"What is this?" Sky asked out loud. He went to reach out but his hand went through. Am I a ghost? An observing specter? Sky could only watch mirror-him open the door. A bald, older, man in what appears to be servant garbs of royal blues and tan colors with hints of terracotta peaking out of the trimmings.

" Your people awaits you," he said, bowing to mirror-Sky.

"Let's not keep them waiting then, Cordel," mirror-Sky chuckled. He was wearing an open black tunic with gold trimmings under a royal blue vest with gold disks embellish into the sides of the vest. Loose fitted beige pants was held up by a royal blue beaded belt-scarf. Coins of silver and gold hung by the threads around his waist. Brown leather ankle boots wrap around his ankles. Around his neck several gold chains fell down to his bare chest. Thick gold bands hung tightly around his wrists. A single gold hoop earring hung from his right ear. One long, jagged, scar ran across his left cheek to the tip of his nose. Smaller, thinner, scars litter the rest of his face. Mirror-Sky reach behind himself, plucking a crown of laurel of gold leaves and crystalize fire opals from a purple velvet cushion sitting on top a waist high white marble pillar.

"Has it arrive yet?" Mirror-Sky asked, placing the laurel crown on top of his blond head. His hair hung down to his shoulders, the ends curling slightly inward toward his face.

"Yes, your Majesty. It is safely stowed away in the vault. I have guards guarding the door," Cordel answered, bowing his head slightly down as mirror-Sky walk out of the study. Sky follow close behind, unsure of what's going to happen next. Their voices becoming muffle as his felt air beneath his feet. Stumbling forward, Sky was surrounded by people dress in loose-fitted silks and their finest jewels. He spotted his mirror-self by an archway leading into the grand room. The grand room has large archways leading to a stone courtyard and the open sky. Translucent yellow and orange drapes sway in the wind. The sound of trumpets blare loudly, silencing the crowd's voices.

"Presenting his Royal Majesty, King Alistar Lux!" A male voice loudly proclaimed as mirror-Sky strutted through the parted crowd. So that is your name. A cape of blue and gold flap behind him with each step. He walk up the few short steps to the lone gilded throne surrounded in a blaze of fire opals. Turning on his heel, he sat down, his back straight as his hands lay across his armrests.

"Let's-" Mirror-Sky, now reveal to be King Alistar Lux, began but stop when large footfalls rush toward the grand room. Two guardsmen rush in, one of them was carrying a large beige woven sack.

"Your Majesty!"One of them called out, both promptly dropping down to their knees. The large sack fell to the ground with a loud thud, a soft groan echoing across the whispering room. Sky inch his way closer until he stood next to his mirror-self.

"We caught a thief in the vault room!" The guardsman wearing a circlet helmet cried out, removing the sack with quick easeness. A small, thin figure in raggedy brown tunic was tied by the hands and feet. Sky's eyes widen in shock. I would know that red hair anywhere! He could only watch in horror as streams of choppy red hair lifted up to reveal a dirt-smudge face. Cyan eyes stare defiantly at the king as she twisted in her rope bonds.

"What pray tell, were you after, little one?" King Alistar Lux leaned forward in his chair. The young woman spat on the ground instead of answering.

"She was trying to take the Heart of Nimue," the guardsman answered.

"Along with the Queen's Sceptor," the other guard added. King Alistar Lux lean back with a frown marring his face. He scratch absently on a scar over his chin.

"No one was suppose to know of it's arrival outside of a select few. Pray tell how you knew?"

She remain silent, glaring up at him with her head still bowed. The guard to her right grab her by the hair roughly, lifting her face up. She let out a hiss.

"Talk you scum!"The guard shook her puling out some of her hair.

"I would rather rot than bow down before you." She snarled through clench teeth. Mirror-Sky raise a blond eyebrow.

"So be it then." He snapped his fingers. "Take her to Barrack Cells. Have Örasde interrogate her."

She widen her eyes when she heard the name leave his mouth. She began to struggle more in her bounds.

Sky look back and forth between the two unsure of what he is suppose to do. Then he watch in amazement, her eyes began to glow a fiery golden color. The crowd began to whisper loudly, many stepping away in fear.

"So you reveal who you truly are," the King smirked.

"The Heart of Nimue does not belong to you! It belongs to the Dragonese Mother! Your kingdom will fall into a wasteland! Return the Heart of Nimue before your people is slaughter!"

"I have had heard rumors of a Shaman living in the outskirts. I never have thought I would have a Shaman brought before me, no less as a common thief!" Sky turn sharply as the King laugh arrogantly. "Have her return to me once she is interrogated in any means necessary. She shall be my personal slave."

What is with this guy?

"It shall be done, Your Majesty." The guards got up from their kneeling positions, bowing before him with their right fists press against their armor chest plate.

"The Gods will destroy you!" The woman shouted before being knock out by a hilt of a curve sword. The people step further away, as the guards carry the now reveal Shaman away.

"Cordel," King Alistar Lux wave his left hand forward, motioning for the servant to step away from behind the throne.

"I want her brought to my chambers. Make sure she is chain to her cage."

"I'll have the servants work on it right away."

Sky step back, feeling disgusted.

Is this how I'll turn out to be if I follow in father's footsteps? An image of him sitting arrogantly on his father's throne, surrounded by woman dress in skimpy dresses of shades of blue and gold. It is no secret to Sky that Erendor may be a good king but he sleeps around behind his mother's back. He owns a palace in the western province fill with sex slaves to entertain the Earkylonian Elite. There has always been whispers of illegitimate children that the slaves bore for him. His mother always put on a brave face but he knew the look in her eyes said otherwise. He was brought out of his musings with the sounds of trumpets blaring in the distance.

Why does it sound so far away? He blink and realize the scenery change. He was in lavish bedroom drape in various shades of blue silks and scroll and tomes scatter the floor. Gilded paintings hung on the wall depicting nature, maps, and battles. He turn around and was met with a large tapestry in a lavish plum color. A red dragon curl around an opulent egg. There were writings on the bottom. Before he had the chance to read it, a clicking sound reach his ears. He walk across the room toward the high floor the ceiling windows where a large object was hidden behind a gray tapestry. He can make out a metal frame, bronze in color, peaking out from beneath the tapestry. He went to reach for it but his hand went through it.

Right, I can't touch anything. Just an observer. The door to the bedroom opens up, King Alistar Lux walk in with a sigh with Cordel following close behind. He reach up and grab his laurel crown, tossing it onto the duvet. The laurel crown bounce once before it landed upside down. Cordel was holding an ornate box in his hands

What got him so nervous? The servant shifted a bit, sweat brimming along his forehead. In one swift movement, the King remove the gray tapestry. A large metal bird cage gleam in the afternoon sunlight. In it, was the fiery red hair woman pulling on her chain collar, weakly. Her cyan eyes look up. Her face may look stony but her eyes told otherwise.

She's afraid.

"Little one," the king started, his lips turn downward as he tsk at her. "It seems you refuse to cooperate with Örasde. It seems the lashings did not faze you."

"The Gods will lay your kingdom to waste!" Sky jumped as the cage rattle, violently. The King grab a fistful of the chain and yank her closer to the metal bars until her face was within his grasp.

"Your pesky Gods will not save you," he snarled, digging his fingers into her face.

"Open it!" Cordel quickly open the ornate box to reveal a small and slender rod with a sigil of a winged creature.

"No!" The young woman struggled, staring in horror as the blond man bit his thumb hard. Turning his thumb downward, a drop of blood fell over the sigil, causing it to glow red.

"Please, do not brand me, please!" She begged him.

"You know as well as I do, little one, I must. I can not have you running away from me. You are mine."

"The Gods will grant you mercy!"

"Mercy?!" He barked, grabbing the rod. "Where were they when my mother died by the hands of my own father? Where were they when my father exile me to his slave camps? Where were they when my brethren die in the Battle of Kayssh? Where were they when my kingdom was ravage by civil war? Your Gods have abandon me and my people!"

The young woman cease her struggles, her eyes fill with unshed tears.

"Don't give me your pity!" King Alistar Lux roared, bashing her face into the medal frame. Her eyes roll to the back of her skull.

The King panted, his eyes fill with anger. With a snarl, he threw her face away, not watching the body lay still on the ground.

"My Lord?" Cordel asked hesitantly. His liege turn his head, his eyes stony.

"I'll take me leave now, my Lord." The servant bowed, taking the box with him out of the bedchamber, leaving Sky and the King alone. The Specialist eye the other man as he look at his other hand which held the still burning rod.

"What's your problem?" Sky asked as his counterpart stumble back and fell onto to his bed. His head bowing down into his hands.

"Am I turning into my father?" His voice muffled by his hands. "Is it too late to save my soul from damnation?"

Sky turn his attention to the girl.

"This is not the first time they have met," a feminine voice spoked behind him. Sky jump, his cape whirling around sharply. A cloak figure cover in a soft-color gray cloak stood by a painting of a muscular man in a toga. A halo was wrap around his blond, curly, hair while his face glow ethereally. White tattoo lines were painted under his eyes, and down his cheek bones. A While, blazing, sword held high in one hand while in another he held what appears to be a lightning bolt.

"W-What?" he stuttered out as the figure move toward him.

"There is something you must see." A slender hand grabbed his, pulling him out of the bedchamber. They step out in to the hallway. Sky turn his head back, hearing an anguish cry.

"He will be fine."

"And the girl?" He asked, looking at the cloak's back.

"Merely sleeping." The figure shrugged.

"She got her face bash in!" Sky yelled, yanking his hand out of the figure's hand. The figure turn around, the hood slipping down.

"N-no way," the Crown Prince took a shuddering step back, his face gone pale.

"Why do you have her face?!"

"You're not wrong but not right," full lips turned up into a small smile. "For you see, I am her as she is me. You are him as he is you."

Cyan eyes twinkle mischievously.

"Warrior of Light, we all have unfinish business. Time is of the essence at the moment as our greatest enemy is gathering strength."

"Why her? Why does it have to be her?"

"Her purpose is far greater than you can ever imagine. With her ever growing powers, comes a harsh truth..."

A gleam in those cyan eyes made him fall down onto his knees.

"She will become a Goddess far greater than you have ever seen."

The face of Bloom's look down upon him, a white-colored staff appear in her left hand. The bottom of the staff bang against the stone floor, emitting bell-like sounds.

"It is her destiny."