Garion stood just a few steps in front of the massive gates of the Draconia Clan and slowly looked around.
The stone walls were tall and curved like dragon scales, and the banners hanging above still carried the sa crimson emblem of a roaring dragon.
"So this is the Draconia Clan," he said casually.
He turned his head slightly toward Dahlia. "Is it the sa as you rember?"
Dahlia didn’t answer imdiately.
She took a few steps forward, her boots echoing softly against the stone path.
Her eyes moved across the towers, the courtyard, and the training grounds beyond the gates.
"Yeah," she said quietly. "It hasn’t changed much."
Her jaw tightened slightly after that. "Still the sa walls. Still the sa dragon statues."
Garion watched her carefully but didn’t say anything. Sorien stood beside them, calm and composed.
Before anyone inside could fully react, a figure rushed down from one of the watchtowers and landed a short distance away.
He wore the robes of a core Draconia guard, and the mont his eyes landed on Sorien, his body stiffened.
"Sun Warden Sorien?" he said, clearly shocked.
His gaze shifted, and when it landed on Dahlia, his face changed instantly.
He knew who she was, Dahlia Dracnia, the one person that made the Draconia clan a laughingstock.
That’s why all mbers of the Draconia Clan rember what she looked like.
His hand instinctively moved toward his weapon. Anger flashed across his face, but before he could take another step...
Sorien’s eyes t his. The pressure inside it directly froze him up, forcing him to stop what he was about to do.
"Stand down," Sorien said evenly.
The guard swallowed. His arm slowly lowered.
Sorien took one step forward, hands still behind his back.
"I have co to speak," he said calmly. "Inform your Patriarch that I request an audience."
The guard hesitated for half a second, still glancing at Dahlia with obvious resentnt.
Dahlia noticed him and directly t his gaze without flinching.
"What?" she said flatly. "Never seen soone so beautiful before, huh?"
The guard’s face turned red, but he didn’t respond. He bowed stiffly toward Sorien. "I will inform the Patriarch."
As he turned and rushed inside, Garion leaned slightly toward Dahlia. "You were popular here."
Dahlia let out a short breath through her nose. "Shut up."
Sorien remained facing forward, eyes calm.
"Prepare yourselves," he said quietly. "This conversation will not be pleasant."
---
Darius stood alone in the main hall of the Draconia Clan, his hands clasped behind his back.
Pelion’s words still echoed in his mind. His jaw tightened slightly as he replayed the conversation.
The humiliation of needing outside power. The refusal to destroy God Gym. The warning hidden inside that polite smile.
He had not yet decided what to do and suddenly the heavy door of the hall was opened.
His assistant hurried inside and knelt quickly. "Patriarch."
Darius did not turn imdiately. "What is it?"
The assistant swallowed. "Sun Warden Sorien has arrived."
Darius’s body stiffened. "...Sorien?"
He slowly turned around, his eyes narrowing. "Why is he here?"
The assistant hesitated before continuing. "He did not co alone."
Darius’s gaze sharpened. "Who is with him?"
The assistant lowered his head slightly. "He brought two others."
There was a short pause. "One of them is Dahlia."
The na landed heavily in the hall.
Darius’s expression changed instantly. The calm calculation vanished, replaced by visible anger. "...Dahlia?"
His voice dropped lower. "How dare she return."
His fingers curled slightly at his side. The veins on his hand beca visible for a brief mont before he forced himself to relax.
The assistant remained kneeling, head lowered. "They are waiting at the gates."
Darius took a slow breath and straightened his posture. "So."
His eyes darkened. "She cos back not as a daughter... but as a guest of Solmira."
He let out a short, humorless laugh. "And with Garion’s backing, no doubt."
The assistant did not answer.
Darius walked toward the center of the hall and adjusted his robe carefully.
His expression gradually returned to controlled composure. "Fine."
He lifted his chin slightly. "Let them in."
The assistant blinked slightly. "Patriarch?"
Darius’s voice beca firm. "I said let them in."
He began walking toward the throne seat at the end of the hall. "If she wishes to stand before ..."
He sat down slowly, resting one arm on the armrest. "Then let see how much she has grown."
His eyes hardened. "And let see what Sorien truly wants."
The assistant bowed deeply and backed away without another word.
The heavy doors of the hall closed behind him as he hurried toward the entrance gates.
Outside, the massive gates of Draconia slowly opened.
The assistant stepped forward and bowed respectfully toward Sorien. "The Patriarch is waiting inside."
Garion glanced at Dahlia with a faint smirk.
"Well," he said casually, "let’s see your father."
He tilted his head slightly. "What kind of person is he really?"
Dahlia didn’t answer imdiately. Her jaw tightened, but her voice remained steady. "You’ll see."
The three of them walked through the gates and into the main hall.
The space was grand and heavy, with high ceilings and dragon statues lining both sides.
Guards stood along the walls, their eyes shifting between Sorien, Garion, and Dahlia.
At the far end of the hall sat Darius Draconia on a raised throne-like seat.
His posture was straight, one arm resting calmly on the armrest. He did not stand to greet them.
Garion looked at him openly, scanning him from head to toe.
"So this is your father, huh?" he said lightly.
He crossed his arms. "As expected."
Dahlia shot him a side glance but said nothing.
Darius did not look at Dahlia first.
His gaze locked onto Garion.
"So you are Garion," he said evenly. "The leader of God Gym."
His voice was controlled, neither loud nor soft.
Garion smiled slightly. "Of course I am."
He took a few steps forward without waiting for permission. "But seeing you here..."
His eyes sharpened just a little. "You’re not that great."
The words echoed faintly in the hall.
Several guards stiffened instantly.
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