Seventeen years Augustus had waited, beneath the illuminated red dragon shield of his father, and locked in his tower, above the city of Julii. From his room, The Prince could see the lamp lights reflecting off the city's many fountains. Between them, and the starlight above, Prince Augustus could not decide which was more beautiful. He so wished to walk among the lights and waters. But The Imperial Prophets had warned his mother that he must remain in the tower, or it would mean disaster.

"If only you had the strength."

The voice entered his ear so gently that Augustus almost forgot that it was a stranger's voice. Yet upon turning, he beheld a strange and wondrous sight: Her skin was red as ruby, her eyes shone golden and warm, and she was wrapped in silvered silks. Then, that voice emerged from her lips and caressed his heart.

"Were you strong, you would have no fear of either Blade or Mage."

Who are you?"

She smiled, and brought a warm hand to his cheek.

"Sweet prince, I have watched you and wept for you every night that you've slept in this cold place."

"Why haven't you come to me sooner?"

"I had no wish to frighten you. Many find my countenance poisonous to their eyes."

"Then such people have no eyes worth saving, for you are more beautiful than even the city I long to explore."

She smiled again.

"You flatter me, brave prince. But I am here to help you, if you will let me."

"What help would you give me?"

"The power to break free of this prison and live and love as you might want."

"Truly?"

She nodded.

"Oh yes my prince. You shall soar above all, and witness everything that has been distanced from you.

"And I will have the power to fight those who would keep me here?"

"You will have a thousand lives before you are brought low, mighty prince."

Augustus looked down at the city lights which dwarfed the heavens, and made his decision.

"What must I do?"

"Put your hand in mine."

He brought his hand into her waiting palm, and felt a strange coldness. The fair angel then turned, bursting into blackened flames as her dress melted into barbs of rusted steel and wrapped around the prince and tore his flesh.

Amidst his screams, his own blood cloaked him as if the shawl of his birth. Then it writhed and twisted into something else, something terrible to behold. As the people of Julii looked up towards the screams of their Prince, the shrieks transformed into a bestial roar.

Then from that tower flew the form of a great red dragon, who rained fire upon their city. In this catastrophe, a thousand innocents were lost before the Imperial Mages sent the dragon crashing into the tower. As they combed the wreckage, they found the skeleton of a young man, wreathed in blackened flames. Which soon extinguished, and left not but ashes in their wake.