“I can’t believe how weak of a constitution your leader has.” Askerian sat with his arms crossed, disapproval think on his voice.

He was once again in the drawing room, sitting at the Ardent table, but this time, new faces were with him.

“She’s not weak Askerian, it’s more like, she’s compromised.” Lady Storm spoke up, as she sifted through a crate of potions.

“Compromised?” A frown marred his face as he studied the woman’s tanned face, her blond hair hid half of it and one blue eye that held she strength of a storm, glanced at him. “Who are you? I don’t think we’ve met.”

“The name is Gray Storm, or Lady Storm. Lady Gray if you wish to call me that, but please keep it formal.”

The name suits her well, he thought to himself.

“It’s hard to explain.” Knight spoke up, glaring at Askerian like the last time they were in the drawing room. “Moreover, you’re not supposed to be in here and none of this is your business.” He finished his words as he placed his palms against the table in an effort to intimidate the dragon rider.

“Oh give it up Knight.” Sean chimed in with a bored expression, his chin propped up by an emerald clad hand, his elbow resting against the wooden surface in stark contrast of its color. “He’s here and it doesn’t look like he’s going to leave.” The emerald fae deadpanned.

“It’s okay.” A voice of birdsong sounded at the entrance to the drawing room, accompanied by the sound of the door hitching, garnished all of the attention in the room.

“How is she Rain?” Seraphina rose to her feet.

“She'll be okay, but she needs rest.” Rain met Renfred’s gaze. “That alarm should not have impaired her this much.”

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Renfred nodded in understanding, their face and body ever hidden by the pine cloak.

“If that were the case, others would have been affected the same way.” She looked to Lady Storm. “Have the potions been distributed to the realm?”

“They are in progress of being done so.” Lady Storm replied with a nod.

Rain nodded, solemnly and then spoke, her words almost a whisper. “Lady Ardent’s soul has been damaged.”

A silence stilled in the room that lasted for what seemed like ages, until she broke the tension and looked at Askerian. “She’s been to Gaia many times before and never has she been like this. Just what happened?”

Askerian lowered his gaze to the wooden table, its red tint glinting in the light from the chandelier. “I can’t tell you the details, as I feel like that would be betraying your queen, however I did save her.” He lifted his gaze then, “ But all of you should know, she did this to herself.”

“She’s always doing things with the interest of others in mind, but she usually does so at the cost of herself.” Rain began. “This realm and the islands are examples of that.”

Askerian snapped his attention to Rain upon hearing her words. “What does that mean?”

“Look here.” Sekke interupted as he placed a familiar object on the table in front if himself, Askerian recognized it immediately.

“That’s--”

“Illuminara. The sword of light and purification. Lady Ardent’s sword.”

“Okay, what about it?”

“You’re not a patient person are you?” Sekke pinned the dragon rider with a gaze that spoke for silence.

Askerian was momentarily taken aback.

“This is what I was wanting you to see.” Sekke tapped the sword near its pearlescent pummel, where a singular charm stuck out. It was white, hard as stone and it was shaped like a feather.

“This charm is the last of Lady Ardent’s wishes. It can only be removed by Ardent herself, it is only removed once a wish us made.” Sekke explained.

“Okay. That still doesn’t explain anything.”

“There were three charms here before the realm was made, Askerian.” Sekke finished, his eyes sinking the meaning behind his words into Askerian’s own.

“One wish to make the realm, another to call in the land.” Lady Rain explained further.

“Angel magic is rare, so none of us really know how it happened, but we do know why. All the islands were once a part of Gaian kingdoms.” Seraphina put in.

Askerian stood to his feet. “Then that means.” He turned his gaze to Knight. “Please, I need to know if my haunch is right. The island with the lava flow, let me see if it’s a part of my kingdom.”