The Fall of Askabar

Amalliey watched as Lynn looked over the spell. She took in a deep breath as she listened, she hadn’t thought about what it meant to cast such a powerful spell. She grasped her pendant and thought deeply. She was silent as she listened to Lynn speak. “I believe I am doing it for the right reasons…” She spoke softly. “The only selfishness of it all is I miss my mother…but I want her to be freed from this pendant so that she can help us and so that she can finally spend time with my father like she’s always wanted…to be apart like that…to be forced to hide.” She shook her head and stood. “I would like to clear my mind…there is a lot swirling around in it…” She stared at Lynn for a long moment, She followed her toward the door and they walked through the beautiful abandoned city. “It’s horrible to imagine what happened here such a long time ago, above the ground that is…the dragons and their mages fought so hard…so bravely…” She fell silent then.

Amalliey looked to Lynn, “How am I supposed to match their greatness?” She questioned as they made it to the hot springs. She leaned against the stone wall and stared at the beautiful waters for a long moment. “What if I fail? If I fail I am failing more than just myself…” She shook her head. “To rule a kingdom seems rather east, in comparison to this…chased by demons as I try to discover what my true self actually is.” She slipped her boots off. Amalliey stared over the city silently. “I can’t fail.” She whispered softly. “Any of it…there is no choice, no looking back, for any of this…” She slipped her corset from her body and slowly pulled off her other clothing until she was only in her undergarments.

Amalliey slipped into the waters then. She shut her eyes and leaned back, the pools swirled with life as she relaxed. Her mind began to free. She fell completely silent as her mind drifted off to a state of peace. “Do you fear for me to perform this spell?” She asked softly, “My father doesn’t seem to approve, yet Rakalis says that he shouldn’t doubt my ability…” She fell silent once again.

Amalliey relaxed with her eyes closed as she listened to Lynn. She knew that the mage was right. She couldn’t doubt herself, confidence was everything. She just had to do it and be done with it. “I…believe in myself as much as you do.” She let out a soft chuckle. In turn, she was saying she believed in herself as long as Lynn did. She trusted Lynn. She knew that her judgement would be pure and without hesitation. Amalliey opened her eyes as the jolts of electricity flowed through the water, she relaxed deeper then, her expression calm. She listened to Lynn more then and pondered the thought. “I imagine I will become queen, if not when we finish the demon, soon after…I fear for my father…” She then furrowed her brows. “The king.” She shook her head. She then allowed the thoughts to leave her mind, she had to clear her mind before this spell. “As queen of Askabar I would have you dubbed into royalty and I would assist you in starting a new circle, a truthful circle…one with a purpose.” She gave a gentle smile. She then fell silent and relaxed into the water. Her mind became blank, her breathing deep. Eventually her eyes opened to the sound of the door. She looked over to find Xavier standing in the doorway.

“Amalliey.” He spoke, his voice soft. “Rakalis has finished the rune, it’s almost time.” He then paused for a moment. “I will meet you there.”

Amalliey stood slowly, she felt rejuvenated. She toweled herself off and slipped her clothing back on. “Thank you, Lynn.” She gave a warm smile before they headed out of the pools. She walked slowly as they moved through the town, taking in the aspects, the shapes of the buildings. She paused at the base of the stairs, “I can’t wait for you to get to really meet my mother.” She smiled then. “I think you’ll really like her, Lynn.” She then stepped up the stairway that led up to where Rakalis stood with Castile. Lionel had packed the goods they needed up to the location. He looked to Amalliey and bowed her head as she approached. Amalliey looked to the beautiful waterfall that fell into the pond in the background of the rune. She glanced to the rune, studying it.

“I’ve looked it over for hours, Castile helped me. Everything should be perfect.” Rakalis spoke, “Have you rested well?” She gave a smile then and looked to Lynn. “Meditation helps soothe our magic.” She spoke and then stepped back.

Amalliey nodded, “I am ready.” She looked to her father then.

“You’re sure?” Xavier asked, he searched her eyes carefully.

Amalliey stared to him, “Yes.” She responded, her voice confident. She moved then to the middle of the rune, careful not to damage any of the lines.

Xavier followed her carefully. He stood in front of her and lifted his hands up, he took in a slow deep breath. “Alright, let’s save your mother, shall we?” He gave a warm smile.

Amalliey’s eyes swirled with fire as she lifted her hands, she stared into her father’s eyes and returned the smile. “Alright.” She responded before she touched her hands to his.

Their power began to build as they stared at each other. Xavier’s eyes began to glow with the beautiful white light, his hands grasped his daughter’s gently. Amalliey’s eyes swirled with magic of different colors with the fires of Ryuk in the background. Their hands began to glow. The pendant upon Amalliey’s chest began to pulse, the light was dim at first and then the light began to glow in intensity. Suddenly Amalliey’s vision blanked out in a bright burst of light.

**

Amalliey stood in the center of a field she glanced around. “Father?” She questioned. The world around her was hazy.

“I’m here.” Xavier spoke as he appeared from a burst of light. He glanced around, “We must find your mother.”

Amalliey nodded and they began to move quickly through the world. It resembled a city. Though it was completely empty, much like Firebend. “Where will she be?” Amalliey asked, her voice echoed here, as if she was far away speaking into am empty cavern.

“Anywhere.” Xavier responded as they moved through the streets.

Amalliey. Elanor’s voice echoed in a ghostly fashion.

Amalliey turned her head, “This way.” She rushed through the streets. She continued on at a sprinting pace until she skidded to a stop as she rounded a corner. Her mother was shackled and bound, floating freely in the air. Amalliey stepped forward only to be blocked by a barrier. She furrowed her brows.

“Together.” Xavier spoke and took her hand. He slammed their hands against the barrier and a burst of magic caused the barrier to break free. “Come on.” He stepped forward.

Amalliey was slammed to the side, she let out a cry. “Father?” She questioned she glanced around.

Xavier was trapped within a barrier, he couldn’t move. “Don’t stop, Amalliey, you can’t stop now.” He spoke and beat against the barrier that held him in place.

Amalliey scrambled to her feet and rushed forward toward her mother, it seemed no matter how quickly she ran, she wasn’t gaining any ground at all. She was slammed back harshly, her back slammed against a wall. She grit her teeth and stood back up. “I won’t give in.” She spoke as she pushed forward again, still her mother remained the same distance away.

A figure appeared before her, it gripped her around her throat and stared into her eyes. “You’ve summoned me.” The voice was deep, “Prove your worth.” He tossed Amalliey easily aside and chuckled. “Do you really want this? To free your mother?” He flung her back again as she approached him. Amalliey’s nose began to bleed at this point. Her body quivered. With each toss back she weakened. The figure stared to her as she pushed herself up for a third time.

Amalliey brushed the blood from her nose. “I won’t give in.” She spoke, a fireball formed in her hands and she threw it at the magical being. He easily caught it and tossed it back at her. Amalliey was slammed back, she let out a cry of pain as the heat of her own magic engulfed her body.

“Amalliey!” Xavier fought against the barrier. “No!”

The being looked to him and chuckled, “It is the Azazel that must prove her worth.” He spoke and then waved his hand at Xavier, he disappeared completely from the trance world.

Amalliey struggled to her feet. She moved forward quickly and a ball of flames appeared behind her. Ryuk. He charged at the being with a mighty roar. The being simply took a step aside and chuckled. Amalliey came at him, she punched and he caught her fist only to fling her away again. Amalliey breathed heavily as she skidded backward against the ground. Ryuk snarled as he curled his tail around her, protecting her.

“You do not need your dragon, stop hiding behind him.” The being flung his hand and Ryuk turned to ashes.

Amalliey stood, breathless, her eyes fluttered slightly. She grit her teeth, her entire body was filled with pain.

**

Xavier stumbled back. He fell onto his back and stared to Amalliey. She was lifted into the air, blood dripped from her nose. Her body was surrounded in an orb of white light, the pendant lit up a bright blue now. Her body trembled. Her eyes fluttered. Blood dripped from Xavier’s nose as well. He brushed it away and scrambled to his feet staring. He couldn’t protect her. He wasn’t strong enough. This magic…it was an entirely different level. “I…I can’t…I…” He choked out, his breathing heavy. “Amalliey…” He looked to his daughter, tears streamed down her cheeks from the amount of pain that ravaged through her body. Her skin began to pale. Her expression was of horrible pain.

Rakalis looked to Lynn. “Save her before it’s too late, Lynn.” She shoved Lynn forward into the orb of white light that surrounded Amalliey.

Amalliey struggled as she heard Lynn’s voice. She pushed herself to her feet, trembling. “Lynn…help me…” She whispered, her eyes lit up bright white. As everything happened she seemed to flow beautifully with Lynn. With each attack of the scythe Amalliey would shoot beams of bright white light into the being. Their power combined was extraordinary.

Amalliey stepped forward as Elanor was lowered from the ground, she looked to Lynn with fiery eyes. She placed her hand gently on Elanor’s forehead. “Elanor…” She spoke softly, “My mother, one of the last Azazel Mages, in this time of fear we need you and your dragon to be released from this shell. Xavier awaits you with open arms, you no longer have to hide. This will be a second life, one with purpose. Without the fear that you held before. We must raise the dragon souls and release them from their tomb to take down Trichondris and finish him for good.” Her eyes fluttered Her hand glowed with a white magic. She choked slightly, her voice was weak when she spoke. Blood dripped from her mouth. “Lynn…” She breathed as she collapsed backward then. The world around them began to grow hazy.

Elanor’s eyes opened slowly, she looked up to Lynn just as the world vanished.

**

A burst of white light came first, blinding everyone that surrounded Amalliey and Lynn. Amalliey let out a painful cry and then suddenly everything fell silent. Amalliey’s feet lowered to the ground slowly and as she was released into the grips of gravity she crumbled to the ground, her blood leaked into the rune, smearing it. In the center of the rune lay Elanor, released from the pendant. Slowly her eyes fluttered open. “Amalliey.” She whispered. She sat up and looked around. “Amalliey….no…” She shook her head. Elanor turned and cradled her daughter’s head, blood dripped from her nose and mouth, wetness from tears still stained her cheeks. Her skin was paper white, her lips slightly blue.

Xavier rushed forward then, on the other side of his daughter. He knelt down and stared to Elanor before he looked to Amalliey. “Rakalis…” He spoke and glanced to the old mage.

Rakalis moved forward, “Good to see you, Elanor.” She spoke as she checked Amalliey over, she bit her lip slightly. “I’ve something back at the house.” She then moved to Lynn and looked her over for a moment. “Hm.” She brushed her hair from her face. “You did well, Lynn.” She spoke and gave a nod. “Come.” She stood.

Lionel stepped forward, he scooped Lynn into his arms carefully, his eyes stared at Elanor. Elanor stood as Xavier lifted Amalliey, her body completely limp. He adjusted her so her head leaned in against his shoulder and they headed down to Rakalis’ home. Castile stepped forward once she was set on the bed. Rakalis moved behind Amalliey and slowly lifted her and poured a liquid into her mouth, a potion, to help heal her. “We can only hope, and watch over her now.” Rakalis spoke.

Elanor hugged herself to Xavier, tears in her eyes as she stared to her daughter. “She nearly killed herself…” She whispered and then looked to Lynn. She stepped forward and hugged Lynn gently. “Thank you, thank you for saving her, she…” Her voice quivered. “Thank you, Lynn.” She nodded. She knew much of Lynn, Xavier spoke of her often when she was a young child, before Amalliey was born.

Xavier stepped forward and wiped away the blood from Amalliey’s face. “Come on, Amalliey, don’t give up.” He whispered softly and kissed her forehead, some of his magic syphoned into her, giving her strength to mend.

Elanor stared to Lynn when she spoke, her brows rose slightly as the words came over Lynn’s lips. She watched as Lynn exited the room with Rakalis. She stepped forward and brushed Amalliey’s hair from her face. “She’s right you know?” She looked to Xavier. “We spend all this time questioning her and doubting her ability and look what’s happened.” She stepped to Xavier. “I’m going to see if I can find something, connect with her…anything.” She pressed her lips to his and then hugged herself to him, her face pressed into the nap of his neck.

Xavier hugged her back, he let out a long sigh. “This was my fault.” He spoke softly.

Elanor didn’t move, her face remained buried in his neck. “No, Xavier. There is no fault to blame. She exerted a massive amount of power, any hitch in the spell would have caused this. We are lucky that Lynn acted so quickly, her bravery saved our daughter.”

“If I may offer a bit of advice.” Castile spoke, he had his arms crossed as he looked to Amalliey. “I’ve seen great mages fall into this state before. There is no fault to blame, it is something that would have happened even if the spell was cast absolutely perfect. There is a risk when you dabble in such strong magic. She will pull through though. She’s breathing, that’s a start. We just need to find a way to guide her back.” Castile stepped from the room then.

Elanor took in a slow breath. “I’ll be back.” She spoke as she stepped from the home. She walked passed Lynn whom was already in trance before the fire. She stared to her for a moment before she walked from the home. She walked through the barren streets and glanced around. She remembered the days where the streets were alive with mages. The days before the fall of the Azazel Mages. She walked through the city to the home that she and Xavier shared. She pushed the door open and walked around in the home before she sat down in the middle of the living room. She crossed her legs and sighed softly, relaxing her body. “Amalliey…” She whispered as her eyes began to glow with blue light.

**

Amalliey stood in a room full of darkness. She spun around, “Lynn?!” She called, her voice echoed back to her as if she’d yelled right into a wall. “Ryuk!!!” She held her arms around her body, this place had a strange cold to it. She felt as though her body was frozen as she took a step forward, it took every ounce of concentration she had just to move. This place that she resided in was the void. She was not dead, nor was she alive. Her soul had split from her body from the exertion of magic. She stepped forward and found herself against a glass barrier. She hit her hand against it. “Lynn where are you?” She whispered, tears welled in her eyes.

**

A gust of wind swept across the land and the heat of fire brushed over Lynn’s skin. Several of the mages that moved about made way, they stared to a man that had fire the swirled within his eyes. He stood about six feet tall. He had short dark hair and a beard that lined his face. His face had a unique tattoo that ran down the side, an ancient design. His right arm had a huge armor piece on it that would protect him in a battle, he had armor in front of his throat as well. Chainmail stuck from beneath his tunic. “Lynn.” He spoke. A sword hung from his hip that he rest his hand on.

“Is that?” A voice asked.

The man looked to the mages that stared. He took in a deep breath, his brows furrowed. “I can sense Amalliey, but I can not find her.” He spoke, this was Ryuk. “I too have been given freedom from the pendant, though, I will reside there as I wish to protect Amalliey.” He stared into Lynn’s eyes then. “You saved her when I could not.” He spoke and bowed his head. He then looked to the mages that began to move about again. “This, is what Firebend used to look like outside of the phase, before the dragon wars.” He shifted his weight slightly. “Come, Lynn.” He beckoned her. Ryuk walked through the city seamlessly, he knew every turn every crack within the cobblestone. “Mages flock here, when they become lost in the phase.” He spoke as he led her up the stairs to the shrine at the top of the waterfalls. “This place is as ancient as it is magical.” He then turned and looked to Lynn. He held his hand out then, his fingers were curled around something. “Perhaps you can find my mage?” He asked and looked to her. He placed an old bracelet into her hands. Upon each bead it held symbols or the etching of a dragon. It was the mark of the Azazel Mage long ago. The bracelets were all but gone. “Can you feel her?” He asked, he searched Lynn’s eyes. “I’ve never lost connection with my mage before, even when tucked away in that box for nearly a thousand years, when Amalliey was born I knew where she was…I helped guide Lendon to her…” Ryuk sighed and looked out over the city.

**

Elanor appeared in her home in the city. She moved from her home and glanced about the busy city. She heard the whisperings of others of Ryuk. She slipped through the crowd and glanced up to the shrine where she could see someone standing. Elanor moved swiftly as she cut through the crowd and climbed the stairs. She paused as she came to the top. “Lynn…” She spoke her voice soft. “And Ryuk…” She searched his fiery eyes as he stared to her. “Where is Amalliey?” She questioned.

Amalliey walked slowly through the darkness. She sniffled slightly as she tried to use her magic. “Where am I?” She spoke softly.

“You are nowhere.” A voice echoed through the shadows.

Amalliey froze, her eyes searched around her. “Who’s there?” She questioned. The world around her began to fill with a thick fog, a bright light shone from above.

“Existence in this place does not require a name.” A figure could be seen floating in the distance, the feet were lifted about a foot off of the ground.

Amalliey stared to the figure, she could see the shadow of huge wings coming from its back. She fought her body as she stepped forward, “Why am I here?” She asked, her voice sounded far away.

A chuckle came from the being then. “A question you must truly ask yourself.” The voice was less distorted now as she came closer, it was a male voice.

Amalliey grit her teeth, she’d grown up with Lendon’s riddles, it was something she deeply despised. As she drew closer to the figure she could make out the features, he had beautiful white feathered wings that were outstretched at least 12 feet in diameter. The figure wore beautiful armor upon his chest, a hood was lifted up shrouding the face in shadows. “What is this place?” She asked, she now stood before the being.

He lowered to the ground and stood before her, only a foot away. Darkness engulfed his face, she couldn’t make out a single feature. “This place is what the few who have ventured here call the void. You are neither alive, nor dead.” He spoke, “Princess Amalliey, you risked everything for a greater purpose, though the strength of your magic pushed your soul from your body.” He waved his hand and an orb appeared in the air next to them. An image appeared in the orb.

Amalliey turned her eyes to the floating orb and looked into the image, she saw herself, laying motionless on the bed. Elanor stood next to the bed, her eyes full of worry, Xavier hugged his arms around her. “H-how…?” Amalliey questioned.

Another chuckle came from the being. “You must find your way back, young mage. I cannot tell you how, only why.”

Amalliey looked to the being, she shielded her eyes as a bright light blinded her. She took a few steps back and then suddenly she was left in the darkness once again. She spun around, a cool breeze began to push her hair around. Amalliey held her arms over her body as the world around her began to morph and light up again. She stood on a mountain pathway covered in snow. In the distance she could see a light through the storm. Her teeth clattered as she fought through the cold.

**

“What if he can’t find her?” Elanor asked as she looked to Amalliey. Her brows quivered in her sleep. She began to shiver. Elanor stepped forward and adjusted the blanket around her, tucking her in carefully. “She’s freezing…” She whispered softly and looked to Xavier. “How can she be so cold?” She touched Amalliey’s cheek.

Xavier stepped forward and felt her cheek, he took in a slow breath and shook his head. “I’ve never seen anything like this before, Elanor…” He crossed his arms, thinking deeply. “You said that Marlick said that there are other realms…that her soul is separated from her body?” He questioned. “I’ve read much of the other realms, but there isn’t any information that seems helpful, we know so little of these other worlds.”

Elanor brought another blanket from the closet and tucked it in around Amalliey as she continued to shiver. “He seemed confident…” She spoke, “It makes sense, she overpowered the spell and the force of her power ejected her soul from her body. It’s possible, I’ve read on it before…”

**

Castile approached Lynn, he sat beside her as he waited for her to come from her trance state, to exit the phase. He sat cross-legged and stared into the flames of the fire as they danced about upon the wood. He lifted his hand and an orb appeared before him, much like the orb that the being had raised in the void world. He watched as Lynn spoke with her father in the phase. His brows tucked closer as he pondered the idea. He lifted his hand and the orb vanished from sight. “Another realm…” He spoke, his voice soft. He’d been to many realms as a fallen angel. His soul wasn’t bound to a single realm like the living. He glanced to Lynn as she came from her trance. “He’s right, you know?” He turned his eyes back to the fire. “It is highly possible that she’s in another realm, at least…her soul…” Castile thought for a moment. “If Marlick can find her…I will do everything I can to help retrieve her.”

**

The snow blasted against Amalliey’s face. She held her arm up, her corset was covered in a layer of ice. She no longer shivered. The snow had piled up to her knees as she trudged through it.

“The void…” Xavier spoke, he furrowed his brows. “I’ve only read of it…but the information about it is loosely created, a hope of understanding…”

Castile nodded as he looked to them, he then looked to Lynn. “She walked right through you didn’t she? Like you weren’t even there.” He crossed his arms, “You can’t just willingly go to the void, if it were another realm I could venture there, easily…but the void…”

Elanor took in a slow breath, she looked to the black orb. She heard Amalliey speak once again, though her voice sounded far away now, it was hard to make out any words. The orb disappeared then and Marlick handed the pendant back to Lynn. “What is the void, Castile?” She looked to the fallen angel. “Why is she there?” She crossed her arms, she was uncomfortable, scared even.

Castile glanced to Marlick and gave a nod, “We should exit the Phase before our time runs out, we can speak more of the void then.” He turned and walked swiftly.

Elanor let out a heavy sigh, “Thank you Marlick.” She spoke before she was ushered by Xavier toward the portals.

**

Amalliey shivered, her arms were hugged to her body, she couldn’t feel anything. She clutched her sleeves as she fought through the cold. Then suddenly as she took another step forward she began to plummet into an abyss the snowy world around her disappeared completely. Amalliey let out a scream as she spun and grasped for the ledge that had already disappeared. She fell into the shadows and then eventually slammed into the ground harshly.

Amalliey grit her teeth, she shakily pushed herself to her feet, a trickle of blood came from her nose. She held her side and winced slightly. “Why am I here?” She asked, “What do you want?!” Her voice was more angry this time, the royal tone was strong.

A chuckle came from the darkness as the angel walked into view. He looked to her, a sly smile on his lips. “What is it that you want, Princess Amalliey?”

Amalliey took in a deep breath, her hands balled into fists, her brows furrowed. “I want to stop Trichondris. I want to save my kingdom, I want to stop him before he destroys everything! I don’t have time to sit here and play your stupid riddle games!” Fire began to swirl in her eyes.

The angel grinned as he watched her, “Hm not many can even show their powers here. You are much stronger than you realize, young mage.” He held his hand up, a white light covered his palm as he reached forward. Amalliey tried to move, but she was frozen, unable to back away from him. He pressed his palm against her forehead and stared deeply into her eyes. The shadows began to wither away from his face and the cloak lowered, he had blonde hair and blue eyes, a clean shaven face, his jawline was strong. He smiled to her as her eyes began to glow with the white light.

“What…are…” Amalliey couldn’t focus, she could feel his power. It was unlike her power, it was something different, it wasn’t like Lynn’s either. Her eyes began to flutter.

“Just relax.” He spoke as the world around her began to dim, until nothing but darkness was left…

Amalliey took in a quick gasp of air. She sat up quickly and scrambled to her feet. She stood in a field with thick lush grass that reached up to her thighs. The sky above her was as blue as could be. She spun around. “What…” She grit her teeth. “Where am I?”

“Have you already forgotten?” The angel’s voice spoke.

Amalliey spun around to find him standing just a few feet away. “What do you want from me?!” She spoke angrily. “What is it that you want! Let me go!” She rushed forward toward him only to slam against an invisible wall and fall back to her back.

The angel chuckled and shook his head. “Such power, yet, you can’t control yourself. Learn from this, young mage. You must fight your way out of this place.” He waved his hand and the scenery changed around her to a hot desert as far as her eyes could see. “Would you rather have the heat?” He smirked.

Amalliey stood she slammed her hand against the side of the box that held her in. A burst of power came from her fist, sending a wave of cracks up the side the color of embers. The cracks healed nearly instantly. “Stop playing games with me!” She slammed her fist again, her eyes swirled with fire.

The Angel chuckled and waved his hand again, “Want to cool off again?” He smiled to her slyly as the world around her once again morphed into the frozen tundra. “I’ll leave you to think on that.” He turned and then disappeared.

Amalliey hugged her arms to her body, he’d left her stuck in the cage. She shivered as she looked around the mountains. “What does he want…?” She whispered to herself.

**

As they came back through the portal Castile crossed his arms and looked to Elanor. “You may not like to hear this but Amalliey is going to have to fight her way out of the Void. It is a place that is full of those that are neither dead nor alive. It is a place that can not be summoned. A place that no one can go to willingly.” He paused a moment and relaxed slightly. “However, those that have come out of the void alive.” He smiled and gave a nod. “Only a handful in the years I’ve been in existence, which is much longer than you Elanor…those that come out on the other side, they come out with incredible powers, they become stronger than they ever were…” He shook his head. “I’ve seen two mages in my time to be exact. One obtained powers much like that of a fallen angel.”

Xavier thought for a moment, “How does she break free?” He asked.

Castile shook his head, “The other mages, the ones I’ve known, they don’t even remember being in the void. It is like they went to sleep, and when they woke…things were different, but they couldn’t pin point why. I helped one mage understand that she was in the void, I was with her when she slipped in, and the whole while that she was unconscious.”

“How long?” Elanor asked.

Castile bit his lip slightly, “She was out for three months…”

Elanor furrowed her brows and shook her head, “There has to be another way…” She whispered and walked off.

Xavier looked to Castile and then to Lynn. “What did you see when you saw Amalliey?” He asked softly, curious.

“Xavier!” Elanor cried from the other room.

Xavier’s eyes widened. He rushed off down the hallway and into the room that Amalliey lay in. “What’s wrong?” He asked, as he rushed up behind Elanor. He glanced over her shoulder to see the blood as she wiped it from Amalliey’s nose. Her expression was troubled as she slept, her fists were balled, her muscles all tense.

Rakalis walked into the room, she’d been silent the whole while. She held a book in her hands. “Castile was speaking of Raina, she’s long gone, but…she wrote a book of what she could remember of the void.” She looked to Amalliey, she could almost feel her pain as she looked over her.

Castile looked to the book, he’d helped Raina write it. He was going to speak of the book when Elanor rushed off. He sighed softly. “She will pull through, her body is just reacting to whatever trial she is facing within the void…” He spoke softly. “Raina’s nose bled, her ears bled…she’d get bruising on her body…it was as if a ghost was destroying her from the inside…but when she finally woke, she pulled through, she was fine…better than she’d ever been. Amalliey will pull through, she is a strong mage, she can fight this.” He spoke and then sighed softly to the silence that he received from Elanor. He didn’t blame her. To see a loved one like this. When he watched Raina go through it…it nearly killed him. It was one of the most painful times of his existence. He turned and walked from the room where he sat before the fire, his eyes looked to the dancing flames and he sighed softly.

**

Amalliey stood in the cage of magic, her eyes swirled with fire. “Let me go!” She cried, a burst of magic came from her body, flames swirled around her, spinning beneath her feet like that of a tornado. The cage around her shattered and then reformed almost instantly. She took in quick breaths and grit her teeth. “I will not be a prisoner to you.” She spoke and then slammed her fist against the cage. Cracks ran up the glass as it shattered and flew out, flames burst from the pieces and Amalliey fell forward onto her knees. Blood dripped from her nose into the white snow staining it a bright white.

Amalliey remained on her knees, her eyes lit up white. She could only see darkness now. But then she felt something different, something familiar. She took in a quick breath as she heard the angel speak of a visitor. Was it Lynn? She was thrown back, her body slammed against a wall. Her eyes swirled with fire as she was held there, her fists gripped tightly. It was then that she heard Lynn. Her pulse raced. The angel stood before her he chuckled slightly, “Raw strength like this.” He smirked, “I’ve never seen anything like it, the way your magic meshes with the black mage.” He searched her eyes as she fought against his hold on her. “You can stop struggling, princess, you’re not going to break free.” He waved his hand and everything faded to black.

**

Amalliey’s hand had gripped tightly onto Lynn’s in the moments that Lynn was able to hear her, to speak to her. Now she lay in the bed, her brows tucked together, a grimace upon her face.

Castile stood in the doorway, a smile upon his lips. “You spoke to her, didn’t you?” He stepped forward and knelt before Lynn, he brushed a bit of blood from her cheek. “That’s incredible.” He looked to Amalliey and stood, he crossed his arms slightly, thinking. “You know, the ability that you posses with her, to combine magic like that.” He shook his head. “As long as I have been around, I’ve never seen it.” He grinned then. “You and Amalliey, together have the ability the strength to take Trichondris from this world, forever I hope.”

Castile furrowed his brows then, his eyes stared to Amalliey, her fists were gripped again, her back arched slightly, tears streamed down her cheeks. “What is happening to you…?” He wondered as he watched. Eventually her muscles fell slack again and she returned to what seemed to be a peaceful slumber. “Is she fighting the angel?” He asked, curious. “Battling with him?”

**

Amalliey screamed as she fell through the air, she tumbled through the darkness, wind whipped passed her body.

“I can do this all day.” The angel spoke, he appeared before her, though he was not affected by the wind from the freefall. “When will you learn?” He asked and shoved his palm against her.

Amalliey flew back, her back slammed against the wall and she fell to her knees on the floor. She struggled to her feet, her body trembled. “Let me go.” She spoke as she looked around. She stood in a city that was completely abandoned. Not a soul in sight. “Stop toying with me and let me go!” She yelled then, “I’ll find a way.” She took off in a sprint. The world around her began to flicker. Suddenly she ran through the forest. She slid to a stop just before she ran into the trunk of an old oak tree. She grit her teeth. “What do you want me to learn?” She asked then, she stood before the base of the tree. “What is there to learn from this entrapment?”

“You put yourself here, you know?” The angel appeared, he sat upon a tree branch up in a near by tree. His feet dangled toward the ground. “I didn’t force you to come.” He smiled, “Yet, here you are.” He snapped his fingers and instantly he stood before her, they stood in a new place. It was familiar. Amalliey looked around, her jaw loose. “Ah, you know this place, don’t you?” He smirked, she stood in the middle of her room in the castle. “You’ve spent so much time here, now everything you’ve known is threatened and you are the key.”

Amalliey looked to him, her ocean blue eyes searched his for a long silent moment. “Tell me, angel, what do you need me to do to be released from this place?” She spoke softly.

“Need?” He asked and shook his head. The world around them faded away once again. The darkness surrounded them. “All you have to do, is break free.” The angel spoke. “It’s simple.”

Amalliey grit her teeth, she stepped toward him as he made to walk away. She reached for him and he disappeared. She fell forward onto her knees then. She couldn’t breathe. Amalliey held her hand up to her throat, her eyes widened as she fought to suck in air. Suddenly the world around her morphed. It changed into a deep blue, water rushed around her. She was deep below the surface. Amalliey fought against the tide, yet she continued to be sucked down deeper and deeper. The light from the surface began to fade away. Amalliey’s arms began to feel heavy, her body felt as though it was tied down with sandbags. Slowly, the world faded away.

**

Castile watched as Amalliey struggled. He watched her chest heave. “This, is the most painful thing to watch.” He spoke, “To watch her suffer and there is nothing we can do.” He then stepped forward and shook his head. “Lynn, she isn’t breathing.” He felt for a pulse. “This shouldn’t be happening.” He bit his lip.