"Well this is certainly a strange sight." A tall Koanan woman with her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail peered into the cave, scratching her chin. She wore neat, sophisticated clothing, her silver knee-high dress fitting her form perfectly. A streak of copper laced through her bangs.

"High Chieftess Arwista, I f-found them like this!" The lady who had ran from the cave had come back, bringing the ponytailed woman with her. "The dragon that was captured is now a boy! And it seems Aelwen has something to do with it! Ms. Arwista, please, this is highly suspicious, I've always suspected Aelwen may not be what she seems-"

"Princess Aelwen, it is a pleasure to meet you." The woman gave a quick bow. "I give my deepest apologies for never introducing myself to you sooner. I am High Chieftess Arwista, as Reya here has already revealed. I have been excruciatingly busy as of late, but I am pleased to finally have made your acquaintance." She gave a beaming smile. "I try to make a point of getting to know my potential Royal allies."

"Oh, uh, thank you Miss. It is nice to meet you as well," Aelwen said anxiously.

The food delivering woman, Reya, looked from Arwista to Aelwen, her face a mix of confusion and fear. "Ah-ah, Ms. Arwista-"

"Thank you for telling me, Reya. Your presence is no longer needed." Arwista brushed dust off of her dress.

"Yes, malady," Reya said as she hurried off, her face red.

Arwista faced the two Shifters in the cave, peering in curiously. "So what in the world happened here? How is the little dragon now human?"

"He was never claimed by Cainen, as I suspect is true for most if not all of the dragons. I was able to convince him to transform." Aelwen looked down to see the prince fumbling as he tried to fish the cage keys out of her pocket. She slapped his hand away.

"L-let me oouut!" The prince ordered. "You prooamisssed!"

Aelwen glanced back at Arwista. "I also told him I would try to convince the encampment to let him free if he managed to do it." She smiled nervously.

The prince was struggling in Aelwen's arms, so she let him go, which led to him rolling back onto the ground. He writhed there for a bit, trying to figure out how to move properly. He glared at Aelwen all the while.

"His arm will need tending to once again, as the brace no longer fits," Aelwen added.

Arwista tapped her chin. "Hmm. I suppose in human form he is not nearly as dangerous. Having him be able to interact with us freely would be very beneficial. We'd need to make sure to always have an eye on him, and that he stays in human form."

"How do we do that?"

"Whaat are you taaaelking abouut? You can't mmaek me staaii hooman!"

Arwista snapped her fingers, and a metal box in the very back corner of the cave snapped open. Inside were thick circlets of metal. With a swift motion of her fingers, one of them flew toward the prince, opening and then shutting tightly around his neck.

Aelwen froze in shock as she watched the prince tug at it with his good arm as he roared angrily. He attempted to Shift back to dragon form, but the collar was so tight and strong it would not allow any change in neck thickness. The prince began to cry.

"Isn't this a little barbaric...?" Aelwen bit her lip.

"Quite so. But it is necessary," Arwista sighed. "Do not hold too much fear. These collars are specifically intended for this purpose, and will not chafe him, nor allow him to breath fire." She folded her fingers together. "Now, I will go fetch Beveri to patch up his arm. Please stay with him until then, I will be back shortly." She pulled out a small notebook and scribbled in it furiously.

Aelwen wanted to say something, but held her tongue. I keep forgetting that this child has killed before. If in dragon form, he may not hesitate to try to raze the encampment. Arwista is right, the collar is unfortunately needed.

After Arwista had left, the prince began his complaining in full, whining about the collar, how much his arm hurt, and how he wanted his mom to come and rescue him from the evil Shifters.

Aelwen shushed his slightly incoherent ramblings. She got up from her sitting position, and tried to show him how to walk upright. He ignored her, walking around the cave on three legs while lifting his broken one. He didn't know how to react to his back legs. Dragons technically walked on their toes, but when a human tried to do so it was less than comfortable. Thus, he struggled in his gait, moaning and growling and trying to bite at his collar all the while.

Aelwen sighed, looking away from him as soon at his unclothed body emerged from under the blanket.

"You'll need to start wearing a tunic and pants. Those in human form do not go around in the nude..." She said.

"Why!?" The prince roared. "I don't want clothes!"

"Human skin is much more delicate than dragon scales. Clothes provide protection, warmth and help with cleanliness. Especially for one's...private areas. You'll have to get used to it."

The prince stopped and scratched at his ear like a dog. He ran fingers through his tangled blonde hair, pulling at it curiously. He cried out in pain after pulling it too hard. "What is this head-fur for anyway?"

"To keep your brain warm."

"I hate it."

"Big surprise."

"Why are my claws all flat and stupid looking?"

"They're called fingernails. They protect your fingertips."

He then asked several questions about why his private parts were so exposed, and not under scales. Aelwen put her head into her hands.

"That's why we wear CLOTHES!"

The prince then declared he was cold, and cursed his lack of scales. He buried himself under the blanket, his gleaming eyes peeking out from under the edge.

Arwista returned, a Koanan member of the medical staff trailing behind her, arms laden with supplies for his work.

"Beveri is busy at the moment. I fetched one of the other doctors," Arwista explained.

As soon as Aelwen opened the cave door for them, the prince leapt out from under the blanket, making a mad dash for the exit as best as he could. Aelwen slammed the door just before he got to it, causing him to ram straight into it. He cried and rubbed his nose, which was now bleeding. Aelwen shook her head and sighed. She pushed him away from the door before quickly letting the two in.

The doctor swiftly placed a hand on the prince's scalp. The young boy's eyes rolled back into his head and he lost consciousness.

Aelwen's shoulders relaxed, the tense feeling she had while keeping track of the prince now thankfully gone.

The doctor got to work, propping up and tending to the broken arm while questioning Aelwen on how the prince had moved, said, and behaved. Aelwen answered to the best of her ability.

Arwista regarded all of the information silently, once again scribbling in her notebook at an astounding rate. She flipped a few pages back, fingers running over previous notes.

"Tch, I'm sorry Aelwen, but I'll need to insist that you leave now. Your lesson in combat magic was scheduled to begin 45 minutes ago. Please head to the blacksmith's tent and ask him to start it."

Aelwen raised an eyebrow. Does everyone know what my lesson plan is? She got up, nodding and heading out of the cave and down the hill towards the encampment. I wonder if my schedule was told to many of the people here in order to help them feel safer. After all, knowing where I am supposed to be can lead to one thinking that I am "under control" and won't be causing any trouble. Huh.

She sidled up to the blacksmith's tent, peering inside. The great iron-scaled dragon dozed peacefully on a pile of fabric scraps near the crackling fireplace. Smoke puffed out of his snoring nostrils.

"Hellooo?" Aelwen said quietly, not necessarily wanting to disturb him.

No response.

"Hello?" Aelwen called.

A gleaming sky-blue eye cracked open. Erno yawned, long white teeth glinted red with fire. He got up, treading heavily towards the princess.

"You're late."

"I-I know, I'm sorry. A situation transpired with the downed dragon, I needed to help out." Aelwen brushed hair behind her ears.

Erno regarded Aelwen lazily, a long forked tongue licking his teeth. "Alright. Come with me."

He tramped out of the tent and spread his wings. His piercing eyes looked back, implying Aelwen do the same. She nodded, Shifting and snapping her wings open.

Taking off, the two ripped through the sky. Aelwen trailed the elder dragon obediently. She noticed long, deep scars running along his chest and belly, the origin of which she pondered as she flew.

They landed in a large field behind the shopping area. Long blades of yellow grass kissed their clawed feet. Erno sat himself down under the singular tree in the immediate area. It was huge, long twisting branches overlaying large stretches of grass. Aelwen looked up at the sunbeams cutting through thick layers of light pink petals. She sat herself beside the dragon and waited for him to speak.

"...Do you know of the nature of Auria's magic?" He said eventually. His voice was thick and heavy, as if laden with the same iron scales his body touted.

"Not really. All I have been told is that the sorcerers who follow her need not use their own energy, but rather hers."

"Well the first thing your should know is that we do not call ourselves sorcerers. Unlike with the religion of Cainen, anyone who follows Auria may partake in her power. No special training is truly required to reap her magic's benefits." Erno's claws fiddled with the iron pendant hanging from his neck. Aelwen assumed it was his Shift Necklace.

Aelwen cocked her head. "Anyone?"

"As long as they believe in her and have verbally confirmed her as the goddess they wish to follow."

Aelwen hadn't expected this. In her experience, sorcerers and witches were few and far between. Only those specially trained could wield magic in the name of Cainen.

"Something I have been wondering about is how a follower of Auria is limited at all. If her power is limitless, unlike that of a sorcerer, who relies on his own energy, how is it that Liriel took over at all?" Aelwen leaned against the smooth tree trunk.

"Ah, an excellent question. Let me counter it with another. Have you ever channeled the power of a goddess?"

Aelwen blinked. "Well, no. That's why I'm here."

Erno smirked. "When one has the power of the being who created the universe channeled through their veins, it can tend to be overwhelming. Mortals simply cannot handle too much of it. Thus, we are also limited, but not to the same extent as those of Cainen."

"Ahh. I see," Aelwen said. "So...how do I conjure magic? I have tried it before and was unsuccessful."

"Ask."

"Excuse me?"

"Ask her." Erno pointed his nose to the sky.

"Just...ask Auria? That's all?"

A chortle ran through the iron dragon's body. "Pray. That is how spells are cast. With prayers."

"Oh." Aelwen was bewildered by the concept. This form of magic was so different from what she had been previously taught.

"Shift first. It will be easier In human form." Erno's voice rumbled.

Aelwen obeyed, then lay a hand before her, palm facing the sky. She closed her eyes.

"Prayers don't have to be in words. If you wish, you can send them in pictures, or a mix of both. Do not use them to command your own power, rather, direct them towards Auria. She will send her energy though you. However, never think of her as some kind of Genie to be given commands. She can refuse to give if the spell is against her will. Be very careful, young one."

Aelwen thought back to the stories of sorcerers who had spent too much of their own energy, killing themselves in the process. This new form of magic would make sure such a thing never happened. That was certainly a relief.

She imagined tiny flames dancing just over her fingertips, as if her digits were candles. She directed the thought toward the beyond, toward the spirit realms where the goddess lay. She cracked an eye open, nothing happening. She looked at Erno with a confused frown.

"The magic energy Auria provides is the basis of all life in this world. Thus, she is within you as well. Send your request to the deepest parts of yourself, where her energy flows through you and where the spiritual part of you resides."

Aelwen tried again. And again. A sudden shiver ran up her spine. Her heart beat faster as swells of foreign energy emanated from her heart and traveled down her arms into her hands. She cracked open her eyes to see the flames dancing over her fingertips just as she had imagined.

Erno smiled at her happy gasps. "After casting spells, it is traditional to say thank you as a gracious formality."

Aelwen did so, trying to channel her feelings of gratefulness toward the goddess.

This is incredible...!

"Easier than you expected, huh?" Erno chuckled.

Aelwen nodded, staring at her hand and casting a small ball of light floating gracefully above it. When just that happened, she giggled in delight. The princess leapt to her feet, making the ball of light brighter before poofing it away. She cast a stream of water through the air, waving her arms around as ribbons of the liquid followed her movements, eventually splashing to the ground as she flung her hands toward the ground. She jumped around, spell after spell bursting forth from eager fingertips.

Erno put a paw on her shoulder. "Now, now. Let's not get too carried away. Remember what I said about limits."

A slight burning feeling had arisen in Aelwen's chest. She took a few deep breaths and calmed herself down. "This...is really amazing."

Erno nodded. "Keep in mind that the more you train and the greater your relationship with Auria, the more magic you will be able to wield. Watch this."

Erno Shifted. His square jaw and intense eyes stayed consistent with his human form, silver hair slid back along his head paired with sky blue eyes and a thick, muscled body. He looked around 60, and Aelwen was surprised to see that he was not Koanan, as she had expected. Rather, he looked like one of her own people. In fact, his face was eerily familiar.

Draped in thick armor and robes spawned from the iron pendant, he flicked his arms outward. Before Aelwen's eyes every blade of grass and fallen petal in the field rose from their positions, spiraling through the air before sticking together and taking the form of a giant horse. It leapt into the air before slamming back into the ground, the plant matter dispersing like water and returning to their original states. Several people from the shopping area turned their heads in wonder.

"W-wow," was all Aelwen could say at the moment.

Erno gave a small smile. "Indeed. I would hope that someday you will be able to channel spells of the like. That is why I am teaching you."

Many words hung on the edge of Aelwen's tongue. She mulled them over before letting them out. "Did you used to live within my kingdom? You look very familiar. Perhaps I have seen you in the palace before?"

Erno let out a long breath before slumping to the ground beside the tree. He crossed his arms and looked to the sky. "Yes, I used to live in the Capitol." He scratched at his white beard thoughtfully.

"What led you here? I would love to know, but if you don't feel comfortable saying so that's up to you, of course."

"Twelve years ago, I was head sorcerer in the Queen's elite guard. It was up to me to quelch the rebellion at any cost. Thus, I responded to one of their first attacks on a military barracks in the far east. It turned out to be a trap. They captured many of my men, including me. I didn't go down without a fight, though, I'll say that much."

Aelwen leaned forward in interest.

"Though I was the most powerful of my men, I still was subdued. The thought terrified me. I couldn't imagine where they were going to transport their newfound prisoners. Would we be subjected to torture? Executed? I was very surprised when we were taken through a waterfall and brought to their encampment at the time. Instead of torture, we were cleaned and given bed. Instead of being executed we were fed well and entertained. Though we were behind bars, we were not treated as prisoners. This made us question the Koana's true intentions at first, of course. It was highly suspicious behavior. After a while though, their words began to move us. Their tales of a goddess who cared for her children, of magic reliant not on one's own life force, and of the reason for the rebellion, the true cruelty of the Queen. I had been a staunchly loyal soldier, and accepted what I had seen the Queen do under the assumption that it was simply necessary for a peaceful kingdom. The innocents executed, the families split apart... I thought it was alright. A part of the hardship and guilt the crown had to bear for her people. Yet as I watched the Koana go about their days in unity, my heart saw change. Perhaps I could convince them that our people were not all bad either. That it was the witches who were the problem. I spoke with Delku passionately about my thoughts one night, and soon we became friends. The mercy of these people had truly won me over. Before I knew it I was helping around the encampment along with my soldier brothers.

"Not all of the men under my command thought the same as I. Many remained ruthless and threatened the people of the camp. Some of them had their memories of the place taken from them and were released back into the kingdom. Others caused so much trouble, almost killing others, that I decided to put them down myself.

"One of the hardest parts of it all was giving up my wand. It had been my companion through most of my wizarding life. But when I looked deep within its shining gems, I could only see the faces of innocents I had slaughtered with it reflected back at me. I destroyed it soon thereafter, renouncing Cainen and taking on Auria as my magical patron. I took up blacksmithing again, as it was a small hobby of mine before the war. After providing the rebellion with finely crafted weapons, Delku put a hand to my shoulder and asked me to fight with his company in the coming battle. I agreed with a smile, and together we rid city after city from the Queen's influence."

Erno's eyes fell.

"Until the mining village incident. A witch slaughtered one of our generals and blinded Delku. It was a huge blow to our pride... Things seemed to change for the worse after that. We were beaten back, even attacked by the Queen's own magic. Our losses were too great, we had to retreat. The rebellion ended after that."

Aelwen chewed the story over. Someone here...Is like me. Someone else who understands where I'm from, who shares my culture. Someone who understands what it is like to transition from one side to another. It was a very nice feeling.

"Do the people here all trust you? Many still do not believe I am truly on their side..." Aelwen said.

"Mmmh. I'm sorry. As you probably already expected, other's trust in you will have to be earned. As for me, almost everyone here treats me kindly and with respect. I suspect some may still hold doubt within them, but they know it would be foolish to show it."

Aelwen nodded. "So... I really feel I must have seen you before. I suppose it was when I was still a young child."

"Either that or you saw my likeness in my son. He took my place in the guard after I was presumed dead. His name is Ernest."

"Oh! I know of him! He was by my mother's side quite often, helping her with strategy and the like. He...may still be alive. There is no guarantee the dragons killed everyone."

Erno shook his head. "I will not hold hope. Even if he is found he would wish to slaughter me on the spot. He is lost in the words of the Queen."

Aelwen took the old man's gruff hand. "I believe we can find him. If the Koana were able to change your mind, your son's can be as well. I promise."

Erno patted her back and smiled. "Thank you, little one."

The two of them spent the remainder of the afternoon training, with intersperses of talking about their memories of the Capitol and the people they sorely missed.