He is awakened by a knock on his door. With a groan Umbrae rolls over and burrows deeper into his covers. Another set of much louder knocks sounds out in response.

Throwing off the covers he swings open the door with an angry, "What! I'm trying to sleep!" upon seeing Senex his face drops, "My apologies Master. I thought- actually I have no excuse."

"You missed breakfast and service is mandatory," reports Senex.

"Service?" Asks Umbrae, "I wasn't told of that."

"You are in a monastery. What did you expect?" deadpans Senex, "Nonetheless service is only at the beginning of each week and serves as a way to cleanse our worries and renew ourselves until next time."

"What does service usually entail?" asks Umbrae as he follows Senex down the halls.

"Anything. You want to pray, meditate, ask the ancestors for advice. Go right ahead."

"That's very loose. When I was a kid, service consisted an old guy, that liked little boys a bit too much, standing on a podium screaming about how unfair life is and reading a book so old it thinks women are objects and slavery is okay. That's just a random church, I expect a monastery to be worse."

Senex shakes her head at his colorful description, "When the Order of the Guardians was first formed it was home to various faiths and interpretations of those faiths united in the protection of holy sites, so as to not seem to be picking favorites the founders merely required them to be in the presence of an effigy of an ancestor once a week. The exact details of their worship was up to them. Though today's service will be a ceremony to inaugurate you and your friends as guardians-in-training."

The first thing Umbrae sees as he arrives in a large chamber at the center of the monastery is the large pedestal in the center with a staircase leading up it. Atop which is a marble statue that seems to gleam in the sunlight falling through a large window in the ceiling. Around the pedestal are hundreds of neatly arranged cushions.

Looking straight ahead, Umbrae sees Veneneer and Płomień standing next to a gold, water-filled basin in front of the front paws of the statue. With some gesturing from Senex Umbrae stands next to a very tired looking Veneneer.

Before he can say anything Senex says, "We gather here today to induct three future guardians into our holy order," she opens a roll of cloth. Inside it are three bronze medallions small enough to fit comfortably in a dragon's palm depicting a dragon in a defensive pose, teeth in a scowl and their wings spread wide, standing on a rock with a top down view of the monastery in the background.

She picks up the first medallion and dips it into the water before approaching Płomień and placing the medallion around her neck, "Płomień the fire dragon." She dips the next and approaches Veneneer, "Veneneer the poison dragon," she dips the last before stepping in front of Umbrae, "And Umbrae the Shadow Dragon," she dips her hand in the water before using her thumb to rub a small amount of water over their foreheads, "Today these three young dragons will start their journey. May the ancestors bless them. May they bless us all!"

"That was shorter than I expected," comments Umbrae.

"When you have dozens of students all needing to be consecrated in the eyes of the ancestors you make short ceremonies. At least I assume that's what Terrae and the other founders were thinking. Now anytime you are outside this monastery you are to wear these medallions," she notices Płomień's questioning look, "It's a centuries old imperial law."

"Forcing monks to wear medallions?" Asks Umbrae, "Why?"

"About three hundred years ago Head Guardian Wächterin, the head of the order at the time and the only ever recorded fear dragon," she sees the question about to come out of Umbrae's snout, "Save your questions until I'm done. Anyway Wächterin was cursed with the ability to communicate with Malefor in his prison, whether or not this was because of her element is still hotly debated, and he taught her how to harness Aether without purple scales. However, while powerful, Aether can easily corrupt a dragon if used in anger. As such she started to change and started using the Order for banditry and terrorism. As such the entire known world passed laws forcing Guardians and those associated to be clearly marked, even after her death. Now questions?"

"You told me there were no recorded Fear dragons just last night. Yet you just said this Wächterin was one," inquires Umbrae.

"I also said there were no natural Fear dragons. Her parents were cultists that used unknown methods to transform her egg before it was found on our doorstep and put under my care."

"How'd you find out she was an artificial fear dragon?" Asks Płomień.

"First sign was that her egg looked like a wind dragon's, she didn't, and on a mission we found the cultists, who confirmed it. Anymore questions?" Everyone is silent. "Very well. Aarde!"

He comes up from somewhere among the cushions, "Yes Master Senex?"

"Due to you actually meditating as opposed to faking it like Lucht. I have decided to give you a day off to show young Umbrae around."

"Yes master," calls Aarde before making his way back down the stairs and waving a wing towards Umbrae.

"What about the others?" Asks Umbrae.

"I gave them a tour while you were meditating," answers Senex.

Following Aarde they take to the skies where Aarde starts to speak, "This monastery was built as a repository of knowledge by the Order of the Guardians since their formation two thousand years ago."

As he is giving the history of the monastery and pointing to the different parts Umbrae's eyes wander until they land on a cave in a mountainside, "What about that cave?"

"I think that's just a cave," comments Aarde.

"Let's go find out!" Calls Umbrae.

"I was ordered to give a tour," replies Aarde, "Not wander aimlessly."

"If the monastery has been here for two thousand years then perhaps this cave has been used as part of it."

An unsure look crosses his face, "But I have orders."

"Come on. Who knows what we'd find, and judging by the look on your face you want to."

"It could be dangerous," warns Aarde.

"It's a cave," comments Umbrae with a sarcastic tone, "The worst that can happen is a cave in and you can use your earth magic to handle that."

"Who knows what might be hiding in the caves around here. Especially with two thousand years of elements being experimented with. I'd feel better with at least a weapon."

"Then we'll get our weapons."

Back at the cave Aarde pulls his warhammer and a small sphere of fire appears at his shoulder.

"So your hammer is elemental too?" Asks Umbrae, "When will I get mine?"

"When master Senex deems it necessary."

"Of course," mumbles Umbrae before his eyes are drawn towards the top of the unnaturally arched entrance, "Is that writing?"

The fire ball floats up to it revealing strange runes, "Yes. It's ancient Draconic. I'm still learning but I think I can make out the symbol for Aether and door'."

"Senex mentioned Aether. What's that?"

"Aether is an incredibly powerful element, in fact it is the very magic of the universe. Only Purple Dragons can use it unless they grant another dragon with it."

Entering the cave Umbrae continues speaking, "Are there any purple dragons right now?"

"There are rumors that the purple egg that was saved twelve years ago has hatched and come back. Some say the prophecy will finally be complete."

"Prophecy?" Asks Umbrae.

"There is a prophecy that foretells that a purple dragon hatched in the year of the dragon will destroy Malefor once and for all," explains Aarde.

As the tunnel ends at a small chamber Aarde sends out the orb which flares brightly, lighting an entirely empty chamber, "Maybe it was moved." Suggests Aarde.

"The runes were on the cave entrance so maybe the entire cave is the door and since there is nowhere else to go we just have to head back the way we came and see if we've been teleported somewhere."

"How'd you figure that out?" Asks Aarde.

"I didn't," calls Umbrae as he runs back down the tunnel. Once he exits he is greeted by not the idyllic valley of the monastery but a large flat plain with the occasional bulbus tree with glowing pustules. Across the plain is a stepped black spire that towers into the huge storm spiraling overhead.

"Wow," mumbles Aarde, "You were scarily accurate."

"I want to check that out!"

"You want to go towards the big, spiky evil spire?"

"I wanted to explore this world. That seems like a cool place to start. Don't worry I'll run at the sign of danger."

"Fine," grumbles Aarde.

At that grumble Umbrae takes off towards the spire. As he gets to a certain distance bolts of lighting start to strike more frequently causing him to backpedal. Examining the situation he turns to Aarde, "You're an earth dragon so can you make a tunnel?"

"Yes. Easily."

"Good, this lightning is obviously a defense mechanism so we need to go under it."

"Are you sure?" Asks Aarde.

"Yes, I'm exploring this thing no matter what."

"Okay," nods Aarde as he lands just for the ground to swallow him.

Following him down the tunnel they go for a while until Aarde stops, "I'm feeling a large empty chamber nearby. I can feel two Dragons on either side of its door."

"You can sense dragons through the ground?"

"I feel the vibrations of their movements. The larger the vibrations the larger the being making them."

"Sounds like we've found a treasure room. Let's check it out."

Once he ensures that there is nobody in the room he touches a glowing green claw to the stone which recedes away from it forming an archway. The room itself reminds him of a museum with a high arched roof carved out of black stone over rows of pedestals, some with glass cases and others with their items just sitting on it.

Once through, Aarde somehow draws a strange forest green symbol in the air, and the entrance appears to seal up, "How'd you do that?"

"The library has many ancient books that detail long lost magics," answers Aarde. This is called Thaumaturgy and that symbol makes a copy of the wall that can be walked straight through."

As they cautiously slink though the artifacts, stopping to read the plaques under a few, a golden guardians medallion catches his attention. Looking at the plaque it reads, 'HEAD GUARDIAN WÄCHTERIN'S MEDALLION'

'Senex might like to have this back,' thinks Umbrae as he picks it up, noticing but not caring about the large shadowy purple gem set into the back of it. Continuing through the collection he finds what appears to be a large black gem that he pockets as he comes across a heavy wood door. Wordlessly looking to Aarde he sees him nod and slowly opens the door which swings open on well oiled hinges at his push revealing a room containing a single desk with paper scattered about its surface, surrounded by huge bookshelves.

In the distance he hears a door open and close as footsteps echo through the hall.

"There is a passage behind here!" Whispers Aarde as he moves a bookshelf. Once Umbrae follows him he quietly closes the passage.

Peaking through the books Umbrae sees a dragon wearing a crimson robe pull a book and inkpot from a bookshelf before removing their hood and sitting at the desk. As they are leaving the distant door opens once again and a voice is heard, "Master Inquisitor, Master Inquisitor!"

With a growl the dragoness with deep, blood red scales and strange shadows slithering across them, glares at the dragon coming down the hall, "What do you want Zweite?"

"You move way too fast," huffs the newcomer, "I have wondrous news! Madame Cynder has just come back with another crystal, all she needs is earth and fire and Lord Malefor will finally be freed!"

"How wonderful," sighs the Master Inquisitor

"However there are," he hesitates, "Disturbing reports from our operatives. The purple dragon of prophecy has returned and is on the verge of disassembling Cynder's operations."

"Who cares. If she fails he'll emerge from the well of souls on the eternal night, now if you could leave me to my journal that'd be great."

"Yes ma'am," calls Zweite before stopping part way down the hall, "Hey, Master Inquisitor? Are you wearing the medallion?"

"No, why?"

"It's gone."

"What! I'm going to kill me some guards!" she calls as she rushes out.

'That book must be a journal. It'd have loads of good information.'

Rushing out of his hiding spot he grabs the large, and surprisingly heavy book in his jaws before rushing back towards the secret passage. Just as he is getting to the passage Umbrae hears an ear piercing banshee like screech that freezes Umbrae in place.

"I don't much approve of dragons stealing from me," hisses the Master Inquisitor.

'Come on move!' thinks Umbrae as he tries to will his uncooperative legs to carry him away, 'I was able to run when I contacted that gem. Why not now?'

He is freed when Aarde smashes his hammer into the apparent Fear dragon's head, releasing her concentration. After summoning a wall of earth he hands Umbrae a thick tapestry, "Wrap this around your head. If you can't hear the Siren Scream then it can't affect you!"

Once he wraps the tapestry around his head he follows Aarde down the passage. With an explosion that is felt more than heard the makeshift wall explodes and a spear of ice just barely misses Umbrae's head. As they follow the curving passage it opens into a large black room. Racing to the other side he finds that gates have sealed the chamber off from the rest of the structure. Turning back towards the passage the Master Inquisitor, Zweite, and four anonymous dragons, presumably the guards that Aarde sensed plus reinforcements, exit behind them.

Dropping the journal Umbrae pulls his Saber and gets into a fighting stance.

A tense moment passes as the blood red dragoness says something muffled by the tapestry around his head before one of the guards launches a wave of fire that would've toasted Umbrae if he hadn't entered the shadows. Dashing towards the guard that attacked he exits his shadow while disemboweling him and drives his saber into another guard's chest before turning towards Zweite.

As Aarde smashes one guards skull with his warhammer before turning the next into a pincushion with spears of stone from the ground the red scaled dragoness' forelegs light up with sky blue runes as an invisible wall of air launches them across the room and blows off their tapestries.

"Before I rip your minds apart with a fury I would like to thank you. It's been a while since I've had a good run."

Finishing her sentence her scales start to emanate red tendrils that twist and turn into fearsome monsters and even the disappointed faces of Umbrae's human family as she rises from the ground. With a stomp a wave of red energy bursts outwards and over Aarde before getting to Umbrae, whose mind is bombarded with images of monsters, death, and terrible memories.

As his vision darkens he hears a roar followed by, "What are you doing in my castle!"

The scampering of feet and the sound of a dragon landing echoes across the chamber as the same voice speaks again, "Are you okay?"