The three walked away from the manor, and the soft noises of the marriage celebration became silent, giving way to birds singing in the grove of trees they walked through.

Soon, even this was quieted, as they left the grove of trees and arrived at a large meadow. The scenery was bathed in the orange light of the setting sun, with no civilization seen for miles in all directions, and felt just a bit ethereal.

However, compared to the sight of Sitari, who stood in the field beside a large rock outcropping, it was nothing. She radiated the glow of the sun, holding nothing back of her celestial awe, and not a single mortal would be unable to tell that she was an angel of a nigh supreme being.

There was also one other person who Azara did not expect to see. It was her little brother, Andreas, sitting on one of the rocks.

"Andreas, what are you doing here?" Azara asked as she and Konrad approached. It was appropriate, in her mind, to ignore the presence of the goddess.

"That's a long story," he said, shrugging, "and I've decided to let your old boyfriend tell it."

Azara snapped a glare in Konrad's direction, "Alright, well then out with it."

Konrad sighed, "As I said a couple months ago, that is a long story."

"Well, I'd say we have time," she replied, indignant with the response. "What happened while I was away in South Sukarram these past few years? Other than your father's death, mother didn't mention that anything else significant occurred. Yet half the people I know seem to be concerned about something I'm ignorant of. Now that I've spent time at home, even Astra seemed quieter and more disconnected than before."

"Your mother may not know," Konrad replied. "or she deigned not to tell you. However, suffice to say that her actions cost me more than my mother and father, Azara. She cost Andreas and your sister as well."

"Cost what?!" Azara blurted out, confused.

"The safety of this kingdom," Irinia replied. "The brighter future Valerius and I hoped to build for it."

"That isn't what I was asking about!" Azara shouted. "I wasn't talking about your kingdom - but about my friends and family."

Irinia nodded, her face solemn. "And that is who we are. We've come to ask you-"

"I know," Azara yelled, now frustrated by the encounter. ", why else would she be here, if you didn't intend to ask about the conflict that is coming. To ask me to be your pawn instead of my mother's, is that it?"

"Azara," Sitari said. Her voice was like the first rays of the sun peeking out from behind a cloud one is looking at. It was intense and unexpected, and it caused Azara, indeed everyone there, to flinch. They were all sensitive to the immense presence that came with every word she spoke. "I asked them to do this. I want to help you."

"Of course you did," Azara said. "And I'm sure that it was easy for the Queen of Ursulam to bring the Lord of the Order of Silver to her wedding. Thus, you-"

"That is not what happened, Azara. You forget, she asked me." Irinia said. "Then, I spoke to Konrad at Dreifregis' tomb, and we agreed to meet with you after everything was over so that we could have this discussion. I met your little brother after the battle and had him join us. Sitari, high and exalted, deigned to come here of her own volition."

"And you all...wish for my mother to die?"

"Not die, Azara," Andreas said. "I wouldn't want that, but she needs to be stopped."

"And what else would it come to?" Azara asked. "Andreas, you're young, you've not thought this through, surely."

Irinia scoffed. "No, you haven't, Azara. You stood by, unable to take a side as your mother threatened and coerced her way into ensuring Ursulam would not have peace in the years to come. We will have to go to war with Aericia - and soon! She was to take nothing more than the lands she asked, and instead, she has practically taken this kingdom and put it to her own uses!"

"The situation was of your own making," Azara said, even though she knew the excuse was terrible.

The Veyorn girl, now queen, shook her head. "You do not take advantage of someone in need, Azara, and you do not take more than what was allotted to you. You may be a dragon, but I know you understand this. You may love jewels and wealth, but I know that you are not greedy."

"Really?" Azara asked, rolling her eyes. "And how did you come to that conclusion?"

"You went with them, having little to gain," Sitari said, speaking up suddenly once again. This time, however, her voice was more comfortable to listen to, the energy in it reserved. ", you will say that it was for a deal, but you stayed when the circumstances should have had you betray them. You taught Irinia, abandoned your own desires for her, and helped nurture her spirit to where she stands today. Was that nothing?"

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"Hardly generosity," Azara replied.

"Daughter, I know generosity," Sitari replied. "You may not think that is what it was, but believe it, it was.

"I just did the right thing, I think. I'm still not sure if helping Valerius in a war was a good thing, or if I could have found another way to change my...I didn't do anything that anyone else, in my position, wouldn't have done."

"And that is all that I am asking now," Sitari said. "What Ezmeralda wishes, to severe the connections between the earth and the heavens, will destroy this world. She wishes to tear us from the heavens, in a way far worse than Apotheos ever did. I want to take out your part in that, Azara. To relieve you of your fate, and keep you from joining that. If you wish to turn on your mother after, you may, but I do not require that."

"And I am to trust you, that her actions will destroy this place? You, who nearly destroyed the world?" Azara asked, challenging, though she was actually confused. They weren't asking for her to turn on her mother? Or rather, Sitari wasn't. "Then what do you wish of me, to avert this terrible end?"

"The curse, or the prophecy, whichever you think it. It was made using my power, and so I can do nothing about it on my own. However, if you are willing, I may remove it. The magic is celestial, and part of your consecration seal, but I may be able to change that if you desire it." Sitari replied.

"And if I don't?" Azara asked, wondering why this was necessary at all. Couldn't she just run to the other side of the world, not associate with her mother any longer? Didn't she have a choice?

"Then, if you have not already, you will become a part of Ezmeralda's plan to destroy the heavens. Perhaps you shall be a catalyst for it. I am not Lumira, or the lady of fate - Rana, so I do not have sight that sees so far into the future, but I know that the curse will take effect." Sitari replied.

Azara nodded and then looked at Konrad, Irinia, and Andreas. "And what do you wish?"

Andreas and Irinia seemed ashamed and did not reply, but Konrad spoke without reserve. "Unlike Sitari, we wish you join us in stopping your mother and preventing the disaster that is ahead."

"I would need an explanation for that," Azara said. "Even then, you may not get your wish."

"And you will have one," Konrad said. "However, you must answer Sitari's request first. Not ours."

She sighed and rolled her eyes. She looked Sitari in the eyes, searching for whatever thoughts the celestial was having. However, the star of love, the sun, had an unsearchable soul - so vast that it was difficult for Azara to even peek at it.

"And that is all you want from me, to rid me of this damned thing that I have always hated regardless? Of course, why would I want it?"

Sitari nodded. When she spoke now, her voice was even easier to bear than it had been earlier. "Yes, that is all."

"Then why not much earlier, when I was younger? Why now? Did you think I would not accept that offer?"

The star seemed uncomfortable, a strange emotion to see from a being that radiated power and assurance.

"I do think of you as one of my children, Azara. I wanted you, just like any of my children, to make your own decision as you grew up. This is not a simple act, your very fate will be changed. Where that will lead you, even I will not know. You may sacrifice everything for this, not just the parts you hate."

Azara shrugged and walked forward to her. "Well then, change me. Do what you should have done long ago, start atoning for the mistake that was my kind."

Sitari shook her head, then reached out and placed a hand on Azara's cheek.

"None of you were ever a mistake," she said, and then Azara's consecration seal blossomed across her skin.

There was no pain or even a sensation, as the symbols and markings of Azara's consecration seal faded and reappeared differently, rearranged, and glowed with incredible intensity. Then, as the light faded, Sitari hugged her, though Azara did not return the gesture.

"Thank you," Sitari said. "And Azera, you should know that to love is also to sacrifice. Sometimes that means the ones you love dearly, who have gone down the wrong path - for their sake and yours. Even I, an angel of Lumira's light, had to learn that many millennia ago."

Azara sighed. She felt a weight lifted from her mind, though her body did not actually feel any different than moments ago. She did not know what had occurred, but she was glad that this was to be her freedom from a fate that had worried her since childhood. What destiny awaited her now, however, was utterly unknown.

She pulled away from Sitari's embrace and turned around to face Konrad. The sun was fading over the horizon behind him, and stars were beginning to peek out in the dark sky.

"Now, I must have my explanation. Tell me the story I've been absent from." the words left Azara's mouth more sorrowful than she intended, as her voice cracked when she said them. The truth was that she wanted to talk to Sitari, ask the goddess questions about the past and about Azara's kind. She wanted to know many things which only the ancient being could offer an answer too. Still, her pride and her own dislike of the angel kept her from acknowledging Sitari anymore than necessary.

Konrad nodded, then sat down on one of the rocks. Clearly, he was not lying about the story being a long one. Irinia joined them, and Andreas looked forlorn as Konrad began.

"Well then, Azara, let me tell you a story, about the love your mother was just extolling, and what The Red Mage did to destroy it."

And Azara knew, when she looked into his soul as he began, what she would have to do when he was finished. She knew that Ezmeralda was everything that Konrad had said, and that she needed to fall.