The two strode through the corridors of the Elf Pce, their footsteps echoing softly on the marble floors. The faint hum of Magic energy that now always alive in this ce lingered in the air but Erend''s mind was far from the splendor around him.


    As they walked, Saeldir nced at Erend with calm expression but his tone grave when he speak.


    "I just received a message from ar not long ago," he said. "That''s why I contacted you immediately."


    Erend''s chest tightened, his thoughts swirling with unease. "What did he say? Did he mention any kind of n?"


    Saeldir shook his head. "He didn''t give much detail. His message was fragmented. Whatever is happening there, it seems dire."


    Erend''s jaw clenched. He feels more anxious as they continued toward Saeldir''s chamber.


    When they arrived, Saeldir gestured for Erend to take a seat at the circr table in the center of the room.


    "Let''s discuss what we know," Saeldir began as he sat across from Erend. "ar mentioned beings that he said was possibly gods that want revenge against the Dragonborn. But I''ve scoured my records and there is no mention of such entities. It''s as if this conflict exists solely in that world."


    Erend frowned, leaning back in his chair.


    "That''s concerning. If this is only happened to their world, it could mean those beings hold a grudge for something that happened there specifically. But the problem is…" He paused, running a hand through his hair. "I don''t know anything about all of this Dragonborn problem. Not really."


    Saeldir raised a brow, prompting him to borate.


    "When I first got this power, I didn''t even know the Dragonborn existed. It wasn''t until my System granted it to me and I met ar that I started piecing things together. Even now, it feels like I''ve been thrown into something much bigger than myself without a proper exnation."


    Saeldir nodded, his face contemtive. "The Dragonborn''s history is shrouded in mystery, even among the schrs of the Elves and other realms. Most of what we knowes from fragmented myths. It''s no surprise you feel unprepared."


    Erend''s frustration boiled over. "And now, because of this power, I''m stuck dealing with problems that aren''t even mine. Problems caused by Dragonborn from who-knows-how-long ago." He exhaled sharply, his hands tightening into fists. "It''s like I''m cleaning up after them and I don''t even know what mess they made."


    The room fell into silence for a moment, the weight of Erend''s words settling between them.


    "But," he continued, his voice firming, "whether it''s fair or not, it''s on me and ar now. We have to handle this, or those beings won''t stop. And if their grudge is strong enough to reach across worlds, who''s to say it won''t spread to others?"


    Saeldir studied him carefully.


    "You''re right," he said finally. "Whatever the origins of this problem, this situation has be your responsibility. The only way forward is to confront it directly. I''m sorry, that is the truth."


    Erend nodded, though the knot in his chest remained. "Then that''s what I''ll do. But first, we need to figure out what we''re walking into."


    "I''ll continue my research here, that''s the only thing I can do. Meanwhile, when you arrive in that world, try to get as much information as possible from the people there or from anyone you can find."


    "I got it," Erend said.


    Saeldir rose from his seat and walked to a side chamber, returning momentster with an armor that gleamed darkly under the room''s golden light. The tes were ck as night, with fiery, crackling veins coursing through their surface.


    "This is the same armor ar and the soldiers of that world wear," Saeldir said, cing it on a nearby stand. "What remaining of their Magic and the invaders technology are fused into this. You''ll need it where you''re going."


    As he began strapping the armor on, piece by piece, Saeldir continued speaking.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "During his stay, ar shared some insights about their world. The people there have been forced to live underground for generations. The surface is devoid of Magic, rendering it barren and inhospitable. The dangers above are not just the absence of Magic but also the machines and invaders that dominate thend."


    Erend adjusted a particrly tight gauntlet, his brow furrowed. "Machines and invaders. That''s what they''re fighting against?"


    "Yes," Saeldir confirmed. "They are advanced. The people rely on their elders for guidance, individuals who possess a mix of wisdom and powerful Magic to lead their resistance. Thest operation ar participated in was an assault on a mineral mine controlled by the invaders."


    Erend straightened, the armor''s chestte settling into ce with an audible click. "A mine?"


    Saeldir nodded. "It was a critical target, a chance to weaken the invaders'' hold. But during the mission, they discovered something far worse, like you already guess, these… gods. Beings who for reasons unknown, seek vengeance against the Dragonborn."


    Erend finished securing the final piece of the armor. It fit but felt alien, like it didn''t belong to him. He moved his arms experimentally, the tes flexing with surprising ease despite their density.


    "I''ll find out," Erend said.


    Just as he was adjusting the armor''s cor, the door to Saeldir''s chamber swung open. Erend and Saeldir turned, and there stood


    Aurdis


    . Her silver hair shimmered in the light, and her eyes held a mixture of concern and little bit of anger.


    "Erend," she said. "You''re leaving again, aren''t you? When you barely came back."


    Erend sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly at the sight of her. "Aurdis… yes. I have to. There''s something serious going on in that other world, and ar might be in trouble."


    Aurdis strode closer, her gaze flicking to the armor Erend was wearing. Her expression darkened. "That armor… it doesn''t suit you."


    "It doesn''t feel like it suits me either," Erend admitted, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "But I''ll wear it. Its not a problem."


    Aurdis stopped a few steps away, her eyes locking with his. "Do you even know what you''re walking into now?"


    "Not entirely," Erend replied honestly. "But I''ll figure it outter."


    Aurdis reached out, cing a hand lightly on his arm. "I can''t ask you to stay. So be careful," she said softly. "Ande back. I won''t forgive you if you don''t."


    Erend''s smirk grew into a genuine smile. "I will. I promise."


    Saeldir cleared his throat, "The portal won''t hold indefinitely. If you''re ready, Erend, it''s time."


    Erend gave Aurdis onest look as if askingg her to understand. Then, he turned to Saeldir and nodded. "Let''s do this."


    Saeldir began weaving the portal, his hands glowing with Magic energy as the swirling vortex formed in the air before them.


    ---