“Do you understand why you’re standing there Sean?” Ardent’s voice was calm as she addressed her subject from where she sat behind her large mahogany desk, her hands folded in her lap, her back straight and posture upright.

“Partly, but how was I supposed to know you weren’t in danger?” He countered her with another question.

She sighed then. “Knight and Seraphina are the one’s to start battle. You’ve been told this by them and now, I, am telling you. From now on, wait for their signal.”

Sean crossed his arms over his chest. “And what about the elf? She was going to attack me and yet, you let her go.”

Ardent’s sharp eyes bore into Sean’s pale face. “The moment you decided to throw weapons was the moment that you caused danger to fall on me. Rain was doing her job as a knight, as you should have. You were a threat in her eyes. Protecting me is your first priority. I understand that you were trying to do so in the first place, but you became a threat yourself.”

Sean averted his gaze and decided to stare at one of the bookshelves that lined the walls. He was recently made one of the Ardent twelve due to his affiliation with the Fae. They seemed to respect him, which gave him an edge, but he was also always in Ardent’s office getting reprimanded.

“ Let this lesson be your last. Please. You may go now.” As the knight turned to leave, Ardent stopped him. “You’re forgetting something.”

Sean turned around to find his javelin placed along her desk. A smile stretched across his face. “Thank you, m’lady.”

Ardent nodded before adding, “One more thing. You owe Askerian an apology. I will see to it that this deed is met.”

With a hesitant nod of his head, Sean opened the door to Ardent’s office. On the other side, stood the very person he was supposed to apologize to. But instead of doing so, he darted off down the hall, leaving an exasperated angel with a twitching eyebrow.

“I hope you’re feeling better.” Ardent greeted her new companion.

“Yes, much better, thank you.” Askerian spoke as he took in the large room. The ceiling was red, as was the floor, much to his surprise, but everything on this part of the castle seemed to be decorated with that color, the same quartz molding he was getting familiar with danced around the top of the wall.

Behind Ardent, a large window, slept behind a set of red curtains. Bookshelves lined the walls of the spacious room, the books seemed to be journals of some kind. Occasional paintings stood watch here and there on the wall. Another grandfather clock, carved out of mahogany wood stood by a door, leading to another room.

On Ardent’s desk, were several books and an ink well, along with a quill. He guessed she must be logging the day’s events.

The click of the lock on the door sounded, catching Ardent’s attention. She gazed at Askerian with confusion. “What are you doing?”

“It’s my turn to ask questions, and this ensures I get answers.”

She gave him a bemused look. “Okay then.”

“First,” He said, as he pulled up a wooden chair, “you said you made this realm. How?”

“Magic, Askerian.”

He tapped a finger on his chin in contemplation, before he asked another question.

“The islands that are in this realm, what are they doing here?”

“Why do you ask?”

“No, I’m the one with the questions.” He fixed Ardent with a look that booked no argument.

She pursed her lips and hesitated before answering. “I did that, and before you ask,” she said with a glare, “I don’t know how I did it.” She went back to writing in the book she was working on.

“What do you mean you don’t know!? You just poof and puff and suddenly, land that shouldn’t be here is here? It’s highly unnatural.”

Sadness rested itself in her eyes. “I did it when I made a wish.”

“A wish.” He repeated the word in disbelief.

“Yep. By the way, since you’re new here, I’ll need to give you a run down of the rules, but I’ll let my knights do that. You may also have them escort you to that island, if it really is a part of your home, then maybe you can provide insight on it.”

“Insight?” The confusion was thick on his tongue.

“Do you really think I meant to summon islands to this world? I may have wished for home, but I never expected for twelve other islands to just pop into the realm.”

“So you say.” He seethed.

Ardent narrowed her eyes at his accusing tone. “You know nothing of me or my realm, yet you followed me here. I suggest you show a bit more respect.”

“I followed you to keep you from hurting yourself, and what do I find? A whole kingdom, which you seem to be the queen of and you would have given it all up. What for? Pride?”

Golden fire erupted in her brown eyes as Ardent fought back her emotions. “As I said, you know nothing.” Her voice heavy.

“What would your people think if they knew? That you were willing to throw them away like that?”

“I’m not the one throwing people away! Do you really think I like seeing them disappear, or know that at some point they will go back to that realm and I may never see them again?”

“Then go get them.”

“I can’t! I tried. You saw what I found!”

“You mean, did I see an angel throwing in the towel? Yes, I did see that.”

“I was already at death’s door Askerian. I figured moving it along wouldn’t hurt.”

He was taken aback by that statement. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that the other realm is toxic to me now. If I’m there for prolonged periods of time, I either lose my memory, or skip it and go straight to dying.”

A silence stretched between them before he spoke again. “How can that be? Angels don’t just die.”

“Again, Askerian, you know nothing.” She stood then from her desk and walked to the door before opening it. “Please leave. I need to rest. Don’t forget to check out that island of yours.”

He wanted to argue more, but he realized just how much of a toll, their confrontation had taken on her, and without saying another word, he exited her office.

Before he could turn and say anything else, the door was shut and a “click” sounded from the other side. Ardent had locked him and everyone else out.