The senior members of the Council of Elders, accompanied by the three chosen sons, entered the heart of Shadowflame Volcano to engage in direct dialogue with the Shadowflame Dragon.
Meanwhile,
Outside Furious Wind City, on the trade road, two young men hugged each other in farewell.
"Willem, when will you return home this time?" Grontan Bainroot asked, reluctant to part.
Opposite him was Weilim Ginnari, who mounted his Contracted Phantom Beast—Pseudo-Kinari Dragon Lily.
Waving from atop Lily's back, he said, "My teacher said that Pseudo-Dragon horns are very important for Lily's advancement, so I plan to take some time to search the snowfield where my great-grandfather fell in battle... Let's say one year later, after one year I will come back to seek further instruction from the teacher."
"Alright, good," Grontan said, also mounting a phantom beast.