When they brought Araxion back to camp, Nethandris had his wings and legs chained to a cave wall. Even though they thought he could be an ally, he was still a twilight dragon, and they didn't want to take any chances. After Virigosa undid Kerelion's spell, Sathius used his magic to put Araxion back to sleep. The black dragon's magic had likely taken a toll on the drake, and Sathius's methods were far safer.

Virigosa watched with Nethandris as Jerastrasza secured the chains. Once it was done, Nethandris, in her elven form, took a few steps forward to look over the twilight drake. "He is a fine specimen," she remarked. "You said you spoke to him?"

"Yes," Virigosa said. "When I was on Mount Hyjal, we ran into each other during a battle. We were both a bit dazed- we were knocked into a cave- and ended up speaking. I was very surprised. He was friendlier than I expected of a twilight dragon."

"If he really did kill Kerelion, then you might just be right about that," Nethandris said. "But I have to say, I didn't expect you, of all people, to advocate for a twilight dragon."

"I thought it was worth trying, at least," Virigosa said.

"I agree," Nethandris said. "I have a friend I'm going to bring in. His name is Ebyssian. He's a black dragon free of the Old Gods' influence, and I think he might be able to help us out."

"An uncorrupted black dragon?" Virigosa gave Nethandris a skeptical look.

"You're the one who wanted us to take a twilight drake, a complete unknown," Nethandris pointed out. "But yes. He is. Something about a Titanic artifact."

"I'm surprised the Wyrmrest Accord hasn't tried to bring him in," Virigosa said.

"He keeps a low profile," Nethandris said with a shrug. "That's how he knows me. He needed information, and didn't want the Accord's attention on him. You know, about the changes to one's body during the drake stage, the-"

"Spare me the details. I look forward to meeting him, if he can be trusted," Virigosa cut in. "I'm just disappointed I missed the Embrace for this. Araxion is the only thing we gained today, and we still don't know about him. We didn't even find any eggs."

Nethandris shifted a bit at mention of the Embrace. "Araxion's just the only thing you saw," she pointed out. "We were able to recover some very valuable documents about the chromatic dragon program, among other things. And with less effort than I ever could've imagined. There were only seventeen cultists in the entire facility, and Araxion was the only live drake. He didn't put up any resistance."

"See? You didn't need me," Virigosa said. "I'm not angry over it anymore, just disappointed. You were right, I'm doing more out here than I would be in Coldarra. Have your contacts reported the results back to you yet?"

"Right," Nethandris said. The wyrm stepped a bit out of the way and shifted into her draconic form. "Come with me, Virigosa."

That was strange. Virigosa flapped her wings and flew after Nethandris. She landed beside the lake in the center of their camp, where Sathius in his dragon form was waiting on a rock. He and Nethandris exchanged a few words in whispers, then they both turned to look at Virigosa. Immediately, she did not like the look on their faces. They were smiling, they both looked calm, but there was something off about it. It seemed forced. Perhaps they don't like the dragon who won. No, it was never that simple.

"So who's the Aspect?" Virigosa asked.

"Kalecgos was chosen as the new Aspect of Magic," Nethandris said, in a matter-of-fact way. No inflection. No emotion. Just words.

That was slightly disappointing, but it wasn't that surprising. "All right," Virigosa said. "Go on." There had to be more. There was something Nethandris was holding back, it was easy to see just from the way they were acting.

"But then he died," Sathius added. His voice sounded cheerful, like he wasn't quite sure how to say it.

"He what?"

"He's dead," Nethandris repeated.

"Aspects don't just die," Virigosa said.

There was a long pause, and nobody spoke. The three dragons looked at it each other, each seemingly unsure of themselves. "Deathwing killed him," Nethandris clarified, at last.

Virigosa tilted her head. She felt cold, suddenly, because although it hadn't been said, she could imagine the truth without Nethandris's help. "But then that means-"

"Everyone who was in Coldarra is dead," Nethandris said. "Or, almost everyone. Nobody knows yet."

"They..." Virigosa couldn't finish her thought. She stood there frozen, unable to move, to speak, unable to do anything but imagine what could've happened. There were several long moments before she found her voice again, shaky as it was. "Almost my entire flight was there."

"I'm sorry, Virigosa," Nethandris said softly, and for a moment Virigosa almost believed her.

It all came together in Virigosa's mind, the pieces all clicked together. "You knew," she said, suddenly, an accusation. "You knew. That's why you kept me here."

"I'm sorry," Nethandris said.

"No, you're not," Virigosa said. "You knew, and you didn't do anything about it. You did nothing."

"I tried to save as many blue dragons as I could," Nethandris said. "And if that number is one, well, I did my best."

"Answer me honestly," Virigosa spread her wings and adjusted her balance, preparing to fight or to flee. "Are you working for Deathwing?"

"No, Virigosa, I'm not," Nethandris turned her head towards the lake, away from Virigosa, shifting her attention to the reflections in the water. "There was nothing I could do. Nothing but protect you and the eggs we found."

Virigosa took a step towards her. "I was supposed to be there. I was supposed to have died with them."

"I'm sorry," Nethandris repeated.

"You're not. You've never had a flight," Virigosa shifted her gaze to Sathius and growled. "And he abandoned his. All of you did. You can't even begin to understand what I've lost."

Nethandris turned back towards Virigosa, hanging her head. She reached out to touch her tail to Sathius's.

"My flight was everything to me," Virigosa continued. "I would've gladly given my life for it countless times over. And now you've stolen that from me."

More silence.

"None of you have an answer for me," Virigosa said. "You never will. I never should've listened to you. Never."

Sathius sat up on his rock, his scales gleaming brilliantly in the light. It reminded Virigosa of dragon scales under the sun during a bright day in Coldarra. "Virigosa..." he said slowly.

Virigosa shifted into a defensive position, ready to strike if she had to. "Don't even try."

"Forgive me, Virigosa," Sathius said. "We can't risk you hurting someone else. Or yourself."

Virigosa saw the magic gathering around the wyrm. He didn't have to say what he was doing for her to know. She growled and flung herself onto the wyrm, trying something, anything, to stop him. She could've escaped him, if she tried to flee, but the thought hadn't occured to her. And she wasn't able to stop him. As the green dragon's spell finished, she felt her body becoming heavy, the world spinning around her like it had when Zoralus did the same thing. Virigosa tried desperately to fight it, swiping futily in front of her, heavy talons scraping harmlessly at emerald scales. She collapsed, falling into a deep sleep.

Sathius sighed and leaned down to listen to her breathing. "Poor girl," he said.

Nethandris nodded slowly. "We have a lot left to do."