I am restless, a first for me. The boy’s injuries are not severe, he will be fine. The only pain he feels now is related to The Lion’s rashness and quick egress from the ball. He must feel at fault; though his face remains stoic, Phoenix can sense his profound sadness. All I can do now is remain stalwart and composed for the others. Even Princess Diane, as young as she is, had considered the worst. I cannot allow her to fear. While I am not very well versed in it, I began to scry for Zyra. Unfortunately, the thin air and the even thinner mana makes it rather difficult. I can sense she is within the capital city, but her whereabouts remain a mystery. Either such a large woman, who I will say does not have quiet footfalls, is adept at avoiding everyone, or she has a hiding spot. Thankfully, this information was enough to give Diane enough peace of mind to get some sleep. Such a young and important woman needs her sleep after all. The tears were not befitting of one of her status. I still cannot relax. While divining, I felt an odd presence. Perhaps staying up is for the better. Meditation will do for now. I need a drink.

	The goblin stayed low to the ground as he skulked through the castle’s garden. The darkness of night made it easy to stay hidden as he neared the castle. He slipped amongst the trees and bushes as he avoided the glowing petals of the moon crest flowers. Beautiful and expensive flora, but that’s not what he was here for. A sudden slam made the goblin jump before hitting the deck as a young man sprinted past shortly followed by a massive armored guard. The goblin sighed. If they hadn’t been so quick to leave, he might’ve been in trouble. 
	Sliding up to the castle wall, the goblin slipped some gloves on. Magical energy coursed through his fingers and palms along the special leather gloves in little metal discs. Touching the solid stone, his fingers stuck to it, letting him easily climb the surface as he clambered up the wall of the Princess’s wing of the castle. That was the extent of the info he had, few thieves would dare to step into the castle grounds to get the ire of the usually amicable and forgiving Queen. She had a peculiar hatred of thieves. But this goblin had a need to break in, not that he was there to steal as a matter of fact. He had another reason to be here. Climbing to the windows, the goblin looked in through the glass panes. The room was dark and seemed empty, perfect to slip in. He took a deep breath and used a spell that let him slide through the glass like an apparition and into the bedroom. It was a slow and painful process but worth it to easily slip into a room without shattering any bit of glass and alerting a guard. Easier than fiddling with locks too if the window had one. He slid in and stood with his hands on his hips, catching his breath after using such a taxing spell.
	A light turned on. A sudden flame that cast an orange glow. An elf had been silently hiding in the room, “Just the fella I was lookin’ for!” The goblin was staring down his long, somewhat crooked nose at the business end of a staff.
	“Who are you?” The wild elf demanded. His tone was soft but demanding, the man knew how to get what he wanted.
	“Don’t ya recognize me, Red Bird?” The goblin pulled off his mask and grinned.
	“Fang?” Red Hawk cocked his head, caught off guard, “What do you want? How did you get here?”
	“A little birdie has told me ya’re lookin’ for info,” The goblin climbed up onto a chair before a desk, “As for how I got here, it was easy enough to slip aboard the Myridea. That cleric nearly caught me snoopin’ though. Anyway, I’ve got what ya want. This Graxon guy.”
	Red Hawk was dumbstruck. His mind was racing, trying to figure out what this goblin’s game really was, “I will hear you out. But why break in, and to the castle, no less?”
	Fang grinned, “Gotta show ya how good I am, don’t I? Ya’re in search of treasure, yeah? I want in.”
	The elf raised his brow, “We are not treasure hunters.”
	“But there’s gotta be a big pile o’ gold at the end of this rainbow, Red Bird.”
	“It's Red Hawk, Fang.”
	“It’s Gill, Red Hawk,” The goblin smugly replied, “See? Now ya even know my true name. Ya gotta trust me now.”
	“True name? You are not a fey. And besides, you stole a boat and ferried us to fight some wyverns, no? I struggle to see how I can trust you.”
	“Ahh, I was gonna sell that boat before ya came along!” Gill chuckled, “Doesn’t matter because this is the score of a lifetime! This only comes around every few dozen lifetimes! I’m talkin’ human lifetimes, not goblin lifetimes!” 
	Red Hawk stayed reserved, “I will admit you are a skilled thief to nearly sneak up on me. Your use of that admittedly impressive passwall spell alerted me. A spike in mana like that is very uncommon here in the Highlands. So what is this information you have?”
	“Ah ah ah ah,” He held up one long, boney finger that he wagged at the elf, “I wanna discuss my cut first for going on this adventure.”
	“...Proceed.”
	“I want a third of the profits!”
	“Twice what everyone else would be getting!?” Red Hawk was taken aback, “Truly your greed knows no bounds.”
	“Ya ain’t getting into any ancient tomb, vault, or temple without a skilled thief, Red Hawk,” Gill pointed out, “Every group a’ heroes has gotta have a thief.”
	Red Hawk rolled his eyes, “We are not heroes, Gill. We are investigators.”
	“Still! Ya magic can’t open everything!”
	The elf pinched the bridge of his nose, “You may have a point. But this is not up to me.”
	“Aren’t ya the leader? Don’t tell me that kid is in charge…”
	“We do not have, nor do we need, a de facto leader.”
	Gill leaned back, “Well, rouse up yar companions. I got places to be.”
	“What happened to the score of a century? Now you want to walk away? You are rather poor at bargaining. Fear of missing out will not work on us,” Red Hawk smirked, “There was a commotion a few moments ago. I shall see what is going on. If you leave, I will assume you are backing out and have no information to share in the first place. And thus you will be unpaid.”
	The goblin leaned back in his chair, “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I got nothin’ better to do than sit here and wait for you to get back,” He stated sarcastically.

	Rise.
	Reece came to and stood as commanded. He was cold and confused as he looked around and took in his surroundings. The world was dark and cold, but he stood upon an island floating amongst a colorless, nearly pitch black void but for a few streaks of light that passed overhead like slow shooting stars. The once lavender grass underfoot had turned yellow and dried out. 
	Why have you come?
	The voice spoke into his head. It was deep and wise, full of power and age. He breathed, mouth full of cotton just like when he was within a dream. This was a familiar sensation now, floaty and light, “I have come seeking answers,” He replied.
	Answers? To what question?
	“Why my mentor has sent me here with his final action. This box, I need to know its secrets,” It appeared in his hands, dark and cold like the rest of the world.
	A dead dwarf sending his favored student on such a quest. Why has this driven you? Revenge?
	Reece stared out at the void. Revenge, he thought and scoffed, “No. Not vengeance. I just need to know why.”
	You lie to yourself. Blood is all that covers your future.
	“Don’t tell me that!” Reece shouted, already frustrated, “Who are you to tell me how I feel!?”
	The voice was silent for a time before chuckling at him. I see the fire in you burns brightly. Come, show me that conviction and its limits.
	“For what purpose?” Reece barked back, the box vanishing from his hands.
	The voice said nothing, but more smaller islands had appeared forming a path onward. Reece sighed and started across them. His feet felt heavy, but he started his trek through the void.
	Your stamina. How long will it hold?
	“As long as it takes,” Reece replied.
	The voice chuckled. Good. What of the rest of you? Will your body hold? Give away your cloak.
	Reece saw a figure coming into a view. A young woman, barely a teenager, skin of red and messy hair shuddering from the cold. Reece did as he was told, feeling the frigid, stabbing cold against his skin. He pressed on, shivering from the cold.

	Diane stared down at Reece as he shivered. The boy’s eyes were closed and he clutched the box tightly. The entire thing was glowing now. The stone glowed with red sigils that the Princess was unfamiliar with, “We must take him back to the castle,” She declared and stood up, about to give the order. 
	“No,” Rael rebuked her, “That could disrupt this magic to horrible effects.”
	“But…” Diane sat back down. She was usually calm and collected, but after her friend Zyra had vanished and now Reece putting himself in potential harm, it was getting to be so much.
	Hanken looked to the Princess for orders silently.
	“Get some blankets. Please,” She told the gallant knight. He nodded, “What do you make of this, holy man?” The Princess asked.
	“The foolish boy has tampered with powers unknown,” Rael sighed, staying as calm as he could, “Can you feel the magic in the air? The box and this stone are exuding it. This is written in draconoid script,” He gestured to the stone, “One of the main languages of magic, not that I can decipher it.”
	“Then what do we do?” Diane urged, begging for an answer.
	Rael raised an eyebrow, “You seem rather distressed over the boy’s condition. You just met him,” He wasn’t accusatory or confused, but very curious about it.
	She frowned, “He is very obviously important to Zyra. Beyond me, she has lacked friendship her entire life. She gives money to those who ask, everyone gives her space, she seems so lonely despite how cheerful she is and how many people know her. Reece seems to be the only other person she is close to. I know you have been a friend to her, but she sees you more of a mentor figure. I–” Diane sighed, “She will be so upset if something happens.”
	The sun was starting to rise and Reece was looking pained now. 
	Hanken laid a thick blanket over the boy, “Can I do anything else?” He pressed.
	“Fetch the court wizard,” The Princess decided.
	“Red Hawk too, while you are at it, please,” Rael requested, “We will watch over him in case his condition changes.”
	Hanken nodded and hurried away.
	
	The wandering continued down the narrow path of cold, damp stones for what felt like hours. Somehow Reece had managed to keep going despite the shivering cold and needle-pin chills on his naked torso.
	Your shoes. You do not need those, do you?
	Reece looked ahead, seeing a man come into view. An older human man with bloody, worn feet. Reece gave him his shoes and like smoke he was gone and the boy was alone again. The stone tore at Reece’s heels, making him grit his teeth. It hurt, his skin freezing to the stone and making him tear his flesh and blood with every step. He was freezing. He grunted in pain and hoped his feet would scar up and the pain would stop. The cold was becoming unbearable and now the pain was getting worse.
	An interloper?
	A presence appeared behind Reece and quickly hurried to his side. It was the knightly dream creature with a draconic face. 
	“My friend,” Reece sighed with relief, “I don’t know where I am or what this is. But this has to do with the box.”
	The knight was eager to help.
	“Let me walk, friend. This is my test and mine alone.”
	Ah, an Eidolon. I thought they had died out in the… Cracking, as your people call it. I see the fire within you has not died down. Since you have a guide now, you do not need your sight. Give me your eyes.
	For the first time, Reece felt an emotion from his friend: fear. The boy closed his eyes, “I am ready. Take them.”
	There was a shock of pain that brought Reece to his knees, a feeling like they had been plucked from his head in one swift motion. He grit his teeth and a pained snarl came from his mouth as he struggled to recover.  He felt his friend’s grasp on his shoulders, helping him to his raw and bloodied feet. There was little comfort and less when he tried to open his eyes, the dark blindness surrounding him. Though he could not say his eye sockets felt empty. It was as if he had been stricken with a painful blindness. He panted, hissing between breaths, and he could feel his friend waiting, as if to ask if he could go on. The boy nodded, “Lead me, friend. Thank you,” And led by the hand, the two continued.
	
	“They are gone,” Phoenix informed Red Hawk. She was dressed in a simple dress and sat in the small common area between all of the rooms, “Rael, the Princess, and Reece all fled from here. I thought about giving chase, but then what would you do?”
	“No tellin’ where they coulda gone, eh?” Gill picked books up from a coffee table and munched on stale cake. He had changed into a light gray cloak rather than his black, lightweight roguish gear, “Guess I better head out then.”
	Phoenix scowled, “Your fear of missing out tactics do you no favor,” She was starting to smolder and burn, “My friend is missing and money is what's on your mind? I feel as if you are getting worried, but perhaps I should light a real fire under your ass?”
	Red Hawk shook his head, “Now is not the time to give in to your feelings. Let us go looking.”
	Gill shrugged, “Sure, whatever ya say.”
	The door to the common room swung open, “Diane has summoned you,” The avalonian guard stated between panting breaths, “Hanken will take you to her. Head down the stairs and into the garden.”
	Phoenix put on a fake smile to keep from looking nervous, “Oh, excellent. Come along, we must not keep the young lady waiting.”
	After a few minutes of Phoenix getting changed into a nicer dress, they met with the tall knight, “Good morning, Hanken,” Red Hawk was the first to greet him, “Do you ever sleep?”
	“Not really,” He smirked, “And this is?” He gestured to the goblin that they were with.
	“Gill, pleased ta meet ya,” The goblin gave a yellowed, toothy grin.
	“A friend of ours,” Phoenix explained, “We met him back in Oberon. He reappeared with information for us.
	The knight raised a brow but shook his head, “Diane is more understanding than the Queen,” He grunted, “Come, we should go. It is not too far.”

	The morning came after a near sleepless night and Zyra smelled cooking meats in the tavern overhead. The Lion packed away her things and hung it up on the wall to keep it clean before climbing over the boxes and out of her little area. With the additional space, she stretched and twisted her back before taking a seat on another box. She went to rub her face and stopped as she saw the dirt and crimson blood that stained the fur on her hand. With a groan and sigh she deflated, feeling wholly defeated. It was her fault, afterall. She lost control of her strength and power and wound up hurting her friend, someone she cared about. It was a horrible nightmare come true.
	“Oh? Miss Zyra?” A small avalonian woman with sharp canine ears on the top of her head had come down into the cellar. Her orange hair was short and she had a warm smile on her aging face, “What a surprise seeing you here. Did my son let you in last night?”
	Zyra nodded, “Yes, Missus Ginger,” The Lion put on a weak smile, “Just needed somewhere to stay.”
	The old woman chuckled, “Zyra. You can tell me if something is wrong. My family is indebted to you. We will do anything we can for you. Didn’t you come with some Lowlanders? Did they do something?”
	“I did, they’ve been good company, but this issue… It's something I did, ma’am,” Her cat-like ears flattened against her head and her tail drooped.
	Missus Ginger put down the cups she carried and leaned on a barrel near the larger avalonian, “What happened?”
	“If ya, uh, hurt someone by accident, what would ya do?”
	The orange haired woman brought out a damp rag and started to wipe off The Lion’s fur, “Were they made of mud?” She joked. Zyra showed the blood on her other palm and the smile turned to a frown, “Well. Whenever I would yell at my no-good husband– when he was a no-good adventurer, I would always try to make things right. Even if I felt like he deserved it.”
	“He didn’t deserve it,” Zyra mewled and wiped her eyes.
	“Remember we have a no crying policy, Zyra,” The woman teased. Missus Ginger clutched the bigger woman’s hand, “Then you need to make things right.”
	“How…?”
	“Well, tell him how sorry you are. Is there anything else you could do?”
	“I don’t know. Grovel?”
	“If you have to,” Missus Ginger chuckled, “Men are easy, Zyra. It's women like us who have all these complex emotions we have to deal with. Sometimes the smallest things can set us off. We cry, we laugh, we feel awful emotions like fear, and we feel wonderful ones like love. Most of the time a man is simply either happy or sad. Sometimes stoic to hide either. Get him a nice drink and maybe he’ll show you some of that happiness he keeps locked up or weep from his bottled up sorrow.”
	Zyra’s mind shifted scenes away from that horrible night. Now she imagined him smiling at her like he had done before. It made her heart flutter, “He does like his liquor.”
	“Like all proper men do,” Miss Ginger got up and began to dig through boxes, “Ah, here we go. An old bottle of mead. Aged to perfection. Just give this to him. And make sure you tell the boy you’re sorry.”
	With a slow nod, Zyra took it, “Thank ya,” She sighed and looked at the golden label with red letters. It was perfect, “I guess I’ll go find him.”
	“Not without a bath first. Did you dip in perfume yesterday?”
	“Ah… I had a lot on at the ball. I just kept putting it on, I didn’t know what to do.”
	Missus Ginger smiled and shook her head, “Oh, my poor dear… Come on, we’ll get you bathed and cleaned up! You need to look your best for this boy, I’m sure.”

	The marching continued. Rocks covered the path, each one puncturing Reece’s already cut up and bloody feet. His arms were sore, his legs were numb as was most of his body. He coughed and wheezed as his stamina reached its limits. Again, he fell to his already scraped up and bloodied knees.
	Are you finished?
	Reece scowled, but his face turned sour as he whimpered in pain, “No…” He groaned and reached back up, feeling his friend’s presence who was quick to help him to his feet. He knew he didn’t have much left in him, but wherever they were going, he was determined to reach it.
	You are doing well. Men of the past would be begging for relief now.
	Although he stumbled again, it felt like for the hundredth time, Reece had a smile on his face. A bit of pride in his heart, “I’m no quitter.”
	Good. Good. Perhaps you will be the one. What else do you not need? Ah…
	He tried to stand on his own. His legs felt like jelly now, and he wobbled and realized without the help of his friend he couldn’t stand up, “What… What are you doing to me?”
	Me? The voice chuckled darkly. Your legs have given up. But have you?
	The boy shook his head and spat, “Don’t let me fall, old friend,” He slowly lowered himself down to the ground and began to crawl, his hands now getting torn up on sharp stones. He was simultaneously becoming more and more numb, but he still felt the pain in every inch he moved. The crawling was even more difficult than the walking, his stumbling becoming even more frequent. His friend was silently pleading him to stop, but it knew the boy’s stubbornness would not let him. 

	The trio arrived at the processing area for islands that were brought in. Guards stood around, making sure to keep the common folk away as Diane took a break and sat at a small table where she sipped tea. A robed spell caster was speaking quietly to her. Phoenix could see how tired the young Princess was, “My Lady,” Phoenix quickly approached and offered the cloaked woman a curtsey, “Is something amiss?”
	Diane smirked, an incredulous look on her face as she tried to stay strong, “Beyond Zyra being missing and Reece in a coma?”
	“A coma?” The satyr froze. Small bits of smoldering flame could be seen on her skin and dress. Red Hawk eyed her worriedly. Phoenix, though strong in her sorcery would be devastating were she to lose control.
	The Princess nodded slowly as she put more sugar in her tea along with a splash of milk, “Yes. Rael has been keeping an eye on him. He may be ill, on account of the shivering. The holy man’s magic has not been able to clear this fever from his body. I was hoping you may have more insight, Red Hawk. Unfortunately, my court wizard’s knowledge of this magic is limited.”
	The cloaked avalonian court wizard cleared his throat as he tried to save face, “I can sense divination magicks, but I cannot parse the draconoid script he lays near. I fear this is beyond a simple court wizard such as myself, as not even a spell to read foreign words is aiding me.”
	The elf shook his head, “Please do not beat yourself up. I can imagine divination is not widely taught in the Highlands. I have seen how difficult it is to use that school of magic first hand here where the mana is so thin.”
	Diane put her cup down, “After you, friends.”
	Up the ladder Phoenix scurried quickly and Red Hawk went next with Gill following out of curiosity. Diane and the court wizard were next. Rael sat at Reece’s side. He had shed his armor and sat cross legged as he prayed, “Ah,” He glanced up as the others approached, “You have brought along Gill, I see.”
	“Huh?” The goblin turned pale as the holy man’s gaze fell on him.
	Rael smiled, “The Lord has granted me visions of you. You have information for us– We can discuss that later. We have… bigger fish to fry,” He chuckled and shook his head, “Red Hawk, I will look to you for your expertise.”
	Red Hawk took a deep breath, tasting the powerful magicks in the air. It was almost overwhelming. His eyes first went to the stone, “The path?” He translated with a frown and shook his head, unsure of what it could mean, “Give me space,” He stood over Reece who was stirring and mumbling to himself as his face turned pained.
	“We heard him cry out a short while ago,” Rael informed the elf, “Whatever is happening, he is fighting with something.”
	Diane watched intently as Red Hawk was casting his magic. A detection spell, she had seen the court wizard do that before, “Divination. You were right. But this is beyond a simple spell to divine.”
	“Then what is it?” The Princess quickly pressed him for more.
	He smirked and rolled up his sleeves, “Are you all familiar with oenomancy? The magic of dreams and the realm of sleep. Divination is not very popular, and oenomancy even less so. It is a small niche, one that has very few willing to fill it. But this oenomancy is very, very strong. As you guessed, Rael, the boy is in a deep sleep. He is trapped within a dream, a particularly powerful dream, by the looks of it.”
	Phoenix crossed her arms and sat in the grass, unsure what else to do with herself as she worked to maintain control of her magic, “What can we do? Can you break the spell?”
	“Too risky,” Rael replied.
	Red Hawk nodded while he pulled off his jacket, “I am going to enter the dream and attempt to rouse him. From within, dismantling the dream should be safe.”
	Rael nodded, “I will look over the two of you the best that I can. But please, make haste. Reece’s vitals have dropped and I fear this is taking a toll on him.”
	“As much haste as I can muster without making a mistake,” The elf nodded as he lay next to Reece, using his coat as a pillow. He removed his hat and held his staff with both hands. He began to mutter to himself in elven and draconoid magic words. As the incantation finished, he felt a zap and he went into the same deep sleep.

	Lumbering through the streets, The Lion was rapidly avoided by the rabble that came and went about their day. Drunken sailors from the Myridea were pulled out of her way as she grunted to herself, her brain trying to decide what she was going to tell the others. Though she looked grumpy, she was glad to finally feel stable emotionally. The burning had subsided, her heart pounded at a normal rate, and she was not haunted by visions. Men are easy, she told herself over and over, Reece will forgive me won’t he? He will understand. A guard spotted her as she wandered toward the castle grounds, “M-miss Zyra!” He called, hurrying to her side.
	“What is it?” She grumbled, further striking fear into the guard.
	"L-Lady Diane is looking for you.”
	Zyra nodded, “I thought she would be.”
	“She is over by the processing area– for the islands her mother has called for. Can I lead you there?”
	“Lead on,” She was a bit confused, but nodded.
	The young guard led her with brisk pace that she was easily able to keep up with. Zyra thought this was an odd place to find the good Princess. The royal guards who stood nearby made it obvious official business was being conducted. Zyra stepped from the crowd and through the line of guards to where Diane was drinking and eating, “Zyra!” She easily noticed the Lion’s approach. In a moment of an emotional burst she leapt down from the chair and rushed to her. The big avalonian knelt down and embraced her in a hug, “Where have you been!?” Diane regained her composure, quickly looking as regal as she should. 
	It was obvious the young lady was relieved but rather cross at the same time, not to mention exhausted. Zyra clutched her hands together anxiously, “I just needed some time to breathe. I’m sorry if I made ya worry.”
	“We have all been worrying about you and Reece this morning,” Diane sighed. It was more relief than anything.
	“Reece?” Zyra looked like she was about to dart again, “What happened? Where is he?”
	Diane raised a silent hand, asking the avalonian to calm down, “He slumbers in a magically induced state. Red Hawk and Rael are tending to him. Let them work, sit with me. Rest a bit. You look tired.”
	“I am.”
	“What happened last night, Zyra?”
	A cup of tea was given to the Lion. She picked up the dainty cup like one would a beer mug. Downing it, the big avalonian sighed, “It’s… I dunno. Complex girl emotions? That’s what Missus Ginger called it. I got so upset over nothing and I lost control. I hurt him. I-I didn’t know what to do other than run.”
	Diane looked amused, “Well. I am glad that you seem to be doing better. Reece was easily healed of his wounds, by the way.”
	Zyra nodded. She knew Rael was good enough to mend such a simple wound, even if it had been from multiple claws. Now she could only wait, which was a scary thought all on its own. She rarely felt helpless, but now it was almost debilitating to her.

	Another interloper?
	Red Hawk heard the booming voice speak into his head as he came to. The voice was filled with a power he struggled to comprehend. Struggling to do so, he remained stoic despite the overwhelming power he felt. He stood on a stone path. It was freezing cold and dark. The elf, usually immune to the elements, was shaken to his core. He carefully stepped over sharp stones, “Who goes there? Where is Reece?”
	You have come seeking the boy? Come, see him.
	Red Hawk felt himself be moved to another locale. It seemed to have been some form of teleportation, by his guess. He found himself along a stone path covered in sharp rubble. A grunt of pain caught his attention, bringing him towards something in the dark. A light? He headed towards it. A figure was walking slowly towards him. A knight in literally shining armor with a draconoid shaped helmet. It seemed startled to see him. Red Hawk tried and failed to summon his staff, “What are you doing!?” He demanded, looking for something to attack with and failing to bring about his magic.
	“Red Hawk?” Reece wheezed, “Is that you?”
	“Reece!?” The boy was bloody, his eyes were blank, and he was half naked, “What has this beast done to you?”
	“Beast?No,” He touched the armored knight with a shaking hand, “This is my friend. It is not the one that has done this.”
	The boy speaks the truth, elf. His Eidolon came of its own accord, as did you. This pain, this weariness, was the boy's own doing. All I have done is ask him to part with them. He gave each willingly.
	“Except for my ability to walk,” Reece spat.
	“How long has this gone on?”
	The boy’s breathing was shallow while he thought of an answer, “Hours. I don’t know how many.”
	“Let him go, voice in my head,” The elf stayed strong despite how oppressive this place felt.
	Let him go? He has had the chance to leave at any moment. This pain is his own choice.
	The boy nodded, coughed and sputtered, “I have to. I have to make it to the end of this.”
	“Why are you doing this? What do you hope to achieve?” Red Hawk demanded.
	Ask the boy. What does he hope to achieve?
	“I… I want to see the secrets of the box…” He crawled forward and collapsed. He groaned and the Eidolon tried to pick him back up, “I– I can’t keep going…”
	Red Hawk glared at the void surrounding them. The path was gone, leaving only a singular small island for the three. Reece was lying on his stomach, wheezing and panting while the Eidolon knelt next to him, urging the boy to rest with its silent pleading, “Has he not done enough!?” The elf called in an accusatory tone.
	Perhaps. One last ask. Give me your life, Reece M. Gawain.
	Reece panted in pain and struggled to get up, “Do not!” Red Hawk cried, “This is insanity!”
	Even the Eidolon was silently pleading for him not to.
	The boy finally sat on his knees, his blank eyes turned towards the sky, “I… I cannot.”
	Oh?
	“I still have more to do… The box, Graxon, I cannot leave these unresolved.”
	There was a long pause, Reece feared he had failed. Red Hawk stood his ground, waiting for the voice to speak into his head again.
	I have seen the resolve of the men of this era. I am most pleased. Go. Awaken from here. Seek out my other Dream Stones, Reece. If you believe you can pass the tests before you and your cohort.
	“I can. I will,” He grunted in pain with his last defiant remark. 
	The elf and human both woke up with a start.

	The coughing and sputtering from both dreamers roused the others. Rael was quick to help Red Hawk sit up. Reece stayed lying on his back as he groaned in pain. The pain from the realm of dreams felt like small daggers in his skin and pins and needles from the cold he had felt. He jolted back as Phoenix wrapped her arms around him in a very relieved hug, “OW!” He cried. Her natural flame-like heat felt like an instant burn on his pained skin.
	“You are freezing!” Phoenix laughed with relief that her friend had woken up, “Are you well?” She did her best to feel his forehead, but could not detect a fever.
	“I hurt all over, Phoenix,” He groaned in anguish as he writhed on the ground.
	Rael looked him over, “A bit of magic remains, but it is dissipating. Albeit slowly. I expect him to recover on his own. Help him drink this, it is to dull the pain.”
	Reece was eager for relief and imbibed the small, bitter brew. The aftertaste of berries did little to fix the initial potion taste. A few moments passed as Reece looked up at the sunlight overhead. Every twitch, every breath, even the movement of his eyes was all painful. Red Hawk was pacing, “You never mentioned an Eidolon, Reece.”
	“I don’t know what that means,” He wheezed in reply, “I didn’t know what it was before now.”
	“An Eidolon did this to him?” Phoenix cocked her head, not totally sure what he was getting at. She knew of the word, but not exactly what he was talking about.
	The elf quickly shook his head, “No, no. One was present. But whatever was tormenting our friend was much more powerful. A being of dreams seems unlikely, as no nightmare would stand a chance against an Eidolon. This was something different, a god perhaps, one that interfaces with people through dreams. But why the draconoid script? The testing? Why make him suffer?”
	“There is only one God here, Red Hawk,” Rael reminded him, “Anything else would be an imitation of some kind.”
	The elf threw up his hands, “Then tell me what else that would be, because I do not think your God would make him crawl on his hands and knees through sharp gravel, half naked and blind, no less!”
	There was a pause as a sense of unease came over them. Rael for once began to sweat, “Are you sure about this power it held? Could it not be a particularly powerful dream creature?”
	“I have been in the presence of many powerful magical beings, including two of the fey kings. This was different,” He hissed.
	The two men eyed one another with uncertainty before the elf began to pace back and forth again. Phoenix leaned in to Reece and spoke quietly, as if her breath could hurt him, “What did you do? What happened?”
	Moving slowly, Reece pushed the blankets off his aching body. The box had changed, the wyvern carving now was a dull blue and the mechanism to pop it out had receded, “I think I got the first one done.”
	Phoenix sat on her haunches and smiled, “I thought I might lose you, Reece. That damned box is going to be the death of you.”
	He paused and looked his friend in the eyes, “I have the resolve to see this through, I proved that. I have to, Phoenix.”
	Her smile was one akin to disappointment, part of her hoped this was the end, but she knew it could not be that easy, “I know. I feel you are too stubborn at times, is all.”
	“Gotta love it, huh?”
	“Not at all,” She sighed, “Can you stand? Can you walk?”
	“I’ll make it,” He grunted as the cleric helped him to his feet. He shuddered violently from an otherwise unseen cold. The others frowned and put another cloak over his shoulders, “Fang?” He gave the goblin a confused look.
	“It’s Gill to ya, human,” The green skin smirked, “Look at me, tellin’ all of ya my real name just so ya can trust me even more.”
	Diane called for the group to come with her as she told her guards to secure the island for further research, “Back to the castle, then?” She offered the others, “Some nice warm baths, some tea, and how about a cake to commemorate the occasion?” She offered.
	The heroes, all tired, agreed. Zyra frowned as Reece slowly made his way through the streets flanked by the Princess’s personal guard. He looked awful, but she could not decide what to say to him, if anything at all. The rehearsed apology left her mind when she saw the state he was in. What could she say? Would sorry be good enough? Was Missus Ginger right? It didn’t really matter, Reece had bigger worries right now. She would have time to think of a proper apology again.

	Relief had washed over the Princess who was all smiles now with Reece healthy and Zyra returned, “I am glad that this has turned out for the better, though I must admit you two nearly gave me a heart attack. Are you feeling better, Reece?”
	He was sitting in a chair with a cup of hot tea in his hands. He shook from the lingering cold, even if it had been just a dream, it had felt so real. He was wrapped in two blankets by his friends, “A bit. Thank you.”
	She turned to Rael who was standing nearby, “I detect no illness within him. The magic is still afflicting him, but it is slowly clearing. It is hard to believe this dream really happened and that is affecting you so horribly in reality. In any case, I believe our new friend is getting impatient.”
	Phoenix was unsure about the goblin who had snuck into the castle. She frowned and folded her arms, “Are you sure? I know you believe God showed you this little green skin, but are we sure about this?”
	“We don’t have another lead beyond the monsters on the box,” Reece reminded her, “If he really has information, I think we at least hear him out.”
	Red Hawk rolled his eyes and cleaned the grass from his suit, “He wants a big cut of treasure going forward,” He warned.
	“It's a reasonable take!” Gill protested, “Geese, right?”
	“Reece,” He corrected.
	“So, look, I have an idea where this dwarf went after he came here,” The goblin was pacing around, “I’m a great thief, just ask yar buddy here. Ya need someone like me for my abilities and information gathering skills. Unlike yar elf, I got connections.”
	“Yes,” Diane sipped her own tea, “A self reported thief. In the presence of Avalon’s royal guard. Not a very wise thief, hm?”
	He was starting to sweat, “Hey, lady. I’m ethical. I don’t steal, I repurpose goods from old tombs and ruins. I recover them. Put them in the hands of people who will appreciate such things. Not like anyone was missin’ it in the first place,” Gill explained with a wry smile, “All I want, is a third of the profits from this little excursion.”
	“A third!?” Phoenix scoffed, “Certainly you are not serious.”
	“A fourth,” Rael replied with a counter offer.
	“A fourth!? Ya’re killin’ me, chief!” Gill groaned.
	The cleric shook his head, “You’re desperate at the moment, right?” This made the goblin scowl, the priest was right, “You need this money otherwise you wouldn't go through all of this trouble. A fourth is more than generous. Would you not agree, friends?”
	“It is more than I would have promised him,” Phoenix huffed.
	Reece shrugged, “None of us are in it for the money. We have better things on our minds.”
	“So is that a yes?” Gill grinned, “A promise?” He offered Rael his hand to shake.
	“If your information is true, we will take you further with us,” Rael replied and shook it.
	The five became a group of six, a real adventuring party now, though none would admit it.
	Red Hawk was pacing, “Let us hear it then. Where are we going? What did you learn?”
	“Supposedly,” Gill stuffed his mouth with some celebratory cake. It was zesty and a bit sour. Very delicious, “This Graxon feller went north with only one other person. I hear he got his hands on an artifact there. Most likely this box ya’re holdin’ so close to yar chest.”
	“Where north?” Zyra demanded.
	“Gerek-Kellag. Nice place. Been there once. I know who sold it to ‘em too. Not an easy person to get ahold of, but as a show of good will, I’ll call in a favor.”
	“May I ask where you have learned this?” Phoenix asked.
	Gill grinned, “All goblins are privy to our own spy network. Can’t give ya any names, wouldn’t be right. Us little people gotta stick together. For coin, I can learn just about anything.”
	Reece nodded, “Alright. We just need a boat to take us.”
	“Just like that?” Diane cooed, “You are putting a lot of trust in him.”
	“What else can I do? I’m getting desperate.”
	The Princess nodded slowly, “Go down to the docks and find someone to take you. Red Hawk, I am sure you can handle it and know what you and your friends need. I will put forward a generous amount of gold to make this happen. And if they are a trading vessel, promise we will draft some contracts for them. Lucrative ones at that. Hanken, send Kamille with them to facilitate this with a contract.”
	“Truly?” Red Hawk was stunned, “A-are you sure?”
	“I am as curious as any of you as to where this adventure will take you. Just promise to return and tell me all about it when you are done,” She said with a smile.
	“As you wish,” Red Hawk bowed graciously to her, “Get some rest, Reece. We will hopefully leave in the morning. Phoenix and I can handle this.”
	“I might as well tag along, this place is too ritzy for my taste,” Gill stuffed his already fruit covered face with more cake, “What about ya, big lady?”
	Zyra was distracted as she stood by the window, “I’ll pass.”
	“May I be excused?” Reece weakly asked.
	“Of course, you do not need to ask me that here,” Diane giggled, “Take the same room, if you please.”
	Reece nodded and dismissed himself into the room where he put on something comfortable. Though he had been asleep for what felt like hours, he felt more tired than he had ever been, his body struggling with weariness. Wrapped in multiple blankets, he worked on his journaling to be sure he would not forget anything.

	The door to Reece’s small room creaked open. Zyra slid in and closed it behind her. Taking a break from his furious scribbling, he looked up at her, “Zyra?” He shifted anxiously, “What can I do for you?”
	The Lion had her arms crossed like she was hugging herself tightly. Her face was full of worry and her eyes were downcast as if the stonework was suddenly very interesting, “I, uh, wanted to apologize to ya. F-for hurting you. A-and that I wasn’t there when ya were in danger,” Even if men were supposed to be easy to deal with, dealing with her own avalanche of emotions made this difficult for the Lion. This wasn’t at all what she told herself to say and the confidence she tried to portray was totally gone.
	The boy sat up on the side of the bed, “I appreciate it, Zyra. I forgive you,” He shoved his bruised hand in his pocket, “Good thing I’m left handed,” He chuckled. 
	“Yeah. Was, uh,” The Lion shifted and wiped her face with her palm, “Was the dream really that painful?” She nervously and gently sat on the bed with him.
	There was a pause as Reece looked down at his journal, “It was. From the freezing cold to my eyeballs feeling like they were plucked from my head. It was dreadful. Hard to imagine that a dream could be like that.”
	Zyra rubbed her hands together anxiously, “Real brave of ya to deal with that alone.”
	“Well, my friend showed up and eventually Red Hawk did too. Turns out my old friend is an Eidolon, whatever that might be,” He shrugged, “The elf seems a bit perturbed over that, wants to have words about it later.”
	Zyra nodded slowly, her eyes still looking down as the waterworks began to flow. She wiped her face with the back of her hands.
	“Zyra?” Reece apprehensively put his hand on her back, “Everything is fine, there’s nothing to worry about now.”
	The Lion looked like she was about to go for a hug, but held back. She wiped her face, “Y-yeah. Right.”
	With a sigh, Reece looked up at her, “Why not get some rest? It's been a hard couple days for everyone.”
	“Ya’re probably right. Hey,” She managed to hold herself together, “Ya think this goblin is trustworthy?”
	“Who knows? We’ll find out in Gerek-Kellag. If we’re being led into an ambush, I’ll need you to protect me, right?”
	For the first time, The Lion appeared to be her usual self. Her eyes were still red and puffy but she smiled and flexed an arm, “They won’t be laying a finger on ya as long as I’m around! Then I’ll make sure that gobbo regrets being born!” She stepped out. Then she stepped back in, “Oh!” She cried and hurried to Reece’s bedside, “Here!” She forced the bottle of mead into his hands before darting away again.
	Reece smiled and looked over the label on the bottle. With a smile, he pulled the cork and poured himself a glass, “How did she know I needed something to slake this thirst?”

	The Myridea waited at the dock for the six travellers in the early morning’s sunlight. Zyra felt distant, still trying to figure out her own feelings. Red Hawk was eager to get going, hoping to solve the mysteries of the box soon as well as follow this new lead on Graxon’s dealings. Phoenix simply felt joy in the fact they were making progress. Gill wanted to get paid. Rael’s mind was wandering, thinking about the terror on Red Hawk’s face and the anguish on Reece’s. The boy still felt the pins and needles across his skin and the rawness of his feet. It was minor, a lingering pain, but still there nonetheless. He held the box close to his chest, ready to begin the next leg of this voyage. 
	Aboard the Myridea, the captain and his mates directed the crew to store their cargo with the eagerness of a captain about to sail on an exciting adventure. Diane was with the six, a bit sad to see them off, but knew that she could not go with them. Her mother and Zyra would never allow it. Avoiding the hustle and bustle of the docks was difficult, but people made way for the Princess and her entourage. One of the group that had come with her handed over a collection of sweets and cakes all in boxes to Phoenix, Rael, and Gill, “Something to make your long voyage a bit easier to stomach. I have heard food on a vessel is not the most delicious, so hopefully this makes up for it.”
	Phoenix gave her a curtsey, “We will try to make it last, my Lady. Thank you for all of your help.”
	“Of course! Zyra’s friends are my friends,” She giggled, “Truth be told, I am glad to be helping you all rather than being cooped up in my room all day reading. Zyra,” She gave her a smile, “Come back soon, alright? I want to hear all about your adventure.”
	The Lion grinned, “O’ course! Maybe we can take a trip to the Lowlands afterwards!”
	Reece looked surprised, “Is that something you were thinking about?”
	“Yup!” She looked a little sheepish, “Been rockin’ that idea around in my brain for a bit. Dunno if ya’d take me, though.”
	“Of course I would,” Reece scoffed, “After everything you’ve done already it would only be right to pay you back like that.”
“All who’re comin’ aboard better be comin’ aboard soon!” Captain O’Malley called from the deck down to the docks. 
	“We can discuss that later,” Red Hawk gestured for the others to board.
	All but Zyra and Reece boarded, “A moment of your time, mister Gawain,” Diane gestured for Reece to get to eye level with her. She put a gentle hand on his shoulder as she leaned in, “Take care of Zyra for me. I know she is still upset, despite how strong of a face she puts on. Hurt her, and I will make sure your final days are hellish.”
	Reece scoffed, “I would hurt myself far more than you ever could if I did that,” He replied.
	“That is what I wanted to hear. You are excused,” She stood with a smile. A weight hung on Reece’s neck now. It was a silver amulet made of bands that were woven together with a small green piece of avalite hanging in the mesh, “A protection amulet. Similar to what I wear at all times. I understand there may be danger ahead. Stay safe.”
	“I will, especially with Zyra by my side,” He gave her a strong smile, it was the first time he had felt confident in this adventure. 
	Zyra felt her heart swell at that statement. Taking just another moment, she gave Diane a goodbye hug, “See ya soon. I’ll bring ya back a trinket this time.”
	“You had better!” Diane grinned. 
	The last two boarded and waved to the Princess as the Myridea took off from the docks with a blow of its horn. Reece stared at Estron as they left. Zyra put a hand on his shoulder, “Gonna miss it?”
	“Maybe. It's gonna be hard to go back to the Lowlands after all of this, honestly.”
	“Ya think? I’d imagine ya’d get homesick by now.”
	“Not much to go home to right now, really,” A sad look was cast over the sea of stars, “Anyway. We had better get our room sorted. I fear Gill might try to claim your bigger hammock.”
	“Oh he had better not,” She growled and her ears flattened against her head as she stomped her way to the cabin.