Galatea no longer felt the cold sting against her skin. She woke to find herself on the inside of a tent, laying across a warm layer of blankets. She could sense Isley's presence even before she set her eyes on him. When he saw her up he hunkered over and she heard the relief in his voice.

"You're awake...How are you feeling?"

She felt a lingering pain in her chest but managed to smile at him as she touched it, trying to feel for the wounds where she remembered she had been impaled multiple times. The wounds were not fatal but the blood made it hard to breathe which is why she must have passed out.

She could only feel slight bumps across her skin where there was residual scarring but not much else. She had healed. All the blood had been cleaned away too and she fresh set of clothes. Isley had taken care of her.

Galatea groaned as she sat upright, the pain in her chest sharpening at the movement. "...What happened?"

He wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace. She held him back, never realizing just how good it felt to be held. They remained that way for a short while before he withdrew. He had a questionable stare about him.

"After that strange claymore left, my powers returned to me. I regained consciousness and carried you back to camp...Who was that woman? Someone following you?"

Galatea took a moment to forge back all her memories of the woman with long platinum hair. The warning she was given in the vision. The dreaded look of death in her reanimated body's glare.

"Her name was Odette. I sensed her aura and ventured out to find her. I discovered her encased in ice. She spoke to me in a vision, tried to warn me, but I failed to listen...I was supposed to kill her but I wasn't fast enough."

"When she touched me," Isley said, "I could not transform. I could not do anything. It was as if my very essence was being drained away. I've known awakened beings with similar powers but nothing like that. I wonder why she didn't kill us when she had the chance?"

Galatea paused to think. "We should be thankful. In the vision, she mentioned someone called Amastus. She said she wanted to find him again."

"Amastus?"

"Yes. Is that name familiar?"

"I have heard legends of an ancient dragon lord named Amastus, but surely it cannot be the same one. The dragon lords are all supposed to be long gone, or so goes the written lore."

"I'm not so sure. Odette herself was clearly encased in ice for a very long time. We must read up on this as soon as we return our country. Then we must head forth and form a council with the humans at the academy. My allies there will host the event."

Isley nodded. It was then when she noticed a sadness across him that moved on to her. "You don't seem very happy, are you not glad we're both alive?"

He smiled at her but it was weak. "Of course I am, Galatea...Though It is embarrassing for me, that I could not protect you, us. Everything I've built, what we've built together, was to come to an end, and I was helpless to stop it. I can not imagine a greater tragedy than that."

She reached for his hand in order to comfort him. He held it strongly and that sent a warm smile to her lips. "It's not your fault. Let us not dwell on what could have been. We still have things to do."

She tried to stand but the moment she did, a rush of strange sensations filled her mind which was beyond overwhelming. The world swirled and she felt a wave of nausea and vertigo wash through her. Her vision blurred and then she felt herself drifting outside her own body. The vision sharpened and she could see inside the tent from different angles, and then she drifted outside the tent and she could see everything outside; the snow, their nearby army which were all resting but ready nearby. None of them knew what was happening but she could sense their concern.

She saw a vision of Isley carrying her bloodied self back to camp with all their new claymore forces witness to it. She could sense the worry in all of them, all of whom waited anxiously to hear from them. For Galatea, It brought a sense of absolution. It brought tears to her eyes.

She came back to reality and found that Isley was holding on to her to prevent her from falling. The vertigo slowly left, and she regained herself.

"You had a vision?" Isley asked.

It was all too much. Even for her. Galatea massaged her temples. "Odette claimed to have given me a gift... I believe I may have just experienced it..."

The flogger stung so good against her bare bottom. Every strike sent a thrilling rush all over that drove her to cloud nine. She had stripped off all her clothes and was made to bend over across a chair. Every maddening strike made her feel hotter, made her wetter and longing for more. It was confusing but she did not fight it. Her body betrayed her and she wondered if it was due to the powerful drug that still pumped through her veins or if it was something else that had awoken within her.

Another blow was the final straw which caused fresh warm tears to flow down her cheeks. When Hysteria noticed them, she pulled back and put the flogger down.

"...Surely, you had enough now...do not ask me to go on any further." Hysteria said, seemingly satisfied for the most part, but there was an element of uncertainty about her whole act as if she were trying too hard at times.

Miria nodded meekly. The pain in her backside came in waves now, and they were getting hotter each time. The pleasure rose above her body until she felt it across her cheeks.

Hysteria averted her eyes. "I will admit I do enjoy the sight of you on your knees. I could get used to this."

"So could I."

"Such a strange girl...Is this what you really like? Me hurting you?"

Miria smirked. "Hurting me? Not even close. What's wrong? are you bored already?"

"Perhaps I am old fashioned," Hysteria said. " but I would much rather partake in kisses and cuddles. But I suppose that just wouldn't do it for a naughty girl like you."

"It's this drug...within me... it needs to be flushed out..." Miria said.

Hysteria cackled. "Oh yes! Of course, the drug. It must be that. If you are unwilling to be honest with me, at least be honest with yourself."

Miria smirked mischievously "Perhaps I need to be punished."

Hysteria put her hands to her hips, the flogger flat against her palm, "There is something wrong with you. I am no longer using this. I'm the one whose supposed to be in charge, remember? I get to decide the agenda...and I think I have an idea."

"I like these ideas of yours lately," Miria said.

Hysteria gave her a look that promised more to come. She walked out of the room without saying anything. Miria stayed behind assuming she was supposed to stay and patiently await her return. She returned a short moment later with a set of strong-looking rope and tossed it across the bed.

"What's this?" Miria asked.

"Your punishment."

Hysteria asked her to lie down across the bed. She nervously did so, knowing in the back of her mind exactly what Hysteria had in mind. Her wrists and ankles were secured to the bedposts, not too tight or loose, giving her enough space to wriggle around a portion. Miria tried to pull on her restraints but found she was firmly secured where she was. Hysteria's knots were competent enough and both the rope and reinforced metal bed did seem to not break easily.

Hysteria sat astride her and looked down triumphantly, maintaining eye contact for far too long, a curve at the edge of her lips. The woman's eyes roamed down to her body and then she moved down to plant gentle kisses on the upper portion of her belly, against soft skin just below her breasts.

Hysteria moved her way down Miria's belly, creating a trail of saliva with the tip of her tongue. Miria thought she died and went to heaven when that wet tongue explored her bellybutton. Her body convulsed and pressed itself forward as if wanting more.

The pleasure was short-lived when the woman stopped what she was doing and raised herself so that they could gaze at each other once more.

"Some punishment, are you trying to tease me to death?" Miria said.

Hysteria tickled her mercilessly then. Miria could only kick and thrash helplessly against her bonds. The bed was of a solid metal frame, and the rope was something designed to hold something more than human down. There was no hope of escape. Laughter was forced out of her despite her attempts to hold them back. She continued to pull and tug, increasingly desperate to escape but having no choice but to grudgingly stay and accept her fate.

Hysteria would occasionally join in and laugh alongside her if only to make fun. At first, this was a detail Miria didn't pay much attention to but soon the act drove her every bit as crazy as the tickling itself. Miria tried to deny the woman the satisfaction of eye contact. At least that way she had some way of fighting back, but when Hysteria began to target her particular weak points, slowly at first and going faster, the act was futile and there was only painful laughter.

Hysteria finally withdrew to give her a break and time to catch her breath.

"Are you doing alright, Miria?" Hysteria asked, voice oddly caring.

"I love it and hate it at the same time..."

"That is what I like to hear. Now, I've been meaning to ask you about something."

Miria looked at her oddly, unsure what to make of this "What have you been wondering?"

"Rubel is the key to everything. This I've figured out even without you. So why have you not made an attempt to track him down?"

Miria glared in confusion, only just coming out of her silly fit. " Huh?"

"I thought tracking him down would be your number one priority, and yet you haven't bothered to do that. At the bare minimum, you should have asked Teresa to track him down. That would seem like the logical move to me. So why have you not done that?"

Miria looked at her flatly, not really knowing what the woman really wanted. "You choose now to ask me this? when I'm all strapped down and vulnerable?"

"It seems as good a time as any." Hysteria said. "I wish to know the answer. So tell me. You usually think ahead but this time I believe you are being lazy."

"And how do you know I haven't done that already?"

"...So you did ask Teresa to track down Rubel?"

"Well, I mean, I didn't technically ask Teresa to do anything, but I may have implanted the idea into her mind..."

Hysteria's lips parted and she almost gasped. "Implanted an idea? Oh, you mean, you manipulated her, yes?"

"I suppose that's one way to see it. Teresa isn't as smart as she thinks."

"Fascinating. Hmm, why bother going the sneaky route? Why not ask her directly? I thought you two were friends..."

"We are. The thing is though. I know Teresa is hiding certain things about herself which she will never admit to. She is a wildcard that does what she wants, and I believe I've known her long enough to predict what she will do next."

Hysteria drew herself back as if aghast at the revelation. "...So you're betting everything on Teresa doing what you want?"

"Pretty much."

" Aren't you afraid Teresa will find out?"

"She won't know for sure if you won't tell her."

Hysteria looked at her in a perplexed manner, but then that was replaced by a coy smile as she drew herself lower until their faces loomed close. "How cunning, I like that. Oh Miria, my adoration for you is matched equally by my loathing."

"Loathing? Really?" Miria said.

Hysteria casually brushed at her hair, flicking it and making it straight and neat again. "Yes, your insistence on stealing my technique has not been forgotten.."

Miria made a face. "Still on about that? Get over it."

"I will never get over it. Theft is theft and it is wrong."

Miria smiled "Not only do I want to steal it, but I plan to make it my own and improve upon it."

Hysteria's brow twitched in annoyance. "Is that so? "

"Yes, and you can't stop me."

"Maybe not. But I can do this..."

The tickling continued and Miria thrashed in her bonds until her muscles grew tired and she could honestly take no more. Or at least she thought she couldn't, but found that she actually could considering she had no choice in the matter. Her laughter grew pained and she became increasingly desperate. And yet, there was no still relief in sight. Her ordeal only got worse when her captor discovered yet even other places to play with, sensitive places, private places.

"Alright, enough..." Miria said, panting, red-faced.

Hysteria stopped then if only to adjust herself. That was another thing that drew Miria's ire; the woman sitting on top of her, pinning her down with her weight. The constant pressure and feeling of constraint. It added to her long list of frustrations. She tried to stay composed but her body and mind felt like they were being assaulted.

"Oh, you wish for me to stop?" Hysteria asked.

"What do you think?

Hysteria giggled. "But you are so pretty when you smile, is this really worse than the flogger?"

"Let me out."

"Not yet. You must take it like a woman."

"I thought you liked kisses and cuddles," Miria said.

"I did say that...but I like what you don't."

Miria leered at her coldly. "When I get out of here, I'm going to get you back ten times as bad, so you better enjoy yourself while you can."

Hysteria didn't seem to take that threat all that seriously, and so she continued on. The pained laughter returned and it was worse than ever. Miria writhed and twisted herself and her muscles began to cramp, and yet, Hysteria just kept on going. Eventually, she did what she had been avoiding this whole time. She gave in. She begged and plead for mercy. Hysteria listened to her begging and pleading for a while until she felt satisfied and withdrew for another break. Miria was spent and covered in sweat. She could take it no more.

"Look at me." Hysteria said.

Miria did so, hoping for mercy but seeing no evidence of it. She swallowed nervously when she recognized Hysteria's smile as anything but one of mercy.

"Say you won't steal my technique, and this can end."

Miria thought very closely about her answer. She balanced her pride with the logical thing to do. In the end, she came to her decision and stared her captor down bravely, managing an arrogant smile of her own.

"Make me."

And Hysteria did. Hysteria continued to punish her until Miria grew delirious with laughter until it came to a point where she would confess to and do anything. She endured Hysteria's treatment for an unreasonably long length of time, far longer than what would be deemed acceptable. She wasn't even sure if she wanted to be friends with Hysteria anymore after this. She did not think things could get any worse but then Hysteria began pulling and teasing on the tendons in her legs, which made her convulse and twist and beg and shout.

After what seemed like an eternity, her ordeal finally came to an end, and Hysteria withdrew. Miria saw nothing but red. She completely lost track of time, and could barely compose thoughts. Sweat covered her all over and her first coherent thought was if anyone in the building heard her howling. She remained in a state of confused satisfaction, her mind in a swirl, unable to compose words. Hysteria kissed her on the lips and then finally withdrew. It was over. Miria could barely believe it. It came as a shock. She almost didn't even want freedom anymore. She had accepted the rest of her life as Hysteria's tickle slave forever.

But Hysteria had finally undone her bindings, and the relief across her wrists and ankles felt like a godsend. As soon as she was free, Miria looked at the woman in a deathly manner to let her know that everything was not okay. Hysteria started back warily, only just now realizing the peril she was in. Miria caught her breath and then unexpectedly pounced on Hysteria like a wild animal where they wrestled around the bed for control.

During the tussle, Miria managed to pull off the woman's leather uniform until she was completely naked, and then she held the woman down in a dominant manner. Hysteria thrashed desperately but by the look on her face, she knew it was over, at which point she gave up and resorted to begging and pleading. To Miria, it really was the sweetest sound, especially when revenge was the only thing on her mind.

She bound Hysteria's wrists behind her back, and then tied her ankles and wrists together, restraining her lover beyond any hope of escape. She tightened the ropes and all the power and confidence were drained from Hysteria's face, replaced with panic instead.

"This is, Untie me! Now! Miria!" Hysteria ordered.

Miria enjoyed the sight of the helpless bound woman way more than she thought she would have. It satisfied her so. "What did I say before? I do believe I said I would get you back ten times as bad? Remember that?"

Hysteria's face sunk "Please. I'm sorry. Miria."

Miria put on a face of utter satisfaction. She felt somewhat unlike herself but Hysteria had done something to her which simply could not be undone in a single night. "But I want to see you smile, you look so pretty when you smile..."

After she dealt with Maddy, Teresa left the white building. She summoned her wings and flew up and over the great wall of the city to descend down into the military district. She could sense the presence of Karter, but there was someone else in particular she was looking for. It didn't take her long to find her. Teresa landed in front of an officer's building, tucking away her wings before anyone saw them.

Irene came out of the tent and passed her a surprised look. "Teresa. Nice of you to visit. Are you here for a chat about the old times, or something else?"

"I'm not very nostalgic, though I have been thinking a lot recently," Teresa said.

"That's a positive development. I suppose you may as well put that head of yours to use once in a while."

Teresa passed her an unflattering look. Not many had the nerve to tease her. "You've been awfully quiet as of late, old friend. Why is that? Regulator duties keeping you busy, or is it something else?"

"Something else? I have nothing but regulator duties, Teresa."

"I don't really want to know about that. What I want to know, is what exactly is your connection to Rubel?"

Irene smirked. "The same connection Miria has. That man is close to the elite of the Capitol, someone with mutual interests who is vital to everything. It is wise to keep him close."

"Mutual interests? Vital to everything? Can you elaborate on that?"

"It was he who had you brought back to life, and it was he who asked me to bring you all here from the island, so I did. I imagine it was to cause instability in this place. I'm sure you've heard of the rumors of a dragon running the capitol in secret. Someone called the master. Everything that Rubel has done thus far leads to the conclusion he intends to challenge this master's authority. It's no wonder Miria has always associated herself with him. Does this association concern you, Teresa?"

"A lot of things concern me, and yes, it does."

"I know what this sounds like but you really shouldn't be all that concerned. He was the one who groomed Miria and gave her the idea for this whole rebellion situation in the first place."

Teresa crossed her arms, "So then, Rubel helps us take out this master and then what? We all live happily ever after? Is that the plan? As much as this master is a pain in everyone's ass, the approaching dragonkin horde seems to be a far pressing issue. I wonder if Miria has her priorities straight."

"Miria has already organized all that she can," Irene said. "General Karter has been making the preparations on my side, and I believe she has finally had contact with the president."

"You know a lot for not being in the loop. What will you be doing when the dragonkin attack?" Teresa asked.

"As a regulator, I'll be doing my job and defending the city from all external threats. I am prepared to do my part, Teresa, I hope you are prepared to do yours. "

"Miria sought to speak to him, but she hasn't been able to reach him. Where is Rubel now?"

"I haven't a clue. That man is usually the one to approach you when he wants to be known."

"How convenient," Teresa said.

"Not everything in life is served on a silver spoon, Teresa. Miria is being used by Rubel, this is for certain, however, it is a two-way street. She is using him as well. That is how things work, you of all people should know that."

Teresa suddenly turned around to leave. She thought about showing her wings to Irene but she didn't really want to.

"By the way, did you really think I never knew of your wings, Teresa?" Irene said.

That made Teresa stop. She turned back around and assumed her infamous faint smile. She had questions but they were for another day. She summoned her wings and flew off without saying a word.

As soon as she was freed, Miria thought Hysteria would storm out of the room but instead of that, they ended up cuddling afterward as if nothing even happened. Though Miria did hear Hysteria sobbing and generally feeling sorry for herself. They had a bath to clean themselves off and then found a new room and bed to sleep in. Evelina's white building had plenty to choose from.

They remained that way for a while and said nothing to each other. Hands and lips roamed to each other throughout the night and they finished their passion under the sheets of their bed.

Hysteria lay beside her as the sun began to rise the following morning, its golden lights seeping into the room through the side window. The woman held on to her tightly even as she slept, nails clawing into her for comfort as if she were a giant sleeping toy.

Miria enjoyed the moment of bliss for a moment before she quietly reached to the side and pulled out the small glass vial she had hidden in a nook between the headboard and the mattress. She held the vial in front of her, inspecting closely the mysterious blue liquid inside. The yoma that had given it to her had warned of its dangers. But she wondered if perhaps those dangers had been exaggerated.

She put the vial away and managed to wriggle herself free from her partner's grasp. She put a pillow in her place so as to not wake Hysteria, then grabbed a robe to cover herself and left the room silently. She made her way to the top level and to Evelina's giant balcony which overlooked the academy, but someone was already there doing the same thing. It was Clare.

"Miria, I assume you came here for a moment of privacy," Clare said. "I'll leave."

"No, I'd like it if you stayed. You have every right to be here as I do."

Clare smiled and leaned sideways across the railings. "Then I will stay. I have to say, it really is good to be back to normality, whatever that means. You don't even want to know what Teresa and I went through."

"Stranger than fiction?" Miria asked.

"Yes, I would definitely put it in that category, and far beyond actually. I can see that a lot has changed here since we were gone. How exactly did you manage to take over Evelina's academy anyway?"

Miria simpered. "Simple. I convinced her to send all her guards home. And then I abducted her and replaced her with an illusion."

"That easy huh? I suppose all it took was time. Your strategy worked in the end, as usual."

"Where is Teresa?"Miria asked.

Clare sunk a little further down. "Roaming around. I don't know. I was with her earlier, but you know sometimes we need our own space. Which I'm sure you understand being here and all."

"You know me. I feel like I've done everything I possibly could, Clare, and yet, it's still not enough. What if this city falls and us along with it? It would render everything we've done until now meaningless. All this for nothing. How can that even be a real possibility? I feel like this time our luck may just run out. I have no idea what's ahead, and that scares me."

Clare listened closely as only a close friend would. But in her eyes there was hope. "We survived in the past because we stuck together. we'll survive what's upcoming the same way."

Miria smiled. "You've always been the sensible one. I regret that lately we haven't spend a lot of time together. It really is a shame."

"It is, though it was due to circumstances beyond our control, and at least we made the best of it."

"At least you had plenty of time to spend with Teresa. How is she anyway? Is she well?"

"She's...herself, for good and bad," Clare said.

"Good and bad?"

"It can be frustrating being with Teresa sometimes. I know she cares about me, about us, but sometimes I feel like she has her own agenda, an agenda i'm not a part of."

"Why do you feel that way? Have you spoken to her about it?"

Clare nodded. "I have, but I get the sense she doesn't really want to talk about it. I don't know. I'm a little confused."

"Teresa loves you, Clare. She still sees you as her little girl, you know that, right?."

Clare blushed. "I know. But, it's more than that...she won't even let me try. I wanted to try the soul link but she won't let me. She even threatened to kill me."

"What? Kill you?"

Clare laughed, and at that moment Miria realized it was only a joke. But Clare wasn't really the type to joke around like that, and Miria wondered if there was perhaps some truth behind to it after all.

"Of course she doesn't want you to turn into Priscilla," Miria said. "There is nothing Teresa fears more than that."

"I know..."

"So what's really up with the wings? You two aren't actually awakened beings now, or a variation?"

"Teresa knows more of it. Perhaps you should ask her." Clare said.

"I did but she wasn't clear."

Clare sighed. "She's never clear about anything. Which is what I'm talking about. There's one thing I've learned about Teresa. She likes to keep things to herself."

"I know," Miria said.

Clare looked at her curiously. "You know?"

"Yes, there was that one time when her mind was supposedly possessed, a while back, do you remember that? When she attacked us a couple of days ago?"

"What about it?" Clare said.

"Well, the thing is, I found out that was all a lie. Teresa only pretended to be possessed. I don't know her motives exactly, but I know for certain that for whatever reason, she attacked us herself." Miria said.

Clare went white. "What?"

"I know. She confessed it to me afterward. I wasn't going to tell you, but after what you told me, I thought you should know about it. Teresa is not a bad actor, i'm not suggesting that at all. But maybe you should keep an eye on her, just in case."

After her chat with Clare, Miria returned to her room and noticed Hysteria still sprawled across their bed. After removing her robes, Miria sat against the bed with, leaning her head against the headboard in silence. She felt a hand brush across her arm.

"Where did you go?" Hysteria asked.

"Oh, so you're talking again? I went out for some air."

Hysteria blushed and looked away, still a little sulky. She stretched her body under the sheets brushing her feet across Miria's "The bed was cold without you... "

Miria sunk lower to make herself more comfortable. Hysteria nudged over to spoon her, face digging into her arm like a mammal huddling for warmth. She certainly didn't mind Hysteria's company. Hysteria smelt good, and she was warm, and her skin was soft. Nails a little long but sometimes the scratches felt more good than bad. Miria sighed happily and kissed the woman's head, feeling her hair tickle her nose. She smiled at the sensation.

A gale came through the window and someone appeared in the middle of their room. Miria was almost too distracted to see it. It was Teresa, whose wide wings retracted inward in the blink of an eye. Across her shoulder, she carried a man in black whose groans identified him quickly as Rubel. Teresa put Rubel down not exactly gently. The man in black had managed to keep a hold of his hat and fumbled to adjust it back on his head. Miria and Hysteria exchanged glances and shared in a common smile.

Miria leaned forward, forgetting she was completely naked and exposing herself. "Teresa...I wasn't...uh...expecting you."

Teresa looked her over. "You may choose not to cover yourself, it really is your choice."

Miria picked up the bedsheets to cover herself up. Embarrassment flooding thorough her. "You abducted Rubel?"

"I decided to bring him over for questioning..."

Hysteria snickered, "You decided?"

"...Yes. I decided." Teresa said.

Rubel coughed. "How did you all even find my private residence?"

"See, he's rattled. What better time is there? Teresa said, then looking over at Hysteria. "Sorry to disrupt pillow talk with captain."

Hysteria smirked. "You are not sorry."

"You're actually entirely right about that."

Miria got out of bed and put on her robes. Hysteria stayed behind in bed, propping herself up to rest on an elbow, watching with intense interest. Miria walked up to Rubel who, just as Teresa said, looked entirely rattled, even more so than when Riful dealt with him. It could have just been the nausea of having been dragged around at high speed though.

"I know this seems...drastic," Miria said. "But you have been mysteriously absent recently. I have some questions as to why. This was not our original deal."

"Miria, you should already know," Rubel said.

"Know what?"

"Why I can't be seen associating with you."

Miria crossed her arms and made an unconvinced face. "We associated plenty. What are you talking about?"

"I was always careful, but now, this blatant risk Teresa took will put us all in jeopardy," Rubel said.

"Jeopardy? How so, Mr man in black? Do explain." Teresa said, pressing her face at him.

"Up until now, the organization had no idea I'm working against them, but now, they just might. Teresa abducted me during an important meeting. Questions will be coming my way."

"By organization," Miria said. "You mean the master?"

"Yes. He is more dangerous than you know. I was going to explain it all to you at a later time but it seems my hands are forced..."

Priscilla soared over mountains and plains, and passed by the human Capitol City if only as a reference point, and went even beyond that, passed a desolate and baron land and up to a mountain range. There, something immediately caught her eye. Something that dotted across the mountains. At first she thought they were trees but as she drew closer it dawned on her that they were no trees at all. They were dragonkin, and even from this far up there was no end to them – like an endless sea that washed across the mountains.

How are they this close already?

She wasn't the only flying creature about. She heard the sound of wings and noticed something approaching her from the bottom. She sniveled when she recognized who it was.

There she is...

Priscilla landed across a mountain peak. Arrylys landed nearby, her massive dragon form clawing against the failing rock. The massive dragon then transformed and a humanoid Arrylys approached Priscilla with curious eyes, that at first seemed more interested in their surroundings as if she was missing something.

"The awakened crown arrives, " Arrylys said. "Are you here to surrender?"

Priscilla tried not to look at the army around. All of the dragonkin were staring. An endless set of eyes set upon her and it was more than a little unnerving.

"I am no longer Queen," Priscilla said "I have up the crown to someone else. King Isley has taken my place."

Arrylys frowned. "King? This new term amuses me so."

"Why is that?"

"Back during my time, there were no Kings, only Queens. Dragons were not a patriarchal society. The males were not bigger than the females. In fact, it is the reverse."

"That doesn't sound too bad. So what went wrong then? Why is it that the dragons are all but gone?"

Arrylys seemed to be thinking of the perfect word. "...Betrayal."

"Hmm, I guess I can understand that," Priscilla said.

She took confident steps towards an even more confident looking Arrylys. "I challenge you here, in front of all your new friends, to a fight. This time, you have nowhere to run."

Arrylys grinned, exposing her sharp canines.

She transformed back into her menacing dragon form, letting out a roar that threatened to deafen her. Priscilla could smell its horrid breath and it made her want to puke, but a wave of anger drowned that all out as she stormed towards the giant lizard with her claws out and prepped for combat. Her opening strike was a powerful one but she had missed and suffered a crushing hit from the dragon's tail.

She hit the ground with bone-crushing force that left a small crater. Her regeneration kicked in and she stood strong and healthy a moment later. Dragkonkin watched from above, none of them feeling the need to attack her. At least the creatures had a shred of honor.

Arrylys gave her little time to recover as the dragon swooped down to claw at her first with its massive taloned feet and then try and take a bite out of her with jaws of death. It opened its mouth and sent a wave of searing hot white fire that Priscilla only barely avoided. She winced at the pain of the parts melted skin and charred flesh that grazed the edge of the flames.

She clashed with Arrylys and for the most part, she felt things were even. Blow for blow was exchanged. She hurt the dragon and sometimes the dragon hurt her. For Priscilla, that would usually be enough to win a fight but she sensed that her own stamina, while impressive, paled in comparison to the dragon. She kicked its head once or twice and managed ti disorientated it, but had achieved not much else. Impacts that could smash stone were not quite of the magnitude to shatter dragon bone it seemed.

Eventually, Priscilla knew she was in trouble and had no choice but to tuck her tail between her legs and make a break for it. She hated it but she had no choice. She could hear Arrylys laughing in her deep dragon voice and it only made her more infuriated, but she did not stop. One of her wings was torn but it regenerated quickly enough not to hinder her attempts. The dragon was larger but not necessarily faster. When it came to flying she had the advantage. Eventually, Arrylys gave up and returned to her army. Priscilla felt an enormous sense of relief but chose not to land yet and instead go a little further just to make sure. She landed across a field of grass with light packets of snow covering it, and fell to her knees. Thinking of her failure, she punched frustratingly at the ground.

Damn it! I'm just not strong enough...

She stayed and kept punching the ground a few more times before her senses were disturbed, and she raised herself to look around. At first she thought it may be Arrylys but as she zeroed in on the source, she knew it not to be of dragon origin at all. It was a claymore. One whose aura was incredibly faint, and yet still pricked her attention. She flew towards the source and in between two mountains, she saw a lone claymore with long hair sprinting as if she were in a hurry.

Is that, Teresa?

Curious, Priscilla sought to get closer. Whoever this claymore was, she could move about as quickly as was possible on two legs, but legs stood no chance against wings and it didn't take long for her to hover just above. From up close, the claymore had silver eyes with hair that was a long and platinum blonde. She moved differently from Teresa too. Priscilla continued forward and descended in the way of the claymore who upon noticing her stopped, slid across the dirt and stared with a dumb expression. She was older than Teresa too, and the uniform she wore was old and ragged at places.

"What are you doing out here all alone?" Priscilla asked, hands crossed. "Are you a messenger for someone?"

The claymore stood perfectly still and did not blind in her staring. Priscilla felt a tinge of awkwardness and wondered if the woman even had the ability to speak at all.

"Perhaps there's something wrong with you then..." Priscilla said.

"You are not my love." The claymore said.

"No, I don't believe I am..."

The claymore looked at her blankly as if she once again did not understand, or was too slow to actually process what was being said. Whatever was going on within her mind, Priscilla certainly didn't think it wasn't very much at all. There was a slight smile to her lips, but her eyes were almost lifeless when she spoke.

"He is so good to me, I want to be with him forever."

"Look, I don't really know what you're saying, but it seems to me like you're delusional.

"His eyes, I wish to see them once more."

Priscilla sighed, utterly stumped in this situation. The odd claymore stared at her like an owl and it was beginning to feel more threatening than anything else. Priscilla had enough. "Hey, I don't know you, but you give me a bad vibe. I actually feel bad about this, but I'm going to have to kill you, don't take it personally. There are enough issues in this world already, don't need to add another."

That time, she swore the woman understood her words. Her dreamlike trance was replaced with an expression that seemed to resemble anger. But Priscilla wasn't sure. But she was prepared when the claymore suddenly made a charge for her, sword raised and ready to fight.

Sometimes what needs to be written needs to be written. that is all I shall say. Hope you enjoyed.