"There were six sisters?!" Sophie yelled in disbelief, everyone marvelling at the reality-breaking news Skyra had just given them.

"Yes. Our sixth sister was a shadow elf, by the name of Umbris. She is Keith's grandmother." She waved her hand at Keith, who looked like his entire world had been turned on its head. Which, of course, it had.

"Yeah, ummm. No. Nuh-uh. No way. My grandmother was not an elf. She had tiny ears!"

"So did our grandmother. She became human after spending years on Earth," Emily told him. "She became mortal."

"Right. Because that makes sense."

"Wait, but why was Umbris on Earth in the first place? If she was supposed to protect the portal, why don't we know about her?" Farran asked.

Skyra let out a sad sigh. "Umbris was not tasked with protecting the portal. The reason she was on Earth is because we banished her from Elvendale."

"Banished?" Naida asked. "But why?"

"Long ago, before the Five Sisters tale had been spun, Umbris was a shadowcaster. She could manipulate the shadows into anything she saw fit. She could even use them to travel between multiple places, in what she called 'shadow walking.' She was the strongest of the six of us, and held that title proudly. But eventually...she grew to be distant. I daresay even corrupt. She used her magic to create the beings you all battled last year."

Aira gasped. "She created that monster?"

"Yes, and many more like it. She wanted to use them to remake Elvendale in her image. We stopped her, of course, but she was too dangerous to keep here. So we banished her, and sent her through a portal. I had no idea that it led to Earth." She looked up at each person standing before her before continuing. "After banishing her, we erased her memory from the minds of this world's inhabitants, fading her practically out of existence." Her eyes rested on Keith. "I suppose she found a way to counteract the magic seal we placed on her dagger so that she couldn't come back. She just wasn't able to come back in her lifetime. So she sent you instead, Keith. As part of her bloodline, and as holder of that dagger, Ferrum Umbrae, you command the same power she did. I beg of you, use it well. Do not fall to the same predator she did."

Keith unsheathed his dagger and looked it over. "So you're telling me that because I have this thing, I can do shadow magic?"

"Indeed." He pointed the dagger at a dark corner, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. A dark tendril grew from the shadow snaking along the ground before being absorbed back into the shadow it had come from once Keith put the knife down.

"Welp. That's freaky." Azari said matter-of-factly, a dumbfounded look on her face.

"Okay, so are we sure that not everyone here is related to us?" Sophie asked no one in particular.

Skyra turned to Sophie, Emily, and the elves. "I suggest you take him to meet Cronan. He should learn about his aunt."

Emily nodded. "We will." She turned to her friends. "Well, guys, it looks like we have a goblin king to see."

Keith gave a lopsided grin. "Oh, cool, I've always wanted to meet David Bowie."

The quip went over everyone's heads, save for Emily and Sophie, who each gave a small giggle.

Aira clapped her hands together. "Well, let's go, then!"

They descended upon Cronan and Rosalyn's castle, landing the airship where the throne used to be (a lot of bad stuff had gone down out there, at the hands of multiple people. The throne had been moved inside to prevent old wounds and such from reopening). As they landed, two familiar faces came through a door at the edge of the large, rooftop platform.

"Ah, hello again!" The Goblin King called, one arm around his wife's shoulder, the other extended out to his other side welcomingly. "What brings you all to the castle?"

Azari leaned over the guardrail and pointed at Keith. "This dude."

Keith leaned over as well and gave a quick two fingered salute. "Whassup?"

The four elves and three humans hopped down from the ship, greeting their friends with enthusiastic hugs. Well, Keith didn't hug anyone, but in all fairness, he didn't know Cronan or Rosalyn.

Once greetings had been exchanged, all attention turned to Keith. "So, you're human, like Emily and Sophie?" Rosalyn asked.

"Yup," he answered. He pointed a finger at Cronan and added, "And apparently we're cousins, so that's cool."

Cronan dropped the smile for a more confused look. "I, um...excuse me?"

Naida stepped forward. "Yeah, we have to explain some things." They told Cronan about the whole thing. Umbris, the dagger, Keith's powers.

After explaining everything, however, Cronan and Rosalyn looked even more confused than when they started. "Wait, so you're telling us…" Rosalyn's voice faltered. "But...how would...oh well this just doesn't make any sense at all."

"Doesn't make any sense to you? Imagine things from my perspective. Apparently I'm like, one fourth elf." Keith rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Also, I have an issue with some of these names. I mean, and earth elf named Quartzine, a wind elf named Skyra, and a shadow elf named Umbris? Is that just a coincidence, or一"

Keith's rant was cut off by a loud roar, immediately followed by Ashwing darting up above everyone's heads. She let out another roar before dive bombing at Keith.

Naturally, Keith screamed and hid behind the nearest person, who just so happened to be Sophie, who was almost a foot shorter than he was. It would've been comical, if it wasn't for the abject terror in Keith's eyes.

Rosalyn put her arms in the air and advanced towards the agitated dragon, trying to get her to relax. "Ashwing, what's gotten into you? Calm down!" The dragon landed in front of Rosalyn her teeth bared at Keith, who was still trying (and failing) to hide behind Sophie.

"Keith, why are you so scared? I get that Ashwing is kind of terrifying, but she's under control now," Farran asked, turning towards the cowering human.

"Well excuse me for being a bit apprehensive of the dragon that almost killed me!" He shouted sarcastically, though it seemed as though some of his fear had dissipated, as he had stood up straight. "I'd rather not be buddy-buddy with it, you know?"

Rosalyn spun around and asked confusedly, "Wait, killed? Why would she attack you?"

"I don't know! I must have startled her or something when I popped out of the portal."

Rosalyn led out a heavy sigh. "Well, alright. I suppose you'll both just have to apologize, then."

Keith looked as though he had suddenly been slapped between the eyes. "Wait, hold up. Apologize? To her?" He pointed an accusatory finger at Ashwing, who sent back her regards in the form of a loud snarl.

"Yes. You, for startling her, and her for nearly killing you. Though, I will admit, she might be a bit more in the wrong."

"Might be?" He lifted up his shirt to reveal his bandages. "I almost bled out!"

"In all fairness, Keith, she is a fully-grown dragon. You freaked her out, and she retaliated," Azari piped up.

Keith sighed, and his head fell. "I really don't have a choice here, do I?" Everyone shook their heads. "Alright fine." He walked up to the dragon, and looked her directly in the eye. "So, um, sorry I startled you, I guess. I didn't mean to, honest, I was just lost and confused." Ashwing responded by gently nudging him with her snout, her unspoken apology clear as day. Keith looked up at everyone else. "Alright, I think we're on good terms now." He looked around at the scenery visible from the rooftop platform and asked, "So, what's next? I still want to learn more about this place."

Aira smiled gleefully and bounced up and down. "Oh, we can show him our dragons at the sanctuary!"

"And we can give him a tour of Elvendale on the way!" Naida suggested.

"I'm down." Keith responded, a wide grin coming across his face. He turned to Rosalyn and Cronan. "It was a pleasure meeting the both of you." Ashwing let out a snort and smacked her head against his arm. "Yeah, yeah, it was good meeting you, too, you big lizard," he joked, before jogging toward the airship and giving a final glance over his shoulder.

He expected that he was really going to like this place.