Laying down against the cold surface of the alter, Ardent readied herself to chant the matra that would release her soul from her body when movement caught in her periphery.

A dark silhouette stood at the door to the tower, the sound of metal grating against stone echoed throughout the space as the newcomer pushed the gate to the entrance open.

Lorn Àskérian stepped through, but instead of the strong ominous man that once broke her spell, a different version of her friend met her.

The sight of her friend snapped her out of her self pity, pulling herself up, she met his dark eyes. His face was contorted in pain, his usual pristine black leather was in tatters and the smell of blood flooded her sences.

"Lorn? Why are you in pain?" She asked as she knelt in front of him. "Hold on, I'll heal you."

She readied herself, bringing her energy to the forefront, she placed her palm against his shoulder and then everything within her conscience froze and the memory shifted.

Darkness settled and then, a large city sprouted around her, her knight dissapeared in the process. Examining the area for Àskérian, Ardent found herself surrounded by tall buildings that were carved into what appeared to be the walls of a massive cavernous space.

Glancing upward, she realised she was underground. Small holes in the cavern's ceiling seeped light into the space between stalactites and dripstone, illuminating the city below.

Despite the depth, the city was well lit from the light above. The huge buildings looked ancient and yet, regal. Intricate carvings that an embroidere would envy, decorated the stone buildings, arches and bridges that spread out around her.

That's when she noticed it, she was standing on a wide bridge herself. Edging closer to the stone wall that made up the railing to the bridge, she glanced over it, reveling in the buildings that dotted the side of the cavern below, stretching downward for miles. The bridges and buildings melded together in an intricate net network that felt like art.

What in the world just happened? And where is Lorn?

"How is this possible ?!" The leader of the fae spat in protest. "She actually changed the flow of the memory? Impossible!" It growled.

"The poison! The poison!" The smaller fae chanted in unison.

He smiled, revealing sharply pointed teeth. "That's right, the poison will do it's job in the end." He cackled, stretching his meaty hands outward in a bought of laughter.

As Lady Ardent walked along the maze of bridges, she continued her look for Àskérian, her worry growing with each step she took. Where was he? And what about the wounds?

The sound of heavy wings beating the air grabbed her attention and she turned to face the edge of the bridge. A dragon flew upward towards the cavern celing with a loud rumbled in it's chest.

She fell backwards, her sword clanging against the surface of the bridge as she landed. Her eyes glued to the beast. Instead of dark green scales and talons, the dragon was a brilliant red that bled into an orange tinge at its underbelly was exposed to her. And then she noticed, a woman sitting atop the dragon's back.

Her long brown hair was a shade lighter than Àskérian's and she wore similar dark leather armor as he did. Her soft laughter filled the cavern along with the rumble from the dragon.

"Okay Esme, you've had enough fly time today." The woman said, patting the dragon on it's back. "You need to rest. You'll be delivering soon."

"Oh fine." The dragon replied. "You're no fun, you know that, Mena?" The woman laughed in responce as the dragon turned around and flew back down the side of the bridge, leaving Ardent gaping and her eyes wide, forgetting how to breathe.

"Dragon.... rider?" She gasped. That woman looked soo much like Àskérian, but why?

She pulled herself to her feet. Okay, Ardent, she thought to herself, time to use the clairvoyance. She stilled her body, dipping into the familiar trance as she searched for her friend's essence. Her breath became the wind circling through the cavern. Her blood became one with the underground currents that streamed through the cave system.

She picked up the voices of many people, different smells and sounds and she almost shocked herself out of the clairvoyance spell as she took in the multiple essences of dragons. Many many dragons, and humans tending to them, not just any humans, dragon riders.

Finally, she locked in on the familiar pull of a masculine energy, opening her eyes, she darted across the bridge's length to seek out Àskérian.

When she found him, he was in a clearing below the towering stone arches and buildings. He gripped a sword that was stuck inside a stone lecturn.

"As prince of Moria, it is your birthright to claim this sword." A burly man spoke in a deep timbre. He was an older version of Àskérian, with a beard and his shoulder were wider.

Ardent stopped herself from intruding on them, hiding behind a stone arch. She glanced upward at the arch, taking in more details of the strange world and noticed the arches were supporting, not only the bridges, but the buildings as well. Not a single building was below the huge structures, save the long stair wells that led upward to the bridges, like the one she came down while following Àskérian essence.

"Mhhhh. Come on!" Growled the familiar voice, pulling Ardent from her musings. Àskériàn struggled with the sword. Its familiar pommel gleamed darkly in the light filtered down this far. She relaxed a bit, as his wounds seemed to have vanished, his armor renewed.

"Keep trying boy." The man encouraged. "Once you pull this sword out, you can claim yourself a dragon."

Àskérian huffed, out of breath, as he tried over and over to pull the sword out from the lecturn. Finally the sword slipped from the stone figure.

"Well done!" The burly man said, clapping his hands. "Now you just need to pass the second test, by royal birth, the sword should accept you."

Instantly, the blade turned black and black flames danced upwards towards the pummel. The pummel was made of black leather and at it's base sat a dark jewel that gleamed like blood in the light. It seemed to be the source of the flames. "HA!" Àskériàn yelled with pride.

The older man chuckled. "I knew it. My own flesh and blood, you have made me a proud king."

So Àskérian is a prince. Ardent mused. A shudder ran through the cavern then, the ground below her feet shaking, the arch she was hiding behind virbating, tiny stones and dust crumbled from above. The heck was that? She thought, stealing herself against the arch for support.

"Sire!" A man ran passed Ardent, causing her to tense in place like a statue.

The king turned towards the man who was running. "What's happening Arthor?" The king asked, fully alert.

The man stopped infront of Àskérian and the king, huffing to catch his breath. He doubled over, resting his hands on his leather clad thighs. "The dragon Esme, she gave birth a few moments ago, but it didn't go well." He breathed, still gasping for breath. "She's dead, Etah's going berserk."

"What about Ainzy ?!" Àskériàn demanded.

"In pain." Arthor replied. "But she's not the issue, Etah--" Arthor's words were cut off as the loud familiar ominous roar shook the cavern once more.

"Implement evacuation procedures!" The king barked.

"Yes sire." Arthor nodded, turning around and darting off in the direction he came, not sparing her a glance as he passed Ardent.

"Father! I'm going to get Ainzy." Àskérian spoke.

"Here, take this." The king tossed a black leather sheeth to Àskérian, before turning towards Ardent's hiding spot.

She sunk deeper into the shadows, not wanting to be repremanded for eavesdropping. The king ran passed her and bounded up the stair well just as a loud noise broke through the cavern. It was the sound of a horn and it periced the air. Commotion came from the bridges above as the people began to evacuate.

The momentary distraction caused her to lose Àskérian again, when she looked back into the clearing, he was gone. "Darnit Lorn! Where the heck did you go now?" She whispered yelled, not wanting to get caught, still hiding.

Another roar from Etah sent her bolting from behind the arch and up the stairwell. How do I even get out of here?

When she reached the top of the stairs where the well met the bridge, utter chaos ensued as people ran across the bridge. Bursts of flames erupted around the stone buildings, the pressure knocking severl people over. Ardent ran through the crowd, side stepping oncoming Morians. She looked up and saw the king running towards her, his black cape, strangely familiar, flailing behind him.

He stumbled forward as people rushed by and to Ardent's confused mind, he tumbled right through her. She gasped, holding in a baited breath as he got to his feet, clad in heavy boots and continued to run across the bridge.

Standing to her feet, she ignored the people rushing by, all of them headed in the same direction. Glancing down at a white gloved hand, she examined herself. What's happening ? She cried hoarsly to herself.

Inside the poisoned cloud where her unconsious body layed, Ardent's body gave off a pulse of energy, making the fae leader snarl in protest.

"No no no!" It spat.