"You... didn't forc..." asked Chrome with concern.
"Of course not!! I realize I'm not exactly in the right state of mind right now, but I would never do that to someone!!" Exclaimed Orian.
His brother breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Then I fail to see what the problem is? She clearly felt something for you if she was willing to go through with it?" Stated Chrome.
"That's exactly the problem... she clearly has expectations of me!! But how can I love her when my heart still longs for someone else?" Asked Orian.
"How exactly are your feelings for Lav... uhh 'Tanwen' after she seperated you from Mimereus's grief?" Asked Chrome.
"It's strange... she was able to isolate me from his guilt... as well as his grief about his children and grandchildren... but the feelings he had for her... they're as strong as ever... Maybe it's because I got to know her as I was growing up through interacting with her Revenant vessel?
Just when I'm finally reunited with her, I'm forced to lose her a second time? I'm sure you can imagine how that feels?" Stated Orian.
His brother nodded.
"So when I saw Violetta... my body reacted immediately... thing is... she isn't who I really want... " Explained Orian.
"You can't keep using her either, brother... it's not fair towards her... or to you... you're going to have to figure this out eventually...
Tell her how you feel and take the time to get to know her... your feelings might change once you do..." suggested Chrome.
"Tell her that I used her to work out my frustrations and that I don't feel anything for her? She'll hate me if I did that!" Exclaimed Orian.
"She might... she would have reason to, but you owe it to her to tell her the truth! You can't start your relationship on a lie!" Stated Chrome.
Orian nodded his head.
"I'll work on it. "
"Please do, but don't dwell too much on this now. We have a battle to go to! If I knew this was what your mind state was, then I never would have suggested that you come on this mission!!" Stated Chrome.
"I'll be fine when battle comes!! I promise!!" Stated Orian.
And so the two brothers continued their journey, Orian dwelled on the predicament until he and his expedition stopped at one of the numerous small settlements along the underway.
As it was impossible to tell if it was night or day in the gloomy underworld, they just stopped when they were tired and rested.
The inn keeper and his facilities were all built to a dwarf's size, so he didn't have any rooms that could house their true bodies.
So Chrome and Orian shifted into their humanoid dragon form and rented seperate rooms.
Despite how tired he was, Orian laid awake for hours before his exhaustion finally won and he fell asleep without even realizing it.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dark, misty, featureless landscape.
"Hello? Is anyone there!?" Yelled Orian.
Childlike giggling was is only reply.
Until a ghostly version of Lavender appeared in the landscape, chasing what appeared to be a glowing butterfly.
"Lavender?" Asked Orian in shock.
At the mention of her name, the child stopped what she was doing and came over to him.
"Hello, mister? How do you know my name?" Asked Lavander.
"I met you almost a year ago..." stated Orian.
The little dragon shook her head.
"We've never met, silly!! I would certainly remember if we did!! You're strange looking!!" Stated Lavender.
She gestured at his wings.
"Are you a gwiffon?" Asked the child.
"No... this is just how I am... do you stay here alone?" Asked Orian.
"Of course not, silly!! I stay with my mom and dad!! And occasionally auntie Tanwen looks after me too!!" Stated the child proudly.
At the mention of her name, Tanwen materialized in the landscape.
"Lavender... what have I told you about speaking with strangers...!" Said the specter.
Lavender dropped her head in shame.
"Sorry!"
Tanwen smiled.
"It's all right, I know him from long ago. His name is Orian. Now you're not strangers anymore!" Stated Tanwen.
Recognition showed on the hatchling's face.
"The one Grandma is often talking about!!" Exclaimed Lavender.
Tanwen nodded.
"The very same... could you give me a moment alone with him Lavender... he and I need to talk.
The child nodded her head.
"Sure thing!! Bub bye Mister Orian, sir!! Nice meeting you!!" Exclaimed Lavender.
She ran off into the mist and soon faded away. Orian watched her curiously as she went.
"She doesn't know me?" Asked Orian.
"Of course she doesn't!! She had already moved here when I took control of her body! You two never actually met until now!" Explained Tanwen.
"Who's this 'grandmother ' she's talking about though?" Asked Orian.
"She's referring to the Dragon Goddess... the one who first gave birth to our kind... she's quite fond of your family. Especially your father, from what I understand, she's helped you all more than once.
Including now... you wouldn't have appeared here if she didn't grant her permission for you to do so..." stated Tanwen.
"What is this place anyway?" Asked Orian as he looked around the landscape.
"The border space between the world of the living and Elysium. A place where troubled living dragons can meet with those that had already passed on.
Provided the Dragon Goddess agrees to the meeting... she doesn't grant her consent often... she doesn't want the concerns of the mortal world to trouble her charges.
But from what I've picked up, she's met with your father here on several occasions. She speaks about your family often. Like a proud grandmother talking about her grandchildren.
"He never spoke of it before?" Stated Orian.
The Dragon Goddess is bound by sacred laws to not interfere with her living descendant's lives.
"To keep her interference hidden, she enchanted any living dragon into forgetting their meeting and even her existence when they return to your world.
Even you will forget everything I told you about her upon leaving here." Explained Tanwen.
She gestured to the mist behind her that obstructed the view beyond.
"Travel beyond the mist and you will appear in Elysium, but with one rule... once you enter... you cannot leave again without her consent... and even if she allowed it, you will be disconnected from the world around you... with barely any ability to influence it." Explained Tanwen.
"Is she here?" Asked Orian curiously.
"She is, but I doubt she'll come even if you called her... she's currently busy..." stated Tanwen.
Orian waited for her to elaborate, but instead she changed the topic.
"Perhaps we should address the reason you are here? From what the Dragon Goddess has told me, you haven't been keeping your word?" Stated Tanwen accusingly.
Orian avoided eye contact and dropped his head in shame.