Ashen Dragon

Chapter 256: 181: Olivia (5)

Chapter 256: Chapter 181: Olivia (5)
 

The Steel Dragonwing Palace at night was always so tranquil. Since it was the Red Dragon’s dwelling, almost all creatures dared not approach, even the most loyal retainers only dared to wander around the periphery.

In this silence, the Silver Dragon could hear her faint breathing clearly.

Only the soft moonlight poured down, filling her blue-gray pupils, reflecting a silvery glow on her smooth scales.

Not knowing how many days and nights had passed, Olivia always felt she was in a state between dream and wakefulness. She was nearly in despair, but the stubborn will that remained always supported her, never letting her succumb.

She also didn’t know when she would succumb to the shackles of fate.

But at least it wouldn’t be now.

Olivia had thought this countless times.

“Ugh…”

The Silver Dragon strained to turn her head, easing the stiffness in her bones from lying on her side for so long. The shimmering magic chains mercilessly burned her skin, but that little bit of pain she could grit her teeth and endure, even getting somewhat used to it.

Rustling sounds came from afar, surprising Olivia because it was not common.

“Could it be a guard bringing food?”

“No, it’s midnight, clearly not the time.”

Olivia thought this.

The slight noises continued in the hallway leading to the main hall.

Under the Silver Dragon’s astonished gaze, a blurry shadow appeared at the end of the corridor, seemingly a figure shrouded in mist.

As the figure approached, she finally saw clearly—

Short black hair, glowing golden vertical pupils, a handsome young face, a noble robe trimmed in gold, and faintly visible pale golden scales. At this moment, he was strolling towards the Silver Dragon bound in chains.

“How could it be?”

Olivia could hardly believe her eyes.

Wasn’t this the kin who had appeared in her dreams every night and day, giving her final instructions, the Gold Dragon Anhel?

At that moment, many confusing thoughts flooded her mind.

Olivia was truly happy for his survival, yet she also had many doubts. Why had she followed his guidance only to be trapped here? Why had he never appeared before?

Could this Anhel be fake too?

Was it all just a Red Dragon’s plot?

Olivia’s eyes first filled with surprise, then tension and conflict, finally merging into a particularly complex emotion. She seemed to have a thousand words stuck in her throat but couldn’t speak.

Unexpectedly, he spoke first, breaking the brief silence.

“I’m sorry, Olivia.”

The tone was deep, and those golden eyes were full of guilt.

The moment he spoke, Olivia was convinced it was the real Anhel, feeling immense relief.

When with this Gold Dragon, the Silver Dragon could always feel his charisma, even having her emotions affected. It was not something easily faked, although she didn’t know it was due to literal “extraordinary charm.”

She was instantly overjoyed, as if she had found her final anchor.

And after this moment of peace, Olivia finally couldn’t maintain her composure, feeling immensely wronged for what she had experienced these days.

Tears spilled from her blue-gray eyes, like overflowing autumn water cascading down her cheeks. With a sob, she poured out her long-repressed questions.

“Where have you been all this time?”

“Why did the Red Dragon say you were dead?”

“Why am I trapped here when I followed your guidance…”

“Why…”

Maybe she was too emotional, and Olivia even became somewhat incoherent.

Anhel, or rather Cassius, sighed deeply.

“Four years ago, this palace was not yet built; it was just a barren land. I found the only way to defeat the Red Dragon, this so-called Dragon Binding Array. It can bind dragons below the ancient level, imprisoning them forever.”

“So I set up the array here, afraid of failure and leaving a final message.”

He gazed at the Silver Dragon, his tone growing heavier.

“But the cunning and power of the ‘King of Ashen’ far exceeded my expectations. He saw through my plan and cruelly killed all my retainers and the Knight of Justice who had come with me.”

“I should have also perished in that battle, but thanks to the blessing of the Ancient Gold Dragon Paralandak, I entered a semi-ethereal state, making the Red Dragon powerless against me, allowing me to survive by luck.”

“But in this state, it’s difficult for me to intervene in the Material Plane. I can only appear before you in this form. The Red Dragon had no way to deal with me but used the array I left as a trap to lure you here, isolating my influence with that strange domain ability. Fortunately, his power ultimately waned, allowing me to reach you.”

“My reckless actions implicated you. I am sorry.”

“Anhel” apologized sincerely again.

Olivia did not blame him, silently accepting everything, meeting his gaze. She recalled the unease when first entering the palace; perhaps that was his warning she didn’t heed.

At least now, both she and Anhel were still alive, narrowly escaping the terrible Red Dragon’s claws. It was already a rare outcome.

After pondering for a long time, Olivia spoke softly.

“Anhel, what should I do now?”

Her eyes carried some confusion, but it was far better than the previous despair. At least Anhel’s appearance gave her a final lifeline.

“Olivia, my current strength is insufficient to fight against the Red Dragon. He is far too powerful. Maybe… I need more resources.”

“Money, spell scrolls, even aid from other metal dragons…”

“But no matter what, even if it costs everything, all my treasures, I will rescue you from here. This is my promise to you.”

To Olivia, these words sounded exceptionally sincere.

Anhel stepped forward, seemingly stroking the Silver Dragon’s slender neck. But it was just a phantom, Olivia felt no physical touch.

For some reason, she did not reject this breach of metal dragon manners in intimacy but felt immense comfort and a certain inner satisfaction. This promise was almost romantic in a dragon’s ears.

“Scale of Oath.”

Suddenly, Olivia recalled the epic tales told by the clan elders when she was a young dragon, stories still passed down today. She remembered the Silver Dragon in those stories guarding the cave for a thousand years for a mate, engraving the oath on the scales on its chest until becoming an ancient dragon, unwavering in commitment to the end. Those stories always deeply moved her.

Among Silver Dragons, courtship was always a civilized and elegant matter, with many Silver Dragons remaining together for life.

So, Olivia also chose to trust without hesitation, sharing everything she knew and possessed with “Anhel,” hoping he could rescue her one day in the future…

Perhaps to cater to her emotions, Anhel stayed in the palace for a long time.

They discussed poetry, shared stories from across the continent, and exchanged knowledge of spells. With Olivia’s richer spell knowledge, Anhel even jokingly called her “teacher,” easing her taut nerves significantly.

When the palace once again returned to silence, the Silver Dragon remained firmly bound to the ground, but the despair and confusion in her blue-gray eyes were gone, replaced by gentleness and determination.