"That's what we came here for?" Ask Bellator.

"Yes." He walked over to the horses and climbed up onto his saddle. I followed his lead, we were done here. I was thinking about what Sigurd could have meant by his memory. An item from my memories, and his? Were we making a sacrifice?

"Which direction is the river, Sigurd?" My father asked him. "South, we aren't far, another day. The river of Gwear was used often by this village. The river's fed by the sea, and it provides red coral. Red coral is what we use to create the blood stones." He explained.

"Can we eat soon?" My stomach was rumbling. Where was Aadi and his dream meat when I needed him?

My father laughed at me. "Yes, Kay, we will stop for a meal." My father knew me well. I did not like being hungry. A hungry warrior was a dead warrior. If you didn't have the strength to fight off an attack, then you may as well just hide and wait for death. That wasn't me.

We made a fire, pulling out some food we brought. Salted pork, roots, buns.

"Bellator?" My father asked him. "What do you know of Kai's plans?"

"Only what Vala told me before she died. He wants to bring the god Amaia here, and has been doing sacrifices for her. Anywhere from animals to plants, and spirituality."

My father nodded. "You have never seen ravagers in the village? Anything that could resemble one, now that we know what they look like?"

"Hard to say," Belltor said. "Kai did many things no one was aware of. I can not imagine that the folks in Parifrey would not have noticed something so evil."

"True." My father agreed.

"I doubt Kai would risk exposing his true plans by bringing one to the village anyways." Bellator said.

"I agree with that, I think Kai knows that not many people walk the same blind path he does, or would for that matter." I added. "Father? When you and Kai were younger, do you remember if he had anything he kept close to him? Like a treasured item?" I had a thought, I didn't want to share it just yet with the others.

" No... However, Kai carried around a scroll he protected like . A puzzle he needed to solve. He spent years trying to translate it..." He went silent. "I left." He shrugged his shoulders. "Anything after that I can't say."

I nodded. "Okay." I left it at that. I wanted to know if Kai had his own magical item that allowed him to stay in communication with Amaia in her own realm. Gods talked to us from their godly realm through idols, prayer, and visions. It only made sense she was doing the same with Kai. If we could break their communication, well, if we could do that we might be able to accomplish our plan of stopping Amaia, without taking more lives than what was needed.

I took out my tiny idol of Aadi that Sigurd made for me. Turning it over in my hands, I was thinking if maybe there was a small cultist group that dedicated themselves to Amaia. Was it even possible for one man to convince a mass group of people that a god no one ever heard of, existed? Of course that was possible. There were plenty of people in the world who weren't good, and in our world gods were not complete myths like mermaids and gremlins. Unless you count pixie's and browning. Then gremlins do exist.

"What if we found someone who could tell us? Vala probably would have had some idea, but sadly, we can not talk to her." I said.

"We may not be able to, " Sigurd said. " But Aadi can tell us."

"Wouldn't he have told me everything by now if he wanted to?" I asked. Aadi has only ever told me Kai was closer to his goal then we knew.

For the next hour, I tried to meditate and talk to Aadi, but it was no good. I was distracted by more than I should have been. Bellator and my fathers conversation about the best way to scout the valley. Or Aadi himself. Thinking about what if's, and could of been.

I gave up and suggested we just get on our way. Some things don't change, and that was my ability to use my magic.

"We will try again when we rest for the night. Maybe you will have less troubles then." Sigurd encouraged me.

"Sure." I said slightly grumpy.

We were making our way down forest paths that had not been used in a long time, occasionally crossing small wild life. Taking the opportunity to snag something for dinner so we didn't have to have salted beef or pork, and fresh meat instead.

I released my bow from the travel strap that held it, and then an arrow. Holding it ready in my hand, trusting my horse to follow the others, I kept my eye out for something to move.

It wasn't long before I spotted a deer grazing through the trees, I stopped my horse and steadied my arrow.

Everyone stopped in fact. Not moving, I pulled my bow tight ready to shoot, half way up its body lining my target up with its foreleg. A stick cracked beside us. I twisted towards the sound, not dropping my arrow, scanning the area the sound came from.

I could hear Bellator ready his own bow. We waited a moment to listen and watch, making sure we didn't have an unfriendly follower. Nothing moved so I dropped my arrow, just slightly.

"Do you think we are being followed?" I whispered to Bellator beside me. He nodded.

Our horses making the only sound apart from birds, I decided to lower my weapon, crossing it in front of me. I turned my horse, to find my father had slipped off of his own horse and disappeared into the trees. I grabbed his horse lead passing by so it followed, the three of us leading the horses down the path.

Loudly I announce, "We should rest a moment, We can relieve ourselves and move on."

I jumped off my horse, Bellator and Sigurd following my plan in silence. Both of them walked in different directions. I stood with the horses waiting.

It wasn't long before my father returned, coming into the woods the same way we did. "Nothing, must have been an animal." He told me. I nodded, hoping that he was right.

We waited for Bellator and Sigurd to return, I assumed they were doing exactly what we announced. Sigurd came back first, he was carrying his spear, and looked like he was in a good mood.

"All is well, Treydon?" He asked.

"For now." He responded, Sigurd nodding in agreement.

Still waiting for Bellator to show, we were checking out gear and securing items that were loose. I was wondering what could be taking him so long.

"Think we should go look for him?" I asked my father.

"I'll go, stay here with Sigurd, watch the horses." He told me and left in the same direction Bellator did.

I was getting impatient waiting. It had been more than a few minutes I was sure.

"What the hell is happening? Where are you?" I asked impatiently. It was taking too long for either of them to get back and it was making me anxious.

"We would know if there was a problem, Kaida. Let's just wait." Sigurd said.

My nerves were on edge, gripping the hilt to my sword, rubbing my thumb along the length of it. I looped my fathers lead around a travel strap on my own horse, and pulled them forward, I left in the same direction of my father and Bellator. Sigurd followed with a small sigh.

I was following their tracks, I didn't see a third set so I wasn't sure what they were following, if that's what they were doing.

Sigurd behind me, our horses cracking through the trees, I could see a small brick structure not too far from us, the closer we got I was able to see it was ruins of an old building. The walls were mostly still there, the entire building was probably just one room. I couldn't see anything indicating any difference. It was full of overgrowth, forgotten with time.

I started to make my way around the side, and found an open metal gate with a staircase leading down. Looking at Sigurd, who was following me silently, he nodded and we tied off our horses. I pulled out my sword and started down the stairs. It was dark, the spider webs alone were as thick as a wall. They were recently pulled down however, giving me hope that my father and Bellator did come this way.

Moving our way through the webs, and overgrown plants that had been moved, we followed the stairs down until we found a landing with a single door. It was open already, and I could hear voices. Not knowing if it was Bellator and my father we stayed silent while we moved through the door into a short hallway, near the end was light coming from a flame. We moved towards it, eventually able to see in the room, My father and Bellator standing in the room examining some old text on a wall.

Sighing loudly I walked in. Both men snapped around and looked at Sigurd and I standing in the doorway.

"Really? You two climb into some underground staircase without a word?" I said in a huff.

"Come. Look at this." My father waved me over.

"We think this was a place of worship. Look." Bellator said and then pointed to the wall.

The wall was covered in text. Top to bottom. I was trying to read it, but so much had been filled in with dirt and plants from years of being hidden underground.

"Bellator? Can you send a wind into the wall? Try to blow some of this away?" I asked him

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He did. He stood back and blew wind towards the wall. Some of the debris fell, just not enough. Looking at him I nodded, he blew another wind that removed some more grime and revealed more information. A carving of two gods. One god who stood tall, holding a mighty spear, wearing armor and one shoulder covering. The second god holding a Shield and wearing a shoulder covering on the opposite side. They were standing inside a triangle with lines coming from it, like it was glowing.

I rubbed away some dirt from the text beside it. Two names stood out like the sun. Amaia, and Aadi. I turned to look at my father.

"This is Amaia and Aadi. Twin gods." I said, I was confused. "How could no one have found this place before?" I asked.

"I only happened to spot it through the trees when I was looking around." Bellator said. "Not many people would care to come into a place like this. Curiosity got the better of me." He shrugged.

"Or you were guided here." Sigurd suggested. "Really, what are the chances that we stumbled into ruins that have carvings of Aadi and Amaia, I don't think i

Sigurd started to examine the wall. He was mumbling to himself as he was fingering along the text. He turned, speaking to my father he said, "A place of sacrifice to the twin gods."

"Sacrifice?" Bellator asked. "What kind?"

"The kind that good people don't do..." Sigurd said.

"Aadi is a dark god?" I asked Sigurd.

"Are not all gods capable of good and evil, Kaida?" He asked me, and he wasn't wrong. I read a book of my fathers once, written by a seer telling the story of a cult that sacrificed people for the god, Gorn. He gave them a longer lives, but it came with a cost. That's another story though.

Bellator interrupted, "Sigurd, what of this?" He asked, pointing to the same carving of the two gods, but fighting. Sword to shield. Flames behind them, fallen soldiers on the ground below them. The triangle is broken.

"I'm unsure." he said as he studied the text, his hair occasionally bouncing around while he nodded to himself. "Yes, yes, Aadi and Amaia fighting. A prophecy of one of them destroying Nef." He outlined the triangle, "Nef." He explained. "The godly realm, on fire."

He followed along the wall talking to himself, and then stood up and tried to push the wall. He motioned for us to help. Leaning into the wall, the four of us were able to push it.

With a grinding sound, the entire wall started to move back, then to the side. The four of us pulled our weapons out, in case there was an unwelcome visitor waiting for us.

My father and Bellator pushed their flames to burn brighter so we can see.

My father entered first, we followed his lead into another hallway, the overgrowth was as thick as before, and there were plenty of crawling creatures scurrying out of the way of our feet, some of them giving off an odor after being stepped on.

My father was using his dagger to cut through the webs, vines and roots. After a short distance we came to an opening, Bellator sent his flames into two braziers that were sitting on either side of the entryway.

The room roared to life with the flames. It was empty, except the walls were full of more text.

"This language is nothing I have read before." Sigurd said. "It's not the same text as it was in the other room. This is older."

"Nothing stands out?" Bellator asked?

My Father was also trying to make sense of the text. "I think this might be the same language as Kai's scroll. This looks familiar to me." He pointed to a small passage. The walls were just as dirty as before and it was hard to read anything. There seemed to be more.

"Can we blow the dust off this wall like before?" I asked.

My father nodded and cast Ventus. The wind blew the dust off mostly. Trying to read the passage again, I noticed at the end that another small carving was peaking out. I cast Ventus myself against this part, and a small wind blew off more dirt revealing a burning dragon. My burning dragon.

I looked beside me at my father, and pointed to the dragon. "Look familiar?" I asked him.

"Seems like we might be able to get a few answers here, Kay." He said.

"Mmm" I nodded in agreement.

Sigurd was reading the text on another wall, Bellator beside him. Sigurd was touching the wall then fell to his knees. His eyes changing to a milky white, he started to speak,

"Twin souls torn apart by greed. A War of Magic. A dragon born with two hearts. A godly sacrifice. One will fall with the other."

Sigurd gave a sigh of relief and slumped forward. I braced him so he did fall onto his face. "Sigurd, are you alright my friend?" I asked him

"I... I don't know." He started to laugh. Oh great, the gods have finally sent him over the edge and he's about to lose it.

"I didn't have control, I was reading..." He stumbled to his feet and scanned the wall looking for a passage.

"Elddreki" He read out. "Fire dragon." He told me.

"Elddreki," I whispered. As the words left my lips my entire body was rushed with heat, and I could feel the energy in every part. It was like a fire was lit under my skin. The next thing I knew, Aadi was standing with me. I felt like I was in a trance, unable to look at the others. He reached his hand for me, looking me in the eyes with intensity. With reason. I took his hand.

The moment we connected flames erupted from my back. I could feel them, like the flames were a part of me. I could feel the hands, the flames slithering down my wrists and arms. They were high and hot, Power I have never generated in my life. I looked at the flames coming from my body, I was excited. I closed my fists, killing the fire in my hands, as well as the fire that filled the braziers.

I dropped my hands and took a deep breath in. The flames extinguished, and the room darkened.

Bellator and my father lit up the braziers again. Sigurd was grinning, my fathers face was worried, matching Bellators.

Aadi was gone, even though I could still feel his presence as if he was apart of me. I could feel my body getting tired and slightly weak from using magic like that. I have never produced fire like that. I never thought I could.

"Now for the stone." Sigurd said to me. I nodded and the four of us left, heading for the surface without protest. I don't think any of us actually knew what to say.

We travelled until it was well into the night, we wanted to catch time. None of us really spoke since my heated situation, breaking the silence I said, "Lets camp, we need the break."

"Agreed, let's set up an enchantment around us though, this forest is full of fun things." Sigurd said.

My father started a fire while Bellator and Sigurd put down a protection spell.

"Father? Did you see Aadi with us? I mean in the ruins." I asked him

"I saw you on fire, Kay. Wings of fire." He was silent for a moment. "The vision of you fighting Kai, you had the same affinity. I think I understand now."

"Want to share?" I asked.

"I think you are the burning dragon, Kay. I think Aadi's heart gives you the power to be that dragon. Elddreki."

"What is it?" I asked, Bellator and Sigurd sitting next to the fire with us.

"It's ancient." Sigurd joined in. "She is the serpent of fate." He explained. "Her spirit is an old one. One of the first gods."

"A dragon god, Like Chua?" I asked him.

"Yes, but older, much older. It seems like Elddreki and Aadi are connected and have both given you power. Don't forget, you were given the mark of Chua as well. By god or man, it's the same. You have the soul of dragons guiding you through your life, Kaida. You are one tough piece of jerky!" He finished, smiling at me.

He reached for my hand, lifted the sleeve of my cloak, covered my wrist with his own hand. The familiar tingle of a mark being given spread around my wrist. Pulling his hand away. Sigurd revealed a small gladiolus flower. The flower of courage. I smiled at Sigurd and kissed his cheek.

"A mark I will treasure always, Siggy." I smiled.

I was laying under the enclosure, staring at the flames from our fire, I had just put more wood on making the flames dance as they were reborn, I was thinking of the heat on my back when it was supporting two flamed wings. I liked the idea of finally having a little more power than I was given at birth. IN the morning, I will try a stronger fire spell and see what the result is.

Sigurd was lying on the other side of my father, he started to snore like a bear giving me a small startle as I was in thought.. Leaning against Bellator, I could feel his chest moving as he was breathing. I closed my eyes letting the rhythm lull me to sleep trying to ignore Sigurd.

The smell of roasting meat and sweet wine filled the air. The sky was dark, and the stars were bright. Aadi was sitting on a wooden chair smiling at me.

"Some people might think I'm as crazy as Sigurd if I told them I was with a god in my dreams." I told him.

He laughed at me, and shrugged. "They might also have a dream god." He grinned.

"How are you, Kaida?" He asked.

"You were in the ruins, and I lit up on fire. Care to explain that for me?" I got right to the point. Who knows how long I had before he disappeared.

"Elddreki, She has always been my ally. She was the one who chose you. You have a courageous soul, Kaida, and little magic. This was perfect, because it left room for me. Elddreki is a part of you, her fire is your fire. You will learn to channel it. Get the blood stone. It will help you stay balanced. Stay in touch with your true self." He drank some of the delicious wine. I had some of my own, and then reached for some dream meat.

"Don't hold back anymore, Kaida. Your magic is stronger now, it's time to learn to use them. Time is running short." he told me.

I nodded. "Don't leave yet, I want to enjoy the peace of being here for a little longer. Your presence calms me"

He smiled and raised his drinking horn to me. "As you wish."

After we had sat in silence enjoying the sounds of the fire, and night birds, and finishing our horns of wine, Aadi said,

"When you get to the river and collect the stone you will need to give it power. It will need a sacrifice. He lowered his head "I'm sorry."

The dream had ended as it usually does, with Aadi fading into dust.