As things swam back into focus for Reis, she could tell that something was different. There weren't any strange machines around, nor was she in a small workshop. She was in the open, in the middle of a frozen crossroads. Gazing around, she could make out a few gigantic shells, with what appeared to be glimmering rocks for lights and small holes for windows. Crystalline structures nearly three times her height resembled trees, and considering that she was fairly tall these 'trees' were giant indeed.

Taking a few steps down the cobbled road, she heard a faint rustling sound in the soft snow behind her. Diving into a frosted bush, Reis peered out towards the source of the sound.

A figure moved quickly across the same path that she went on. From what Reis could make out, it was a woman wearing a pink skirt, with a short red jacket. Wondering what on earth she could be doing here, Reis decided that it would be best to follow her.

She was on the verge of transformation before she remembered something. Taking off her blouse, she undressed completely, placing the clothes in a neat pile and tying them with the strap on her blouse. Now she could transform.

Standing in the bitter cold, Reis thought of becoming a dragon once more, shivering as she did. Alas, being undressed in a frozen plain is not a good idea…

A familiar flash of light, expansion of the body, and down on all fours. Reis picked up the pile of clothes and placed it on her back before running after the woman, dashing as quickly as her four legs would carry her. Cold was no longer a matter of importance to her; at least while she is transformed.

The red-and-pink figure sneaked into a giant spiral shell, entering through a timber door at the bottom of it. The spiral shell was built above a watery lake, not frozen like all the other water sources were.

Pushing the door open as quietly as it is possible for a dragon; Reis crept into the shadowy interiors of the shell. A hidden staircase had been revealed in the thicket of kelp in the centre of the shell; it was still dripping with water. Treading her way carefully down the slippery steps, Reis inched her way down into the unknown…

Down she went, down numerous amounts of steps, at least one hundred down. It went in a great curve right around a small chapel, linking the chapel with what is above the ground. The red figure was kneeling down in the chapel's gazebo, which sat atop a coral pillar.

Lying down flat in the shadows, slightly to one side of the woman, Reis observed what she was doing.

Apparently this person was praying; her hands were clasped together in prayer, face serene and tranquil. A small, green stone sat on her hair clip, an iridescent glow emanating from it.

She sat there for a minute or two. Reis simply waited, captivated by the calm and peacefulness of the woman. That was something that she had never had, the calm she never had been able to reach, the peace too troublesome to work for.

Catching the flash of something far above the woman, Reis thought that it was time to get up. Speeding down the shining object went, slicing through the air downwards—towards the praying woman. Reis, detecting the immediate danger, reacted within a split second; making a great leap, she leapt across from her hiding spot to knock over the praying woman, thus knocking her out of harm's way.

The rasp of steel entering flesh, that gush of warm fluid, the incapacitating pain of a sharp blade slicing the body. Reis let out a scream (which turned out as a roar, given her dragon form) as the sharp blade of a katana thrust through her back down to her stomach. Instinctively snapping at the source of the pain, Reis bit into something hard and yet covered in flesh.

A silver-haired man she had between her teeth, beating madly against her powerful head. Slamming the man into the ground, Reis stamped down onto the man with a heavy claw. Breathing fire upon the downed attacker, she thought she had roasted him alive—only to see that he disappeared without a trace, leaving only a few cursing words and a trail of anger. Transforming back into human form, Reis stood there in the gazebo, a katana still in her stomach through her back.

Now realising the full extent of the pain, Reis began to lose the strength in her knees. Collapsing down flat onto the ground, Reis felt the blade being slowly removed by someone. If this were true pain, it would be much better to end it now…end it now, she thought, wishing that the person who drew that terrible sword would cleave her head off, ending her suffering.

Instead a cure spell found its way to her, healing to some extent the pain.

'Please don't think that,' a gentle voice said, 'You have much to live for,'

Reis simply nodded to say that she understood, unable to speak. Her blood was staining the floor. She could feel it—a warm fluid slowly spreading from her open wound.

'Yo, Aeris, what's going on here?' a rough voice hollered down from above. Great. More visitors. As if it isn't dignified enough being naked on the floor, with an open wound still letting blood. There was a gasp, and an unwelcome 'WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT OTHER WOMAN!'

That was just too much. Everything seemed to fade again for Reis, just like when she arrived to this place. Sounds, vision, smells…everything disappeared into a pitch black silence.