“In a matter of minutes, my entire plan collapsed. Was it truly so frail? No, I must have missed something. And that magic she used; it was as though she had become lucid, yet she remained locked in the illusion. There is no time, I must make my escape.”

Rell

Rell blinked as she lay in bed, taking in what she had just experienced. Everything had gone white for a time. Her senses had faded, and her thoughts became muddled before seeming to vanish entirely. Yet, moments later they came flooding back, and she was in Madia’s arms. Did I… die? Rell wondered to herself as she lay in bed panting.

She slowly turned her head, finding the familiar form of Kenta sitting on the floor, and Filera hunched over as she sat on one end of Rune’s bed across from her. Elkin was sitting beside her, an arm on her shoulder as her expression was filled with fear and concern. Her eyes were wide, and her gaze burned into the floor as she seemed visibly distraught.

Rell gulped as she shifted in bed, opening her mouth shakily. “Kenta?” she whispered.

All three of them sat up straight in unison, Kenta immediately on his feet, before they all rushed over to Rell’s bedside.

Filera was the first to speak as she began looking her over. “Y-your majesty! Oh, Princess Rell, thank goodness!”

“You had me worried out of my mind!” Kenta choked as he placed a hand to his head.

“I-I’m alright... I think,” Rell muttered as she slowly sat up.

“Easy there, lass. You’ve been through a lot,” Elkin reminded her.

Filera looked around Rell’s back, a look of shock on her face. “It’s gone; the blood is gone-!”

“Rell, did you-?” Kenta’s voice trailed off as he looked the princess in the eye.

“Yes, I woke Madia up,” Rell gasped as she managed a smile. “Everything’s going to be okay now.”

Filera immediately jumped forward, wrapping her arms around Rell with what sounded like an excited squeal. “Eeee! You did it!!” she exclaimed loudly.

Rell coughed as she was nearly forced back down onto the bed from the impact. “Ack-! O-only barely,” Rell muttered as she supported herself with one hand.

Kenta and Elkin let out a sigh, exchanging smiles with one another. “When the very moon turned red we feared the worst, but jus’ as quickly as it shifted, it returned to normal,” Elkin stated.

“Your majesty,” Kenta’s curious voice spoke. “What happened in there?”

Rell sighed as she relaxed. “Nothing short of a miracle.”

Kenta tilted his head, clearly not quite understanding. Rell took that as a sign to continue.

“I awoke on the shore of the sea of dreams, a place I often visited Madia in. I went into the waters and entered Madia’s dream,” Rell explained.

“But how? How is that possible?” Kenta questioned.

“Madia has always had an open door for me,” Rell replied.

Kenta did not seem satisfied with that answer as he leaned back and crossed his arms. “What about her dream? What was happening in there?”

Rell winced as she recalled. “I think… I think I died in her dream.”

Filera released Rell with a start. “Y-you what?”

“I’m fine now!” Rell reassured as she saw Filera’s panicked expression. “But shortly after I arrived, I felt as though something had been stabbed into my back,” Rell said.

“Oh, by the sky,” Filera whimpered.

“Madia was fighting Tuulin, and I entered her dream just as Madia was going in to strike him,” Rell recalled. “Tuulin almost got the upper hand when I called her name, but Madia was amazing! It was as though she knew exactly what he was going to do. She disarmed Tuulin and returned the strike. I think she killed him!”

Everyone gasped as they seemed to be on the verge of another cheer, but Kenta did not seem so sure.

“No,” Kenta shook his head gently. “Tuulin wouldn’t allow that. He is far too cunning to not account for that.”

Rell narrowed her eyes at the Arden. “Then what happened?”

“If I had to wager a guess, Tuulin was forced to retreat. What happened after he was slain?”

Rell thought for a moment. “He collapsed to the ground and burst into sparks of light.”

Kenta nodded. “That was definitely some kind of magic. When you appeared he must have realized he’d lost the fight.”

Filera beamed. “Rell, you stopped Tuulin!”

Rell was taken aback as she looked at the three before her. “I really wouldn’t go that far. I just woke Madia up, she did everything from there.”

Elkin snorted. “Don’t wave off a complement, little one. If you had not woken her up, Alarulin would already be in Tuulin’s grasp. Or worse…”

Kenta raised a finger to his chin. “Yes, but what about this Harmony nonsense? Why didn’t she step in despite the fact midnight was striking?”

Rell shrugged a little bit. “I’m not sure.”

“Tuulin missed the point,” Madia’s voice suddenly spoke from the doorway. She was still wearing her nightgown, and her hair was rather messy and frayed, but her purple eyes were full of life and energy.

Kenta immediately stood up and backed away. “L-Lady Madia!” he exclaimed.

Madia simply smiled at him. “Don’t worry Kenta, I know everything that happened,” she said. “And thank you for protecting Rell.”

Kenta blinked before relaxing, raising a hand to scratch his head.

Madia’s smile faded as she sat down on Rune’s bed. Rell tilted her head. “You’re back already?”

“Yes, Aevum and your sister are okay. They will be back before long,” Madia replied. “As I was saying, I think Tuulin was indeed seeking to find Lady Harmony. Yet even if he had succeeded in merging the realms, he would not have found her.”

Filera’s eyes widened as she looked at her brother, who returned the glance.

Madia continued. “Harmony has sworn to not interfere. That is why she entrusted us - the Keepers - with her magic.” Madia raised her hand in front of her face, magic radiating from it as she did so. “After all, if she were to solve all our problems for us, what would there be for us to learn?”

Filera smiled a little bit. “Harmony was right in choosing you, Lady Madia,” she said softly.

Madia took a deep breath. “Thank you, I have finally realized that after tonight.” Madia paused for a moment, appearing to be in deep thought. “In my nightmare, I believe I was visited by Harmony. Or perhaps, a messenger from Harmony.”

Rell shifted in bed, sitting upright as she faced Madia. “A messenger?”

“A young lady, with pale, white hair and a soft voice spoke to me,” Madia started. “She reminded me that it wasn’t my role as Keeper of Mind that defined me. It was never about my title, or what that title brought me.”

Filera’s eyes were wide, her mouth hanging open. She mouthed something as she looked down at the ground in shock, but Rell was unable to catch the breathless whisper.

“I believe Harmony was trying to teach me something. I had hardly even realized my lack of confidence in myself before now, and Tuulin preyed on that. He exploited my own hidden doubts,” Madia reasoned.

Kenta frowned. “Just the same, are you saying this ‘Harmony’ would have let Alarulin crumble just to teach you a lesson?” His voice raised a little bit. “Just for your sake, she would put the entire realm at risk, including the lives of Rell and the other Keepers?”

Madia simply smiled. “Yes.”

Kenta was not expecting that, as he shook his head quickly in response and leaned back. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am,” Madia replied. “Because that shows me just how much faith and trust she had in me,” she reasoned. “She knew I could do it, and that all I needed was a push in the right direction.”

Kenta still did not seem convinced, but the frustration in his face had vanished; faded into deep thought as he backed off.

Madia turned to Rell. “Rell, do you know where Cael is?” she asked. “I know Flain is at Keshkin, and Aevum is retrieving your sister, but where is the Keeper of Magic?”

Rell perked up. “Flain said she’s gone to Muurin, apparently trying to find out some way to wake you up or learn more about Dragonkind magic.”

Madia tilted her head. “Is that so, now? She’s been gone an awfully long time then, given the circumstances.”

“Wait, Lady Cael is in Muurin-?” Kenta said with a start as he stood tall again.

Madia suddenly flinched as her eyes opened wide. “Not anymore, it would seem.”

Rell hopped off her bed. “Whatever do you mean?”

“Hm, she is not alone…” Madia mused, before suddenly shooting Kenta a surprisingly intense stare. “Kenta, would you happen to know of anyone left behind in Muurin when your kind came here?”

Kenta staggered back. “I beg your pardon?”

“I was just wondering if you could tell me why Cael is returning to Alarulin accompanied by a young Arden boy? And not just any Arden boy; one who seems to possess a magic signature.”

Kenta’s jaw dropped. “No, it couldn’t be…”

Moments later the Keeper of Mind was running out the door. “Hey! Wait!” Rell exclaimed as she crawled out of bed and chased after her.

Madia practically skidded across the tile as she rounded the corner and stomped down the stairs, skipping every other step as Rell followed her. Rell staggered as she supported herself with the railings on the way down, before leaping off the last step and following Madia.

It did not take long for them to arrive outside, the moon high above their heads as it started to drift back down from its peak. The firm footsteps behind her told Rell that Kenta was on their tail.

Only seconds after they entered the courtyard, there was a flash like lightning, and Rell feared the worst for a moment as memories of the prior night flooded her head. Yet, as she glanced up into the stars, she saw a bright green light illuminate the clouds. The light descended towards the castle, shortly followed by what appeared to be spheres of fire trailing after her.

Madia jumped into action, rushing to the top of the walls as the light approached. “She was followed-!” Madia exclaimed. “Magicians at the ready!”

What few guards remained in the parapets positioned themselves, fear across their faces as the unfamiliar threat descended upon them.

“Wait!” Rell shouted as she looked closer at the light. Through the emerald hue she managed to make out the form of Cael falling from the sky, holding something - or someone - close to her body. “Don’t shoot! That’s Cael!”

There was a loud pop in the air before the light vanished. Fire continued to descend before suddenly, with another burst of green light, Cael appeared beside Madia, one hand outstretched towards the sky as a young boy bearing the wings of a dragon fell away from her with a yelp. Cael’s eyes burned with an emerald fire as magic pulsed from her fingertips.

“Cael! Are you alright?” Madia questioned.

“I could ask you the same, Dreamer!” Cael said. “It’s good to have you back!”

Side by side, Madia and Cael stood guard as the fire in the air rocketed towards the castle. “What is that?” Madia asked.

“Malnix… apparently not just native to the Red North, go figure,” Cael said with a mischievous grin.

Cael’s eyes seemed to focus hard on one of the oncoming projectiles, snapping her fingers as one of the balls of fire dispersed into sparks. She ducked out of the way as one of them whizzed past her, before colliding with the courtyard below. Madia wasted no time as she dropped down, reaching out at the fiery form of a serpent that appeared in the grass. As her hand contacted it, sparks flew in every direction as she flung it into the air, dispersing the tongues of fire as she did so.

Cael, meanwhile, remained on the walls, swiping her hand at each flame to cross her path. Madia stomped on the smoldering coals where the snake had landed moments ago, before swinging her arm towards the castle. Immediately, the torches lining the castle walls were snuffed out, smoke rising from them as darkness filled the courtyard.

“Madia! Have you fought these things before?” Rell exclaimed as she raised her hands defensively.

“No, but I know enough about them!” Madia reasoned.

“You won’t have to fight them any longer-!” Cael called over her shoulder as she snuffed out another fiery sprite. The last of the Malnix extinguished, the group began to relax.

Madia huffed. “Is that all of them?” she asked.

Cael nodded as she speed-walked across the wall to the cowering Arden boy. She pulled him to his feet, and quickly guided him down the staircase along the inner wall. “I wasn’t granted the same privileges of magic in Muurin as I was here in Alarulin,” Cael grunted. “You would not believe how frustrating it is not having your full power available to you.”

Madia smiled awkwardly. “You’d be surprised,” Madia walked over to meet her. “Who is this boy?”

Kenta gulped, stepping past Rell, who was rather bewildered at everything happening around her by this point.

“Ha!” Cael laughed. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you! Or maybe you would… no, you probably would.” Cael gave the boy a slap on the back, causing him to gasp as he stumbled forward. “Go on, young man. Introduce yourself! Don’t be rude!”

Madia scratched her head. “I asked you the question Cael, not him. He looks right shaken up, the poor boy.”

“I figure he’d be better to make the introduction,” Cael replied.

Rell stepped up beside Madia, narrowing her eyes as she examined the boy. He appeared not much older than her. He had rough auburn hair, and appeared terribly ungroomed as his mane hung down in front of his face, yet he wore a deep blue silken tunic with gold trim along the sleeves, not unlike Rell’s own white gown. The head of the shirt had some sort of design trailing from the trim in a matching colour. Around his neck he wore a choker with an orange jewel on the front of it.

“Well? Go on.” Cael nudged him, a bit of a grin on her face.

Kenta stepped forward, now beyond both Rell and Madia. He suddenly knelt. “Your majesty…” he muttered.

There was a pause as the Arden boy’s weary eyes widened, his mouth hanging open a bit as he gazed upon Kenta.

“Kenta…?” The boys voice was soft and had the slightest accent to it. It was an accent that partially reminded Rell of Elkin. “Kenta is that you?”

“Y-yes sire,” Kenta responded. “I thought you were dead-!”

“What is going on here?” Rell stammered.

Kenta looked at Rell nervously. “My lady, allow me.” Kenta extended a hand forward towards the boy. “Prince Endalef of Muurin. Second born of King Mennic and Queen Allenda; the current heir to the throne of Muurin.”