I awoke in a dark room, but I felt the energy I had lost restored. I sat up spotting Tigra sleeping soundly in the bed opposite, she could always fall asleep anywhere. I stood up wondering over, gazing fondly at her.

I reached my hand down, gently stroking her cheek, she stretched then grabbed hold of my hand, her eyes opened, gleaming in the dull light.

“Going to tell me about yesterday.” She shuffled over. I hesitated, but she pulled me down to lie beside her. “Link, Raziel and Arata are on watch why are you worried?”

“Just want to keep you safe.” I laid on my side so we could face one another.

“I do wish you would stop worrying, I have faith in you, think of all the foes you’ve fought before, you’re a powerful warrior with powerful talismans,” she smiled.

“Skyrus has a serious problem, you remember how I told you about a condensed dark crystal.” She nodded. “From what I can tell, Vali has been passing it around to those in Anamothra, the dark power corrupting them in a matter of days.” I had already seen all those already infected in that room. “In that room were those who were already infected, turned completely by the darkness, even damaging their core.”

“Their core?” wondered Tigra.

I reached my hand over, pointing to the centre of her chest. “The core is what your soul rests within, once the darkness damages the core it can infect your soul and then the eternal dragon can manipulate and control you,” I mentioned.

“I see, what about dad’s core?” asked Tigra.

“It was indeed damaged, but dad and I sorted that out, so no need to worry,” I reassured her.

“What’s next then,” questioned Tigra.

“We need to find the dark crystal, there might even be a source of dark crystals here, which would mean hundreds could be infected.” I began thinking about it. “I need to find Vali first or perhaps his dark crystal as that would prevent him from having a monstrous transformation like the others, don’t really want to do that.”

“One more question,” she gazed at me.

“What?”

“If the corruption can be this fast with this condensed dark crystal, then why not give one to dad.” She had a point, but I had no answer for her, so all I could do was guess.

“Alton’s not one for wearing jewellery or Dumah gets a kick out of the suffering the slow transformation causes.” I shrugged. “I can only guess, I don’t know.” I smirked. “Don’t go putting on any strange jewellery from strangers.”

“Why would I do that when I am already wearing the most valuable thing I own.” I already knew she was referring to the pendent I had given her as my betrothal gift, I reached my hand over to pick it up, but she leaned in close for a kiss.

-

When the first rays of the sun shun through the windows Rockray knocked on the door, luckily, I was already up, while Tigra even though she often got up early decided to have a lie in after all she had no royal duties to perform here.

I exited the room so she could get ready, I smiled. “Morning Rockray.”

“You didn’t stay in there all night.” He gave me a weird look.

“Yeah.” I shrugged. “I’ll tell you now, Princess Tigra and I have been friends since were children, it does not bother her in the slightest that I snoozed on the sofa.” I acted as if it was nothing, but I suppose in his eyes it was rather strange to be so close to her.

“Friends,” he nodded. “More than just a Guardian then.”

“Best friends,” smiled Tigra as she came out.

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“Decided to get up then,” I glanced at her.

“Indeed,” she nodded. “It would be unwise for me to sleep in for too long.” She turned to Rockray. “Fang would like to be taken to the princess’s quarters to see if he can locate the source of the problem.”

“I will take you wherever it is you want me to,” said Rockray.

“Your highness, please enjoy the sights of the city while I do my investigation,” I said.

“Excluding me.” She sounded annoyed.

“Please.” She snorted as Link came over; he had just switched with Dash.

“This way.” Link bowed. Tigra reluctantly headed off and I went in the opposite direction with Rockray, wishing I could be the one going out with Tigra around Anamothra, perhaps when all this trouble was over with.

“Down to business,” I said. “From what I have seen already it is obvious that the princess was the first to be inflicted with this infection of dark energy.” Rockray nodded. “Can you tell me with she has come into contact with an Avis called Vali?”

“She has not to my knowledge,” he shook his head. “I can tell you this, our ancestors remember Vali, his form and attitude have not changed since back in the times of Fang, and he is forever banished from this city.”

“You all remember that.” I was stunned.

“Our tie to the sacred animals shares this knowledge with us, we even still worship the goddess, seems Cathopia has forgotten all of that.” I shrugged not sure how to respond. “Here we are.” Rockray slid open the door to reveal the princess’s large and luxurious room.

Large posted bed, decorated with pinks, the wooden furniture were all in dark tones, at far end was her own private bathroom and walk in wardrobe packed full of dresses, this felt much more fancier than Tigra’s room.

I glanced around scanning for any dark energy, drown to a side table and mirror, a small box made from different woods. I lifted the lid to see inside red velvet, filled with necklaces and bracelets; there amongst it let off a fleck of dark energy.

This was where the dark crystal had been kept, or perhaps placed without her even knowing it, setting her up for what happened next. I turned to Rockray who was standing by the door.

“Who has access to this room?” I asked.

“Anyone who lives within the palace, don’t exactly lock doors,” responded Rockray. “But mainly servants come in to straighten the room when she isn’t using it.”

“Any of them remotely similar to Vali?” I questioned.

“On him again.” He shook his head. “He is forbidden within in these walls, if we missed him the sacred animals wouldn’t.”

“That crystal got here somehow, it’s a part of him, allowing the eternal dragon to possess her.” I felt frustrated that even those the situation was quite serious they didn’t have a clue.

“It doesn’t matter if he is forbidden, he’ll find away the darkness always does.” I twisted back to the small essence of darkness, hovering my hand over it, closing my eyes, the room was silent as I tried to sense the crystal’s location.

I was hoping my clairvoyance would allow me to see when this all started and where it would end. Taking in calming breaths, ignoring the eyes of Rockray upon my back. I began to see little glimpses of something.

The princess had been away on official business, visiting a nearby village of Avis where she met with a lonely Avis handing out jewellery from what I could see and sense, it was all made from dark crystals, the market was still out there, but it would take months even years for those crystals to damage one’s core and corrupt the soul.

My instincts instantly knew that it was Vali, appearing to be a poor old Avis, he generously handed out the condensed crystal as a gift to her. I noticed in the vision that Rockray was the one who had accompanied her. I would question that in a moment, what I needed to see was where it went after her.

The condensed crystal the princess had worn quickly consumed her, at first making her ill over days of coming home, and then changing her personality allowing the eternal dragon in to damage her core and enter her soul.

Skyrus had her taken to where I had seen her yesterday, the crystal left within this jewellery box where it called to its next victim, a servant cleaning the room was drawn to the voice within, she took it without even thinking about it, stealing an item currently owned by royalty.

From that servant it went to another and another, sometimes from one servant to the other, or dropped in the street where a civilian would pick it up next. It went on like this for months, anyone showing the same signs as the princess would be thrown away where unbeknownst to them that were continued to be exposed by the amass of dark energy within the princess from the eternal dragon beginning to take root within her; Skyrus should have called for help sooner.

Quickly it flashed to the city, moving steadily, having created some sort of connection. It was on the move flying down, zooming through the city, but came to a stop, hiding behind a market stall. I could hear it whispering, searching out the next one it wanted to infect.

It had found one and I didn’t like who it was, as it creeped around the corner to look at Tigra, shopping happily with Link, who was clearly on guard.

I shook the vision off and headed for the door. I couldn’t waste a second when Tigra was in danger.

“Fang, what’s wrong?” Rockray ran after me.