I'm so sorry to everyone who has been following me since the beginning and who have been waiting for me to update for forever! I hope you know that I've been working really hard on fixing this story up to make it something I'm proud of! I'm sorry to say that you will have to reread all the previous chapters because I have changed a lot! I hope you're all happy with the changes I've made! If you have any questions please don't be afraid to ask me!

Viveka Surana

Ice covered her entire body, creating a thick armor to shield her from the onslaught of spells from her teacher, Uldred. Though she was completely protected from his attacks, Viveka could feel her mana draining faster with each minute that passed.

"Excellent! Now, use your blood to keep the spell going!"

Viveka allowed her ice armor to slice into her skin, allowing blood to flow down her arm. The cut stung, but she could feel herself becoming replenished as her blood became her new source of mana. Though she would feel the exhaustion from blood loss after the battle, adrenaline could keep her running for now.

Uldred had been assigned as her teacher for the past couple months. She had passed her Harrowing with flying colors, and the Enchanter had taken a liking to her personality and style of fight. Uldred claimed he could increase her skills. As one of the top students in the Circle, Viveka was willing to learn whatever any of the Enchanters could teach her.

He had brought up the topic of blood magic about a month into their training. At first, she had been hesitant, but the man had assured her that no demons would be involved at the base level. Unwilling to go against her teacher and afraid of the consequences if she did, Viveka agreed to learn the basics of blood magic in case of an emergency.

"Viveka, my dear, your abilities are extraordinary!" Uldred motioned for his student to drop her spells, which Viveka did so gladly. Though blood magic had become second nature to her at this point, the elf still felt uneasy using forbidden magic. "I believe you are ready to go onto the next level."

"The next level? I thought you were only going to teach me the basics, Sir."

Uldred grimaced. "The basics will only get you so far. You cannot stop the templars only using your blood as mana. You cannot make the world fear you with only spells a toddler could cast." He pulled a blade out from his robes and approached Viveka with determination. "The only way to get anywhere is to ally yourself with something not of this world."

Viveka took a step back, attempting to put space between herself and the Enchanter. "I...what do you mean?"

"You think I've gotten this far on my own!" A crazed look covered his face. Uldred brandished his knife and stepped closer to the girl. "Demons, my child, can help you make all your dreams come true. The templars cannot control us if demons are on our side."

"I do not want demons on my side." At this point the older mage had pinned Viveka against the wall, his human height towering over her elven stature.

"You are a fool."

Viveka slipped past him and stumbled toward the door. "I don't want to be part of this."

"You are already part of this. You are a talented mage, and with you on my side, we can bring ourselves one step closer to freedom."

"I refuse. I told you I didn't want demons!" Viveka inched her way closer to the door. At last, her hand touched the metal handle, and she wrenched the door open as quickly as she could.

Uldred sneered. "You will regret this."

The elf ran from the room, tripping down the stairs as she retreated to her room. She didn't understand what had happened. Perhaps this was the reason Wynne and Irving had been so against her training under Uldred.

That night sleep eluded her. Viveka found herself tossing and turning, the memory of Uldred's insane face keeping her awake. When morning broke, Viveka rolled out of bed, exhaustion seeping its way through her body. Despite the weariness in her bone, the elf forced herself to make her way down to the dining hall for breakfast. The room was filled with mages getting their first meal of the day, yet they all seemed to glance her way the moment she entered. Viveka grabbed a plate of food and hoped that it was just the lack of sleep that was making her so paranoid.

"Viveka Surana."

Viveka glanced up at the man who addressed her, fear suddenly overwhelming her exhaustion. The intimidating form of Knight Commander Greagoir towered over her. Viveka shakily stood up from her table and cowered before him. "Yes, sir?"

"I need you to come with me."

He hovered his hand over his sword. Viveka could tell this would be more than just a friendly chat.

Viveka was escorted outside of the hall and met with Irving, other Senior Enchanters, and a large group of templars. She spotted Uldred next to Irving, and he sent a pleased smirk her way. This would definitely be more than a friendly chat.

"Viveka, my child, there have been accusations."

"Accusations?"

Irving sighed. "Uldred claims you came to him last night and begged him to join you in a blood ritual."

Viveka's eyes widened. Surely Irving wouldn't believe such rumors! "That...that isn't true!"

"I told you she would deny it, Irving! Look at her arm! You'll find the cut she used to draw her power from last night!"

Greagoir gripped Viveka's arm and yanked up her sleeve, the cut from the previous night on full display. Other scars from her sessions with Uldred littered her arm. Viveka wished she knew enough healing so that she could've have prevented the scarring. If she had gone to any of the healers, then questions would have been asked.

"It's not what you think!" The templars began to circle her and close off any escape routes. "I haven't summoned any demons!"

"She doesn't deny the blood magic, Irving." Greagoir tightened his grip on the elf's arm. "We'll have to place her under investigation at the very least."

Viveka could feel the panic racing through her. Frost began to coat her fingers and traveled its way up her arm. Gregoir released her with a hiss, already preparing a smite to stop her spellcasting.

"It isn't true! He's lying!" Ice exploded from her body, covering the floor around her. Icicles started creeping their way up the templars' and mages' legs. The templars quickly released a smite, and several of the Enchanters began to cast a fire spell, dissolving the icicles and forcing the elf to her knees.

"Take her to the dungeons. We can't allow her to corrupt any of the other mages."

Two templars hosted Viveka to her feet. Viveka trashed in their hold, refusing to give up without a fight. She had heard stories of the dungeons, and those who were sent down never returned. She desperately tried to call her magic to her aid, but the smite had left her mana reserves empty. In any other situation, she would have resorted to blood magic. However, blood magic had gotten her into this situation in the first place.

"First Enchanter, please!" Viveka was begging at this point. Irving was like a father to her. Surely he wouldn't allow her to be thrown in the dungeon!

Yet, Irving looked at her with disappointment in his eyes. Viveka felt tears fall from her eyes, and she slouched in the templars arms. She had let Irving down.

Viveka allowed herself to be dragged to the dungeon. Her body ached from the lack of sleep and the adrenaline, but she would willingly deal with those if it meant she could feel her mana again. It felt as though a part of her had been severed.

Time passed in the dungeon slowly, or perhaps it passed quickly. Viveka no longer knew the day of the week or how long she had been there. Uldred had visited her not long after her imprisonment, and his words echoed in her ears.

She certainly did regret turning away his offer. She regretted ever agreeing to work with him.

No one other than the templars visited her after Uldred. They kept her stomach full of food and her mana reserves empty. The cell she was locked in was void of anything other than a cot to sleep on and a chamber pot. Viveka missed her old life. It hadn't been perfect, but anything was better than this solitary confinement. She wished they would kill her already. She hoped they would not make her tranquil.

After what felt like years, but was probably only days, soft footsteps made their way down into the dungeon. They were too quiet to match the heavy clanking of templars, but she knew they wouldn't be far behind. Mages rarely went anywhere without their shadows.

To her surprise, Irving opened the door to her cell. A human male stood beside him, armor shining brightly even in the darkness of the dungeon.

Irving looked at the elf before him, taking in her hollow appearance and defeated expression. "Viveka, I come to you with an ultimatum."

Green eyes met Irving's pained ones. "Are you going to kill me?"

The First Enchanter sighed. "Only if that is what you choose, my child." He gestured to the man beside him. "This is Commander Duncan. He is looking for recruits to join the Wardens and fight against the Blight. You can join him, or you can be tried for blood magic. I care for you a great deal, Viveka. I do not want you to die for a simple mistake."

Viveka felt like crying again. Irving had never given up on her, then. Despite how disappointed he looked, she knew he believed her when she said she hadn't summoned a demon.

"Are those my only options?" She didn't want to leave her home, even if her home was currently treating her like a monster.

"I want you to live. Please, go with him and make something of yourself. You are capable of so many things, Viveka Surana."

"I'm sorry." Viveka wiped her eyes and attempted to pull herself together. "I'll go with you, Commander Duncan."

Duncan gave her a small smile and offered her his hand. "It will be a pleasure to have you join us."

Viveka took his hand and allowed him to pull her to his feet. "Thank you for having me." She glanced at Irving and felt the tears threatening to return. "Thank you, First Enchanter. I'll make you proud."