It did not take long for Araxion to realize that he could roam freely through the Hinterlands facility, provided he didn't interfere with any other projects and that Kerelion was always able to find him. He spent much of his time alone, however, pondering the motives of the Twilight's Hammer and his dragonflight. It was easier to think in the relative privacy the Hinterlands facility offered, as opposed to the constant chaos of the Bastion of Twilight.

One day, when wandering the halls, Araxion was surprised to hear how empty it was. Normally, cultists and a few drakes patrolled the halls- Araxion suspected it more was to ensure that some of Kerelion's more dangerous experiments didn't get loose than anything- but there was almost nobody. After some time, he emerged into one of the conference rooms, and saw a single drake standing guard at the wall opposite from him. He didn't even have a chance to open his mouth and ask where everyone was, because the guard spoke first.

"Shouldn't you be making your way to Northrend?" she demanded.

Araxion shook his head. "Is that where everyone is? I'm not one of the guards, Kerelion is... I guess I'm one of Kerelion's projects."

The guard stepped forward and looked Araxion over for a moment, then suddenly and unexpectedly dropped into a bow. "Oh, forgive me. You must be Araxion. My deepest apologies, my lord," she said. "My name is Demasiona. I'm in charge of the guards here."

It felt strange, being bowed to and addressed in such a way. Was that what it was like to be an Aspect? Araxion brushed the thoughts away and turned his attention back to Demasiona. "No need for such formality, you can get up. It's nice to meet you, Demasiona," he said. "Where is everyone?"

Demasiona rose to her feet, and Araxion thought she almost looked embarrassed. "Almost all of the Hinterlands guards are being sent to the front lines of our offensive in Northrend. I will be, too, but for the next two days I'm the one responsible for making sure we all leave the facility safely."

"You're leaving the facility here with no guards?" Araxion tilted his head. "Isn't this place supposed to house some of the Black Dragonflight's highest priority projects?"

"It's also the most secret, and being underground, one of the hardest for dragons to get to," Demasiona pointed out. "Kerelion and Sintharia have determined that the Hinterlands facility can run just as well with a skeleton crew. And if you lower the number of guards, that means that you have to get less food from the surrounding areas, meaning we have less drakes going out to get it, meaning there's less of a chance of anyone becoming suspicious and discovering this place's existence."

"I suppose," Araxion said. "You say they're sending you to Northrend?"

"I've heard that they're planning something big on the day of the Embrace, when the attention of the dragonflights is focused on what's happening in Coldarra," Demasiona said. "And they're sending us all to Northrend. Coincidence? Maybe. I don't think so."

"I see," Araxion said. "Thank you."

From that day onward, everything in the Hinterlands facility was far quieter than it had ever been.

Kerelion came in a few times a day to talk to Araxion and update him on what was happening across Azeroth, but other than that, he was completely on his own. Dragons tended to deal well with a lack of contact, so Araxion didn't have any issuse being alone, and indeed, his isolation gave him more time to think. So think he did. It felt like he was tempting fate with every question he had, somehow, but there was no way for Kerelion or anyone else on Azeroth to know what was in Araxion's heart. There was a sort of appeal in the danger.

He thought back to Mount Hyjal, when he had met the blue dragon Eyrigos. Eyrigos had willingly betrayed his own flight and the dragons he was working with, even knowing how dangerous it was. Even though Eyrigos knew that the Twilight Dragonflight didn't trust him, he continued supplying information to their side. Araxion hadn't been able to understand at the time, why Eyrigos had done it. He hadn't thought about it much at all then. But now Araxion was beginning to understand what it was like to think for himself. He was beginning to see how someone like Eyrigos would be willing to put their life on the line for a cause they believed in.

Araxion had done something similar to Eyrigos in that regard, hadn't he? He had told Virigosa that Eyrigos was passing information to the Twilight's Hammer. Sure, Araxion hadn't done that because he believed in Virigosa's cause- it had just slipped out- but if anyone found out that he had said that, the consequences could be similarly dire. There was a price for everything, he reminded himself. But by the time they realized that he had harmed his flight in some small way, he suspected that it would be too late. He was going to be an Aspect, and by that point he doubted anyone would try to punish him for that incident.

Kerelion woke Araxion up early the next morning.

"It's been awfully quiet as of late, hasn't it?" Kerelion remarked. "Forgive me for not coming by, I've been quite busy the other projects. I do have some news for you."

"What is it?" Araxion said.

"Our agents have been unable to locate anymore of Eszragos's drakes. Those damn cultists," Kerelion said, growling a little. "Fools, the lot of them. You know how I feel. But I have arranged for the transfer of some nether drakes to our facility here. We're going to go with our second plan, and have you absorb the essences of Netherwing dragons. It's simpler on my end anyways, even if it will take longer."

"That sounds great," Araxion said. "You know where to find me. Whenever you're ready."

"I should also tell you that the Destroyer is coming to visit after his business in Northrend is wrapped up," Kerelion said. "He'd like to take a look at what we've done and our plans."

"Deathwing?" Araxion said, a bit surprised. "It'll be an honor."

"Let's hope it all goes well," Kerelion said. "I'll be seeing you, Araxion."