Theos' gaze was unyielding, refusing to stop staring. It felt as though his piercing eyes saw straight into my soul, I could feel the intensity. Though, I had no idea how I could answer his query without incorporating Grandmother Astrid's . . . untimely demise. Admittedly, I'd be able to leave the topic off the table for now, though, the feeling would surely haunt me.

I squinted, the bright light of day burst through the surrounding trees' many leaves. I turned my head around, taking a quick glance around, Adelaide was still standing at the monolith.

"My child, tell me, now," Theos' patience was running out, albeit ever so slowly. "If not, I shall take you back to the Wharf right this instance."

Immediately, I received flashbacks to Theos lulling me to sleep with that odd incantation. I remembered the sudden weigh of my eyelids; the desire to sleep settling in. And once I had given in for some shuteye, I found myself unable to gain consciousness, no matter my attempts.

With a tremoring pain at heart, I answered truthfully. "I have had some assistance," I replied with gritted teeth—the memory of the recent events that took place before the Estranged Gates became tortuously vivid.

Visible confusion reigned over Theos' features, leaving him in a dazed silence - from which he seemed to recover momentarily, retorting with a new question, "Who aided you in finding this most sacred place?"

I bit down on my lips, saddened but refusing to display such emotions, "Grandmother Astrid did."

"I thought the wench-" Captain Vhersio plummeted into the conversation for the briefest of moments, only to be shushed by Adelaide.

"That's impossible, Cynthia, the Elder has-"

Theos raised his hand, the tips of his fingers just surpassing broad shoulders hiding beneath the robes. "Quiet," his words manifested in the form of a command both Adelaide and Vhersio followed down the letter. The man neared me, standing still right before as he leaned closer, "Sweet child," He addressed me, "I regret to inform you, but Grandmother Astrid died years ago."

Taken off guard, my eyes widened in surprised. Hundreds of thoughts surfaced upon processing Theos' words. Who did I meet - who bled out beside me in that cave? And for what true purpose did Mother sent me off the easternmost parts of Crescent Isle- If the Elder had died so long ago. . . The sudden tidal wave of questions, too, brought along a sharp headache.

I clutched onto my head, receiving a worried look over from the fountain. Adelaide looked over, approaching. Vhersio met her gaze, both exchanging a deep sadness.

I was losing myself within the deep thoughts and my concentration, only for Adelaide to snap me out. She had laid her arm around my neck, sorrowfully, she inquired after my well being, "You okay?"

Instantaneously, I retorted, "I should be asking yo-" My eyes fell upon her body. The stained blood that mocked with the pure, white colouration of the majority of her attire. Her skirt was blatantly tattered to the point it looked like a filthy rag. The bangles and bracelets on her right arm were missing, along with a few other golden armaments.

Then, I saw it.

Her black eye was no more. The bruises along her arms, legs and revealed abdomen had vanished too. It was almost like they were never there, to begin with- for Adelaide had not limped over, no, she walked perfectly fine, albeit barefooted. Her lightly tanned skin had even reached a new point of clarity; the few freckles dotted around her face remained barely visible.

I tossed a brief glance back at Theos' face, still vividly recalling the bruised appearance of his cheekbones - what the hell. It was gone too. For a moment, I imagined this place being some odd oasis meant for mending the injured's wounds.

Adelaide removed her arm from my neck, Vhersio instead coming closer and laying his hand on her shoulder. "Cynthia," said she, "I've been sentenced to lifelong banishment from the island," finished Adelaide, her lips quivering in conjunction with her body.

I stared at her, devoid of visible expressions. "This better be another dark, twisted joke of yours, Adelaide."

Her voice broke down, stammering, "If only." Her words sounded frail and weak, as though even a small breeze could tear them apart.

Attentively listening to her voice and noticing the smallest of changes in her expressions revealed Adelaide spoke the truth. Somewhere along the time, tears had begun to swell up in the corners of her coconut eyes. The soft whites had exchanged shifts with a red puffiness.

She sounded hurt.

The idea of my closest friend being grievously hurt was a thought I oft refused to pay any mind to. And now, that specific thought had manifested. It angered me greatly, enraging every cell in my body. "By the Great Phoenix's Feathers, just who the killing hell made that call?!" I screeched frantically, staring daggers into Theos' back.

Vhersio motioned me to shut my mouth, "Don't, Cynthia, please, Ada and I have talked it over all day, and we've come to terms with it."

I shook my head, every cell of body disagreeing, "Maybe you have, but I will never."

Suddenly, a robust and ancient presence washed over me. "You lack the authority to oppose my unquestionable verdict, foolish girl." Spoke a disembodied voice softly, the trail of its words lingering across the area; originating from every corner, every tree, yet, most audible at a centralised point, the elemental monolith Adelaide stood beside moments earlier.

My eyes traced every corner, every direction, then remained to hover over the otherworldly, distorted fountain.

Theos reached out for the previously-black-and-blue spot on his face- while his wounds appeared to have seemingly regenerated overnight, it looked as though he still felt the impact of whatever blunt force caused the trauma. As for Adelaide's cuts and bruises, those had somehow vanished, as though she had never been stabbed by those pirate punks.

Suddenly, I was forced to squint, a ray of sparkles emitting from the top of the fountain. A shower of blue, radiantly blinding light washed over us all. Adelaide, Vhersio and I looked, eyes nearly closed, whereas Theos remained eerily still: unaffected by the dazzling brightness. The reversed flow of water began heeding gravity's command, albeit for but a moment afore everything seemed to be afloat: merging into a lustrous orb, similar to the spell Grandmother Astrid had used to transport the both of us here.

Cracks in the shape of white, curved slashes appeared on the outer layer of the orb, allowing the faint obscuration of a figure to shine through.

A flick of the fingers came from within the levitating ball, followed up by the gradual degradation of said object. The top and bottom opened up, slowly creeping their separate ways over to the middle to form a ring of water around the mystical body. Mystical, yes, it sure was. Within the orb, a being whose skin was of no mortal resided; their flesh was a deeply saturated blue, their long hair, loose and curly, reached down to their hips. The being wore a golden tiara, unlike those of history books, it more so resembled those of myth and legend.

The cascade of light had faded, blent back into the natural graze of moonlight.

The figure stepped down onto the grass, barefooted. The sole touch of their body touching the ground sent an icy blast throughout the vicinity. I was shivering in place but refused to let it show, aside for the obvious giveaway, that was chicken skin.

I narrowed my eyes, observing their every move. They had markings spread across their body, closely resembling those of Adelaide's... second persona. The runic sigils ran from the tiara down the forehead, til just above the nose, then parted to below their crimson eyes' and descending the cheekbones and down the body via the sides of the neck.

"Kanna, my daughter," yelled Theos with his spread, approaching the ghastly figure.

They tilted their head, sneering, "Don't call me that! Not with those peasants nearby."

"Very well, Undinae." I heard Theos emphasise, then saw Vhersio and Adelaide turning away: preparing to leave, as though they anticipated something they both desired to avoid.

Undinae sighed, "Which one of you imbeciles spoke against my verdict, and thus, has interrupted my watch?"

I was still taking in the fact Theos had just called her his daughter. I must have looked totally dumbfounded, with my jaw dropped to the floor, almost literally, I was gaping, almost waiting for the flies to enter.

In a flash, Undinae appeared before me, as if she had stopped time itself, moved towards me, and let it flow again. "I had not expected to see you here, Cynthia." She spoke, her voice devoid of any sign of emotion. She closely resembled Grandmother Astrid in that regard, although, she was a more pleasant sight to behold.

"How do you know my-"

"Your name, darling?" She asked, cackling momentarily. "I have watched over you for nearly two decades as I've watched over all other inhabitants of Crescent Isle. For, you see, I am more connected to all living things here on the island. I have experienced your past, I am witnessing your present, same as you, yet, I have seen your future: even to the death the crumpled feather marks."

Receiving a few worried and horrified glances from Theos, Adelaide and Vhersio, I was taken aback. Both from Undinae's words, as the reactions they had issued. But ignored the majority of the thought that she had known me that well. After all, had she really been watching over me, how could I've had as many broken bones as I endeavoured throughout my entire childhood.

Undinae began to float on thin air, small specks of water orbiting her. "You must have a thousand questions, sweetheart. If you'll marry and bear children, perhaps? Whose life essence the crumpled Crimenzian Nightingale's feather measures, by chance? Or, maybe, you wish to know what fate holds for your predetermined future?" She paused, her long, intricately adorned dress illuminated, the bright light warding off the remnants of darkness under the dying night's sky.

I folded my arms, "If you truly guarded over me, you must know why I'm here."

Undinae's crimson eyes lit up, "Indeed, I do." She cut herself off, instilling a prolonged silence in which she returned back onto the ground. This time, however, unlike earlier, there was no bone-chilling surge. "You have arrived to influence my call of judgement, and to appeal for Adelaide's well-being."

My eyes were flickering in the dark, that I knew, "She shouldn't suffer because she protected me! She saved my life."

"...And broke her Sacred Vow to me."

"To preserve her oath to my parents, Adelaide has sworn to protect me at all costs. And she fearlessly did, and I bet, she was aware of the consequences! That ought to count for something, too."

"It does. It is the sole reason she is still breathing the same air as us. I would have sought her out and destroyed her right there and then if her reason was deprived of any sensibility."

"Your reason for her judgements," I emphasised, "Is, at its core, flawed beyond the level of reasonability and logic."

"She should have feared my wrath more than that of any mortal. I could slaughter you all, Vhersio, Adelaide and you, if I so desired. Be grateful for my merciful decision."

He had lied dormant for the majority of the conversation, but he finally stepped in, effectively ending the whole exchange of words. "!" Theos' voice roared like thunder, it was a loud bang, seemingly augmented by the quietness: the lack of insects, boars rustling through the bushes, yes, Theos' sentence sounded like a cannon shot. "Undinae has chosen to permanently exile Adelaide, Cynthia, and that decision is hers to make, by nature of their mutual contract."

"Contract?" I inquired.

Adelaide's eyes darkened in colouration, the light they bore faded out. "I was, erm, I was allowed to find refuge here, long as I refrained from using my abilities anywhere near the Unaware, and if I did, Undinae would drag me back to my homeland, for me to face prosecution. Most likely, death by Ars Magicka, too."

"Prosecution? Death by Ars Magicka? Adelaide... What did you do?" I felt confounded, deeply conflicted over what I truly knew about Adelaide. Had I actually ever been close enough to see her true colours, or did she keep those a closely-guarded secret? I was unsure what to believe, but I knew, regardless of whichever truth, she was kind and forgiving, at least, to me. She did not deserve to die.

"Like I said last night, Cynthia, I never let you see the parts of me that weren't all that pretty, nor the scarred, prematurely developed girl that hides behind the facade I wish to maintain. The Ember Isles are renowned for one thing, and one thing alone." Adelaide spoke before halting. Her lips, somewhere along the line, had started trembling, her arms throbbing, "Slavery," hardly finished Adelaide, merely uttering the word pained her.

Vhersio embraced his fiancée, "Oh, Ada, let the past die, it matters not where you came from, it matters what you do with the freedom you have obtained. And you found meaning, sweetheart, you found the strength to continue fighting, turning the pain into a personal drive to keep going." He gave a pep talk, one Adelaide took to heart.

That man had always had the uncanny ability to change one's mantra with a sleight of words.

"Adelaide, your time on the island is running thin, pack your belongings and leave," remarked Undinae, watching the whole conversation with her arms crossed.

"You can't force her out!"

"I can, and she will be exiled. Willingly or by lethal force, the choice is hers to make."

"But," I cut myself off, "You can't expect her to travel and survive without proper time to make the necessary preparations."

Undinae's eyes plunged deep into mine, I could feel her gaze scorching me from the inside out. "Frankly said, that's Adelaide's issue, not mine."

"Then... Banish me, too."

The freak of nature that was Undinae broke down cackling frantically, her gaze swept between Adelaide and me, I wasn't exactly sure what was going through my mind when I spoke out, but it surely left some impact.

"Now, why should I do that?" Asked Undinae, laughing loudly as the first rays of sunlight began creeping their way through the trees' leaves, specking her blue skin with spots of radiant light.

"Because I'm just as guilty as Adelaide. I am the reason she resorted to her magical abilities, so, if you're going banish her, by extension, you'll have to exile me as well."

"Cynthia!" Adelaide growled, glaring daggers into my back.

"Very well," said Undinae, dropping her arms beside her body, she approached the three of us, Vhersio was trembling in place, Adelaide was boiling with a rage directed at me, and I, I simply stood there, waiting for her response. "If you ever return to my island again, I will decapitate you like the pirates that came for my Seal."

"Fine!" I screeched, "I wouldn't want to be on an island with some messed up ghost whose absolute retarded perception of logic is the reason for banishing the strongest line of defence!" Before I knew, I scolded Undinae, to the horror of both Adelaide and Vhersio - and more surprisingly, Theos, too.

"You remind me of someone," started the tiara-wearing freak, "And the very thought of her alone pisses me off." Without another word, the small fragments of water orbiting Undinae all launched at me: they had all gone separate ways, hovering around me in the air, anticipating impact and merely waiting for Undinae's command to strike me down.

"Quit this baffling nonsense, immediately." Theos' face was flushed with fury. An immense heat emerged from his presence alone, which evaporated all the water orbs. Breathing turned into a tremendously challenging task. "Your encounter with Glacia is centuries ago, let it go. Cynthia may be similar in nature, but you mustn't judge individuals based on prejudice, and, through this display of your desire to play judge, jury and executioner-- Adelaide, Cynthia, I am willing to take you both under my wing, as Phoenix Disciples."

Naturally, like anything the last forty-eight hours, I was unaware of the meaning behind Phoenix Disciples, but Adelaide bowed down on her knees, head to the ground.

"It would be my greatest honour to accompany you, Lord Theos." Adelaide's nose was only centimetres removed from hitting the ground, bobbing amid hovering. Her black curly tendrils laid on the land spread out like a speck of withered soil between the grass blades.

Theos turned to face me, "And you? Will you join me and venture the seas with Adelaide and me, or do fancy sailing and surviving in the great world of Magick on your own?"

"Can you-"

"Yes, I will guide you, well as teach you the basic premises of elemental manipulation, so you'll have a fighting chance if things ever turn sour, and admittedly, everything almost always goes wrong abroad." Theos knew the matter on my mind, either he was capable of making such an accurate prediction, or the wizard had the ability to read my mind. I preferred the former option, truthfully.

"Now, what's a Seal? I assume it's not an animal of sorts, is it?"

Vhersio broke down in laughter whereas Adelaide shook her head, afore planting it within her hand palm. Undinae and Theos, however, looked stern, dead serious.

"Father, please, enlighten that fool of a girl. I still have a prisoner to tend to." Undinae had excused herself before I had even realised, within an instant, she drifted off to the shack near two cliffs that joined each other at the peak, leaving a large empty hole in the middle as a brilliant entryway to a field of flowers.

Theos coughed, clearing his throat. "Cynthia, the Five Seals are a form of the most ancient of magicks. I cast them in order to ensnare a being of such malice for good, however, in recent years, the locations of these sigils have somehow leaked to a variety of devious organisations, akin to those pirate raiders last night, who are hellbound on evoking the creature's wrath."

I nodded, taken off guard by the realisation that the whole raid was solely to find an ancient relic to unleash a form of evil upon the world.

"Let us head for Adelaide's mansion and the keep, get your stuff together and set sail for the Verdus Isle. I have heard unsettling rumours, rumours that speak of a beast so vicious, it has torn even Gods to shreds."

I glanced over at Adelaide, both our eyes widened to the extreme in shock.

Good grief, what did I just get myself involved in- a grand wizard with an apparent deathwish, a floating entity with blue skin who rules the island behind the scenes, and, of course, how could I forget, crazed lunatics wishing to set free the devil's spawn.

Bloody fantastic.