The Next Day

The ground quaked as masses of black clashed within the massive hall.

“No fool,” Erik’s voice filled the room, as the two twin Black Drakes duelled.

“Vary your speed, if you keep moving at the same top you’re capable of then your enemy will get used to it and outmanoeuvre you! And you, you’re too aggressive, you’re inattentive. Pay attention to your enemy’s movements, watch, listen, sense, counter!” He’d shout out derogatory exclamations at them as the two massive lean beasts of dark scales simply swiped at each other faster than the air around them could reassemble.

As the rest simply stood by his side, each within their own humanoid form, they spoke not and moved not.

Vemm rushed in as told, varying her speed to suddenly evade to the side as her brother Grylrag charged at her the exact same as he had earlier. Grappling onto one another, the two serpent-like drakes tumbled over each other senselessly.

Already was Erik’s expression twitching from watching their horrid form, thanking whoever opened the doors at that time as he turned to face them. Snapping his fingers, “Take break…” He mused as he walked off, the twins falling limp and exhausted behind him.

Finding Kayle, Nerrick and Ivyieth entering then, “Did you call for me Eldest Brother?” Ivyieth immediately regarded him with a polite bow.

“Just you and Kayle really, but I think it’s good that you came too Nerick…” Erik said as he collapsed into a chair of obsidian, taking a deep breath before returning to them.

He seemed to be growing weaker by the day.

“Why? What’s up?” Nerick asked, noticing now that there was no longer any sign of white upon Erik’s body, all that remained was the slight blue in his eyes slowly being taken over by crimson.

“I have a diplomatic mission for Kayle and Ivyeith, but they’ll be going far, very far.” Erik explained as he glanced at Kayle.

“I…can’t do that unless I’ve been there before.” Kayle mentioned.

“Do not worry about that,” Rising back to his feet Erik then turned to Nerick. “This place I’m sending them to…It might be safe, but it can also be the most dangerous place on Faetera. Nerick, as lord of the Wyvern Knights, I need you here with me. But, if you have any objection-”

“I’ll be going along with Kayle then.” Nerick immediately answered sternly.

Causing Erik to chuckle, even if weakly. “Then take Ivara as well with you, but I must warn you, in this place nothing is what it seems.” Turning to Ivyieth then, “She will be your guide.”

“Guide? Where am I going?” Ivyieth asked with a raised brow, “I’m not going away from brother am I?”

“You’re going home Ivyieth,” Erik answered, “As an ambassador of the Empire, I ask you to deliver this message to the Fae Kingdom of Pepputia.” Handing her a small dark grey envelope, Erik sighed weakly as he sat back down.

“I’ve sent others to Seeri, New Druv and S’Sern already…But you’re my only hope with this.” He mused, his expression growing solemn, Erik briefly lost himself to his thoughts.

Going silent for several moments before returning to his senses.

“If it’s you, then someone might care.” He added.

Ivyieth glanced over the envelope, almost black yet grey with golden inscriptions on both sides. Recognising them as Fae runes, her gaze rose to meet his. “If it’s for Eldest Brother, I will do my best.” She said, pumping her chest and cheeks with both pride and resolve.

“Then, we have no time left to waste.” Erik said as he took another object out from his seemingly infinitely spacious pockets. A bright yet dark feather, almost transparent in form.

“That’s…” Nerick recognised it.

“The Dark Fae’s wingfeather, I found a couple lying about after you were done with it.” Erik grinned widely, “With this, and Ivyieth’s memories, do you think you can?” then asking Kayle as he handed her the feather.

“Maybe…” Kayle guessed, taking the surprisingly rough feather carefully into both hands.

“As a seer, they will respect and be wary of you there, Kayle keep watch on everything.” Erik said before turning to Ivyieth, “You will be welcomed back, but remember what you are, Dragons are rarely welcome there.”

Then finally turning to Nerick, his eyes hardened. “The journey will not be as perilous as the destination, Fae are born tricksters and illusionists, be careful.”

Meeting his gaze, Nerick’s eyes too narrowed. “Give us a moment?” He said, gesturing for the other two, they both stepped away briefly.

As Nerick turned to face them both, he gave his back to Erik who now watched the young Black Drakes at the centre of the hall.

“First Zentha, then Makaela, then Ascal…Now us, why are you sending us all away?” Nerick spoke what he’d been holding onto, unable to put his finger on the answer, he knew something was amiss.

“Because dire times require…dire measures.” Erik whispered, sighing as he did. “Do you trust me, Nerick?”

“You gave me everything, you made the me of now.” Nerick said without a second moment to think, “I’d give my life for you.”

“Then trust me in this…You don’t want to know what comes next.” Erik then said turning to grasp the large Djinn’s shoulder, “Nerick…I’ve sent many to their deaths before…so why is this time so different?” Erik asked, clenching his chest then.

Nerick paused, at first unsure how to answer, he instead decided to let his memories of another person he knew speak in his stead. “Because this time, you’re you.”

-

High Above Sinroz

A rift opens…

-

Reality tore, the crack surging with energy as tendrils of white flames pulled it further apart.

Allowing through two ethereal beings, as they continued to hover all too high up in the sky.

A male and a female, both very similar in appearance to the other. Both had pale skin, snow-white long hair kept almost too perfectly, and two fluffy fox-like tails.

Their ears though, where none of the above, if only pale skinned. Pointed like an Elf’s, their ears grew longer even.

“Welp, here we are, so where’s the party?” The male mused, glancing about at the continent below.

“It hasn’t started yet!” Said the female, giggling with great amusement as she too stared down.

Both of their eyes, previously a bright silver, suddenly shone blue.

“So we just wait?” Asked the male.

“Yeap, looks like we’ll just have to observe from here, Kalix.” The female sighed.

“Yo, Kaisley. You sure we can’t just…mess with a few things?” Kalix grumbled.

“Dad would kill us, bring us back, and kill us again.” Kaisley warned, “We’re just here to watch, report back what happens, so he can decide on his fate after.”

“Hah, shall we start with watching him first then?” Kalix asked.

“Nah, there’s another he told me to check on first when we arrive…” Kaisley mused, turning her gaze then to the north of the continent where a fog of violet and black spread far and wide.

Turning to follow her gaze too, the expressions of both Spirit Beasts then turned into a wide grin.

“Oh yeah, that’s gonna be entertaining to watch.” Kalix mused.