The silence lingered in Chloe’s apartment as Orion pondered everything he had learned. The church, its secrets, Asuna, and now the truth about his arrival in this era. But there was something else he needed to do before moving forward.

He turned to Vlad, his gaze firm and resolute.

— “I need to go to Nidavellir.”

Chloe and Ellie exchanged glances. Even as high-ranking agents, they had never heard of such a place. Ellie arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms.

— “Nidavellir? What the hell is that?”

Chloe added:

— “We’ve heard rumors about a hidden land where dwarves forge legendary weapons, but we never found concrete proof of its existence.”

Vlad let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.

— “That’s because dwarves don’t want to be found. Only those with permission can enter.”

Orion wasted no time and pressed on:

— “I need to see the dwarves and get some equipment. Before I was sent here, I left my weapons with Norik… Could he still be alive?”

The mention of the name made Vlad avert his eyes for a moment, his smile fading. He folded his arms, weighing his words before answering.

— “Dwarves don’t live as long as vampires and elves, Orion. Norik is likely gone by now…”

Orion’s expression remained impassive, but deep down, he knew Vlad was right. Time waited for no one.

— “If he’s dead, then will the others still remember me?”

Vlad smiled faintly.

— “Dwarves never forget those who honor their craft. You’ve already proven your worth to them. In fact, your statue should still be there.”

Ellie, still confused, stepped closer.

— “And how exactly do you plan to get into this so-called ‘hidden place’?”

Vlad didn’t answer right away. Instead, he slowly raised his hand and, with a subtle motion, revealed a golden key between his fingers, intricately detailed.

— “I always keep important things.”

Orion studied the key for a moment, then nodded, satisfied.

— “Good. After I get some sleep, we head to Nidavellir.”