She sat there between the parapeted stone spires. The soft trickle of water from the flowing stream that hugged the sides of the stairwell helped to calm her troubled mind. The sound brought her a sense of peace.

Perhaps that is why the tiny canals were magicked into existence when she made her second wish. Ardent loved this spot. From here she could watch the musings of the people below in the square and watch the islands in the distance, watch over her kingdom and guard it.

"Do you always come out here?" Àskériàn's voice broke the silence as he sat down beside her. She glanced at him and then fixed her gaze back toward the void, her brown eyes focused on the portal that floated in the distance beyond the edge of her kingdom, a small golden orb.

"You could say that" She answered softly. "It's one of my favorite places."

"Everyone keeps saying that you created this realm." He said, taking in the view that she had been admiring moments ago. "How did you do that?" He asked.

She grew solemn, hesitated and then pulled Illuminara from its sheath. The metalic scrape permeated the air between them.

He tensed beside her, unsure of what she was going to do next. "When angels are created," She began, her tone soft.

She placed the sword across her lap, her legs bent, and feet placed on the steps below, the gray color of stone almost syncing with the white fabric of her boots and ankle wings.

The sword seemed to be at home as its pommel and blade matched the white fabric of her skirt where she placed it. The chiffon beneath the top layer of fabric, created a fluff under the metal, as if it were resting against a pillow in a display case. The intricate gold and red embellishments from her woolen cloth, brought out the small amounts of color along the weapon.

"God gives them three wishes." As she said this, she brought her delicate pale fingers to the blade's white and gold guard.

He watched her movements and then he noticed as she stopped above the guard where a... feather stood. Just barely noticeable against the pearlescent tone gleaming off the blade. As she fiddled with it, he also noticed it seemed to be hard and not soft at all.

"I spent my first wish on this realm, thus creating the portal. I spent my second wish on a home, thus creating this island and the others below." Her gaze never left her sword as she traced the outlines of the hard feather.

"And your third wish?" He asked curiously. "I still have it." She replied and her fingers came still on the object, and she poked it softly.

"Then logically you could wish them back, the ones who left." His gaze was somber.

"No." She replied as she lifted her gaze to face him.

"As an angel I do not wish to interfere with God's gift of free will." She glanced down at the platform. Many people carried on about their business, occasionally stopping to wave at them as a silence overtook them.

"The wishes are more complicated than that." She finished before asking him, "So, Mr. Àskériàn, what do you wish to do? Do you wish to be a full human again?" She paused. "How did you become part dragon anyway?"

"That is classified." He retorted.

"Of course, it is." She said, her voice took on an irritated tone. She got to her feet.

"You know, you’re cute when you’re angry." He teased.

She glared at him." I do not like your sarcasm Mr. Àskériàn." She growled.

"I wasn't being sarcastic." He chortled. If she was going to be cynical about herself, then he would do the same. Afterall, he came here on one mission only, he didn’t need for her to know his secrets.

Two knights walked past Ardent as she walked through the square. They greeted her and continued towards him.

One was taller than the other, older as well, Sir Pai. He dawned a navy fighter's tunic with green threading around the seams. Black pants, whose legs fit snuggly inside the pair of navy leather boots that went up to his knees, green laces were tied evenly. A black belt stretched on his waist and was tied at the side.

His uniform faired nicely against his dark complexion, his dark hair and vibrant green eyes gave him a subtle look. One hand was dawned with a golden ring encrusted with an emerald that matched the color of his eyes. On the other hand, was a similar golden ring with a ruby sitting on its band. He was tall, but not nearly as tall as Àskériàn.

The other knight, who seemed to be younger, Sir Sekke, wore thick cobalt leather armor. A silver tunic that was lined with the intricate threading of a wolf in deep blue. His pants were cobalt as well, and on his back was a silver cape clasped at his chest with the emblem of Paladan, a wolf with a sword in its mouth. At his waist was a sword that rested in a silver sheath. His hair was a soft color between blond and brown and his eyes were a silvery blue.

"Yo!" Pai called in greeting. Àskériàn lifted himself to his feet. "Hello." He responded as he turned to face the duo.

"We heard there was a new citizen in town who wanted to become an Ardent knight." Pai continued.

Àskériàn regarded the two men. "Yes." He replied, before one of them held out his hand. "Name's Pai." The knight said introducing himself. "This here is Sekke." He said gesturing to the younger knight with a nod of his chin.

Àskériàn nodded his head in greeting to Sekke. "I think there might be something we can do to help you become a knight of the Ardent Table." Pai said with a smile as interest lit up Àskériàn's face.

As Ardent passed through the square, her footsteps took her down a road of memories. Painful memories, ones that she tried not to dwell on, but now she was banned from going to Gaia alone, she could try but she had a feeling her knights would stop her. How was she going to find her loved ones now?

Distracted by her thoughts, she ended up wandering into the hall of memoirs. Where paintings of Ardentian Celestials who left or died were hung along the walls of the long corridor.

She paused, realizing where she was, a familiar feeling coiled its way up to her heart. A concerned Lady Storm watched from above on the library catwalk, Lady Ardent hadn't seemed to notice her.

She hid herself behind the stone beam holding the ceiling up to the large hall.

Of all the places for you to be right now, this is definitely not it. Storm thought to herself. Even when she wasn't looking, Ardent's people were still watching over her.

The sound of footfalls echoed down the hall as Lady Seraphina came running down the three-way-split staircase. She didn't seem to notice Storm either.

Pride began to swell itself inside Storm, her hiding skills were getting better.

"Lady Ardent!" Seraphina exclaimed; she grabbed her queen's hand. "It's time to train." She shouted as she pulled the confused angel along.

"Wha...." was all the queen could manage to get out. Storm was amused and found a smile tugging itself on her lips.

It was up to her and the other knights to pull their leader from her slump. She watched them disappear around the corner and under the library floor as Seraphina pulled her towards the arena.

"You'll be yourself soon dear Miss." Storm whispered.