When their lips parted some time later, Aurora felt liberated in a way that she could barely comprehend.

Independence.

At last, she was free to choose her fate of being at Arakiel’s side for now and forever, free to guide him towards his rightful throne so that he might establish a realm where she could at last be safe.

She once again took his hand that still held the little cut alexandrite, beaming him a confident smile. “Come, let us face her together,” she beckoned assuredly.

Her beloved nodded in approval, slowly – but determinedly. “Yes… let’s do,” Arakiel affirmed.

Inside, past singed walls and partially melted glass, he reached for a black overcoat as the rest of his clothes lay about the room, torn and sliced to ribbons. Then, holding hands, they set out to meet Nyanna in her room; instead of the seelie, they only found a small slip of paper on the little around table made of darkened wood.

Arakiel reached for it and judging the way his posture tensed up like a coil, he wasn’t liking what he read one bit. He tossed the slip of paper away, facing her.

“She’s planning to leave the plane.”

It caught her by surprise. “Already?” She asked, wondering, whether this was another one of the seelies’ whims?

He nodded gravely as a sigil formed near the legs while his tone relayed an immediate urgency.

“The temple of the Transcended in the south-western district. A building of glass and steel – it should be easy to spot from above! Please, Aurora – you have to reach it, reach her in time! Stall her – anything that lets me meet her one last time!”

Aurora agreed right away, letting go of his hands. After a curt word of farewell, she dashed towards the nearest balcony without second thought. She could tell just how important this was to him.

She, too, had to speak with the seelie.

As she ran, she wished for the winds to carry her swiftly through the air. Her soul fulfilled it and when the wooden door to the other, small balcony came into sight, she wished for it to be gone.

The sigil that formed and dissolved shot out a rather forceful gust of air, but it failed to unhinge the door. Clicking her tongue in frustration, she irritably opened the accursed slab of wood and then jumped off of the balcony while flapping her wings confidently.

They carried her high above the ground while to the east, the sun began to rise for good. Through it, she determined her direction: southwest.

With the sun in her back, Aurora soared across the empty streets of the Three Rivers, across the little chimneys, the thatched and tiled roofs alongside the plazas, the little parks and even the wider squares that held fountains, statues or other tidbits that were there so they didn’t appear empty.

The winds brushed past her, caressing her hair, her plumes and really her entire body for they seemed to pass right through her dress of light. Flying like this – it felt liberating to the extreme and she cherished every moment of it. In fact, she almost lost herself in it until she recalled the urgency of the situation.

Thankfully, there was no one up here to notice her slight embarrassment.

Squinting her eyes, she scanned the area down below and after circling the south-western district once, she found her goal – a rather odd-looking house that truly stood out against the rest.

While the surrounding buildings held tilted roofs of red-brown tiles and timber-framed facades with small windows and the occasional bay, this particular one had a flat, smooth grey surface while its facade was made of mirrors of all things – it currently reflected the morning sun’s orange-golden rays.

She descended in an instant, being possibly the third person to enter this street today, with Nyanna and Lady Mellia having hopefully been here earlier.

Even this house’s door was mirrored and the handle was a long bar of a shiny, grey-silvery metal that looked nothing quite like anything she had seen thus far. It certainly didn’t belong to this world, unless people had suddenly begun to use some kind of polished steel for doorknobs.

Realizing that this might not be the greatest of times for such musings, Aurora grabbed the door’s handle and was surprised when it didn’t open.

She pulled a little harder, but it wouldn’t budge at all.

It wasn’t as though it was locked… it just didn’t open at all.

Perplexed, she wondered if she had gotten the wrong building but that couldn’t be it. She was in the south-western portion and if there was ever something that looked extraplanar, it were these mirrored walls here.

Looking over the ‘entrance’ a little closer, she then noticed little etchings inside the shiny material but before she could properly examine them, the door was suddenly opened from the inside.

She jumped back with a surprised yelp, especially when she spotted a tall blonde man with amethyst-colored eyes appearing inside the door frame. He wore mostly white, neat casual clothes with a few colored highlights, but she definitely approved of Ezekiel’s stylish fashion. That overcoat looked great on him.

But then she once again recalled her reason for being here, yet Arakiel’s friend spoke up, beckoning her with a slight movement of his head. He didn’t sound surprised in the slightest.

“Come inside, Aurora.”

She did just that, entering into a surprisingly spacious hall. A thin grey carpet had been laid out all across the floor while the walls – safe for the see-through front – were covered with a kind of grey wallpaper which had a sort of white pattern imprinted onto it. It made her eyes bleed with its sheer atrocity. Endless rhombi chained together, forming a whole and nothing at all. Whoever designed this deserved to stare at these walls for several days – perhaps then they’d realize just how… awful this was.

The white-painted ceiling, however, was relatively high and instead of a proper lighting crystal, there were radiant tubes of the kind that she had also never quite seen before. They illuminated the room in a strong white light. Perhaps a new kind of lighting crystal?

Before she had any further time to take in the room, her eyes fell onto the small collection of people that had gathered here.

There, in the back behind a wooden counter, a dark-haired woman in the colors of the Transcended’s priesthood sat, reading something colorful.

Further to the front, on the side where a small section of the room had been designated as a sort of lounge, she spotted a pair of specific twins sitting next to a petite figure wreathed in a white, hooded cloak. They sat right next to none other than Selene, whose silver eyes only briefly looked up to her before lowering them once more.

Aurora was momentarily stunned at the sight of so many familiar faces having all gathered here at this time.

In that time, Ezekiel walked past her and sat down next to Selene, his eyes looking her over. When they found her neck, they stopped, remaining thoroughly unreadable.

The air inside here was cool, but the scent of roses permeated everything.

“Good, you made it here,” the seelie with the golden traces in her eyes said contently as she got up. She wore a loose, white one-piece dress not unlike the one Aurora had burned to ash this morning.

“What… is this?” Aurora gasped as she looked the little group over.

“We were waiting for you to show up,” Nyanna returned, slowly making her way over towards Aurora. “It is also good that you came alone – very considerate of you, Aurora.”

“Why are you here?” Aurora asked towards Ezekiel, but he merely shook his head, replying curtly. “Speak with Lady Nyanna first.”

Right in that moment, she noticed the seelie’s hand reaching out to her, causing her to quickly step back in order to evade.

She earned a slight chuckle for that, at which point she noticed that Nyanna’s outstretched palm held something, showed a pendant, offered a trinket.

On her slender hand, an opal gemstone in the shape of a tear rested, fastened to a leather necklace.

“Aurora, Seraphine of Arakiel,” Nyanna addressed her in a serious tone, her rose-colored eyes fixating Aurora’s. There was no capriciousness in her tone. Just serene seriousness.

“...what is this?” Aurora repeated, asking once more while she tried to make sense of what transpired here.

“I’m addressing you as a fellow immortal, Seraphine. Heed my words carefully.” Nyanna went on in a tone that turned slightly threatening but above all, it sounded tense. “You and I lay claim to the same Monarch and since we are of a different ancestry, there are only two ways to solve this.”

Aurora met her gaze and challenge head on. She was free to do as she pleased. After all, her Monarch-to-be hadn’t yet put any restrictions on her – and it’d be up to her whether she wanted to abide by them or not.

“We fight. I told you what I would do with you if that happened.” Nyanna went on to explain in the same tone, causing a shiver to run down Aurora’s spine. Nonetheless, she forced herself to remain calm and wait. If the seelie wanted to kill or break her, she could’ve done so a long, long time ago.

No, this was just a setup for what came now… and Aurora already had an inkling what it was, what it might be.

“Or, we share him as I laid out to you,” Nyanna continued, her tone losing its threat. “But for that to happen, there needs to be a strict hierarchy between us, a clearly defined order.”

“If I commit to this, will you let me guide him until the end?” Aurora returned, having no intention of shying away now. She felt confident even if she was but a hair’s breadth away from what would undoubtedly be her doom.

If there had ever been a time where she could have such a discussion, then it was now.

The seelie looked her over, mustered her, gauged her. Then, she responded, affirmed. “If by ‘end’ you mean until he has become a worthy Monarch… yes.”

“What are your conditions?” Aurora queried further, noticing the slight shift in Ezekiel’s expression. He seemed surprised, and not in a good way.

“First, you will allow me to mark your soul. It will let me to find you whenever I so choose and if you remove it, then I will know that you betrayed me,” Nyanna began to outline. “Second, you will defer to Arakiel’s judgment like the good little servant you are meant to become. You can guide him, advise him – but you will not order him.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The seelie turned her hand around, letting the gemstone dangle in front of Aurora’s eyes. “Third, you will wear this amulet at all times, even when he’s seeding you. I won’t tell you what it does, but you are free to explore it. If you figured out its purpose by the time we meet again, I will give you a pat on the head, a treat and a surprise.”

The fae’s lips had formed to a slight, mischievous smile. “Fourth, there will be no other seedbeds. He can add trophies if he so desires, but he mustn’t seed them. Furthermore, you may bear him at most two daughters and no sons. If you do, they will serve beside you on the day I return. Therefore, they aren’t allowed to inherit.” The seelie outlined and stated in a time that left no room for negotiations.

Aurora took a deep breath, letting the seelie’s words sink while she looked at the iridescent, rainbow-colored gemstone in front of her – and then, to the eyes that held traces of her own color behind them.

A question lingered on the tip of her tongue. She asked it without hesitation. “This mark… will it force me?”

Nyanna shook her head, replying right away. “No. I cannot force you, for you are an immortal like I am. I could try to brand you, but given your ancestry, it’d erode over time.”

“So I’m free to break your conditions at any moment?” Aurora asked to clarify, causing the seelie to give her a charming smile.

“Exactly – but if you do, then I will show you no mercy, because that is what I am doing right now – showing you mercy. Partially because I delight in the potential prospect of obtaining such a prestigious trophy like you would be – and partially because you will lead our little Arakiel to great heights.”

On that subject, Aurora agreed. She would lead him to great heights, perhaps even greater than the seelie could possibly imagine.

“I understand,” she responded.

Without hesitation, she reached for the gemstone which was wondrously cool to the touch. “I accept your terms, Nyanna,” she began, causing a genuine smile to blossom on the seelie’s lips.

But she wasn’t done speaking just yet. “On one condition,” she added.

“And what would that possibly be?” The seelie asking, the smile having taken a notable crack.

“Release Lady Mellia.” Aurora demanded full of confidence, outlining her reasoning. “She is imperative to Arakiel’s mental health and losing her would severely hamper his potential prospects in the near future.”

Nyanna slightly tilted her head, looking Aurora over once more. A sardonic grin widened across her face. “Only if you let me kiss you.”

“Out of the question!” Aurora objected right away.

“Then I’ll keep Mellia. Have her become a good little bed that will cause many seeds to burgeon and grow into little snacks for us.” Nyanna fluted playfully, chuckling with delight. Nonetheless, her words held a finality in them that Aurora hadn’t expected.

“You would throw it all away for this little thing?” Aurora found herself asking, confused.

Nyanna slightly shook her head, correcting her. “No, no – this isn’t a little thing, Aurora. If you want something from me, then you will first offer something in return. You are yet young, inexperienced and not quite accustomed to freedom, so I will forgive this slight, once.”

Aurora did not have a proper retort to this, so she just nodded slightly. A shiver ran down her spine when her gaze fell onto Nyanna’s reddish, curled lips. Hurriedly, she glanced over at Lady Mellia and although it annoyed her, she justified it with the fact that it was her decision.

If she gave just a little, she could not only help Arakiel’s little sister, but she could more importantly help him. In light of the potential gains, her pride seemed like a small thing to sacrifice. It was something she had to get rid of anyway.

Aurora drew the gemstone towards her, causing the fae to let go of the leather cord. With a determined motion, she equipped it after glaring at the seelie with a mixture of defiance and challenge.

“Very well, Nyanna. Do your worst,” Aurora replied, causing the seelie to chuckle once again.

“Be careful what you wish for,” Nyanna responded as she began to burn in iridescent flames after which the immortal closed in with a swift, playful motion, softly grabbing Aurora by her temples.

A tingling sense of shock ran throughout her, causing her wings to shiver and unfurl slightly while the scent of roses thoroughly permeated her, creeping right up into her nostrils. It was such a sweet, alluring scent – one that put a haze all around her.

The seelie’s touch was warm, gentle – and very, very meticulous. The slightest sense of pleasure jolted throughout her.

“Not closing your eyes?” Nyanna challenged in a low, soft-spoken tone. Her face was so close, Aurora could feel the seelie’s breath on her skin.

Her heart began to accelerate and she wanted to run away, but she forced herself to stay, to endure. This was her decision, her choice.

A small sacrifice – they’d all emerge stronger for it.

“Bold, I like it.”

Nyanna then pressed her lips onto Aurora’s, never once breaking eye contact. Aurora tensed up, but endured.

The seelie tasted of roses – warm, sweet roses and although their auras met, they did not mingle.

Where Arakiel kissed dominantly, immediately seeking to gain control of everything, the seelie did so in a much more subtle way, one that saw Aurora’s cheeks redden with embarrassment as a sort of unwanted pleasure spread throughout her, making her attempts at resistance inevitably futile.

And when the seelie breached her defenses, she glared triumphantly at Aurora who effectively ended up inviting the fae’s tongue in, which only furthered the rather delightful sensations that assaulted her.

Nyanna was an artist, and Aurora became the clay that she molded despite not wanting to. Her heartbeat drummed like crazy and she grew hot, bothered… excited.

And as she succumbed, she felt a single, tiny wisp of iridescent flame enter her body. It wandered right down her throat all the way to her heart and Aurora had to consciously let it happen for her soul wanted to attack it, wanted to purge it.

But this was undoubtedly the mark that Nyanna had spoken about.

The flame sashayed straight to her soul’s core, where it nestled right on top of it – and once it was done, Nyanna pulled back, her own cheeks having reddened just a little whereas Aurora’s had undoubtedly grown purple.

The seelie licked her lips lasciviously, grinning. “Such a tasty morsel you are!” She exclaimed in a voice that sounded exceedingly pleased. “Vanilla suits you.”

Her words held approval, yet Aurora could take little pride in it, for it had just been smashed to bits and pieces.

Nonetheless, despite panting and slightly gasping for air… she felt fine, besides the burning up part. But she could endure, could persist.

Wiping the spit off of her lips, she took several deep breaths and then looked at Nyanna once more, asking in a slightly quivering voice. “Is everything to your liking?”

Aurora surprised herself at her own, slightly demure tone, but when the seelie’s expression lit up with satisfied glee, she didn’t mind. Apparently, she had just hit the spot.

“Sister-dearest, if you please,” Nyanna beckoned in a good mood, causing Alanna to take Lady Mellia’s hand. She led her over towards them.

“Here – your prize,” the sister said, giving her an approving smile, the rose-colored eyes with silver traces full of what might be considered affection.

It slightly disturbed Aurora, but she shoved these particular thoughts away. They held no use right now.

Nyanna lightly tipped Lady Mellia’s forehead, saying in a satisfied tone. “Our enchantment will wear off in around an hour’s time. If I did it abruptly, it’d damage her.”

She then pushed Lady Mellia towards Aurora, who received the dazed young woman and immediately shielded her with one of her wings.

“Then we are done here?” She asked, straightening out her skirt which was, in fact, immaterial. Nonetheless, she hurriedly added the words she wanted to say lest she cry out at the revelation. “Arakiel wanted to meet you once more!”

“It is best if he doesn’t,” Ezekiel chimed in, getting up alongside Selene, who glanced over at Aurora with an odd-looking gaze, one that she couldn’t quite decipher. “At least for now.”

“Are you… leaving with them?” Aurora inquired, finding no other possible explanation for him being here.

“Sort of,” Ezekiel answered in a calm, collected voice. His eyes looked straight at her. “Immortals cannot use the Transcended’s means to travel to other planes and since you just took back Mellia, someone will need to make way for them. That would be us.”

He affectionately patted Selene’s head, whose wings fluttered lightly at his gesture.

Meanwhile, the twin seelies grinned from ear to ear at his comment.

“But…?” Aurora tried to object, unsure what exactly she should be objecting.

“Arakiel and I are still wanted by Kalanite authorities, Aurora – and while he has a House that will undoubtedly back him up after this planeswalk; I do not,” Ezekiel laid out and then added. “I won’t be gone forever, but don’t expect to meet me until you’re walking the planes again. For now, Kalanaar or really any other Eternal City isn’t safe for me. Impyrea might be, but I’m not willing to bet this on a chance.”

He looked over towards the seelie. “Besides, there’s still some things I need to clarify with them, especially Lady Alanna.”

“I understand,” Aurora returned since his words carried the sort of conviction that left no doubt that she wouldn’t be able to sway him. It’s not like they had interacted a lot in the first place. “Is there anything you want me to tell him?” She queried instead while pulling Lady Mellia just a little closer, fearing that the other immortals might snatch them from her.

To her surprise, Ezekiel shook his head, but he spoke up nonetheless. “Just this one thing that a girl once said to me: power corrupts – and corruption empowers.”

“Nonsense,” Alanna commented, having returned to Ezekiel’s side. She held out her hand and he took it in a way that probably hinted at a deeper meaning, but she found it impolite to pry.

“A slave-in-training said these words, not me,” he pointed out, shrugging. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Correct, it does not,” Nyanna affirmed as she recalled her flames while taking a step back. “Farewell, Aurora. I expect great things from you – do not disappoint.”

“Wait!” Aurora exclaimed. “At least meet with him one last time!”

The seelie, however, shook her head. “I told him everything I needed to – just like I told you everything that you need to know.”

As she turned around, she gave Aurora a wink but said nothing else.

The group of four approached the priest of the Transcended in the back, who had done her utmost to pretend they didn’t exist so far.

“I’m not getting paid enough for this,” the woman muttered in an irritated manner, addressing Ezekiel. “Where do you want to travel, planeswalker? Am I correct to assume that these three are in your… possession?”

“Correct,” Ezekiel stated in a mocking tone, adding. “I’d like to make use a portal room.”

“Certainly, if you please follow me,” the employee returned right away, sparing neither Aurora nor Lady Mellia a glance and just like that, the group vanished behind the only other door inside this hall.

Aurora knew she couldn’t stop them, so she hadn’t even tried.

Nonetheless, she felt unsure, uncertain – perhaps even a little confused.

But then, when their footsteps faded and silence set in, it clicked.

It was over.

Nyanna and Alanna had left.

The seelie were gone.

Hugging the girl in her arms a little tighter, Aurora began to chuckle lightly.

She had done it. She had actually done it, had stood up to the fae and for only a small sacrifice, she had saved Mellia.

Arakiel would be overjoyed.

This shared beginning of theirs… it stood a realistic chance.

This twilight that the fae had cast over them… she had broken through, had become the dawn at last.

Aurora turned around, turned her back to the other group.

They had their path to walk, whereas she and Arakiel had their own.

Taking Lady Mellia by the hand, she led her outside.

Outside, the sun’s gilded rays greeted her in full and Aurora welcomed their warmth on her skin. In fact, she spread her wings wide so that they, too, could bask in its glow.

She remained like this until at some later point in time, she saw a silhouette wearing her radiant soul for all the planes to see dash over towards her.

With a happy smile on her lips, she squeezed Lady Mellia’s hand and went out to meet him.

No matter what happened, one thing was for certain.

Aurora was not alone anymore.