As the last of the villagers disappeared behind the gilded black door, the ninja froze in place and turned to glance at the battle-ready group, his dark eyes plagued with confliction.

“Nevixx! Go on. We need you to protect the villagers incase we don’t make it!” The man in the black trousers yelled out, noticing Nevixx’s hesitation.

“You’d have a better chance with me helping you. Tell Ardent to trade me places.” The ninja protested as he glared at the ginger-haired woman.

“Nev, get your butt in the building!” Ardent bit back in irritation.

Nevixx, or Nev for short, snorted and then disappeared beyond the threshold in a red, black and gold blur. Golem who had waited on the ninja, gave a nod to Alexander and then closed the gilded door, sealing the villagers inside the safety of the village hall.

“Squad Alpha, Formation!” King Alexander’s command grabbed the group’s attention, he stood at the base of the church, sword drawn. Ardent joined him, standing behind him in wait for the rest of her squad to prepare for the fight ahead.

The woman with the black hair and long sword who was checking homes before, stood behind Ardent, her weapon also drawn as it pulsed with green light. The man with the black trousers who spoke to Nevixx stepped up to Ardent’s left, unsheathing the sword at his waist.

“ Don’t forget to buff us.” He deadpanned, earning an eyeroll from Ardent.

“C’mon Jae, she’s got this.” The man in the violet cloak interjected, taking up Ardent’s right.

The sound of metal clinking echoed in the silence that followed as Mikra took up the rear. “ No, we got this.” He slunk his weapon from his back, a golden rod tapered with scarlet ribbon and colorful gemstones, giving his team mates a small smirk.

“Ellie, Jae, Mikra, and Sark.” Rain announced their names as she and Askerian watched from where they stood at the edge of the courtyard.

“Shouldn’t we be doing something?” Askerian hissed, his sword still drawn.

“Can’t. It’s like an illusion.” Rain replied, her bow still drawn.

“Then why are our weapons drawn?” Askerian bit out, not to mention the pain he felt in this “illusion” was as real as it was whenever he encountered the dragon in the real world. “You did say you were going to kill it.” His tone was mocking. He knew there were only two ways to kill the beast, the dragon’s rider, or the angel sent in to kill it.

“ I will. But not here.” Rain declared, earning a huff from her companion.

“Excuse me?” She hissed.

Etah’s third roar cut through their argument, drawing their attention back to the battle as they watched from across the cobbled road.

Black talons cut into the dark tiling of the church’s roof, breaking several pieces off, sending them to plummet to the ground below, the clatter echoing in the air.

“What’s our strategy?” Ardent asked, the other members of squad Alpha alert as well.

“We need to get it away from here, but if we don’t kill it, it will only come back.” Alexander answered, trying to formulate a plan as he eyed the beast.

Ardent stared at the dragon, a strange look on her face, Rain noticed. Was that guilt?

“You see it too?” Askerian broke into her thoughts after noticing her brows pinched together.

“See what?” Rain asked indifferently, smoothing her complexion.

“Why does your human leader look guilty?”

“Don’t you dare go accusing Lady Ardent of--!” Rain’s protest was cut off by another ground shaking roar.

The duo turned in time to see flames descend on the battle-ready group. Ardent lifted up a white gloved hand, fingers splayed. The flames drifted around the invisible barrier she set in place, protecting her comrades from its heat, but it did little to protect the grass and plants of the courtyard. When the flames dispersed she turned to the others. “Let me fight it. I know I specialize in healing and shielding, but I can fight just as hard as the rest of you.”

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“No. You’ll only get in the way if you do.” Jae argued shaking his head.

“You’re forgetting who taught me how to fight Jae.” She bit back.

Etah moved from his spot and inched forward. “Team Alpha back up now!” Alexander shouted, the team moving in unison, never leaving formation.

This only spurred Etah on more, his hunger for power pushing him closer and closer to his target. “Foolish humans. There’s only one thing that I want. I don’t want your village. Give me what I want!” His voice ricocheted off the buildings, the ground below rumbling.

Rain and Askerian could feel the earth tremble beneath their feet. “What do you think he wants?” Rain asked the dragon rider. Her gut was telling her the thing which she wanted to deny. How did Etah know what they didn’t know back then?

“You really want me to answer that?” Askerian’s voice was husky as his eyes followed Etah’s gaze. He grew silent, his heart beating in his chest. The answer to why the angel held so much guilt that she would try to give up her mission, return to Heaven by the most ridiculous manner.

Rain gave the dragon rider a hard stare.

Askerian lowered his eyes to meet hers. “He’s been after Ardent from the start. He wants her power.” The dragon roared again, this time it turned and used it’s tail as a weapon, the long appendage sweeping over the group below and knocking Alexander to the ground.

Ardent screamed in shock as she rushed to his side, looking him over for injuries. “Alexander! Tell me you’re alright.”

“Don’t leave yourself open! You stupid girl!” Askerian screamed.

“Hey! She’s not stu—” His cry was cut off by Rain.

“You don’t get it!” Askerian sheathed his sword. He lifted his hands, his fingers curling in on themselves as they shook. “Etah wants Ardent’s soul!” He spoke, trying to urge the angel’s knight and lady in waiting to understand.

Rain stared at Askerian in disbelief, his words hitting hard as they sunk in. The dragon cried out in pain, dragging their attention back to the fight in the courtyard. Jae and Ellie had both stuck the creature with their blades in his tail that he was still using as a weapon.

Etah lifted his green scaly appendage, bringing Ellie to hang in the air as her screams filled the air. The movement sent Jae flying backwards into a nearby building with sickening thud.

“Jaden!” Sark yelled out to his companion, getting no response.

“No! This is all my fault!” Ardent cried, tears began streaming from her face. She stood then and readied herself. “Leave my people alone!”

Etah turned around once more on the rooftop, locking his target in place. “Finally. Gaia will be mine!” He lunged forward at Ardent, only to miss as Mikra knocked her out of the way, getting a nasty wound to the shoulder as Etah’s talons sank in.

Ardent looked up from where she landed on the ground, blood oozing from beneath Mikra’s golden armor. Mikra was hunched over with a grimace. “I’m so sorry.” She picked up her sword, getting back onto her feet. Reaching down, she broke off one the feather trinkets from her sword before shouting the word “Salus!”

Magic shifted all around the group as thousands of stars of different colors coalesced around them, blocking out the village and everything else around them, until finally they were floating in a deep purple expanse, thousands of brilliant stars sparkling all around them, not one a single hue the same as another, Rain and Askerian somehow were pulled along with the group.

“Ardentia.” Rain whispered in awe as she and Askerian witnessed the birth of the Celestial Realm, the place they now called home.

Askerian looked around in search of the geoup of heros, his eyes landing Ardent’s form. Her body had changed, her feline traits vivid, her companions confused.

Jae, though injured and floating about in the expanse, zeroed his gaze on the angel, anger and confusion etched on his face.

“Home.” Ardent spoke again, ignoring the angry looks pointed in her direction. A loud thunderous roar echoed throughout the realm, her power calling fourth the islands beneath them. Each familiar island settled within the clouds, forming the Celestial Kingdom, and then, they were falling.

The group landed with a heavy impact upon stone and soil. Rain and Askerian, falling softly to the ground, Castle Celeste standing before them.

Askerian and Rain knew where they were instantly. Inside the Celestial palace courtyard.

Jae groaned in agony, his body recovering from the impact as his injured back spasmed in pain. “The heck are you doing Ardent?!” He swore through his teeth, before pulling himself upward.

“What the Gaia?” Ellie breathed as she took in Ardent’s state. The rest of the group landing eyes on the healer, her angelic form now on display as her wings wrapped around her frame in a protective barrier, her feline ears pulled flat against her head.

Ardent’s sword lay at her knees where she had landed on the stoney ground. Her arms separated on either side of her folded extremities. She didn’t dare to face the group now that they learned what she really was.

Rain rushed over, reaching out to comfort her leader, only to have her hand move right through Ardent’s body.

Startled, she fell backwards, her eyes landing on the hilt of Ardent’s sword. Only one feather trinket remained on the crystal shaft of the pummel. Ardent had used up two of her wishes. Askerian knelt next to Rain, his eyes landing on the sword as well.