The room the Elder led Rehm into was somewhat different to the rest of the underground complex. It had, of course, the same faint glow of mana rich minerals across its walls and floor, as well as obsidian tinted stalactites reaching downwards from its ceiling, but most of the similarities ended there. For one, this room was much smaller than any other, big enough for at most 3 adult dragons at a time. The walls also seemed cut out of stone deliberately, artificially, in contrast to the natural caverns that tunneled around it.

Rehm landed silently, and watched Jyun do the same next to the sole feature in the room. Near the back wall lay a mound, near identical to the five from the main cavern. The pale dragon looked over it a moment, eyes seeming older than the bedrock itself, and as he ran a ghostly claw over the mounds surface Rehm thought he might shatter.

"You wanted privacy… I could have sent her away?"

Jyun didn't turn or raise his claw, and remained facing the mound when he spoke.

"This room is the only place I could be sure of."

Still unsure, Rehm glanced back to the granite block, at the only marking that blemished its surface. An inscription, a single word carefully carved out in the delicate script of the lizardfolk language. Like many words and phrases from the lizardfolk language, it didn't translate very well into other tongues, draconic included. Rehm could only get so close: -Cloud in a Clear Sky-

As soon as she finished the thought, Rehm jerked back up to glare at the Elder.

"Xin La is already here!?"

Jyun simply inclined his ancient neck in response.

"And.. and he was listening before? In the main hall??"

Again Jyun gave a slight nod, but after a glance back at Rehm's expression he added to it.

"If you are worried about him knowing of your child's unusual origins, do not. He would have known as soon as he laid eyes on her."

"That's not the problem Jyun! We just left her alone with that snaketailed-"

"Rehm, please. You know Xin La as well as I do. He might become… irritating occasionally, but he would not bring any harm to your children."

Rehm glared at the older dragon, body tense and on the verge of launching back out of the room. Several seconds passed, and the rage boiling through her veins began to give ground to Jyun's words.

"And with what you said to me before, I sincerely doubt Xin La will do much but flap his maw tomorrow."

"... You.. you're probably right."

Still simmering with anger, Rehm tried to think straight.

"To be frank, Jyun... It is your whelp that I'm most worried about, not Xin La. Xin is too clever for his own good, but even he knows when to keep his tail out of the fire."

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Jyun seemed to hesitate, but his pearly eyes showed nothing but gentleness.

"Nessera is… well, you are likely correct. I will try to keep her from causing too much trouble, but unfortunately I've never been adept with those closest to me."

"I will do nothing more than protect my children, Jyun."

Jyun met her glare with a weathered look, and simply responded, “I know.”

Rehm, satisfied her point had been made sufficiently, glanced about the room doubtfully.

“And what was it you wished to say?”

“I was in contact with an old acquaintance recently, Rehm, a mutual friend of Fate. And she spoke to me of an impending death.”

Rehm, still distracted and half eyeing the door that would lead back to Xin La and her child, snapped her gaze back to Jyun. Under the full attention of the crimson dragon centuries his younger, he deliberated before continuing, choosing every word with delicate care.

“Most creatures, from any race, will never know the time of their death. I am fortunate enough to have been warned, so that I may prepare.”

Rehm stared at him for nearly a minute, gathering her thoughts in utter silence. Eventually, she responded.

“You’re sure of this? There was no mistake?”

Jyun let out an imperceptible sigh, directed not at the dragon in front of him but at the ceiling that dripped with ashen earth.

“She does not err in these things, and she would not lie. It was a message of goodwill, though I cannot help but feel I have so much still to do.”

He floated slightly off the ground, wings unmoving and reflecting the room’s meager light. Approaching his younger friend, he gave a tight smile in the face of her uncharacteristic silence.

“Saying that is somewhat unfair given my age, however true it seems to me.”

“... How long exactly, did she say?”

“It has already been some time since her warning. This is likely to be my last gathering.”

Rehm grimaced, trying to keep the other more melancholic emotions from reaching her face. She wouldn’t mourn her friend before his death, not while there was still time. She met Jyun’s ghostly eyes, and for the millionth time in her life she got the feeling he already knew what she thought, and what she was trying to keep locked away.

“Jyun… I.. you wouldn’t have brought me here” -Rehm gestured briefly to the mound and inscription- “unless you wished for me to do something. Tell me, and I will do it.”

The Elder had floated close enough to Rehm that his arm could reach out and brush her. Gently, he put a claw on her head and patted. Rehm, for her part, leaned into his touch as her eyes became slits. Neither spoke for a moment; the interaction was one neither had felt for a very long time, but was something neither would have ever forgotten. Jyun was the first to pull from his nostalgic thoughts, addressing Rehm in an apologetic tone.

“Of all the dragons in the southern plains, you are the only one I trust to continue the gatherings and keep our peace. Xin La is too frivolous and cares not, while Nessera is still too young and prideful. I just ask that you continue what I have started here, and that you raise your young ones to take after their mother.”

Rehm snorted and gave him an amused grin.

“You certain that’s what you want? The last thing this continent needs for peace is two more of me.”

“You don’t credit yourself enough Rehm.”

“If you say so. Regardless, you have my word Jyun, I will do as you say. But will you mention this to the others?

“Only Nessera, after the gathering is complete. I may owe her more than I have given her, but I will try to temper her for when I am no longer around.”

Rehm gave him another look, this time mischievous.

“I don’t know if tempering her will be enough Jyun, when I’m in charge nothing will be left to stop me.”

Jyun glided past her and exited the room, and Rehm thought she might’ve caught him rolling his eyes as he passed, but she couldn’t be sure. With a heavy flap of her wings she was lifted from the smooth rocky floor and tailed the senior dragon.

“I expect she will give you trouble, Rehm… as will the rest of the younger drakes… and of course Xin La. I am afraid no matter how old that one gets he never gets any wiser.”

It was Rehm’s turn to roll her eyes, but she hummed internally in agreement.

“Wise or not, I’ll never know. That Xin will be a thorn in my side till my death. You know he enjoys it as well.”

Jyun craned his neck to glance at her where she glided behind him and gave a look in place of a response. Rehm tried and failed to match his gaze, eventually breaking eye contact and snorting.

“Yeah yeah, I’ll be good. I’ll leave him alone as long as he isn't too much of a pain.”

“... Good enough”

The two dragons passed by a corridor that veered to the left abruptly, and the sounds of wings straining to push through the air, as well as the hallmark whoosh of flames echoed passed them. Rehm gave a slight smile at her children’s energy, as Jyun gazed at a certain spot high on the cavern’s wall, eyes looking through the solid rock as they faintly shone with a white essence. Rehm snuck a glance at Jyun’s eyes, and wondered as she had done many times if it was just a trick of the light or if the reflections that bounced between the hanging stalactites truly encompassed the fates of them all.