Storm and Aurora escorted Pyrite and Lapis back to their clan.
The Elder was beyond grateful to see the two lost dragons returned, but was troubled when he heard the fate of the others and the nature of the experiments performed there.
After Storm and Aurora promised to do everything in their power to return the remaining missing dragons, the Elder passed on what little information he had about Pyros's secret identity.
Pyros had become increasingly paranoid after the attack on their original hatching grounds.
He gave as little information as possible to the new clan, so that if they ever were attacked, they won't have information that could lead back to him beimg discovered.
As a result, Storm did not even have a name to track.
And since it was highly unlikely that Pyros would be using his true name among the Arcadians, it made an already difficult task almost impossible.
Based on the insignia on the supplies, these shipments were meant to go to the Arcanium.
This meant that all Storm knew was he was looking for a unknown high ranking wizard that worked at the Arcanium in an unknown capacity.
In a nation of Wizards, he would drastically need to shrink that list down.
"I hope whatever contacts the Kitsune might have will help me narrow down the list!! Otherwise I'll never find him!!" Thought Storm in dispair.
A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.
"Enter!!"
The door opened and Augustus marched into the study. He presented himself before Storm's desk, then bowed to him.
"I only want good news, Augustus!!" Said Storm.
"I'm afraid I must disobey you then!!
The hags have arrived and are waiting for you. "
Storm frowned.
"How is this bad news?"
"It's... best that you come see for yourself!!" Exclaimed Augustus.
A moment later Storm was staring at a village worth's human druids that were waiting outside the cave network.
"Grans!! What the hell is this!!" Yelled Storm.
"Don't raise your voice at us, young one!!
We were already old when you were still an egg inside your mother waiting to be released into the world!!" Retorted one of the Grans.
"You didn't expect us old ladies to do all the work did you!!
Gardening is hard work and I'm sure your greenhouse isn't small!!"
Augustus leaned closer to Storm.
"Overlord, we don't have the food supplies to feed that many." Whispered Augustus.
"Is that what you are worried about, dear?"
"You need not worry about that!"
"Our children are completely self-sufficient. "
"They won't be a burden on your resources." The 3 grannies said simultaneously.
"Finding accommodation for that many will also be difficult. " whispered Augustus.
"They're not picky about that either!!"
They're perfectly fine with sleeping on the ground in animal form as well." Responded the Grans.
Storm and Augustus exchanged glares before Storm nodded.
"I can't promise that they'll have the most comfortable stay while here, but if they're willing to pull their weight, then they're welcome to stay here with us."
The Grans stepped forward.
"That's good of you, Dragon. "
"You won't..." one of the Grans started.
They suddenly frowned when they got closer to Storm.
They said a word that Storm couldn't understand and he suddenly flew backwards into the cave wall.
He tried to break free, but an invisible force held him pinned.
Augustus pulled out his bow and nocked an arrow, but one of the Grans waved a hand and his bow turned into a serpent that hissed and bared it's fangs at him, causing him to drop it.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OFF..!!" Started Storm.
"Who are you, spirit!!?"
"And what are you doing in that boy's body!!?
"Speak!! Or we'll bind your spirit to an earthworm!!" Shouted the Grans.
Mimereus was caught completely by suprise.
"You.... you can see me!?" Asked Mimereus.
The grans bared their teeth and Storm realized that it had sharpened and closely resembled fangs.
"Your tricks can't fool us, spirit!"
"We are able to see the spirit world and it's denizens!"
Storm felt something tugging at his being and Storm's connection to Mimereus started weakening.
The experience as painful as trying to pull out an arrow from his body.
"Wait!! There's been an misunderstanding!!
We're bonded willingly!!" Storm cried through the pain.
The tugging sensation briefly paused as the Grans hesitated.
"You lie, spirit!!"
"You're just trying to save yourself with trickery!!"
"No!! It's true!!
Storm told us about his situation and this spirit has been helping and advising us!!" Said Augustus.
Storm felt relief as the tugging stopped and his connection to Mimereus was restored.
The grans still kept him suspended with their magic however.
They sharpened their thoughts and drove into Storm's mind.
He tried to hold them back, but it was like trying to hold back the ocean with nothing but his claws.
They called up his memories of his encounter with Mimereus's vessel, his fight against the construct, and it's aftermath.
When they got to the part where Storm and Mimereus made their pact.
The pressure faded and Storm slid down to the ground and collapsed face first.
"Apologies, dragon. "
"We needed to be sure!"
Storm coughed and slowly got back on his feet.
"You could have just asked me!!" Yelled Storm.
"And give the spirit time to prepare?!
No, we needed to catch him by suprise!" Said the Grans.
They shook their heads with disapproval.
"Very foolish what you two did!!"
"Did you really think you could break one of nature's laws without consequences?"
"What consequences?" Asked Storm as he coughed again.
"No body can hold 2 souls. That is a law created at the very beginning of time."
"In order to correct this abomination, your mind has begun to merge your two souls into a single being!"
"WHAT!!?" yelled Storm and Mimereus simultaneously.
"Normally you 2 would have more time, but something has accelerated the process. "
"And now, what would have taken years to do. "
"Will be completed in months instead!!" Said the Grans.
"What will happen to us once it's completed?!" Asked Mimereus.
"You will both cease to exist. "
"Consumed completely in order to create a new identity. "
"One that incorporates both of your individual traits." Explained the Grans.
Dread took hold of Storm's heart when he heard what would happen.
"How do we stop this?" Asked Storm