She could feel the sword pressed to her throat.
Even through her veiled dreams, she felt the cold steel against her delicate flesh — and she could sense the impending danger it posed to her if she should fail in her present task: to slay a demon in its own realm.
Evelyn had lived out her entire life in The Circle — informally nicknamed The Spire; a tall fortress built of black stone a century ago on the rocky shore of a majestic lake, with only one entrance that was kept guarded at all times. Occupants were rarely granted leave, as they were required to study under supervision of the Templars who ensured the security of the general populace from the mages and the mages from those who would misunderstand their powers. Anyone found having magic was required, by law, to turn themselves over to the Templars and were relocated permanently to the Tower — once there, they were stripped of their title and any assets that entitled them to. Many nobles often attempted to hide potential developing magical talent of their children in order to retain their titles, seeking out private tutors — however, their deception were usually caught when the powers became unstable and posed a danger to those around the individual.
Evelyn's family had not been one of them. She had displayed innate magical talent as an infant and was instantly handed over to the Templars for fear of the shame it would bring upon their house and the danger she posed to her family and those around them.
Now here she knelt, on the cold floor of the Harrowing room — the highest chamber in the tower — with a sword to her neck, ready to cut her down without hesitation at a moment's notice. From the dream-like state, she was helpless. Her only redemption would come from succeeding in defeating a demon in the Fade — a realm accessible only to mages through the use of Lyrium.