The cold air was noticeably piercing, signifying that winter drew near. Kaelen's footsteps staggered on the cold stone beneath him. Most of his wounds have healed, but the wounds inflicted by the silver were still present.

He stopped at the large pool of water, looking at his pitiful reflection. A bucket lay near him, and he picked it up, scooping the water into it. He took a deep breath that burned his lungs and held it as he poured the freezing water over himself. Kaelen felt the burning of a thousand suns as the water entered his wounds. His teeth clenched again, but his primal mind began to take over. He felt his body begin to break itself, but he resisted the urge to give in. Kalen began to punch the ground, bloodying his knuckles until they were bone. The pain only aggravated his primal instincts. His mouth let out a howl signifying the loss of the control he had, but he cut it short. Kaelen clawed at his chest, realizing that his hand turned into a werewolf's. He focused on his pounding heart and felt the boiling in his veins begin to simmer.

Before anything else could happen, he hurried home, which was still across the city. Kaelen did his best to avoid any patrols but ended up running short on luck, crossing paths with one of the night patrols. They were all in their wolf forms, cackling and scoffing at the sight of him.

"You should've been a good dog and listened," a familiar voice said. Kaelen looked up and saw that it was Alder. "They're going to have your head for this."

Kaelen knew better than to speak up against him, but there was some truth in his words. Feeling the pressure, Kaelen began to walk away. The wolves laughed at him again.

"I don't see why I can't start for them."

Alder swept Kaelen's feet from under him, forcing him to collide with the ground. The pain from all his wounds shot through his body like an echo in a cave. Alder took the moment and bombarded his stomach with kicks. Kaelen spewed blood from his mouth as he tried his best to block his kicks.

"You're a disgrace!" Shouted Alder. "You're nothing but a shadow—" He abruptly stopped himself. "No, you're less than that!"

Kaelen felt his blood boiling again, just when he thought he had it under control. The primal body within him burst out, and his consciousness pushed back.

He lost control.

The beast within forced Kaelen to watch as it grabbed Alder's foot and pushed him back. His body howled, then its eyes narrowed at Alder. It began to charge, and Alder readied himself, but in a quick second the beast changed its course and used its claws to deal a successful blow to Alder's body, piercing the body armor and leaving five large holes at the stomach. Clenching the armor, the beast pulled Alder and attempted to bite his throat, but he moved enough to only feel the graze of its chin against the bottom of his jaw.

Alder growled and barked at the other wolves who stood by. They all charged into the fray, but the beast lunged at one of them, pummeling their head to the ground. One of the soldiers struck it from behind. The beast turned its head slowly, snarling at the soldier. He tried to run, but the beast stabbed its leg with its claws as he turned, and it clawed erratically all the way up the soldier's back, shredding his armor. Alder regained his footing and tried to put the beast in a hold, but it easily overpowered him, breaking free from his grasp, and with a quick twist, it had Alder's throat within its grasp. Alder began to kick at it, but nothing fazed it.

A sudden blow knocked the beast away, forcing it to drop Alder's almost unconscious body. He coughed, holding his throat to make sure it was still there. When the beast got back up, Kaelen could recognize the golden-hued armor.

It was his father.

"Grab your men and go, Alder!" Knhaul commanded. "I'll handle him."

Despite Kaelen's irrational fear of his father, the beast charged forward with no hesitation. But despite its efforts, Knhaul lowered his stance and jabbed at the beast's throat, forcing it to choke. The fight was over, and Kaelen's body slowly came back to him. Without wasting a moment, Knhaul grabbed Kaelen and carried him in both his arms.

Kaelen's consciousness fluttered in and out, and before he knew it, he lay by the hearth in his house. His mother tended to his wounds with a warm, damp cloth. At first her voice was muffled, but then it became clear.

". . . look at him, Knhaul! He is suffering."

"I did what needed to be done."

"And what was that?" Pain riddled her voice. "As a soldier? You need to be a father, Lomel. He needs you to be his father."

"I am being a father!" The room fell quiet. The crackling of the flames kept Kaelen's mind company. "This is a cruel world, Lomel. It will tear him apart if he is not strong enough."

"Is he not already strong?" Her words cut his resolve. "He has listened; he has endured. All that is left for him is to perish."

Knhaul's head whipped at the word.

"He will not perish. He will learn; he will thrive. All that I do is for his future."

"Then show him," her hand rested gently on Knhaul's cheek. "He is broken, and he does not know how to fix himself. He needs guidance not as a soldier but as a son."

Knhaul rested his hand on hers and pressed his cheek further into the warmth of her palm. But before Kaelen could make sense of anything, he fell unconscious.

· · ─ · ◯☽✵☾◯ · ─ · ·

Aeris and Lyra stood in front of the Grand Senate building at daybreak. Aeris felt the depth of the role she had to fill, and it was drowning. However, she drew breath and continued forward into the building, entering the grand hall. Though it was no surprise, the hall hasn't changed a bit. A colossal red tapestry hung from the ceiling, and lights, no thanks to Lyra's discovery, illuminated the entire floor from above.

Heads began to turn in shock at the spectacle of the daughter of a dead senator. Aeris paid no mind as she stormed through to the hall, reaching the reception table. The people at the desk stared in awe at the two, not believing what they were seeing.

"Where is Elderlore?" Aeris demanded his whereabouts. "This is urgent!"

"Well, he is in a meeting with the Senate," the receptionist said, her hands fidgeting. "Ongoing since yesterday with the. . . incident."

"I need to be there; I have crucial information."

"I'm afraid since it's in session, there is a no disturbance policy."

"But the code allows all members to attend even if it's in session."

"Last I recall, you are not a member; you are the daughter of one."

Aeris stood there for a moment, her resolve wavering for a moment until her eyes sparked to life.

"By the decree of Senator Elveris Veil! I, Aeris Veil, will be the one to take her place as senator."

The receptionists began to whisper amongst themselves. One cleared their throat, coming around the desk to approach them.

"There is no official documentation of this action." He looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to their conversation but found no one. "However, Senator Veil was loved by all, and in return, we will grant you access." He handed her a golden square badge with the Celestial of Balance etched onto its face in great detail.

"I promise to do great."

"We are sure you will." His smile was endearing and sincere.

Without a second to waste, Aeris and Lyra made their way to the Senate Chamber. The familiar ribbed hallway felt as if it guided her to the room her mother always had reserved. Two guards stood in front of it as they always would, but this time with hostility.

"Who goes there?" One of them asked. Their weapons were drawn and pointed at them.

Aeris held up the badge, dangling it in front of them. "I am Senator Veil's daughter, and I wish to speak to the Senate!"

The two guards looked at each other and lowered their weapons. Both guards stepped aside and opened the door for them, bowing their heads as they entered. This room hadn't changed. A familiar feeling burst from the center of Aeris' core and spread through her body. It felt warm yet intimidating. She rushed to the balcony. A flashback played in her mind for a split second of how her mother stood in the very spot she was in right now. Voices became clear as she started to listen, but she wasn't there to hear their squabble.

"I have something urgent to share that may turn the tide of war!" Her voice echoed, and her heart pounded hard within her chest as a spotlight shined bright on her. She looked at Lyra, who waved at her to remain focused.

"And who are you?" Elderlore asked, dismissing the laughter that followed after her statement.
"I am Aeris Veil!" She stated. "Elveris Veil's daughter. And I wish to speak to the Senate about a plan."

"A plan?" One senator mocked. "You are but a child! You need to go play with your dolls and not play an adult's game."

"You so-called adults have spent all of yesterday with your game trying to figure out what to do," the chamber began to grow in discordance at the insult. "Has this chamber become so dull that they find ignorance to be the same as pride?"

The chamber lashed out at her words, but a sudden thud echoed through the chamber, silencing the angry crowd.

"You insult us, and now you want us to listen to your words?" Aeris could feel the irritation from Elderlore's words. "If I were you, I'd choose the next words that come out of your mouth wisely, young lady."

Aeris took a deep breath and let it out. "As we all know, we are under attack once more. And our enemies don't only exist in the Underworld but here, in Kogeer, as well."

The chamber began to mumble within itself.

"What makes you sure of this?" A senator couldn't help asking.

"I was there when my mother risked her life to protect mine." Pain struck her once again; her eyes glossed with tears that were forthcoming. "As much as the demons are our enemy, they did not restart this war. It was a sinister plot developed from both sides by hidden figures we cannot fathom."

"Are you suggesting there are traitors among us?"

"I am suggesting that there is another threat out there, a threat that breaks bread with us, that steals our ambitions, and turns ourselves against our own."

"What was it that you were proposing?" Elderlore asked, cutting straight to the point. "The demons have successfully commandeered most of these ruined fortresses, gaining a foothold on us. But you say there is more to it than meets the eye."

"My mother has been talking to the ambassador of the Kingdom of Lycra."

"The werewolf kingdom?" One senator shouted in disgust. Other balconies decided to join her in her distaste. "They were once denizens of the Underworld. What makes your mother think they would join us in this war?"

"I cannot deny the fact that they were once our enemies, but not by their design. As we all know, they've shed a lot of blood to gain sovereignty, and they've shed even more to keep it.

And they are neither with us nor against us. But that is my proposal: we should—no, we need to gain them as an ally to aid us with ending this war."

The people began to talk amongst themselves. The chamber fell quiet for a moment.

"We have been estranged from our neighbor, but perhaps it is time to meet their acquaintance." A deep thud boomed in the chamber. "You will lead this negotiation, Aeris Veil."

"But I do not have that authority nor jurisdiction."

"That will change," Elderlore raised his hands to the air. "Let it be known in this council that Aeris Veil has now become a senator and will be moving forward with this nation's best interest. With this in motion, this session has come to an end until the outcome of our alliance with the Kingdom of Lycra has been established."

Even though there was skepticism, the crowd applauded her in her new position. Aeris turned to Lyra, who was staring at her as if she were a stranger. The Aeris that became the shadow of her mother has now stepped into the light and shined bright.

"We succeeded in convincing the Senate." Said Aeris, excited at the outcome of this session.

"We?" Lyra almost laughed. "Aeris, that was all you! You convinced the Senate, and now you're leading the charge. When have you become so bold?"

"Maybe I was always like this."

"Yeah, in your dreams."

The two giggled and a sudden knock came from the door. The door opened without them having to do anything. A man in messenger uniform approached them with the stiffest posture.

"Your presence has been summoned, Senator Veil." He held out a letter that was more of an invitation than an informational summons.

Aeris felt odd to be called the title that was once her mother's, but it gave her power and conviction. She nodded her head, and the man bowed his head, then took his leave. Aeris inspected the letter and felt its crisply folded edges and the wax stamp that held it together.

"Are you going to open it?" Lyra asked.

"No, this is more of a formality than it is an actual letter."

Lyra nodded her head as if she understood, but Aeris paid no mind to it.

"We must go to meet with Elderlore; it seems like he wants to discuss something personally."

· · ─ · ◯☽✵☾◯ · ─ · ·

Red miasma swirled about in the sky, causing the red phenomena that occurred in the Underworld no matter the hour. The great pyramid stood ominously in the Kingdom of Nasherux. The magical light that shrouded it felt alive and watchful. Though there were other buildings that were half in comparison, the Council Building will always be the grand landmark of the kingdom.

Draven found himself wandering within the Council Building, staring at all the artistry that covered the walls. He was waiting for Arna to finish reporting the incidents that occurred that would end the armistice with the Kingdom of Kogeer.

A familiar smack to the back of his head almost startled him. He turned to find Namon standing behind him with a smile painted wide across her face.

"I didn't think I'd see you again," his voice pained with fear.

"You did well, Draven. I have no doubt that you will be rewarded handsomely." Namon put her arm around his neck as she always would when he felt uncertain.

The two watched Arna walk out of the hallways where the council room was located. Her demeanor, as always, felt demanding. Like a magnet getting pulled by another. Draven had to ball his fists to resist the temptation, digging his nails just enough not to pierce the skin.

"Where is Lyra's device?" Draven forced himself out of his shell, seemingly a little more confident, but Arna knew who he was.

"Lyra?" She questioned, her head and eyebrows tilted as if it helped her search through the archive that was her mind. "Oh, you mean the dead, redheaded girl." She said, her face brightened with clarity.

Draven wasn't sure where her fate led her, but he knew she wasn't dead. It was a feeling he sensed in his gut.

"I would like to have it as it interested me when I saw it." Draven felt a security in his newfound confidence. Having a near-death experience while fighting gave him a lot of nerve.

"You weren't interested in that device," said Arna, circling around him like a serpent, avoiding Namon. "It was her flesh you desired. The tender nape of a fruitful human girl. How stimulating."

"No, you misunderstand!" Draven unclenched his fist, feeling the anger beginning to course through him. "It has something to do with my power."

Namon stepped in between them, breaking their engagement. Arna stepped away promptly, but her movements were fluent and condescending; her arms were halfway up, signifying she didn't want to fight. She soon mixed with the crowd and left their sights.

"What are you doing?" Namon asked without looking away; her demeanor changed, and her playful tone left with Arna. "You have set yourself up for a lot of trouble."

"All I inquired about was the device."

"It's not about the device anymore," Namon finally looked at Draven when she felt it was safe. "It's about you now."

"What do you mean?" Draven's heart began to race.

When he blinked, they were at the doors of the building. Namon opened the door, and once she saw a location, she Flash Stepped, teleporting them instantly.

"The device you spoke about, they would have no clue how to go about deciphering it. But now they know one thing: Namon put her index finger on Draven's chest. "It requires you."

"But it's the truth."

"It doesn't hurt to lie sometimes, especially if it has something to do with your life."

"You never taught me to lie."

Namon snickered and smiled at him. She knew she couldn't stay upset at him. "You're one of a kind, Draven. You're my most unique disciple yet. I can say that with much certainty."

Her arm unhooked around his neck, and she took a few steps back. And without a word, she disappeared into thin air.