Rio stood out in the cold, letting the flakes of snow brush his body. The boundless walls of Ravenheart reached the sky and melded into the mountains on either side. The gray stone was covered in white snow and black ash, like a painting with pastels. Rio walked through the snow, his toes crunching on the snow. Moredret was in a meeting with Song’s higher ups. So Rio was left with nothing to do.

Between a world of cold and scorching, Rio jumped down from the lonely palace. He slid down the cliff side, before summoning an echo. The majestic Elk huffed out a hot breath sending vapor into the air. Rio rode the beast the rest of the way down the cliff.

Rio was thinking. The last month had been a myriad of problems. Rio was most worried about his brother. Somewhere out there, Nico was fighting to survive. Rio wanted nothing more than to find him, but these foolish thoughts were quickly removed. Rio loved the expanse of the vast and empty glaciers. His ears tingeled from the cold as he dashing farther into the white world. He was but a dot of black in all the white.

A screech sounded from afar, traveling easily in the lonely cold air. Rio tugged on his echoes white fur and looked towards the sound. A group of nightmare creatures were trudging through the snow, churning powder into the air. Rio regarded them indifferently and summoned Ocean’s Wrath. The silver blade hummed as Rio swung it. The nightmare creatures hesitated, their movements slowing.

Fear. That was the rule Rio played by. The monsters knew that the one in front of them was powerful. They gave him a wide berth and continued around him.

‘They'll die anyway if they continue that way’. Rio spurred the Elk on and cut down the fleeing creatures. Rio could still hear the spell’s whisper over the rushing air and nightmare creatures' cries. The white canvas was stained with red. Rio turned his head looking out to the horizon. He took a crystal from one of the demons and absorbed it. Rio had contemplated releasing his aspect, but always decided to keep it. He needed to keep his promise to Naomi.

“I’m sorry for bringing you all the way out here, Winter. My head is clear now.” Rio patted the Elk’s shoulder and rode back to Ravenheart. His bare feet slapped against the smooth stone and he dismissed Winter before heading inside. The sudden warmth made Rio uncomfortable, but he continued through the tall halls.

“Mordret.” Rio called. “You're alive. I can’t say I’m relieved.” The Prince of War was in a new body now, a man with brown eyes and sandy blonde hair. There was nothing striking about this form, but with Mordret occupying the body, everything seemed a little more interesting.

“They said I’m attending the Ball with you and Seishan.” Mordret was standing still in the halls, looking at a tapestry. It was made from only blue threads, with hundreds of different shades. The results were a striking image of Raven heart. The craftsman was a master, making the blueish colors fit the fiery volcano, it was an odd interpretation that made the whole dream world look a little more peaceful.

“Did you practice any dances?” Rio asked. Mordret snorted and Rio took that as a no. The man only had one goal, destroying valor. And to do that they needed to slay the saints. Rio was not a regular master, but nowhere near the levels of a saint. Mordret, however, was newly ascended and grew stronger, already having seven cores. Rio would be lying if he said he wasn’t envious. This world was hard. Stacking the odds in favor of those who are already strong. Rio sighed, standing next to Mordret for a while. Finally the Prince broke the silence.

“I want to battle you. Seriously this time.” Mordret looked Rio in the eyes, completely serious. Rio weighed the odds in his head. All out, Rio would have a decent chance of winning. Mordret’s aspect didn’t work on him, however, Rio didn’t know what kind of aspect this body wielded. There was also an insurmountable gap in essence that experience alone couldn’t fill. The scar from their last duel stung. Rio smiled and declined.

“It would be my loss.”

“You’re no fun.” Mordret heaved a disappointed sigh and put his eyes back on the tapestry. Rio started walking around the halls, no destination in mind. Mordret eventually followed, and the two strode the halls of Ravenheart. They ran into several awakens and a few masters who paid them respect. Rio found his way back to the cold, leaning over balcony rails.

“Do you ever wonder what it would have been like if you didn’t awaken?” Rio asked. Mordret stared off at the clouded sky for several moments before answering.

“No. Because I did awaken.” He turned to Rio. “And I have a score to settle.” Rio chuckled, and returned Mordret’s gaze.

“But if you didn’t awaken, then you wouldn’t have revenge to do.”

“Then I’d be dead. Anvil Valor has no use for weaklings.” Mordred had a tinge of bitterness in his voice. Rio rolled his eyes, Mordret clearly didn’t get the question. “What was your first nightmare like?” Mordret asked. Rio took a breath of the air, the temperature cooling his body.

“A desert.” Rio said. “I was stranded in a desert.” Rio remembered the sun beating on his back as he sweated himself to death. The sand burned, the air burned, and his body started to fail him. He walked and fought in that condition, losing himself to the heat. Water. He had to fight tooth and nail to find oases, guarded by nightmare creatures.

In a sense the desert was his greatest foe and most valuable ally. There were always bigger and worse creatures roaming the hot landscape, so pitting them against one another was Rio’s greatest weapon. Rio feared walking the dunes, fear drinking from the water holes. Rio probably spent weeks, wondering and killing until he was finally able to kill the ‘Master of the Burning Sands’. He flooded the creatures home, drowning the abomination in the very place it was safest.

“It was hot, I don’t like the heat.” Rio caught a snowflake on his tongue, feeling the ice melt.

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“What about you?”

“My nightmare isn’t important, I only have one goal.” Mordret answered resolutely.

“Then what? What will you do after that?”

“Conquer all the Nightmares.”

‘Ambitious much?’

Rio rode in the passenger seat of the PTV. Awakened Venus drove, and the lovely couple sat together in the back. Rio actually dressed up for the occasion. He wore a deep blue turtleneck with a jacket over it and black silky pants.

Song probably spent a fortune on Seishan’s dress. It flowed too freely to be made of fabric, and was pulled from red wine. Mordret also dress up, sporting black everything and a red rose in his jacket.

The sun had long gone down, but the streets were brighter than in the day. The PTV parked and Rio gave Venus a slap on the shoulder before exiting. Venus held the dorr for Seishan, and Rio stared at Mordret through the tinted glass. The man looked back a small smile on his face. Rio reach over and broke the glass, stuck his hand through and opened the door.

“This way sir.” They smiled at each other. Mordret brushed off the shards of glass and they walked down the blood red carpet. The whole building was made from smoothed stone with draping banners. Each one was red and had the Valor crest embroidered on. Dozens of armored men lined the carpets. Their eyes forward, their posture straight, and their presence domineering. Mordret looked scornfully at the men before hiding behind a perfect smile. They walked up the steps and the music entered their ears.

“Lady Seishan of Song. Awakened Venus of Song. Awakened Helianthus Song. Master Anathema River.” Many of the guests looked their way, hearing the names of Valor’s rival. Seishan politely smiled at everyone, and Rio drew back from the limelight. It wouldn’t be good if anyone looked closely at them. Rio could feel Mordret’s glee of revenge coming from those lips. Everyone he turned to saw a warm smile, but that smile was anything but warm.

The effect of their appearance calmed down and Rio made his way to the food table, enjoying the time away from babysitting.

“Master Riollo,” Rio whirled around, his guard raised. Not just anyone could sneak up on a master. Granted he was busy eating, but still. The man standing in front of him bore an awfully close resemblance to Mordret, Rio almost spit out his food. His cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and he swallowed and coughed.

“Sorry. You surprised me,” Rio choked out. “It’s an honor to be approached by a man as distinguished as yourself, Whispering Blade.” Rio curtly bowed to the Saint. The Saint regarded Rio with cold eyes, his crimson cape tossling from an invisible wind.

“It is an honor to be known by a master such as yourself, I’ve heard many stories of your exploits.” The man spoke lightly, but Rio knew better than to take these people at face value.

“You flatter me Saint Madoc,” Rio took a glass from a passing tray and sipped the content. He needed a moment to gather his thoughts. The man had chosen the battlefield, Rio needed to adapt. The cold liquid was bitter. But it worked. Rio looked back at the man, his composure back.

“I am surprised that Ki Song accepted our invitation,” Madoc’s smile paled. “Even sending her Awakened daughter.” Rio regarded the man, his eyes betrayed nothing, leaving Rio blind.

“Indeed. I was honored to be chosen as a part of the delegation, Saint Madoc.” Rio let some of his feelings out and asked, “Is it true that Saint Cormac was slain by one of your own Saints?” Rio watched the man closely. Madoc’s eyebrow twitched before rising. He let out a slight chuckle.

“Sadly it is true. But don’t worry, all discourse has been taken care of. That mad bird is not a problem.”

“That’s good.” Rio let out a genuine smile. He heard that Saint Cormac was dead, but having it confirmed was all the better. ‘Rest in pieces.’ “It’s a shame though that the same cannot be said between Song and Valor.” Rio ended his facade, and Madoc did the same. They had a staring contest. Rio broke into a cold sweat, as he looked into Madoc’s eyes, pools of darkness trying to devour him. Finally Madoc laughed. Rio joined. And Rio’s nightmare ended.

“Lady Changing Star of the Immortal Flame Clan. Ascended Song of the Fallen. Ascended Raised by Wolves. Ascended Nightingale. Ascended Sunless.” Rio raised his head and looked at the entrance. A woman carved from pale stone and white hair walked indifferently into the ballroom. Rio could gleam nothing from her. He was starting to feel depressed that so many people could hide from him. Then again these were Masters and Saints.

Rio’s scanned the rest of the people. A girl with long locks and a blind fold walked behind Nephis. Another man who Rio recognized from the band Nico showed him a while back. His eyes lingered on the tall olive skinned women before reaching the most interesting of the group. The man was the only one of the cohort that was introduced with a name. But Rio thought otherwise.

He tried to peer into the Master’s soul, but something stopped him. An invisible wall so tall and sterder blocked Rio. But what he saw shocked him. Shadows. The man’s soul was filled with shadows of thousands, tens of thousands of slain monsters. There were even echoes that put some masters to shame.

‘Just what kind of monsters are they?’ Rio sighed and picked up some more food. Nephis, Mordret, and Sunless. All three of them had more than one core.

‘That means they all are blessed by a god.’ Naomi’s words came back to him. The House of Night followed the Storm God, Song the Beast, Valor the War, and now two more appeared. The Sun and the Shadow. There was one more. Rio put that aside. He couldn’t help but laugh at this all. Three of the Legacies of the gods were here.

“Where has your fiance gone?” Rio approached Seishan. She just finished talking with Nephis, and Rio was curious.

“Somewhere to bother someone,” She replied. The conversations hushed and Madoc walked up on stage. The Saint gave a short speech before the dancing began. Rio eyed the silent cohort and turned to Seishan.

“Would you like to let me have this dance?” Rio asked. Seishan looked at him with an unreadable expression, but her eyes told him she was confused. She took his hand and Rio immediately let her lead. He was not a dancer. A little curl formed on her face and they danced to the music. It was easy to follow, the notes almost depressed emotions better than humans. Rio let Seishan wander off after the first song and walked over to the food stand.

A tall women stood in front of it, loading her plate with the entire table. Rio picked up a plate and stood beside her, trying to pick out what he should eat. He reached out and stopped, as the food was already taken.

“Sorry.” The woman said, taking another plate. Rio reached for another and she took that one too.

“Perhaps trying out the pork over there. The sea food here is more for tasting than filling up on.” Rio said. Raised by Wolves finally met his eyes and she smiled. She didn’t say anything and loaded the rest of the food up before sauntering off to the next table. People came by not ten seconds later, restocking the table. Rio walked over to the next table. The Master had already finished half her food, and was loading more.

“Do your parents starve you or something?”

“Stop bothering me Sunny.” She said through a mouthful of food.

“Sunny?” The woman looked at him again, then it dawned on her.

“You’re not doofus.”

“I would hope so.” So that was the man's name. Sunny not doofus.

“I’m Riollo, but you can call me Rio.” The women took a bite before speaking.

“Effie.” She answered. ‘Now what?’ Rio thought. He’d come over here for food, but now he’d forgotten that.

“You want to dance?”