The clicking of the heel of a boot echoed in the grand hall of the castle of Nasherux. Draven made his way to see Grimoire about his recent excursion. As he approached her room, the guards opened the doors as if they were expecting him. He entered, keeping his gaze straight and narrow.

She was at her usual spot—behind her desk with scrolls in hand, buried in tomes barely above her chest. Her eyes flicked upwards for a moment, then back at the text within her scroll.

Draven approached, stopping just before her desk. She set the scroll down with a paperweight to hold her position. Her eyes then stared at the head of Xalurahn, which he grasped by the hair.

"Such a barbaric sight," she said, amused and unbothered. "You've completed your task. Now you will be recognized as a general in our outstanding army."

"I'm not sure if recognition is what I want, your highness."

Grimoire's eyebrow raised. She relaxed into her chair, tilting her head at him with a slight smirk. "What do you want, Draven Kel?" Her taloned fingers framed her chin.

Despite her question, he stayed silent, in fear that she would retaliate against him. She frowned, promptly getting up from her desk. Revealing, her grey silk dress hugged her slim frame, splitting at the corner of her hip, revealing her leg with every step. She walked graciously around her desk, her steps slow and deliberate.

"Were you able to see your. . . friend in Kogeer? I heard they hold a beautiful festival this year round."

"I didn't remain deviated for long." Draven replied.

Even if it was just for a moment, he wanted to see Lyra before he had to move on to his mission. He couldn't feel anything. Only a name and face. But more of who she was was revealed when he held Void Waker.

"Need I remind you that you're mine now?"

"No, you highness!" he said quickly, bowing his head.

Her index finger traced the corner of his jaw and stopped at his chin to lift his head. Draven had no choice but to gaze into her eyes.

"You are confused. Something rattled your head during your Akari'Sutar with Xalurahn. What nonsense did that heretic spout?"

Draven remembered the cryptic messages he blurted, which did raise suspicion for him. "Something about a reclamation," he finally said.

Grimoire's eyes shot away, staring at the pile of books and scrolls. "And what do you think of it?" she asked, browsing her selection.

"I wouldn't know what to think. His words made no sense to me."

"Yes. . ." Her thoughts trailed off, and she began to wander. "Did you know out of all the demon generals, Xalurahn was the oldest?" She watched as Draven shook his head. "He was a bright pupil, a promising general that would serve under me. But he was different. He was a curious soul; you never found him without a book in his face.

Then something changed. He found a ruin while in the midst of an Akari'Sutar. There he found his Divine Items. He found texts in these ruins, a prophecy in the language of the Eld, obviously lost to time. Xalurahn spent much of his time deciphering these texts, and he began to go awol."

"Is that what these books are here?"

"Oh, no," a chuckle almost escaped her. "I can't be bothered with such things. Besides, whether or not this prophecy is true, my vision still remains the same." She glanced at his hand holding the dead general's head. "Are you just going to hold that?"

Draven opened his rift and dropped the head into it, then looked outside to open the rift again and watched the head fall towards oblivion.
Grimoire's door suddenly burst open. A winged demon, with features of a bird, rushed towards the queen and then knelt before her. Draven found his hand gripping Void Waker before he knew what was happening.

"Rinnyx," Grimoire addressed him, her posture stiffening and her hands poised over the other. "You must bear news for me if you're doing something that I dislike very much."

"Yes, your highness!" He barked, his head never raised to look at her. "The Kingdom of Kogeer has sent an official document passed by their Senate and written by a Lyra Algernon." He presented the letter to her.

Draven perked up at the name, which she noticed. He began to bite his inner lip as he watched her grab the folded parchment.

Tearing the wax seal with one of her talons, she repeated a name. "Lyra Algernon." Her eyes began to scan the text. She showed no facial expression, not even amusement. As she finished, the paper burst into flames within her grasp. "They wish to negotiate. What a fool's proposal. See to it that Arna is to be summoned here immediately. We have guests arriving in a week."

Her red eyes pierced through Draven's, unsettling him to his core. She began to walk away as she dismissed them, leaving Draven clueless as to what her plans were. But if Arna is involved, it couldn't be anything good.