Draven returned to his pce after dark after spending an entire day searching for clues of Evanthe''s current whereabouts. The moment he appeared inside his study, he found Erlos patiently waiting for him inside.


    "Good evening, Sire!" the elf bowed. "Wee back. Have you eaten or do you want to have your evening meal--"


    "When did you return?" Draven asked as he sat in his chair.


    "We returned in the afternoon," Erlos replied.


    "Did she enjoy visiting the witches?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.


    "Yes, Sire! Ember--cough!--I mean, Miss Ember enjoyed her outing and got lots of gifts from the witches. They were especially friendly and weing to her, and Miss even got shy! Lady Cornelia took care of her really well and did you know that the first hour we arrived--"


    Draven stopped him before the elf could give him a detailed step-by-step ount of their entire trip. "Rest I will hear from her."


    "Of course, Sire!" Erlos didn''t mind.


    "Is Aureus in the pce?" Draven asked.


    "No, SIre. I don''t think he has ns to return to the pce before the day he leaves for Megaris. He is staying with his uncle. If there is anything important, I can send him a message to return."


    "No need. I will go to them in person."


    Draven was about to leave when Erlos suddenly spoke up, "I want toe with you as well, Sire!"


    Draven didn''t say a word as both of their figures disappeared from the study. Momentster, they appeared at the mountain peak by the sea of clouds, at the particr ridge of the cliff where Morpheus usually stayed.


    It was the first time for Erlos toe to this ce, and he felt shocked. "Whoa, what''s this ce, Sire? I thought we are going to that eagle''s nest in Redcrest!"


    "A second eagle''s nest," was all Draven said as he looked around the rocky cliff, but not a single soul was in sight. Thinking about it, he walked in the direction of Myra''s cave to check if they were inside. Erlos noiselessly followed behind him, his gaze flitting about trying to find out more about the ce.


    "Sire, what--ack!"


    The moment the two of them reached the entrance of the cave, Draven pushed away Erlos without warning, causing the elf to fall into a messy heap on the side, while he himself received the st of wind that came his way. Though he managed to block the attack with his hand, his body was pushed back, leaving a trail of crushed rocks under his boots that were several feet long.


    "You are not weed here, Draven Aramis."


    They heard the familiar voice and saw Morpheus stepping out of the cave.


    "Aren''t you being shameless? You have almost destroyed this cave, thest keepsake I have of my sister, and you dare step inside again!" His scowl, that was directed towards Draven, turned into an amused one as he stared at Erlos. The elf had stood up and was busy removing dirt from his clothes. "Are you alright, kid? I didn''t know you tagged along with this shameless Dragon."<novelnext>  </novelnext>


    "Such attacks can''t hurt me so you don''t have to show any care towards me."


    "Sure, next time, I won''t," Morpheus said as he looked at Draven. "Do you dare step inside this cave?"


    Draven rubbed his gloved hands together as to silently express that the attack from the shapeshifter merely amounted to dust. He then leveled a t re at Morpheus. "If you are done ying, step away and call out Aureus."


    With all the noise their arrival caused, there was no way Aureus wouldn''t hear them talking. He stepped out of the cave on his own and bowed to Draven. "Good evening, King of Agartha. Pardon my uncle''s rudeness. May I ask what brings you here?"


    Draven went straight to the point. "I came to tell you that Esther Ivanov you know is indeed Evanthe, the Queen of Witches we know here in Agartha."


    This news that dropped out of nowhere caused two Divine Eagles and one High Elf to be shocked.


    "What?!" Morpheus eximed. "You confirmed it?"


    "Yes," Draven answered. "I have talked to Cornelia Grimm, and she confessed a secret of her race that rified my doubts. Evanthe and Esther Ivanov are the same person."


    Between these four men, the one who had thergest reaction was Morpheus. Erlos and Aureus were ignorant, but there was an open secret about Evanthe that only those familiar with the Queen of the Witches knew.


    "So she truly married a human and had a child with him?" Morpheus mumbled in disbelief. His eyes turned towards Draven as if to silently ask, ''How can this be when her soulmate is someone else?''


    ? "That means the King of Megaris is half warlock and half Dragon?" Erlos mumbled as if he had heard the most fascinating riddle ever. "I have never heard of such a thing."


    Aureus happened to be the calmest of those who received the news. "Are you certain, Your Majesty?"


    Draven nodded. "I visited the Royal Pce of Megaris, and I sensed Evanthe''s powers. She had been myrade for hundreds of years; I cannot be mistaken in identifying the essence of her powers."


    There was a sudden silence with everyone trying to process what they had heard.


    "Does this mean you can trace her if given more time?" Morpheus asked Draven.


    "It''s impossible to trace her purely with magic. I attempted to do that earlier, but I am only able to find items she enchanted on the other side of the continent. The person herself could not be found. I will need to meet with the King of Megaris and ask for whatever clues he can provide us."


    Draven then looked at Aureus. "Who was thest person who saw Evanthe before she went missing? How did she leave? That could lead us to her."


    Aureus did not hesitate to respond, "There were two people--my king and thedy who raised me. ording to Lady Tyra, Queen Esther jumped in the river outside the capital. Her n was to submerge herself and lock her soul at the depths of the river as she could not bear to part from her husband and child and that was the only way she could stay close to them. However, King Drayce had unceasingly attempted to search for her in the river throughout the years, but he returned frustrated and empty-handed every single time."


    "Water?" Draven said. "Her elemental attribute is water so that''s why she chose it. But if she had truly submerged herself in that river, then I have the means to find her."