"Dammit!" Dynamo kicked a steel girder. The energy release valve on one of the crystals was jammed. If he couldn't get it fixed, they would be stuck in the middle of nowhere for days. He had already enlisted the help of Diablo and PT, but progress was still slow. It would be about two to three days before they could actually get anywhere.

While they worked on that, a purple dragon had another project. Spyro poured over book after book in a desperate attempt to find a way to help Vylor. He made sure to keep his friend's condition a secret, but also didn't let that stop him from finding a cure.

"What are you doing?" Spyro yelped and spun around. Cynder had woken up.

"Nothing," Spyro said. Cynder hopped off the bed and peered over his shoulder.

"How are you reading that?" she asked. She pointed to the book that sat on the desk. "I didn't know you could read the Scimitar's language."

"I can't," Spyro admitted. "I borrowed Vylor's codex." Cynder looked at the codex and saw why he borrowed it. It was a blue lens that sat in a circular copper frame. Through the lens, the text on the page of the book glowed a light blue. They were translated into their language. The words that stood out to her were "Fractured Heart" and "no known alternative cure."

"What's a Fractured Heart?" Cynder asked. Spyro bit his lower lip. He wanted to keep Vylor's condition a secret, but he also didn't want to keep his mate in the dark.

"I… I don't know if I can tell you," he eventually responded. Cynder cocked her horned head to the side. "If you want to know, Vylor's the one to ask." Cynder seemed to understand. She leaned over his shoulder and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"I'm going to track down some breakfast," she said before turning to the door and leaving.

Vylor staggered through the hall. It had only been a day and his condition had already worsened. It had been a long day. In between repairs to the Boulder and other tasks, he hadn't had much time to rest.

What to do? he thought to himself. He finally had some free time and had no idea what to do with it. His thinking was interrupted by an unusual sound. Someone was whimpering. He curiously followed the sound. He rounded the corner and was met with a peculiar sight. Karos was leaning against the wall outside of her door, her knees drawn to her chest. Vylor quietly approached the distressed Avian.

"K-Karos?" She looked up and yelped. Her eyes were red from crying. She sniffed and quickly dried them. She obviously wasn't expecting to be thrown out into the hall. She wore a black tank top and brown pants, which Vylor distinguished as recreational clothing. What was she doing out here this late?

"H-Hey Vylor," she said weakly, smiling at him.

"What's wrong?" the Scimitar asked, sliding down next to her. Karos sniffled again.

"N-Nothing." Vylor looked closer and noticed a cut beneath her eye.

"How'd that happen?" he asked, pointing to the wound. Karos quickly covered her cheek.

"I… I dropped a wrench when I was helping Dynamo with the release valve." That was an obvious lie, but Vylor didn't want to put her on the spot.

"Here," he said. "Let me help." He reached out to her and she waved him off.

"I-It's fine," she said. Vylor shook his head.

"It won't be like that arrow." Karos sighed and put her hand down. Vylor took a deep breath and placed his hand over the cut. He channeled his healing Light magic through his fingertips. Karos giggled at the sensation. Many had said that Light magic tickled when healing minor injuries. When the cut closed and the swelling disappeared, Vylor looked into Karos' blue eyes. He was captivated by them. They shone like the sea, a sea he wanted to live by.

"Th-Thank you," Karos said. Vylor noticed that she was blushing. Vylor nodded and stood.

"Good night, Karos." He didn't notice her eyes following him as he made his way down the hall. Upon reaching his room, he slammed the door and slammed his fist into his door's control panel. He knew it wasn't going to open tomorrow morning, but he didn't care. He threw himself onto his bed and stared at the ceiling. He was far too angry to fall asleep. Eventually, early in the morning, he was able to let himself sleep.

Vylor awoke the next morning and was able to heave himself out of bed. He couldn't wear his armor as his condition had made him to weak to carry its weight. He looked in his mirror and frowned. Black veins crept up his neck and reached his jaw. They weren't even at his chest yesterday. He coughed into his hand and gasped. His hand was covered with white glowing liquid: his blood. He sighed. He didn't have long. He staggered to his door and threw his cloak's hood over his head. He shoved his broken door aside and made his way down the corridor to the dining hall.

Vylor at by himself. Axos was talking with Chronos and Volteer, Storm and Specter were joking about something with Stratos and Venama, and Spyro and Cynder sat together. The Scimitar of Light didn't notice the purple dragon staring at him. He glanced at another table and the acid returned to his veins. Sitting there were Devan and Karos. Karos had a sullen look on her face. She stared at her untouched meal while Devan tore into his. He finished quickly and move Karos' breakfast over in front of him. She made a move as if to stop him, but he fixed her with a threatening glare and she backed down. The very sight of it made Vylor taste bile.

"So," he heard Devan say through a mouthful of food that wasn't his own. "What happened to your face?" Karos sighed and hung her head.

"Vylor healed it," she said softly. Devan froze. He turned to his girlfriend with fury in his eyes. What happened next no one was prepared for. He threw a punch and caught Karos across the face. She yelped as she was knocked out of her seat. Everyone shot their feet.

"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT HIM?!" Devan roared. "I GAVE YOU AN ORDER! DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WHORES LIKE YOU DON'T LISTEN?!" Karos didn't move. She simply lay there and let the tears and blood run down her face. Devan brought back his fist again. "THEY FUCKING PAY!" Axius had his sword out in a flash. But when he only took a step, someone was already there.

In a flash, Vylor closed the distance between him and Devan. He shoved the Avian backwards. Devan looked at the Scimitar and a look of pure hatred and rage twisted onto his face.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY, NIGHTLIGHT!" he bellowed. Vylor put himself between Karos and the Avian and shook his head.

"You lay one finger on her—" He stopped as a coughing fit seized him. Everyone's eyes went wide went droplets of liquid light dripped onto the floor. "And I'll crush your skull like an egg." Devan roared and charged the Scimitar. Vylor stood stock still as Devan neared, the Avian swung and his eyes went wide as his fist passed right through Vylor's chest.

"What the—"

"Too slow." The air behind him shimmered as a second Vylor materialized behind him. Devan spun as a boot connected with his temple, spinning him around and laying him on his back. The Avian quickly scrambled to his feet as Vylor flashed in front of him again. Vylor brought his right fist back and threw it forward. Devan brought his arms up as Vylor hammered away at him. He was too busy watching Vylor's right hand to notice his left coming directly at his stomach. Vylor's left fist impacted Devan's stomach and the Avian wheezed as all the air left his lungs. He dropped to the floor and curled into the fetal position. Vylor towered over him, stock still and silent. Devan rose to his knees as his breath began to return to him. He made one final attempt. He swung an aimless punch. Vylor easily caught the punch and his other hand clamped around Devan's throat. He easily hefted the Avian off the floor.

"You touch her again," Vylor growled, pulling Devan close to his face. "And I will grind your bones into dust with my bare hands." He tightened his grip around Devan's neck and the Avian went limp. He let Devan thud to the floor and turned back to Karos. He helped her to her feet and turned back to his friends.

"V-Vylor…" Karos stuttered. Vylor let out a long sigh.

"I can't… I can't believe I just did tha—" He didn't finish as his vision began to fade and he pitched forward. He heard Karos scream his name as his head banged against the metal floor, and everything went black.