Neveah was surprised to hear a response from King Jian, she had not been expecting one at all.

"Not even a portrait?" Neveah asked in surprise, glancing around for the remains of a portrait to find there was none.

Neveah had never heard of a dragon lord being disregarded by his own kin, whereas it was common in her own pack to have outcasts and pack runts, it just did not happen amongst dragon kind. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The unity and love shared amongst the beasts of Asvar was a trait Neveah had frequently envied.

To find there was actually a dragon lord who was not deemed worthy of a tribute by his kin was an unexpected surprise.

"Asrig was only allowed this much... by our laws, this much was leniency." King Jian replied.

Neveah leaned down, picking up the shards of glass littered around and placing them to the side so no one would get hurt by them.

"He must not have been very likeable... I assume you have both studied under the same tutor." Neveah murmured beneath her breath, the words coming out before she could realize it.

Neveah heard a quiet chuckle and she glanced up in surprise to find a ghost of a smile playing on King Jian’s lips.

It lingered for only a split second and it was gone in the next moment, Neveah had to wonder if she had even seen it at all.

"You are right, we certainly did. All that was known to my brother and I were taught by our father." King Jian replied, leaning back against the wall, his eyes fluttering closed.

’His brother?!’ Neveah thought in alarm.

’Was that not the previous Dragon King Menarx mentioned... the one who was not to be spoken of?’ Neveah’s wolf reminded her.

Neveah’s eyes widened at the realization that she was currently discussing a topic outlawed by the dragon king with the dragon king himself.

’What should give you pause is the fact that we are even having a conversation with ’Him’ at all.’ Neveah’s wolf thought to her, placing emphasis on the ’Him’.

’I do not sense bad intents...do you?’ Neveah’s wolf added uncertainly.

It was rare for Neveah’s wolf to be uncertain about anything but when it came to the dragon king, it was impossible to decipher his true thoughts.

’Other than having us locked up here...no, I do not.’ Neveah agreed.

In Neveah’s distraction, the glass shard she had picked up cut into her palm and Neveah released a quiet hiss of pain.

"You are not doing a very good job." King Jian murmured, his eyes coming open as he glanced over at Neveah who clutched her bleeding palm.

"It is just a scratch." Neveah replied, knowing the dragon king was referring to the fact that Neveah had cut herself.

"Show me." King Jian said or more accurately ordered as he pushed off the wall he leaned against.

"Oh...no, it’s fine. I heal quickly, see?" Neveah assured, lifting her injured palm so King Jian could see it from where he stood.

The small slit had bled a little but had already begun closing up and King Jian noticed that too.

"Hmmm, wolf shifters are not entirely useless." King Jian commented, his eyes going closed again.

Neveah shook her head in disbelief, and got up to her feet, kicking the rest of the glass shards aside.

"I do not feel like helping anymore." Neveah grumbled as she made to take her leave but King Jian’s words stopped her.

"Is it Menarx...or Xenon...in your heart?" King Jian’s asked.

Neveah paused in her step, her heart sinking low as she slowly turned back around knowing this was the moment she would have to answer for what had happened on Mount Edar.

"I...How much did you see?" Neveah asked uncertainly.

This had been a concern on Neveah’s mind since that night and since it had come to this, she decided it was best to just ask.

The presence of the Dragon King on Mount Edar that night was something Neveah could not move past, her luck was not one that would allow that night to pass so easily...

Neveah had suspected all along that the dragon king had seen something and if he had, it was already a mercy that he was yet to make it public knowledge.

"Everything." King Jian replied blankly.

Neveah gulped audibly, the eyes of the dragon king were still closed and so Neveah could not read his expression or hope to gauge his mood.

But then again, she was never successful even when she looked right into his cold eyes.

"I... I cannot answer that..." Neveah replied finally, reminding herself that she had done nothing to be ashamed of.

"In other words, you do not even know." King Jian concluded.

Neveah would have liked to argue, but she had no words to defend herself and so she just remained silent.

"You surely are trouble... I am yet to decide if your trouble is worth it." King Jian murmured as he pushed off the wall he leaned against and stood up straight.

Neveah stiffened, she could not guess what the dragon king would do or say next but she most certainly had not expected he would casually change the topic.

"The troll golem is difficult to track, but my dragons have caught it’s trail and in a short time, they will find it too."

"Given it’s trail it travels closer and closer to a human settlement, it will be upon my people soon... that, I will not allow." King Jian began.

"I lead the Keep dragons to battle the troll golem at dawn and upon my return, I intend to subdue the hidden city. The dwarves have been left to their devices for far too long."

"Should the tributary races hear of my departure, they might stir trouble in my absence. Are you aware of what this means?" King Jian asked.

"War...there might be war coming, beyond the hidden city and beyond the troll golem." Neveah replied with a nod but she knew there was more to it.