The Sanctuary had been the most beautiful place in Ildathach once, but the withering had hit here the hardest. The stone bridge crossing the wide chasm and the outer wall circling a large area at the base of the Tree of Life were both slowly crumbling. Inside the wall, the plentiful flowers had all died and the linden trees had dropped all their leaves.

Rouan walked with certain steps through the destroyed garden, not paying any attention to his surroundings. Lana was still asleep with her head resting on his shoulder. He had pushed his drake so hard to keep flying through the night that the beast was almost dead, but he didn't care. By the time sun rose above the horizon, his wish would be granted and everything would be right in the world again.

He stopped in front of the building protecting the entrance to the inner part of the Sanctuary and patted Lana on the back to rouse her. "It's time to wake up. We're here."

Lana opened her eyes, fighting to keep tears at bay. Her sleep had been interrupted soon after they had landed by feelings of immense pain and sadness.

"It's alright," Rouan said, although his voice lacked warmth, as he placed her on her feet. "Many died here, your parents included. You will return them to life soon." Then he pushed the heavy door twice his height open and gestured for her to go first. "There's a smaller door inside that leads to the heart of the Sanctuary. Only you can open it."

Lana hesitantly stepped inside. The sadness was stronger here. Then, like forced by an invisible hand, the door slammed shut between them. She was trapped in complete darkness.

Only seconds ticked by, although it felt a lot longer, before soft light beckoned her deeper in. At first, it seemed to emanate from a stone door engraved with strange symbols. When she came closer, the source of the light turned out to be two figures standing in front of the door.

One of them she recognized as Rouan's son, the Dragon Prince, from the painting. The woman by her side was from the Bird Clan. She had the same brown hair and golden wings she had. Both of them were sort of transparent, more like ghosts than living beings.

"Mom...Dad..." Lana spoke hesitantly. She had always been told that people went to Heaven when they passed away. But her parents were standing right in front of her here.

"My dear baby..." The woman's voice betrayed her pain and longing, although spirits could not shed tears. "I want to hold you in my arms so much..."

Lana swallowed. "It's alright. I'll...I'll open the door, and Grandfather will return you to life-"

"You must not!" she interrupted her. "You must never break the cycle!"

Lana stared at her in shock. She had been so convinced that she could make everything right. "I don't understand..."

The Dragon Prince stepped forward and dropped to one knee to face her. "Daughter, death is an integral part of life. The Tree of Life leads all souls in a never-ending cycle. They are born, they live, they die and return to her. Eventually new life is born from those who have passed. Her children pray for this world to keep moving."

"I still don't-"

"Shh." He brought one finger to his lips. "A wish to reverse this process would destroy all future generations. It would be the end of our world."

Ilyana knelt next to him. She almost reached to touch her daughter's face, but then let her hand drop back to her side. "We chose to perish instead of allowing him to bring that end. You're the last one. Do not let him make his wish."

Then what was she supposed to do?! This world was dying. If someone made a wish, it would be restored. But if her grandfather made that wish, it would be destroyed anyway. She couldn't make that kind of decision!

"How...?" she finally asked, fighting back the tears. Right now, she wished so much that Dad and Uncle Thomas would be here to make everything alright again.

"He gave you the Medallion of the Stars, didn't he?" her mother asked softly.

Lana nodded.

"Mariana has the Medallion of the Sun. Go back to her. You can open the door together."

"I don't know anyone named Mariana," Lana stated hesitantly. Somehow, the name sounded familiar, just like the faces of the two who had given him life were familiar. But she still didn't know who that was.

"How is that possible? She promised..." Ilyana stopped to gather herself. "She promised she'd be a mother to you when I placed you on her arms."

All the pieces finally clicked into place. Veka had said that everyone from the Bird Clan and the Dragon Clan took human form in the human world. Mariana. Mary.

"She was...but now she's gone. She died when I was a baby."

The Dragon Prince frowned and took his wife's hand. "Then all may be lost."

The outer door of the Sanctuary suddenly shook violently. Then it burst open. Rouan, his face twisted in a furious expression, strode to them, grabbed Lana by her arm and pulled her away from the spirits.

"If you don't want to return to my side, disappear for all I care!" he spat to his son. "We will have other children once your mother lives again!"

Then he twisted Lana around to face him. "Open this door. Now."

"I...I don't want to." She was scared. He was no longer nice. He really didn't care if he hurt people if it got him what he wanted. She didn't want to destroy the future of this world either.

"Open it right now, or I will hunt down everyone you care about until you give in," he threatened her. "You don't want anyone to die? Ildathach will be awash in blood because of your decision."

"Please don't!" She didn't want to be here! She just wanted to go back to Dad and Sam and Alex and Uncle Thomas.

Rouan only watched the crying little girl without his cold expression changing. "I'm waiting."

"I'm sorry..." Lana whispered to her parents and watched as they quietly faded away. Then she pressed her hands against the door. "Please open."

Nothing happened. The door didn't budge.

Rouan stared at the unmoving slab of stone in shock. Then he grabbed Lana's shoulders and shook her. "Why is it not working?! You are the one! You have to be!"

"I don't know!" Lana screamed back, terrified.

He stopped shaking her, a dawning suspicion in his eyes. Then he grabbed the collar of her shirt and tore the front open with his claws. The Medallion of the Stars rested against her bare chest. But nothing else. "Where is the other medallion?"

"I...I don't know..."

"Where is it?! Where have you hidden it?!"

"I never had it!" Lana screamed again. "I don't know where it is!"

"That cunning woman...She must have kept it..." Rouan muttered as he let go of her and straightened to his full height. He pointed one finger at her. "Stay here. Those rebels will bring the medallion here. It will be mine even if I have to slaughter every one of them."

Then he strode back out and slammed the outer door closed behind him. Lana was left alone in the darkness.