I Received System to Become Dragonborn

Billy nodded, his expression serious but understanding. "We did what we could. We managed to prevent immediate sabotage, and that's a win in itself."

"And we learned something important. We know there's a threat, and we can take steps to counter it," Adrien added.

"The impostor mentioned something crucial. We need to discuss it and decide our next move carefully," Saeldir said.

Adrius, still frustrated but composed, nodded in agreement. "Let's talk about what he said."

The group moved to a quieter area where they could converse without the noise of the forge in the background. Erend, Adrien, Billy, Saeldir, and Adrius formed a tight circle, their expressions serious and contemplative.

"The figure warned us about the Dragon," Adrius began. "He implied that Erend could become dangerous. What do you think he meant by that?"

Billy glanced at Erend. "It sounded like he knows something about you that we don't."

"I don't know what he meant either. But if there's a chance that I could become a threat, we need to understand why and how," Erend said.

Saeldir's brow furrowed. "We can't afford to ignore this warning, even if it came from an enemy. We need to investigate further and uncover the truth."

Adrien nodded. "And we need to ensure the impostor doesn't escape. If he can cause this much trouble, he must be dealt with."

"We need to speak with the king. He must know about the threat and take action to secure the kingdom," Adrius concluded.

The group agreed and made their way through the bustling forge, heading toward the royal chambers. As they approached the king's hall, the guards recognized them and allowed them entry without hesitation.

King Thorgrim looked up from his throne, his expression one of concern as he saw the serious faces of Erend and his companions.

"Your Majesty," Saeldir began, stepping forward and bowing respectfully. "We have discovered a grave threat to the kingdom. An impostor has infiltrated the forge with the intention of sabotaging the Starsteel production."

The king's eyes widened with alarm. "Sabotage?! How do you know about this?"

"The five of us saw him, or her, directly and detained that impostor. But that impostor managed to escape. "Luckily no one saw us so panic didn't happen," Saeldir said.

"What do you suggest we do?" asked thee king.

"We believe the kingdom needs to be locked down," Erend said. "This figure must not be allowed to escape. We need to secure every entrance and exit and conduct a thorough search."

King Thorgrim's expression hardened. "Very well. I will order an immediate lockdown of the kingdom. No one will enter or leave until we have found this impostor."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. We will assist in any way we can," Erend said.

The king's gaze softened slightly as he looked at the group. "You have done well to uncover this threat. Let us ensure the safety of our kingdom and the success of the Starsteel forging."

With the king's orders given, the soldiers of the kingdom of Khazadrim was soon abuzz with activity. Guards were dispatched to secure all exits, and teams were organized to search every corner of the kingdom. Without warning the blacksmith in the forge.

Erend, Adrius, Adrien, Billy, and Saeldir joined the efforts, determined to find the impostor.

---

Meanwhile, deep within the shadowy recesses of Khazadrim, the impostor was moving swiftly but not without consequence. The escape from Adrius's Magical barrier had been far more taxing than anticipated.

She gritted her teeth, feeling the sharp sting of overexertion. Her body, now revealed to be that of a female with distinctive Elven features, trembled slightly from the strain of using such potent and risky Magic.

Her once stocky, dwarven disguise had dissipated, leaving her true form exposed. Tall and lithe, her Elven features were sharp and angular, with pointed ears peeking out from under her hood. Her eyes, normally bright and piercing, were now dull with exhaustion.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with both annoyance and anger. "That human Mage was far stronger than I expected. I barely escaped his barrier with my life."

She moved through the labyrinthine tunnels, her steps faltering occasionally as the effects of her rapid transport spell took their toll. The Magic she had used to break free of Adrius's barrier and transport herself had drained her almost completely. She could feel the residual aches in her bones and the dull throb of a headache starting to form.

"All this trouble, and I'm still not out of this cursed place," she grumbled, her frustration mounting with each step. Her mind raced with thoughts of the failed sabotage and the near capture. "I should have been more careful. Underestimated them, I did."

The impostor's path was well-practiced, each turn and hidden passage ingrained in her memory. She had prepared this escape route meticulously, knowing the risk of her mission. Now, as she navigated the familiar yet oppressive tunnels, her determination to reach safety only grew stronger.

She reached into her cloak, feeling the remaining vials and tools that had once seemed like instruments of victory but now felt like the burden of a narrow escape. Her fingers brushed against a small, hidden dagger, a last resort if needed.

"I just need to reach the exit," she reassured herself. "Once I'm out, I can regroup and plan my next move. This isn't over."

With renewed resolve, the impostor continued her journey through the kingdom, her eyes scanning for any signs of pursuit.

She knew the dwarves would soon lock down the area, and time was of the essence. Each step brought her closer to the secret exit she had painstakingly prepared, a small glimmer of hope in the otherwise grim situation.

Her thoughts briefly turned to the mission's failure and the repercussions she would face from her allies. But there was no time for regret now. Survival was her primary goal for now.

She could feel the weight of her choices pressing down on her, but she pushed forward, driven by the need to escape and fight another day. This is not the end and she still able to finish this task later.

As she neared the hidden exit, she allowed herself a small, grim smile.

"Almost there," she whispered, steeling herself for the final push. The air around her grew cooler, a sign that she was getting closer to the outside world.

But a pair of crimson reptilian eyes had already locked on her from behind the shadow.

---