The Former Heirling of the Red Sword, the one who had overcome nigh a full score of campaigns, proficient in Runes and Ancient Language, and a secret ability he dare not even breathe mention, stared at the Phantom that just said the most ridiculous statement he had ever heard.

Of course Magic was real.

He'd grown up so surrounded by Magic that it was more difficult to imagine a way of life without magic. In fact, as a small child, he had just assumed it was a part of nature. Why do rocks fall? Because gravity pulls them down. Similarly, why do some islands float in the sky? Because magic holds them up. Why do nightmares of humans create dread creatures? Magic, and specifically because their magic has no control. Why do certain words written down cause rifts in space and portals to other lands? Magic.

In that way, it was a profound statement. Perhaps many grew up so surrounded by Magic that they had trouble distinguishing the very real aspect of reality.

Magic is real.

Daniel looked around the odd room with its cruel vivid images and rather shabby furniture. Daniel took out a small flower he had acquired from his earlier pilfering actions. Fire Flowers. Plasma flowed through it, not much, but if the flower was destroyed suddenly, it would produce a bright flash. The door he had entered from was still present. He took a hesitant step backward, watching the Phantom, gauging her reactions.

"Don't go!" The Phantom pulsed bluer, then clasped her hands. "You are not having a nightmare. This isn't a dream. You are in great danger. There are more powers to the universe than you could imagine."

Time for answers, carefully.

"Where is this place?" he asked, listening for anything approaching. This thing was not a Phantom as he understood them. But he had nothing better to call her.

The logarithmic feminine voice spoke again. "A Testing Ground. A Training Ground. A Dungeon."

Well, that told him...something. Not what he wanted, but something.

"How do I get back into the Stable?"

Then the Phantom...glitched was the word that jumped into his mind, but he didn't know what it meant. The Phantom seemed to freeze, then break apart in motes of light, before reforming. She floated there like he had not asked a question.

"What is this place?" he asked again.

"A Testing Ground. A Training Ground. A Dungeon." She said, in the exact same intonation. It was exactly the same. Was everything she said a recording of some kind?

"I need more information. What is this room's purpose?"

"To gather the ones who slip into this place, to attempt to comfort them and ready them."

"What is your purpose?"

"To aid! Before, there were massive tomes from the Great Librarian Boorstin."

Useful information at last. Boorstin was a legendary figure of the Great Libraries. His works helped cement the great experience and understanding of the Runes of Magic and the History of the Great Ruins.

Daniel was still in a strange room with a strange Phantom, the weight and anxiety of the fate of the Game on his mind, but he still felt himself relax slightly. If the Great Librarian left tomes here, this meant that somehow, this space was still connected to the Stable and the Seelie Citadel at large. Could they possibly be the lost tomes? Daniel had found a pocket where the Law of Fae was muted, but it still existed, that he still had two socks, and not one sock and a bunch of spiders proved that point. Also, if the Great Librarian had left writings here, it meant that there was a way out.

"Where are the tomes?" He asked, excitement building in his chest. Daniel had studied the existing tomes before, secondhand copies of course. That helped his unique skills grow, and that was what ultimately led him to develop and attract a lightning affinity. The Librarian had many writings, but he only had seven completed tomes. However, rumors remained that there were three additional tomes that he hid away. Tomes that would be very useful to certain individuals attempting to build new Magics, perhaps.

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The Phantom placed her hands on her hips and said, proudly if somewhat algorithmically "Don't know! I replaced them. Who wants to read ancient writings anyway?"

"I do." Daniel glanced away from the Blue Phantom to see again the cruel image of the young cat clutching desperately to the rope. A poor attempt at comforting, indeed. "I want the books. Did you move them or destroy them?"

"They are no longer present here on the first floor. They are where Master dwells."

"Who is this 'Master'."

"Master is Master."

Very useful. So useful it hurt. "What is it that you want me to do?"

"Think of this like a video game! I'm here to help you! A danger lurks nearby. You must defeat it!"

It was like talking to Ezra. He had no idea what she meant. But perhaps it was also because her words were dead. The Law of Fae was completely absent, so how could he know if it was truthful or false?

"How did I get here?"

"Through a crack. The cracks are spreading. Listen, to my tale of woe!"

Sweeping music started playing. String instruments, voices, and other strange percussion instruments he did not recognize. Daniel looked for the source, but only found a small square box. He fingered the flower in his hand, weighing his options of whether to use it or not. So far, he did not feel like the Phantom was trying to harm him, but he did not trust it. It was too strange, too foreign. "The fabric of this world is dying. This is a world where Magic is real. The lords of this world are Fairies, but they aren't like Tinker Bell. They are lords and masters of forces and powers beyond what you can imagine."

"I can imagine a lot." he interrupted.

"But for all their strengths, there are some powers that are beyond them! Nightmares poison this land!"

It was talking about Dread Creatures. Interesting, but also insulting. He tried to move the conversation along. "Can you tell me where I am and how I got here?"

The music paused. Then the Phantom glitched again, coming apart and reforming. "I am very sorry that you are here. I regret to inform you that Magic is real." She said again. Then the music started playing once more, a sweeping melody. "We must all face our fears. If we don't, then the land of Fae is doomed. The Lords of Fae cannot stand the tide of the coming nightmares! The Fae needs our help!"

This thing was ridiculous. The Campaigns were tedious, but they had happened for generations and would continue to happen for generations. The only way to stop it was to completely remove all influence from the human realms. And considering that meant genocide on such a massive scale it boggled the mind, he immediately went on the defensive.

"We don't need your help!" he said, clenching a fist. He had survived nineteen campaigns. The Fae did not need the help of humans. Those weak creatures who died so easily. Who bled iron. Those creatures whose only natural magic was in sleep and destroyed themselves just as assuredly as the surrounding fae.

The Fae did not need such help.

What the Rural places needed were the Lords of Fae.

The music halted as the Phantom glitched again. She did not understand him.

Time to prove something to himself, before the music started playing again.

"You are to answer questions, yes?"

"I am to comfort and equip you to face your fears!" she said.

"How far is it to Dunlapshire?" Daniel said, his face a mask.

"I...do not have that information,"

"How many Runes of energy does it take to generate Lightning?" If this thing was part of the tomes of Boorstin, it would know.

"I...do not have that information," again it spoke in the same tone.

"What color is the sky?"

"I...do not have that information,"

"What am I afraid of?"

The Phantom twitched. "I see three fears. Fears of self. Fears of failure. Fears of success."

She was lying. Probably. That could be anyone. "Everyone has fears like that." She...was not alive, Daniel decided. "You're a spell, aren't you?"

"I was constructed to guide you, like a video game!"

"What is a video game?"

"I...do not have that information."

Daniel fingered his little flower, "How do I get back?"

"You must defeat the first trial!"

"No. I refuse."

"You must! That is the only way out."

Daniel turned on his heels and walked back the way he came. He kept his senses focused on the Phantom but detected nothing more than it following after him. But it stopped at the doorway.

It couldn't leave that room?

The lights went out again, and the dim path was restarted, directing him to return.

"You are already here. If you do not defeat the first trial within the time limit, they will come. They wear your fears. Please, complete the trial. You will be back in bed! It is much easier! It's not safe out there!"

"I already know Magic exists." He said. "And I'm going to find it again."

Daniel remembered the gentle laundry maid, whom he had to revenge. He thought of the spiteful Jasper. He thought of Kenton, who may have orchestrated isolating Daniel and leading him here.

The former Lordling had wasted time before. He had trusted too easily before.

He remembered Kane, warm and soft against him as they had danced, just hours before she stabbed him in the back, his blood dripping down her dagger.

Foolish, foolish little Lordling, he chided himself.

Letting his stomach get in the way. Letting hope of companionship sway him. Believing that playing by the rules would protect him. Allowing what seemed to be kindness blind him.

Would he let his fear of the unknown force him to follow a stranger? A most strange stranger.

What kindness existed in the world?

None.

Dark thoughts filled him. Did he blindly trust a strange Phantom, with no Law of Fae to hold up her words? The answer was clear to him.

He had trusted some, someone with the Law of Fae, and they had still betrayed him.

"I don't trust you."

And he left.