Days passed and the scholar still did not return. Tianna threw herself into her other studies and grew strong enough in her self-defense to start training outside the base. There were a few things she was warned to always keep in mind in the forest. Firstly, never go alone. Second, be careful of the tree with red-tipped leaves. They are carnivorous. Lastly, if you are ever lost, follow the cats to safety.

It was a strange set of rules but Tianna promised to keep them. She received permission take walks around the edge of the base accompanied only by cats, but she was never to enter the treeline without a warrior guide. This rule was also easy to follow until Tianna saw her.

A woman in a royal blue cloak stood just within the treeline. He apparel was of great quality, with embroidery shimmering in the patches of sunlight. The woman’s face was hidden in the deep hood, but Tianna was curious.

She approached with caution at first, staying just beyond the treeline. “Who are you?”

“I am Natina,” the woman replied, “I have come here to meet you.”

“Did you want to come inside?” Tianna offered.

The woman shook her head. “I cannot leave the forest.”

“Why not?” Tianna asked, a hint of suspicion slipping into her tone.

“Only those with express permission may enter there,” Natina informed her, “You are a special case in many ways.”

Tianna agreed, she still knew better than to foolishly trust the stranger. “Why have you come to meet you?”

“I have come to teach you what no one else can,” Natina answered, “Something you desire to learn.”

Could she mean the Queen’s magic? No, that was impossible. Only Queens and their direct descendents could learn it. Unless there was another like Tianna with special circumstances, that is.

“You don’t seem to believe me,” Natina noted.

“I find it a bit difficult to,” Tianna admitted, “You appeared out of nowhere when I need you most. If I was younger I might call it fate or providence, but now I just find it suspicious.”

“And you should,” Natina assured her, “I never would have known to find you had my connections not been alerted by the Black Wolf.”

Tianna flinched slightly. Him again. He was always at least one step ahead. “What is it that you plan to teach me?” she inquired.

“Are you familiar with the legend of the founding of Althedor?” Natina asked.

“Yes, the dragons were lonely and brought humans here. One of them became the Queen, right?” Tianna recalled.

“So just the simplified version they tell children,” Natina stated, “Allow me to tell you the tale that is passed down by the Queens. You will find no lonely dragons in this version.”

Tianna nodded and subconsciously stepped closer to the trees.

"Long ago, dragons lived in peace with the ancient ones, but that peace was broken by a terrible curse called taint that caused the ancient ones to lose their minds and destroy themselves. Left in the ashes of their destruction, the dragons feared a similar fate and searched the universe far and wide for someone or something that could resist the taint.

They found fairies, unicorns, phoenixes, and many other magical creatures that boasted of strength, but none could resist the taint. At long last, one dragon came back with humans from a far distant world known as Earth. Though they did not have any strong magic or outstanding skills, they were immune to the taint.

Once it was discovered humans could share this immunity with others, the many magical creatures shared their magic with the humans in return. The humans took to magic incredibly well, though each was able to use it differently.

Unfortunately, due to the dragon's great search, the worlds were now connected. What was done could not be undone, so the creatures elected the strongest human, a woman who had connected with the powers of both magic and nature itself, to be their mediator. They gave her the title of Queen and vowed to obey her will. Thus, Althaedor was born."

As Natina told her story, Tianna had noticed something moving in the shadows behind her. It looked like a cat, no, a lynx. For a brief moment it stepped into the light and Tianna let out a small gasp. The lynx appeared to be made from shadows itself.

“Have you ever heard of shadow creatures?” Natina continued, “Many believe that the taint turned into the creatures we now know as shadows, but the legends never tell what the taint was. This story, however, is why the Queen must always have human in her blood and be able to use the powers of nature.”

“Is that…?” Tianna could not get the rest of her question out as she stared at the shadow lynx.

“Yes. That is a shadow creature, and my partner,” Natina confirmed, “She is also the reason I cannot leave the cover of these trees. People like me who have made a contract with shadows no longer belong to the world you live in.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Tianna demanded.

“Think on the story I told you. When I return, I want you to tell me why I told it to you.”

With those words, Natina vanished into the shadows. Tianna darted forward to try and catch her, but the trees were too thick and close together. That, and Tianna thought she saw Natina fall into the shadows themselves.

One question had been answered. The reason the scholar did not speak any further on the idea of shadow partners was likely their cursed and taboo nature. Were shadows really a manifestation of the taint from the legend?

The bit about shadows was tacked on, almost as an afterthought. That can’t have been what Natina was trying to tell her. Tianna tried to recall the part about the first Queen. “The most powerful human,” she mumbled to herself, “both magic and nature. Is it nature? But what does that mean? There are plenty of elementals, and a lot of magic is based off of nature as well.”

Something rubbed against Tianna’s ankles and she jerked slightly before realizing it was her cat guide. “Right. I need to head back.” She carefully stepped out of the treeline, still deep in thought.