes directly. "I come as a representative of the gods, and I could get them to help you with what's coming."

Aiden crossed his arms. "And what's the other end of the bargain that I'm meant to fulfill?"

"You grant me a boon," Lucina said without hesitation.

Aiden stared at her for a long moment before turning away without another word and walking toward where Laela and Arianna waited near the entrance.

Lucina watched him leave with that same faint smile still playing on her lips.

"Representative of the gods" was such a lie, but that was one way to play at it.

——-

Meanwhile, in a more private chamber, were Thamoryn and Oberon were currently in.

"Do you see how he took charge in that room?" Oberon began. "He called this meeting and summoned anyone he pleased, without waiting on my return."

He grabbed one of the gold-plated cups and hurled it angrily to the side, rubbing his face in frustration.

"Your Grace, please lower your tone and calm down," Thamoryn said.

Oberon turned back toward her. "This is exactly what I mean. You want me to speak quietly because you don't want him to hear."

Thamoryn looked away slightly, but she knew the truth.

"And you'd be right to fear him. Aiden could come here, snap his fingers, and I'd be dead. That power, that kind of control in a room, that's how he takes over my throne."

"Your Grace, we don't even know if that will ever happen," Thamoryn began.

Oberon sank into a chair, bowing his head slightly. "So this is how I lose my throne."

Paranoia had settled over him fully.

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