Dart's mind swirled with images of fire. It was pulsing, threatening, dangerous. And then, it faded into a black void that waited to swallow him. Turning, he ran, pushing himself away until he was running through snow.

He stopped. This place was familiar. Someone screamed, and he turned to see a woman fleeing down the street. An explosion boomed, and smoke began to rise from buildings beyond his view. Weaving through the streets, he tried to reach the flames and find their source while others continued to scream and run into the safety of the woods.

Then someone he recognized… a woman… his mother. She clutched a young child as she ran with his father just behind, and he tried to call out to them, but they did not turn.

He couldn't let it happen again. With determination, he returned his attention to the fire and walked until he faced a large creature wreathed in flame. It snarled at him, and he flinched as cinders shot out. Then the fire began to wane, and Dart peered at the threat. As the flames dissipated, he gasped.

At the center of the catastrophe was a face he knew well. At the center of the flames was himself.

Lurching to consciousness, Dart slowly became aware of the bed he was lying on. He could feel cotton sheets draped over him, and he was comfortable except for a dull throbbing in his head. With his eyes closed, he could imagine that he was back in Bale, resting in Lavitz's home, about to get up to a deliciously prepared meal. But then he remembered the battle and opened his eyes.

Sunlight flooded in from somewhere behind him, illuminating his bed and the white sheets that enveloped him. His head was propped up by a soft pillow, and he noticed that someone had removed his armor and dressed him in clean clothes. Turning his head left, he saw Lavitz, clean and refreshed, sitting in a chair near his bed with his head leaned back against the wall. He was fast asleep, and a bandage was taped above his left eye.

Glancing around, Dart surveyed the small room. There were nine other beds, seven of which were occupied, including the one only a couple feet to his right. Like most of the other patients, the man lying there was asleep with most of his head was wrapped tightly with gauze, and a spot by his temple was still bleeding and seeping through. Across the room, someone with no visible ailments sat reading, and a patient down the row was speaking quietly with a woman who held his hand tightly.

Slowly, he pushed to bring himself up to sit, feeling a dull ache in his left shoulder as he did so, calling to mind the knife that had pierced him. He tried to position his pillow to better support his back, but as he leaned forward, his chest and head protested. A thousand cuts across his body stung as he moved back, and grimacing only caused his cheek to burn with pain, too.

With a deep breath, he rested his head on the wall, only to wince again at the tender skin. Reaching up, he felt the wound and found it shaven, stitched, and bound, and he was grateful that his hair was long enough that the patch would be hidden once he left the infirmary.

With a start, he recalled the events of the battle. But none of it made sense, and he shook his head, as if that would help him understand. Instead, he merely felt confused.

What… happened to me?

Had it all been a dream? He would have said yes if not for the evidence now decorating his body. Why had that woman shown up during the battle? Had she been following him all this time?

He patted his chest and felt his leather pouch under his loose tunic. Snatching it out, he poured out the gem into his hand and gasped to see that it was no longer colorless, but bright red. Stranger than this, he sensed something within it – a feeling, a strength, a life force. It was tremendous and powerful, and yet kind and selfless. Such warmth spread from it that he could almost imagine that he was sitting around a fire on a cold night and feeling the invigorating flames seep into him.

And yet, none of this seemed to soothe his chaotic mind, but rather, more questions sprang up to bolster the disorder.

The creak of a door handle grabbed his attention, and he put the gem back in its place as Shana walked into the room carrying a pile of fresh bandages and a bowl of poultice. At first, she didn't notice him, and he smiled to see her brow so furrowed in her focus as she closed the door quietly behind her. But then she surveyed the room, her eyes snapped to him, and a wide grin spread over her face as she rushed over.

"You're awake!" she whispered as she set down the items on the small dresser beside him. She touched his cheek, blushed, and then took his hand. "I was beginning to get worried."

He smiled back despite the pain in his face and held her hand with both of his. "Sorry to worry you," he said.

She shook her head. "I'm just glad you're okay."

"How long was I out?" he asked.

"Um…" She thought for a moment. "Fourteen hours, I think?"

He swore quietly. "Is it that late?"

Shana nodded. "It's almost evening now."

"How many soldiers did we lose?"

She hesitated. "Let's not… We should talk about that later."

With a sigh, Dart nodded, then asked, "Any sign of the dragon?"

"None."

"That's something, at least."

"Shouldn't you be resting instead of asking so many questions?" she scolded.

He prepared to respond, but Lavitz began to stir. Shana withdrew her hand, and they waited patiently until he opened his eyes. Seeing Dart awake, Lavitz ran a hand over his face and shook his head to alert himself.

"Sleep well?" asked Dart, smiling.

"Um…" Lavitz took a deep breath and squinted at him. "Not really. You, uh… You're up."

With a chuckle, Dart added, "Alive and well, for now at least."

"And how are you feeling?" Shana asked Dart, giving Lavitz a chance to come to full consciousness.

"Fine, all things considered," he replied.

"Good. What still hurts?"

"Everything," he said sourly. "But it's not as bad as I would have thought."

"Honestly, you're healing remarkably fast. There are others with similar wounds who haven't woken yet, and it looks like most of yours have closed already. You're not bleeding anymore. Even Lavitz's cut is still seeping, and it wasn't as bad as yours."

"That's… odd."

"Let me check the back of your head," she whispered, tugging slightly at his shoulder.

Despite his aches, he leaned forward so that she could peel away his bandage. A moment later, she replaced it and leaned him back.

"It's amazing. I've never seen anyone heal so quickly before. It looks like you've been here for a week already."

"Might have something to do with what happened last night," said Lavitz as he eyed Dart carefully.

Dart looked down at his hands. He knew that they wanted an explanation, but he was at a loss for one.

"I need to go tend to others," said Shana. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

Dart nodded as she turned to the man in the next bed. With experienced hands, she unwrapped his bandages, exposing a gruesome wound on his temple where a large chunk of skin had been removed. Dart thought he could see exposed bone. Shana dabbed at it with a cloth and cleaned much of the wet blood before smearing some of the poultice in place and placing a new bandage around the man's head. Throughout the process, he did not wake. After discarding the bandages, she moved on to the next patient, and Dart returned his attention to Lavitz as grief tugged at his heart.

"How many?" he asked. "How many died?"

"Dart…"

"I need to know. I'm going to find out anyway."

Lavitz sighed in surrender. "Sixty-seven. Another eight are in critical condition, including this fellow right here. Twenty-four more are injured enough to be in the infirmary, but they should all recover within the next couple weeks."

Closing his eyes, Dart hung his head.

"How many are left?"

"Each knighthood has a hundred-fifty knights. Five died in the first attack. Sixty-seven in the second. That leaves about half."

"And Kaiser?"

"Alive and well," replied Lavitz. "He took a sword to the leg, but he'll survive and heal up just fine."

"And you?" Dart quirked an eyebrow.

Lavitz waved. "A few cuts and bruises. Nothing I can't handle."

"Are you sure you're not just trying to act all tough and brave?"

"Shana-certified," said Lavitz with his hand raised indicate his truthfulness.

Laughing, Dart said, "I guess if Shana says so, you must be alright."

Lavitz grinned, and they turned to watch Shana on her rounds. She was bent over a man's leg, working carefully with some tweezers and a cloth to dislodge some debris. Though her hair was tied back, a few shorter strands fell into her face, and she tucked them behind her ear. The soldier winced, and Dart noticed that he was watching Shana avidly, even grinning. As she began wrapping the wound a minute later, the soldier said something, and she laughed, and Dart frowned and tilted his head. When she was done, she said something, the soldier grabbed her hand, and Dart narrowed his eyes. But Shana pulled her hand back and moved on to the next patient.

"She's tired," he commented, noticing dark circles under her eyes. "Has she slept since the battle?"

"About as much as I have, I think," replied Lavitz.

"Which is how much?"

"A couple hours, maybe."

"She can't be the only medic here."

"No, there is a doctor and another assistant. But, she found it very hard to leave your side. She requested coverage of this room just so that she could take care of you, and in between her rounds, she's been right here in this chair."

Dart couldn't help but smile.

"But she's not just tired," continued Lavitz, and Dart turned a questioning eye on him. "She's worried about you. We all are. And she can't help but wonder if Sandora is going to come for her again."

"But she hasn't said anything about that since we left Seles."

Lavitz shrugged. "She wants to be strong. She doesn't want you to worry about it."

"But she told you about it?"

Chuckling, Lavitz shrugged. "Because, I asked, Dart. Maybe take a few seconds outside that head of yours and consider asking people how they're doing from time to time."

Somewhat indignant, Dart opened his mouth to speak, but then thought better of it and merely turned away to study his hands. He knew that Lavitz was right, but he didn't want to admit it.

A few seconds later, Shana approached again.

"All done for now," she said. "Is everything alright?" She eyed Dart with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he assured her with a smile.

"Now that we've gotten pleasantries out of the way," said Lavitz as he glanced between Dart and Shana, "can we talk about what all of us are thinking about?" Shana's grin faltered. "What happened last night?"

As Lavitz and Shana looked at Dart, all he could do was shake his head.

"I don't know," he whispered.

"You don't have any idea?"

Dart huffed and recounted the tale as well as his memory would allow. He explained being dragged away from the battle and the strange commands of the dark-haired woman, and finally his experience of the fiery power.

"So, you don't even know what you did to Kongol," surmised Lavitz.

Dart shook his head.

"You, uh…" Shana began, but she shook her head and looked to Lavitz. "I don't know how to describe it."

"I'd say that you just… exploded," said the knight. "You flew into the air, fire blew in every direction around you, and then it all gathered and went for Kongol. Honestly, I'm surprised that he didn't die. It was pretty impressive stuff."

"I flew?" asked Dart.

Nodding, Lavitz said, "Wings flapping and everything."

"But I don't know how. I mean, I couldn't even get down. That woman had to help me."

"Do you think she was the one who summoned that darkness?" asked Shana suddenly.

"It was more than darkness," added Lavitz. "It was fear. Even Kongol started to panic."

Shana nodded.

"I can't think of anything else," shrugged Dart.

"Wait, do you remember before that last wave?" said Lavitz, pointing at Dart. "Does that mean she did that, too?"

At Shana's confused expression, Dart recounted the darkness that had seemed to swallow Sandora's forces minutes before Kongol's appearance.

"Maybe it wasn't a dragon, after all," he finished.

"You said that she had a gem like yours, right?" said Lavitz.

Nodding, Dart reached into his pouch and withdrew the gleaming red gemstone, holding it out for them to see.

"I thought it didn't have color," muttered Shana as she reached for it.

"It didn't," replied Dart. "Whatever happened last night, this thing has something to do with it. I'm sure of that."

"So, what are you going to do?" asked Lavitz as Shana handed it back.

Pocketing the gem again, Dart said, "Is that woman still in town?"

Lavitz nodded.

"Actually, I think she's downstairs right now," added Shana. "She asked me to let her know when you woke up."

"Then I guess… I have to talk to her."

"You should wait until you're healed a bit more."

"No, I can do it now. I think I have to do it now."

Shana sighed. "Then let me help you."

Shoving aside his covers, Dart swung his feet over the side of the bed, flinching at his many wounds as he did so. As he placed his feet on the floor, Shana threw an arm around him to bear some of the weight, and he accepted her help as he hobbled toward the door, though he had to move her to his right side so that his shoulder wasn't raised. His sore and bruised muscles fought against him, but he moved slowly down the stairs with Shana and a railing to help steady him, and as he landed on the main floor, he looked up to see the dark-haired woman sitting at one of the tables, hands wrapped around a cup of steaming tea.

He was confused to see her still clad in her dark armor, and he glanced at Shana, who merely shrugged in response. Then they moved slowly toward the table, and Shana helped him sit across from the woman, who did not look at him until he was seated. Shana sat to his left, and Lavitz on his right.

"Dart," she said plainly. "It's good to see you again." Despite her words, there was little cheer in her voice.

"It's… good to see you, too," he replied awkwardly. "Uh… What's your name?"

"Rose."

"Rose," he repeated.

"I'm surprised to see you awake and moving so soon," said Rose.

"What do you mean?"

"I had thought you would be unconscious for at least another day. It seems that you're very resilient. It was a unique transformation, to be sure." Her voice was flat and disinterested, as if she were discussing something as trivial as the weather.

"What do you mean 'transformation'?" he asked. "What happened to me? What did you do?"

Rose raised an eyebrow at the barrage of questions. "So much you want to know…" She looked down at her tea and paused. While he waited impatiently, he observed her features. Her smooth, pale skin was darkly contrasted by her black hair. There was no sign of wrinkles or age on her face, but she was far from childish. Despite her youthful complexion, she showed no sign of naiveté, and she seemed older than Lavitz. Her dark eyes carried burdens that stretched far beyond her years. In short, this woman was a paradox.

Finally, she spoke again. "You have something, don't you? A trinket, a small gem, that is important to you. Important enough to wear into a battle." At this last phrase she looked directly at him, and he shrank under her stern gaze. Something about her was simultaneously attractive and repellant. He felt both safe and uneasy in her presence.

"How could you know about that?" he asked, though he was sure that he knew the answer.

Looking down again, she said, "Show it to me."

He drew it out of its pouch and held it out to her only to gasp as it began to glow with a soft, red light. Then his eyes snapped to the jewel set into her armor, for it was now glowing as well. The dark purple gem, identical to his own in shape and size, was giving off a strange energy like it had during the battle, and now, in the calm of the inn, he was able to study it. While it gave off light, it also seemed to draw light into itself; it was as paradoxical as the woman it belonged to.

"You and I are special, Dart. We have been chosen by these small gems, these dragoon spirits. Those chosen by dragoon spirits are gifted with their power, which is the essence of a dragon's strength. Yours is the dragoon spirit of the red-eyed dragon, and you have now become the red-eyed dragoon, the master of fire magic."

"What?" asked Dart, confused. These were all new words to him. He glanced over at Lavitz, whose eyes were fixed on Rose, brow furrowed as he fought to understand, and Shana was equally perplexed.

Remembering the battle, he thought over the word magic. Was that magic that he had used? What if he hadn't been able to control it? He recalled his dream from earlier and shook his head.

"What if I don't want to be a… dragoon?" he asked.

"You don't have a choice," said Rose, narrowing her eyes at him.

"I'm a little confused," interrupted Shana. "Can you explain it differently?"

"I'm with Shana on this one," agreed Lavitz.

Dropping her eyes to her tea, Rose responded, "In the ancient world, dragons lived all over Endiness. They were a source of strength and magic, and in the Dragon Campaign, they offered their power to the humans to fight back against the winglies. This power came in the form of dragoon spirits. Whenever a dragoon spirit found someone worthy, that person would be allowed to use the magic of the dragon who gave it."

"But the dragons are all dead," said Lavitz. "How can Dart use a dragon's magic if it doesn't exist anymore?"

"It's in the name… dragoon spirit. These gems hold the spirits of the original dragons who gave them up."

"The Dragon Campaign happened millennia ago," said Dart, recalling the words of Minister Noish. "How could these things have survived since then?"

"Some say the gods protected them," replied Rose, though Dart thought he heard the slightest tone of sarcasm.

"So, why was this battle different from any other that Dart has been in since he had that thing?" asked Lavitz.

"The dragoon spirit was dormant, after so long of not being needed. Besides, Dart didn't know how to access it, did he?"

She turned to him expectantly, and he shook his head.

"It was merely waiting to be awoken. I was watching to see if it would happen, but when your brush with death didn't seem to be enough, I thought that hearing it from another dragoon might do the trick."

"You've been following me since that day in the forest, haven't you?" asked Dart with narrowed eyes.

She paused. "Yes. You… intrigued me. My own dragoon spirit alerted me to yours as you ran off, and curiosity got the better of me. Tell me… where did you get it?"

An odd eagerness hid behind Rose's eyes as she asked this final question, and Dart tilted his head.

"From my father," he answered. "He died when I was young."

Nodding, Rose looked down. "I see," she whispered.

"What about you?" asked Lavitz with a slight challenge in his voice. "Such a thing doesn't just appear out of nowhere. And you seem experienced in its use and even its lore. I've never heard such tales about dragons before. Where did you get your dragoon spirit? And how do you know so much about them? Their history has been lost for thousands of years."

"I… found it. A long time ago. I had friends who helped me learn about it and figure out how to use it."

Rose's eyes softened, and Dart was surprised to see her steely demeanor change for just a moment.

"Where are they now?" asked Shana carefully.

At this question, Rose returned to her previous aloof self and said, "They're all gone. It's all in the past."

"I'm sorry," whispered Shana.

"Me, too," added Lavitz. "I didn't mean to be so distrusting and judgmental like that."

"Don't worry about it," she responded, eyes fixed on the table. "I'm used to being hated."

There was a long pause that made Dart feel uneasy. Rose continued to stare out the window while Shana studied the surface of the table, following the dark lines of the wood with her thumbnail. Dart pocketed the red gem – the dragoon spirit – and slowly rose from his chair. Instantly, Shana was beside him, and when he was standing straight, he addressed Rose once more.

"Thank you for answering my questions," he said. "I have a lot to think about."

After Rose gave a curt nod, the three of them made their way back upstairs and left her alone in the dining room. Going up the stairs proved much more difficult than descending, and Dart was forced to pause halfway up to catch his breath. His head was spinning by the time he reached his room, and he trudged through the door and fell into his bed.

"Whoa," said Shana as she helped him with his pillows. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he said gruffly, though he closed his eyes for a moment. Shana's soft hand pressed against his forehead, and he exhaled at the cool touch. Then he opened his eyes and smiled. "I'll be alright."

She pulled her hand away. "You're really warm, but you have been since last night. I'm starting to think that it's not because of your injuries."

"What do you mean?" asked Dart, reaching up a hand to his forehead. It didn't seem any warmer than normal.

Shana sighed and sat. "After what Rose said, about you being this legendary hero, it would make sense that you're different now."

"Makes sense to me," Lavitz said. "And if you really are a 'master of fire magic,' maybe that heat is just always sitting inside you."

Shaking his head, Dart buried his face in his hands. His life had grown exponentially more complicated since he'd come home to Seles, and part of him wished that he could go back. Perhaps it was all a dream, and he would wake up soon, lying in a valley, gazing up at the eastern stars.

"What is going on?" he mourned. "What am I going to do?"

"I know this is all overwhelming," said Lavitz quietly. "It is for me, too, if I'm honest. I can only imagine how you feel. But remember that you're not alone in dealing with it. It's like Rose said: you have friends to help you figure it out."

"Don't say that. I think all her friends died."

"That doesn't mean it'll happen to us," encouraged Shana quietly. "And you don't have to decide anything right now anyway."

"She's right," nodded Lavitz. "We need you healed up before we even think about going anywhere."

"Where would we go?" asked Dart, fearing the answer.

Lavitz's response appeared on his face but did not exit his mouth. Instead, he shook his head and smiled.

"We'll decide later, like I said."

"You want me to fight that dragon, don't you?"

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to."

"Dart—" began Shana.

"I just need a minute," he interrupted, hiding behind his hands again. "I just need a minute."

There was an awkward pause, and Dart lowered his hands and began tugging at the bed sheets.

"I'll be downstairs," said Lavitz quietly, and he disappeared into the hallway.

After helping him get situated, Shana turned toward the door, but Dart grabbed her hand.

"Wait," he said. "Stay."

With kind eyes, she sat in the chair and took his hand.

"You can't blame him," she whispered. "This is the first measure of hope that he's had in a long time."

"I know, but… what if I can't do it? I don't know anything about what just happened. How am I supposed to…" He sighed.

"I don't know what fighting a dragon is like, or how to kill one, or anything like that. But, Dart, if there's one thing I know, it's that you have what it takes. After last night…" She shook her head. "We don't need to worry about this now. What you need is rest, not conversation."

"Conversation with you feels a lot like rest."

Blushing, she looked down and shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know about that."

As she sat, he noticed again the shadows beneath her eyes. Even in the lightest pause of conversation, her shoulders and eyelids drooped, and she blinked rapidly to keep herself alert. Part of him wanted her to remain at his side all night long, but he knew how selfish that was.

"Besides, I've been sleeping for fourteen hours," he added with a sigh. "I think between the two of us, it's you that needs rest." He watched her pointedly. "You should go get some sleep."

"I thought you wanted me to stay," she smirked.

"I do, but… You've done enough for me today. You need to do something for yourself occasionally."

With a slow nod, she rose and patted his hand. "You might be right, at least this once. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Shana."

She walked toward the door, and then after one more glance and a smile, she disappeared.