Meanwhile....
Back in Arcadia, Kaiden was standing in the Rubble of what was once his greatest pride and joy as men under his employ were shifting though the debris.
Something cracked underneath his foot and he looked down to see a shard of the crystal that he had used to mind control the red dragon.
"Blasted dragon!!" He thought in irritation.
"By sheer luck, the explosion had been contained and most of the city had been spared from destruction.
The entire Arcanium, and a significant portion of the Evershifting Maze had been destroyed however.
Thanks to the fact that most of the Arcanium was locked down at the time, the explosion hadn't claimed many lives.
But the loss of all that ancient knowledge was a significant set back.
His grandfather had been in a meeting for most of the day with the other leaders of the Arcanium.
They were understandably upset about the events and the damage and his Grandfather had been trying to calm them down for most of the morning.
The council was out of blood and was looking for someone to blame for the event, and if his Grandfather failed to calm, or deflect them, then it would be the Calderons who's heads would roll.
He walked through the remains of what was once his office and kept an eye out for the object he was searching for.
Not that he had high hopes of finding it.
"It was probably destroyed in the explosion!! Or that thieving lizard took it!!" Thought Kaiden.
He cursed the dragon again for disrupting all their plans.
Like his Grandfather, Kaiden sought immortality.
But he had no desire to become an undead lich like him.
Since he was a child, dragons had always fascinated him.
They had so much magical potential, physical might and had eternally long lives.
It was this fascination that motivated him to become a draconologist.
He had hoped to one day transmit his soul into a dragon vessel and use his aquired research to dominate the entire race.
He would then rule as a god amongst giants, with the whole world as his playground.
Now his plans had been placed on indefinite hold!
His research was destroyed and the object that was critical for his plans had been stolen or destroyed.
He aquired the egg at great expense.
As the child inside had no soul, it was the perfect vessel for his ascension.
Two problems had presented itself that kept him from finalizing his plans.
One: He would be highly vulnerable to manipulation and enslavement as he had to wait decades for the new body to mature.
His plan was to already have his army of dragons that could defend him while he matured.
Second: The human soul was just not compatible with a dragon's body.
It was like trying to fit a square into a round hole.
He had been close to solving the first problem!
He had the means to control dragons now.
Kaiden had used powerful magic to preserve the infant inside until he could solve the second problem.
But he felt his connection to that magic had been severed.
Indicating that the egg was either destroyed, or has been filled.
"I'll make that dragon pay!!" Thought Kaiden.
He thought of all the ways he could have his revenge.
"He seemed close to that female!! And that damn fox!
I can enslave them and force him to fight them!!
Once the dragon was broken, he would use him to make his dreams a reality!!" Thought Kaiden maniacally.
"Archmage Kaiden!!" A voice called.
Drawing him from his demented fantasy.
Kaiden looked and saw one of his apprentice Artifaciers rushing towards him.
He was a young man of little more that 20 years old in white robes with short blonde hair.
His once pristine white robes were covered in dirt from digging through rubble all day.
The man showed average potential in the field of archeology.
Full of desire to make his mark on the world, but lacking the talent or means to do so.
No different to many of the youths that passed through his door.
He used them as convenient tools when needed and discarded them when he found a better one.
This particular one was already close to being discarded.
"What do you want!!" Said Kaiden.
"Pardon my interuption, sir!
But we found something." Said the man.
Kaiden followed him to a large piece of rubble that, three other apprentices were struggling to move.
As they removed the debris, they revealed the female knight in 'draconian armor'
The armor was mostly intact except for a few places where her seared flesh was revealed.
The armor itself was damaged beyond repair however and was covered in soot from the explosion.
The fact that there was even a body left to examine suprised Kaiden and was a testament to the armor's durability.
Unfortunately it had failed it's most important test.
"A pity!! The armor showed so much potential!!
But clearly mechanical upgrades was insufficient!!
Perhaps mutation would succeed, where mechanics had failed!!
It was perhaps time to revive the old 'beast-kin project' again!" Thought Kaiden.
"Gather it up!! We'll see if there's anything worth salvaging!" Ordered Kaiden.
He saw his grandfather approaching them.
He looked like he had aged another 10 years since he last saw him earlier this morning.
Kaiden excused himself and made his way towards his grandfather.
"How did it go?"
"Walk with me!" Was his only reply.
They walked together in silence until they were sure they were out of earshot of the apprentices.
"That bad, huh?" Said Kaiden.
"I have 2 days to catch the dragon responsible and to bring him before the council for judgement or I will be stripped of my Magister position!" Said the Lich
"That is ridiculous!!
How do they expect you to accomplish that!?" Exclaimed Kaiden.
"They don't!
That is the point!
They've been trying for years to have me removed.
This 'disaster' gave them the opportunity to finally do so!" Replied the Lich.
"So... what now? Do we fight back?"
The lich shook his head.
"Gather everything of value and meet me at the portal tonight!
We're leaving for Sanctuary!!"
"What about the dragon, Grandfather?" Asked Kaiden.
"He's probably already discovered it's location and will march straight there!
We will have our opportunity for vengeance yet." Said the Lich.
"Will the hunters we hired be enough to secure it?!
That dragon is formidable, as you yourself saw!" Said Kaiden.
"That is why I want 'Mortis's army' on standby." Said the Lich.
His grandson paled in response.
"Is that wise, Grandfather?
If we use the army, your true nature will be revealed to the world!
The other kingdoms would Marshall their armies in response.
Can we really handle that kind of attention?!" Asked Kaiden.
"With the additions that dragon is conveniently bringing to our doorstep.
As well as those fool hunters.
We can handle the first few armies they send to the slaughter.
By the time they reach us in full force, our army will be too large to stop!!" Explained The Lich.
"What about 'Project Solaris'?
Last we heard, the dragon flew off with him.
His enhancements would be difficult to fight?" Asked Kaiden.
"Based on their reaction, he was someone dear to them.
They won't use him against his will.
They'll rush to undo his indoctrination, which will take time.
So he's unlikely to take the field.
Their sentiments will be their undoing!!" Said the Lich