AMELIA LALA'S POV:

I stood atop the giant walls of Eloria, looking down on the thousands upon thousands of soldiers that were lined up defensively. A battle of endurance had been forced upon us by the enemy, and I was no longer sure we'd be able to outlast them.

The Fei armies seemed to be receiving a constant stream of resources from their newly-captured territories, and with an incoming army on the west, Imania's downfall was imminent.

The faint sound of footsteps brought me back to reality, my eyes recognizing the blonde warrior standing beside me.

"The Dragon armies have fallen," she said monotonously, her golden eyes gazing into the distance where the Fei encampments were located.

The news engulfed me with worry, the emotion spreading across my body like a living flame that was consuming me slowly. I didn't allow my dread to manifest physically, keeping a calm posture and expression.

"The Dragon leaders have been captured?" I asked, clearly referring to both Jay Cadmium and Asthia Darck. Both were crucial if we wanted to hope for a future where we somehow won this war, but if they had been captured, then this war really was lost...

"They're both missing. I heard they deserted the battlefield before the battle ended."

"I see..."

A few moments of silence passed, the only sound passing through my ears being the howling wind. I glanced briefly at Jean, noticing that she was exhibiting small signs of discomfort. Her hand twitched slightly, her eyes couldn't rest in one place, her breathing seemed accelerated...

I smiled at her uneasiness, understanding just how trivial both of our facades were. The constant competition between us had caused us to always put up an act in front of each other, but I could tell now that Jean was also slightly worried about Jay's wellbeing.

Her feelings of distress didn't seem to be as impactful as mine, but that was only logical. I had come to view Jay as a younger brother of sorts, but for Jean, it seemed like she was more curious than alarmed."They'll return," I stated confidently, keeping my head forward without meeting Jean's eyes.

"I know. The question is, will we still be standing to fight alongside them when that time comes?"

"Who knows," I sighed, looking up into the peaceful sky as two white animals streaked across the blue expanse, "All we can do is try to last as long as possible."

JAY CADMIUM'S POV:magic

I groaned as the darkness that enveloped my sight finally began to clear. My hand slowly became clearer and clearer, my eyes seemingly beginning to adjust to the murky atmosphere.

My hands pressed against the cold rock below me. I turned around, pushing on the surface and cautiously standing up. The events that had transpired returned to me, and I finally understood where I was located.

This is Lares.

The shift in dimensions was extremely noticeable, and the looming aura of power that was emanating from below me only added to my unease. The outlines of a pathway became visible as I enhanced my vision with bind.

I quickly checked what I had on me, realizing that I only had simple clothes that offered me little to no protection. A small sigh of relief escaped my mouth upon seeing the space bracelet on my wrist... at least I could protect myself with a weapon.

Whether or not I would need to protect myself was completely unknown to me, but I couldn't ignore Selena's warnings; accepting the power of the Elder Wyvern led people to lose themselves, consumed by the power that they received.

My body still didn't seem to be fully recovered, but a few hours of intensive bind circulation was sure to help me somewhat regenerate my strength. I activated the technique, feeling the cycling of energy commencing within my core.

I summoned midnight into my hand, its appearance followed by slight crackles of lightning.I took a deep breath, gripping the handle of my dagger with all my strength as I forced my body to follow the dark path that only seemed to head downward.

The winding descent was simple, but the ever-growing feeling of despair around me began affecting my thoughts. I let out a small portion of my aura, utilizing it as a means to cleanse the impurity that was circling in the atmosphere.

A large hole presented itself before me, the end of the fall nowhere in sight. I kneeled, laying my freehand onto the rock and sending a pulse down with earth bind. I smiled, realizing the bottom was water or at least some kind of liquid substance.

Was this journey a test?

I jumped into the dark abyss, letting my body plummet down freely. My speed increased, and I began manipulating the air currents around me to slow my descent. I twisted my hand midair, beckoning the waters to absorb my arrival.

The churning splash of water echoed around me as the liquid reached out to meet my fall, accompanying my movements and delicately redirecting me to the nearest stretch of land. I paused momentarily, recovering some of my stamina.

The walls around me suddenly glowed, revealing the stunning shapes and colors that were hidden behind the darkness. A jungle was brought to life within the small passageway where I was located, the walls, floor, and ceiling all revealing a mixture of green and blue colors that seemed to vibrate with energy.

The small sounds of insects and animals filled my ears, and yet nothing of the sorts could be seen in the vicinity. Were these sounds illusions? Or did these walls really contain life within them?

I managed to snap out of my trance, continuing my journey into the unknown. The colors and sounds followed my movements, each step of mine sending a bright pulse of energy into the ground that illuminated its surroundings.

"What... is this," I muttered, the words escaping my mouth subconsciously. It felt as if I was back in the lush forests of Auroria, the tingling smell of grass and leaves now beginning to enter my nose.

Bright magenta flowers appeared on the walls, blooming right before my eyes. The peculiar flowers fascinated me, but I slowly began to notice their dominating presence around me. The bright and joyous purple color slowly darkened, turning into a blue-violet shade that covered the once-lively jungle that had enveloped the path.

"!!"

Dark thorns suddenly shot out from the walls, their dark auras now consuming the area as they attempted to pierce my heart. I ignited the air around me with bright orange flames that swirled protectively.

The thorny vines hissed as they disintegrated from the touch of the flames, slowly retreating back into the depths of the walls. I exited the narrow tunnel, entering a large room that resembled the ragged depths of a mine.

Dark violet gems sparkled in the walls and chunks of rock, their unnatural colors reminding me of the crystal I used to enter this cave. I readied myself immediately, realizing where I was.

This was the heart of the cave.