This was a birthday gift for Redtrinity from Tiamat Elyos.

It's a crossover of Aion and Magic: The Gathering.

Firemind's Game

The days of the solstice festival were coming closer much faster than Shien anticipated. Every single detail she had to deal with was proving more difficult with each passing day. Inviting performers looked easy, everyone wanted to be part of an event that didn't occur in a long time. But aligning them to available places and timeslots was impossible. Some were available only in the morning, some could perform only in the night, some required open sky, some sheltered stage. And the worst part were their quarrels. One group didn't like other, so they claimed very loudly, that if she puts them on one stage with them, even if their performances were on different days, they won't participate. And in the meantime she had to deal with the neverending requests from guests and merchants. She took her map of Pandaemonium with notes and tried to solve the puzzle, before going to sleep. But the more she looked at it, the more she couldn't take her eyes off of twelve strange symbols and a glowing line between them. Wait, this isn't Pandaemonium at all! When she realised that, the world around her became black.

~ x ~

Rain was quite rare in Danaria, but when it started, the sky wouldn't clear sooner than few days later. The water was pouring from the clouds for third day already and Trinity found herself bored. She read all her notes about the Hyperion research at least twice and nothing she could think of would relieve her from her boredom. She picked one of her notes at random, it was a map of Danaria with highlighted archaelogical sites where Hyperion parts were found. There were exactly twelve of them and thin glowing line was connecting them all. Why are there streets and buildings in the Keliden swamp? She tried to figure out this strange phenomenon, when all lights around her suddenly vanished.

~ x ~

She woke up, no, more precise description would be appeared in an unknown place. The last thing she remembered was sitting on her chair strudying map of Pandaemonium, then as if she blinked and suddenly she was standing here, on a giant stone disc with glowing symbols she has never seen before. She instinctively touched her right wrist to ensure her magic crystal was still there. The presence of her only weapon calmed her down a bit. It wasn't a direct weapon in a sense of hitting something or shooting projectiles, but it enhanced her ability to channel aether and her spells, either for attack or defense, were more powerful.

She carefully looked around to see something, that would help her to identify where she was, but she could see only stars above and grey fog below the disc. She started walking and the glow of runes in the stone changed. The longer she walked on the edge of this disc, the more she was convinced there was some pattern in the glow. She made few more steps and when she was sure, she put her foot on one of the symbols. A white light erupted from it and within few seconds she appeared on a wide street with arches over it and lined with bushes and trees. There were five arches in total and on each of their columns there was a symbol. She remembered she had seen them before, but couldn't place their meaning.

Suddenly she saw another flash of light about ten meters in front of her and a person stepped out of it. She had long black ornate dress, messy hair of the same colour and also a crystal on her right wrist. And she was an Elyos.

Shien started charging her crystal, but in a split second she realised that there was peace and attacking the other person just for being Elyos wouldn't be the best idea.

~ x ~

When the lights appeared again, Trinity was no longer in her room in Pandarunerk's Delve, but in some grey wallless room. The only things that were not grey and foggy were her chair, desk and strange metal device made of several rings and five coloured, glowing beads; bright yellow, blue, red, green and dark purple. She wondered how such dark colour could glow. After few minutes of observing it she touched one of the rings. It moved. And spark popped between the blue and green beads. Trinity poked another ring and more sparks appeared. The closer the beads were, the stronger was the electric discharge. She played with the rings for a while, until all the beads were aligned in one row.

Then the device cracked with energy and white glowing door appeared next to her. She stepped though it, finding a wide street with arches on the other side. And a red-haired Asmodian in a dress with colour of sea corals and a skirt cut sideways. For a moment it seemed she's going to attack her, but the Asmodian stopped in the middle of movement and carefully made few steps towards her.

~ x ~

"Hello," Shien put on her professional smile she was forced to practice a lot in the last days and greeted the Elyos. "Do you know what is this place?"

"Is it some riddle?" the Elyos replied with a question and frowned.

"No. It seems I got a bit lost and I've never seen this street before."

"That makes two of us."

"Oh," Shien was surprised. "Good, I'm not getting crazy, then," she smiled and extended her hand towards the Elyos. "I'm Shienar, currently tasked with paperwork in Pandaemonium."

"I'm Trinity, apprentice of Kaza and I'm researching Hyperions in Danaria. Nice to meet you."

"Hyperions? Found anything useful?"

"Hm, not much. And Kaza won't even let me to leave the Delve, since the kidnappings started again, I always have to wait for him to return from some travels to bring me fresh findings."

"Kidnappings? I haven't heard about any kidnappings since Beritra took the Young Lady," Shien searched her memory.

"Who's Young Lady?"

"You don't know? That Kaza guy must be really keeping you under a rock. It's an unofficial nickname for lady Triniel's and lord Nezekan's daughter."

"What? They have daughter?" Trinity was shocked. "I've heard lady Triniel adopted some boy ten years ago, but daughter? That doesn't make any sense."

"You're right, it doesn't. And it's not important. What is important, however, is what's this," Shien waved her hands around. "And how do we get back. Ever seen any of those symbols?"

"Hm," the Elyos looked at some of the columns. "Yeah, I did... but I don't remember where. Is it some riddle?" she repeated her first question. "There was one before I got here."

"You're right, the runes! It totally didn't look like a riddle back then, I just saw a pattern..."

"I had a device with circles and beads to align them."

"Okay, it's a riddle," Shien started walking along the columns. "There are ten symbols here, each representing something. We have... two trees, two spiders, one... can this be sun?"

"A sun with a fist?"

"Two suns, one dragon, one angry face, I have no idea what this one is and one triangle with circle writing inside. Do you see any sense in it?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Maybe they're here to confuse us, let's try going somewhere else," Shien suggested.

"Where?"

"Left or right?"

They decided on the left exit from the archway. When they stepped out of the shelter of the trees, a large shadow moved over them. They both activated their crystals almost instantly and the moment a large red creature landed on the square they let out their spells. It didn't help them much, the aetheric energy hit a protective shield and dispersed harmlessly. Now they could see what they attacked. A majestic dragon with red scales, purple lower parts of wings and yellow glowing eyes was sitting in front of them and watching them with interest.

"Well, what took you so long?" he asked and his voice boomed through the streets.

"Were you expecting us?" Shien recovered from the shock and deactivated her crystal. If the dragon wanted to hurt them, he could have attacked them instead of just flying over.

"Expecting you? No, I brought you here," he replied as if it was obvious. "But I expected you to solve my riddles much faster."

"Why did you bring us here?" Trinity followed Shien's example and stopped gathering aether.

"I wanted to see if someone from other worlds is capable of solving the implicit maze, but seeing you two, I must admit I overestimated the Daevas. Maybe I can try the Qunari next time."

"Are you saying we're stupid?" the Asmodian frowned.

"Yes."

"Oh, great and can you send us back, then? You apparently don't need us and at least I have a lot of things to do. And deadlines. Tight deadlines."

The dragon started laughing. The noise was so loud and terrible the Daevas had to cover their ears. After few minutes he stopped.

"And what about proving me you're not stupid?"

"Why?" Shien shrugged. "I don't even know who you are, I don't care what do you think about me."

"Is it what we have to do to convince you to send us back?" Trinity asked.

"Interesting," the dragon scratched his jawline. "Maybe you're not that stupid after all. I'll let you solve the maze. You'll have easier conditions, this city isn't real, you won't encounter any people who would hinder you, except for the Gate guardians. I'll see you on the Forum of Azor. And remember, the one who brought you here is the Great Firemind, Niv-Mizzet," he proclaimed, spread his wings and flew away.

"Wait! What are those Gate guardians? And what Gates?" Shien shouted, but he ignored her. "That arrogant bastard!" she kicked nearest stone when his silhouette disappeared behind the roofs.

"I don't want to preach, but we need to stay as calm as possible," Trinity suggested. "And we have to focus on solving the maze and get out of here quickly, I don't know if we can find any food here."

"Food, right, he said it's not real here. Okay, let's start then."

"But where? There is a maze, somewhere. There is at least one Gate and it has some guardians. But if we have to solve it, we must find where does the maze start."

"Here. That's why he brought us to this place, because it starts here," Shien realised. "He said implicit maze and I don't think he sair that just because it sounds cool. This whole city is the maze. And we must find the correct way through it to that Forum of Azor."

"Through the Gates!" Trinity pointed out. "And if those hints are correct, there's ten Gates and each has guardians. Those symbols must mean what we can expect."

"Yes! That makes sense! Now we just have to find their locations and order and we can go," Shien said with smile, as if it was the easiest way to do. Then she put her fingers under her eyes and concentrated on aether around. When she opened her eyes, they were faintly glowing white. "There," she pointed at one of the streets. "Let's go."

"How do you know?"

"I used aether to enhance my sight. I can see a glowing line leading from that promenade to that street. It's quite taxing to keep it, so we should move."

"Right, the Boon of Clairvoyance! I should thought of that too."

"Boon of what?" Shien asked with confusion, already on the move.

"Boon of Clairvoyance, the spell you just used, it's meant to enhance sight to reveal hidden things," Trinity explained. "Or do the Asmodians call it differently?"

"I don't think we even have names for spells, we just... use the aether the best way we can think of. And I talked with some Elyos sorcerers and they didn't mention any names either."

"Another of the mysteries," Trinity sighed. "Did you say lady Triniel has a daughter with lord Nezekan?"

"Yes. But no one knew that, until she was captured by the Elyos one day and then kidnapped by the Balaur. From what I heard she was raised in orphanage to protect her from being used in war. Well, she's lucky, we have peace with the Elyos now. And it doesn't look like it's going to change any time soon. Unless lord Zikel does some stupid thing again. Look, it seems like we're at the first gate."

They stood at the base of a huge staircase leading to massive wall covered with trees, living and carved. At the top of the stairs there was a group of people and living trees. Shien dismissed her spell, her eyes were starting to burn and she needed to concentrate on what was ahead of them, either diplomacy or fight.

The two sorceresses carefully walked up. As expected, the guards stopped them. Unfortunately, neither Shien nor Trinity could understand what they were saying and the guards had the same problems with them. It didn't take long and fight erupted. Shien managed to burn most of the walking trees with one spell and after few attempts Trinity created a cloud that put all the guardians asleep. Then the two of them ran through the Gate. They stopped running only when they reached the first crossroad.

"I hope they won't follow us," Trinity said. "That fire spell was impressive, but I suppose you don't have a name for it."

"It's called Burn in Hell, Bitches," Shien replied while she tried to catch her breath. "And I think I need a break, can you do the sight spell this time?"

"Sure, no problem," Trinity whispered the words she learned for the spell and soon she could see the path through the maze. "Let's go."

The glowing line led them down the stairs and even after they reached the ground level, it continued further down. The trees and bushes around them were still present, but they became darker and more savage. Few times they got the impression they heard movements of various bugs and other vermin, but they saw nothing.

"Uh, sewers," Shien twisted her face in unpleasant grin. "Are you sure the line goes this way?"

"Unfortunately yes," Trinity didn't look any happier.

Finally they reached the wall with a giant bug statued on it and low and narrow tunnel with one of the symbols from the promenade. Trinity cancelled the spell and looked around.

"Through that," she pointed at the tunnel. "I don't like it."

"Me neither," Shien took a deep breath and came closer. Then she conjured a huge fireball and thrusted it into the tunnel. "It should be a bit safer now."

They entered the tunnel.

After several steps they begun hearing sounds similar to hundreds of little creatures approaching them. Shien lit a small fire in her palm. Trinity yelped. What they saw was much worse they expected. Spiders, cockroaches, mantises, small snakes and other various bugs were swarming all over the floor and walls.

"Run!" the Asmodian threw the fire ahead to clear the path. They dashed forward, but the mass of creatures was too fast and was closing in from all the sides. Another fireball cleared few meters. Before they emerged on the other side of the tunnel, Shien stopped counting how many spells she had to cast.

"Don't stop, they're still there!" Trinity yelled when she saw her companion slowing down.

"I'm tired," Shien had trouble to catch her breath.

"At least to those stairs!" the Elyos pointed at one of the exits from the sewers complex. The whole place was overgrown with plants, grass and lianas, as if no one took care of it for centuries, but the more time they spent there, it gave the feeling it was like that on purpose. The stairs, however, were clean of such vegetation, that's why Trinity has chosen it as a place to rest. The moment they both set their feet on the first step, the creatures stopped and returned back into the tunnel.

"Again, your fire spells are impressive, but you shouldn't overdoing it this much," Trinity said after short while of sitting and catching breath.

"If I weren't overdoing it, we wouldn't get through," Shien retorted.

"Well, yes, but if our theory aboout the symbols and gates is correct, there's eight more. You need to save your energy."

"You're right, but saving up energy and dying at second gate wouldn't be that great either," the red-haired sorceress smiled and started gathering aether for the eyes enhancing spell.

"You were really tired just a moment, shouldn't I cover it?"

"No, it's my turn, I'll be fine," her eyes glowed white. "Congrats, you picked the right path."

The shining invisible line led them up the stairs onto nice square. It was well maintained, clean and every single thing had its own place in some complex order. The fountains were all painted blue, benches were white with yellow ornaments, mostly the triangle symbol they saw on the promenade where they started, and the buildings around just screamed order. The contrast with the sewers they just left was overwhelming. They walked through, until they got to the base of another staircase. Shien cancelled her spell.

"Up there," she nodded towards the top of the stairs, where two warriors in shining plate armour and one fat man in robes waited for them. The two women calmly walked up, they didn't want to meet the guardians exhausted.

"I really don't want to fight at every gate," Trinity grunted.

"Yeah, me neither," Shien agreed. "Let's hope these guys will be friendly."

As expected the guards stopped them and the fat guy started explaining something to them in that alien language they didn't understand. From how detailed his robes were and tone of his voice they assumed he was someone important and considered guarding the gate as something under his standard. Shien left the negotiation to Trinity, but even her patience was going through a trial here. Finally the man raised his voice and pointed at something on the ground that looked like a rug.

"What?" Trinity looked at him with surprise. "You mean... is it really that simple?" she shook her head and cleaned her shoes on the rug. The man calmed down and gestured that she could pass. Shien followed the ritual and within moment both of them left the gate behind them.

"Wow, this was easy," the Asmodian giggled.

"Three down, seven to go," the black haired sorceress activated her seeing spell. "Down again, why am I not surprised?"

They followed the guiding light though the nice and clean streets, which soon became darker and darker. Not as creepy as the sewers full of bugs, but eerie enough to give them chills.

"So... that Kaza you mentioned," Shien spoke to banish the silence. "How long is he researching the Hyperions?"

"For a few decades, I think. You've never heard of him? He's quite famous. He lives in Pandarunerk's Delve, to be close to the ancient Danuar ruins, but he travels a lot. There's no way you wouldn't hear of him."

"I've heard of some Hyperion researcher in the Delve, but the name was something like Lucas or Lucus, definitely not Kaza. And I've heard a rumor he has disappeared, no one has seen him for about a year."

"Hm... I don't think I've ever heard he had a co-worker or a rival. The things you say really..." Trinity stopped and looked around in confusion.

"What happened? Are we lost?"

"No, just... the glowing line goes right into this wall."

"What?" Shien couldn't believe that and activated her spell too. "You're right... that's retarded. The wall I mean, not you being right."

"Uh, okay. How do we get through?"

"Step aside a bit," Shien grinned, cancelled her seeing spell and made few steps backwards.

"What are you... why am I even asking," Trinity shook her head and left the direct path between the Asmodian and the wall. As expected, the incoming fireball did nothing.

"What? Really? Not a scratch?" Shien frowned after examining the wall. Then she threw few more spells, switching between ice and fire, but the stone remained intact. "Come on!" she said after a while when she tried to catch her breath.

"Maybe we shouldn't try to overcome it with force?" Trinity suggested.

"Stupid, idiotic, retarded wa... aaaah!" Shien ignored her comment and angrily hit the wall. But at that moment the stone's consistence became less firm and she lost her balance and fell right through it. Trinity stared at the empty space and at the wall that still looked intact.

"Shien? Are you there? Somewhere?"

"Yeah, I think I'm behind the wall," voice of her companion echoed from the stone. "It's really creepy here and... yep, the glowing line continues."

"How did you get through?"

"Uh, I don't know, I was just angry and tried to hit that freak of wall and then I was here. Fortunately it's clean here, don't worry."

Trinity had to spend five entire minutes to insult the wall enough to be let through. When she finally fell on the other side, Shien was sitting on the floor and dozing.

"Wake up, sleepyhead, let's get out of this place," Trinity shook with her gently.

"Uhm, what? Yes, of course, sorry. So the wall finally gave up, huh?" the Asmodian stood up and activated the seeing spell. "This way," she pointed in the only direction available. "At least we didn't have to kiss that wall."

They went through the undercity labytinth, guided by the glowing line, and emerged from it on an edge of a forest. Or something between forest and a battlefield. Their path led right through the thickest bushes and rose up to a wooden ramp that ended in somehing that looked like remnants of some old fortress or outpost. Only one wall and few columns of an arcade were left. And one two-headed giant. One of the symbols from the beginning was scrawled over torn transparents hanging from the ruins.

"Do you think this one can be reasoned with?" Trinity whispered.

"I doubt it, but you're free to try," Shien cancelled the spell. "I'm starting to have a headache, by the way."

"From the spells?"

"Yeah."

"And there's still so many gates ahead," Trinity sighed. "We need to... WATCH OUT!" she yelled in surprise when she noticed that the giant ran towards them at incredible speed. They could only summon shields, but the creature's huge hands passed through the aetheric energy as if it was just air and grabbed both sorceresses around their waists. Shien instinctively threw a fireball into his face, but it had no effect. The flames just vanished when they reached his skin.

The left giant's head shouted something. Again, they couldn't understand, but even to them it sounded like inarticulate roar. Then he swung his arms and threw both women over the gate. They both tried to summon their wings, but found out it was impossible. In panic they flew over few streets and splashed down into a canal full of clear water and various floating or sticky plants. The current immediately carried them towards a medium-sized waterfall. After they landed in a semi-calm pool, they could finally get out of water.

"We're lost, aren't we?" Shien asked while removing algae from her hair. "Eugh."

"I hate this place," Trinity almost begun to cry, but wringing her dress to get rid of water caught most of her attention, so she calmed down within few minutes. After they both fixed their appearances as much as they could, she activated the seeing spell and looked around. "Ah, over there!" she pointed at one aqueduct, where she saw a glimpse of glowing blue. "Let's go."

After half an hour of trying to find a way back to the guiding line, they finally climbed onto the last step.

"It would be easier if we could fly," Shien grunted.

"You had trouble with wings too?"

"Hm..."

"Which direction should we go in?" Trinity asked, when they were standing beside the glow. "I really don't want to go back to that giant."

"Yeah, we came from... there? So chances are the correct is this way. But we can always return if we see those ruins again."

"Okay."

They set forth following the line again, this time they walked inside the aqueduct for quite a long while. The exit led them to a scenery they have never seen before. Loads and loads of metal pipes and gears were twisted and connected and covered several buildings. They walked carefully and tried to not freak out every time some of those pipes let go of overflowing steam.

"I can imagine the Hyperions could be made in something like this," Trinity broke the silence. "If so, the Danuar were really crazy people."

They stopped in front of a building which had some pipes made of glass and filled with blue and red liquid. Also the dragon symbol from the archway was on the top of the gate the glowing line was passing through.

"I wonder if that substance is just a decoration or if it turns out to be the guardians," Shien pondered.

"Don't... elaborate on that. And let's be careful."

The following corridor was missing any windows, but the darkness was suppressed by various red and blue glowing devices. Each of them had a miniature of the dragon symbol on them. After few tens of meters they entered a large hall, where the dragon Niv-Mizzet was waiting for them.

"Hello, ladies, what took you so long?" his voice boomed.

"Oh, you again?" Shien rolled her eyes. "Did we pass your test or failed?"

"Don't provoke him," Trinity hissed.

"Hahahaha, you still haven't reached the end of the maze, there's one more gate after this one."

"One?"

"Yes, one. You skipped three gates when you failed to defeat the Gruul giant," he said patronisingly. "I didn't even expect you would, though. He has incredible resistance to magic when he's trying."

"And now you're here because..."

"I decided to take place of the Izzet guardian. I wanted to see how you're doing. Maybe I could ask you if you want to give up? The last gate is literally a hellhole."

"What happens if we do give up?" Trinity asked with curiosity.

"You won't know until you do so," the dragon grinned.

"Let's go, Trin. It's some trick again," Shien activated the sight-enhancing spell, found the glowing trail and started walking.

"Wait, you don't want to get out of here sooner?" Trinity stopped her.

"Yes, I do. That's why we should go and stop wasting time with someone, whos only concern right now is to prove us how stupid we are."

"But maybe..."

"Do you really believe that if we give up now, he'll actually send us back? Look, if you really want to give up, you're free to do so. I can't force you to continue with me."

"You have to give up both or continue both, no splitting until the end," the dragon smiled wickedly.

"You're worse than Lumiel," Shien grunted.

"Wait, what? Not lady Lumiel?" Trinity was shocked with Shien's lack of respect for the Lady of Wisdom.

"Yeah, that's her official title. This, however, isn't anything official, so I can call that arrogant bitch as I want."

"You're really weird. But alright, I'll go with you," she carefully looked at the dragon, but he only gestured them to follow the glow.

The scenery of metal pipes, gears and steel-clad buildings soon receded and was replaced by old stone and wooden half-destroyed houses and dirty streets. The path led between them, down an obsidian staircase and through series of arches and tunnels into a large subterranean chamber. They stopped at the beginning of a narrow stone pathway between two boiling pools of lava. It ended at yellow and red glowing door in a dark ornamental wall. The last gate.

"I don't want to sound like a pessimist, but I don't think your fire spells are going to work here," Trinity stared at the passage. "I so miss my wings now."

"Uhm, wanna go first?"

"We can go together, right? Two people can fit on that... walkway."

"Eh, okay. Just don't fall off."

They grabbed each other's hand and carefully tried to step on the stone. It was hot. They could feel the heat through the bottoms of their shoes. To their partial relief, it wasn't burning. When they were in the middle, a lava bubble near them popped and sprayed several drops of molten stone. They instantly raised their shields, but more bubbles started popping.

"Run!" they yelled simultaneously and darted forward.

An unpleasant surprise in a form of half naked woman with a scary mask on her face and even scarier swords in her hands awaited them in front of the gate. The moment they left the lava walkway, she leaped and attacked. The two sorceresses could only strenghten their shields and try to evade the blades, but it wasn't easy in the small space they got. And running back to the lava hell wasn't an option. Trinity was lucky, the attacker only chopped off a part of her hair, but Shien wasn't quick enough and the jagged blade slashed across her arm. She cried in pain. The woman didn't wait and attacked her again. After few moments of unsuccessful attempts to cast any spells or dodge the swords Shien got several new cuts and fell to the ground. Those moments, however, gave Trinity enough time to concentrate and when the woman was about to deal finishing blow, she threw lightning and wind at her and pushed her away from her victim. Then Trinity added few another spells, that stunned the gate guardian and threw her into one of the two lava pools.

"Maybe we really should give up," she said when she examined Shien's injury.

"I didn't want to give him that pleasure," the Asmodian quietly chuckled. "You have to burn this and this," she pointed at some of her injuries, "or I'll bleed out before we actually pass that gate."

"Brun it? Won't it hurt?" Trinity was surprised by the request.

"Or heal it, your choice."

"I'm sorry, I can't heal," the Elyos replied with sad face. "Sorry, it will hurt."

And it did.

It took few minutes before Shien stopped shrieking from pain and was able to stand, though with big support from Trinity. Slowly they walked through the gate.

"Now what?" Trinity looked around, confused.

"Now we have to find the Forum of Azor. I'm so glad it's your turn now."

"Alright," the Elyos activated the seeing spell and sighed in relief when she quickly found the glowing trail. Slowly, but at steady pace, they walked alongside it. The tunnels with fire and pain motives ended soon and the path led though a nicely maintained city district. Their guiding line ended in the middle of a rotund area with a massive stone circle above supported by towers with the symbols from the gates they've been passing through. There was also a triangular pedestal in a shape of one of the symbols and on its points were staircases leading to something like rostra. Shien gladly sat on the stairs.

"So this is the Forum of Azor, hm?" Trinity looked around. "It's quite monumental. I wonder who that Azor was."

"If I should guess simply by the name, I'd say a dog," Shien replied. "Although dogs usually don't have public places named by them. But it could be some magical dog lord or something."

"What?" Trinity shook her head and started laughing.

"Well, we did meet some strange creatures here. I wouldn't be surprised," Shien shrugged. "Wait... something's..."

"What's wrong?"

"Those towers. They're only nine."

"And? This symbol is here, so it can be missing from the towers," Trinity patted the pedestal.

"But it's not missing, it's there," Shien pointed at one of the towers. "Some other is missing, but I don't remember which one. And the dragon is nowhere to be seen."

"So the key to leave might be this one? Come," Trinity helped Shien stand and they both walked to the tower with the triangular symbol with writings in its center. When they touched it, the world disappeared in one bright flash.

~ x ~

Shien woke up. She was sitting on her chair in front of her work desk using map of Pandaemonium as a not too comfortable pillow. She knew she had a very strange dream, but couldn't recall any details. Her whole body ached. There were bruises and cuts on her arms and her dress was torn on several places. Confused she got up and noticed burnt injuries on her leg and hip.

What happened when I was asleep? And who the hell is Niv-Mizzet? Is it some forgotten Balaur lord?

~ x ~

Trinity opened her eyes and realised she fell asleep. Carefully she got up, she didn't want to damage the map she had on her bed. Surprised she found a strand of her hair on it, as if it was cut. Also her dress had few small holes she didn't remember where she got them.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

"Good evening, Trinity," Kaza entered her room. "How are your studies going?"

"All good," she smiled. She was happy he finally showed up.

"Really? You look upset."

"I think I had really weird dream, but I can't remember anything of it. Tell me, Kaza, do you know if there were always only five Dragon lords?"

"Uhm, yes," the question caught him by surprise. "According to the history books Fredgion declared there will only be five. Why do you ask?"

"There was some name in the dream, I think it was Niv-Mizzet or something. I don't know why, but I thought it was a Balaur."

"Ah, no, it was just a dream. There was no one of that name."

Trinity was still puzzled about the loss of her hair, as there were no sharp objects near her, so she didn't notice the relief in Kaza's voice.