Three years ago, before Elswith's rise to popularity was widely accepted, before Kane had left the Red Circle to pursue her own means, when Parcel was still considered an attractive candidate for the next Lord of the Sky Court, and Fredar was the one who was losing prestige, before the true pieces of the future were determined, there had been a campaign.

During this campaign, several circles were sent to a Rural place far away from the Citadel. This place was west of the Sky Court, so by the Fairy King’s decree the aloof Sky Court was compelled to send a Circle of Lordlings. Not to be outdone, the Walsa Alliance sent a Circle as well.

The Red Lord, hearing of the King’s decree, sent forth the Red Circle. A Band of Three Circles unbreakable, he had said.

Elswith had known it was to defy the King politely.

Influence was gained in defending the borders of the Fae Realm, even if eventually the borders fell. Senate had been overreaching of late, yet the Fairy King had allowed the provocation stand. Thus it was Elswith’s belief, even at the tender age of 16, that the Red Lord would begin moving to cut away Senate Influenced Factions such as the Walsa alliance.

Thus Elswith found himself on Campaign with his rivals.

This Campaign was filled with dangers. Not only the monsters. His rivals were nearly an equal threat. If they achieved greater feats than the Red Circle, it would be a stain on Lordling Elswith’s standing. Fredar from the Walsa Alience had ties with Parcel, as they both belonged to the Sky Court, but it was clear they were rivals as well. At least the infighting between the two had given Elswith some breathing room.

It was his first time on Campaign with Parcel since the previous year where they had spent a few days waiting for rescue with a wounded Mage delirious about some low-level infected corpses shambling around.

This Campaign, in a region called Dragon’s Skull, bordered a little community of peoples, some of who were not even Fae.

During this time, as lightning elements came to him more easily and his years of training were beginning to show results, Elswith was beginning to find his footing.

The dread beasts formed in massive numbers, roving hordes of twisted malice and chaos. It was three weeks before the Lordlings were able to find the spawning ground, a twisted cavern buried in the earth, with many small passageways for the chaos to spread, thus causing problems for the Lordlings to find.

“What would you do,” Regis asked the assembling Lordlings as they were preparing to eradicate the source of the hordes. Regis was in Elswith’s Circle, and he was greatly talented. His only failings were being born into a dying Court that was currently being absorbed by the Red Sword Faction. He would be the Last Lordling of his Court. Any new members of his line would be Lordlings of whatever faction claimed them. “If your home was burning down, and all you could take was a single item. What would you take?”

Fredar sneered. “We have no time to play word games.” His frame was still too narrow for his height, and he appeared more like a beanstalk than an impressive figure representing the Walsa alliance. At least in armor, he was impressive enough, but Elswith always felt the locals laughed at him. The humans in particular disliked him.

“Lordling Fredar was never very good at those anyway.” Said Parcel, without looking up from adjusting his wrist guards. His piercing blue eyes flashed to Siliva briefly, as if looking for her approval.

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She laughed softly. “I would take my family’s book of memories. There are drawings and captured images of my family from generations past. It cannot be replaced.”

Kane sighed dramatically. “There is a Chalice of great worth in my home. The act of saving it would garner the respect of my Court.”

Orville O’Tell laughed. “I’d take my entire house.” Completely ignoring the question, like was Orville’s habit.

The other assembled Lordlings did not answer, either trying to find what they would leave or something witty to say after Orville’s broad claim.

But the quiet mindful Regis spoke again. “Did no one consider checking to see whether the house was empty?” The almost lighthearted inquiry became a dark and heavy question of self-examination. “What if your family was inside?”

Kane spoke sharply, in defense. “This is a little game for little people. In this version, you are suggesting that my family would be unable to leave our home. You set that up to trap us.”

“I was just curious what everyone considered valuable.” The dark-eyed Lordling spoke. Regis was long-thinking if nothing else. “It is difficult to truly know one’s self. Unexpected questions led to the true revealing itself.”

Siliva pouted, “That’s not fair. I cannot choose any single family member.”

Regis conceded to her. “Then take them all.”

“Then I do. Who needs a book of pictures if you should lose the people to share the joy with?”

Regis focused on Elswith. “What of you, Heirling? What would you have taken? Any one thing of your house, but all else lost.”

Elswith felt his heart swirl. He knew what he would take. He would have taken the Red Sword. And he would have left everyone else to die. Mattius, the elderly fae who had reared him, the servants who tended to him so carefully, and the teachers who believed in his ability.

He would have taken the Red Sword, leaving them to fend for themselves.

Hollis interjected, changing the atmosphere. “I would have liked to see a fire attempt to burn my home. The Ocean is dark and very deep, and fire does not last long under the waves.”

The Lordlings laughed, and the matter was forgotten.

But Elswith had not forgotten.

His natural self was not a good person. His natural self was selfish and power-hungry.

So now, three years later in a Dungeon, Daniel stared at the entity:

Standing at the incarnation of his first fear, he realized that Fear of Self was a very real fear indeed.

Questions and Answers.

“What would it cost me to know the Answer that you know?” Daniel said, watching. Could he get the key free? Would this entity attack him physically, or metaphysically? Could a mental attack be imminent?

“Law of Fae doesn’t work here, boy. There is no price for knowledge, nor safety from lies. You think you can hide from me?”

The voice was decidedly too similar.

“This is the answer.”

It lowered its hood, and the lights flickered and popped and then were completely, blindingly, on.

The burns of the Fire Flower were reversing, gooey ectoplasm resolidfying into pale shining flesh of a face.

Of Daniel’s face.

But that wasn’t his face. And it didn’t look like him.

It looked like Elswith. This was a face that had no ties to the True Name of Daniel. There was no laughter or sorrow on this face. The eyes were cast in red light.

"This is the Answer." Said the entity.

This was not Daniel. This was Elswith, Heirling of the Red Sword, as imagined by the Red Lord.

Daniel's Lordly father had had other children before. Many. The Red Lord was generations old, a High Fae. He would not relinquish the Red Sword to one he felt unworthy. So he had spent centuries crafting the most perfect Heirling. He was patient, he had the time.

And despite his slow start and lack of Elemental control, Elswith had come closer And Elswith was closer than any other had ever been. But the more Daniel had seen what the Red Lord desired, the more he had desired not to be.

Daniel clutched his head as the sensations flooded him. The ones he attempted to block and recall never more.

Red. Everything was Red. The blood of the beasts red, the sky red, the earth red. Savage bliss, headspinning, nearly giddy, but so cold inside plotting how to find more foes, for the red world had need of more, endless need.

He had seen his Lordly Father’s vision. Had it placed upon him so strongly for a near entire campaign that he felt himself break under the joys and throws of madness. He had learned never to draw blood in the presence of the Red Lord.

The echoing face of the first fear. “Now tell me, Dan. What was the question?”

Daniel swallowed. It knew his true name. At least the first part.