The morning arrives quicker than I remember. Gray is up and practicing his sword skills. He uses a katana mostly. Today, however, he is using a long-sword. He looks up and sees me. The courtyard is where most of the action is happening. I hurriedly get dressed, and rush down to Gray.

"Hello, my love, I haven't seen you in awhile. " Gray welcomes me into a warm embrace. I melt into it. This has always been the best part of our relationship. He would stay at the perfect temperature, no matter what. I would always stay cold. That's okay though. Love struts right up to me.

"I want you and I to fight in the arena today. That is what you were going after all this time, was it not?" Her devious smile says it all. She is going to cheat. I already know this much. What her other plans are, I do not know. This much scares me.

"Evangelyne, surely you are being unreasonable. Fighting Adelina is not wise." Gray says. Nothing will stop Evangelyne from getting what she wants. This much I know.

"No, it is not. Adelina and I have been playing a game of Drakoi. This is what young Adelina wants. She wants to fight, even though she knows the gods will be with me. This is her final decision. What she does after she loses does not bother me. Except, she will be executed." That hits Fear and I hard in the gut. It was a low blow. He knew about our game, but not of the stakes. Love has me trapped, this is not the road I wanted. Once you play a game of Drakoi, there is no turning back.

"I accept your challenge." I say, knowingly that I will die. I never was going to be able to marry Fear. Love will always conquer over me.

"Adelina, don't. Please I beg you," Fear pleads. His eyes are big and round. Tears form on their outer rim. I am sorry Fear. I don't want to have to die, even if it means I save you.

"Don't worry, I will go easy on her." Evangelyne lies.

I eat lunch by Merle. This is my last lunch with him. I write a couple letters to the friends I made.

Dear Wolfe,

Today is the last day I will ever be able to write, talk, read, or kill for that matter. I hope you are not mad at me. I never really loved you. You were always just a friend. Nothing could change this between us. I know you will try to stop me from fighting with the Queen today, but don't please. It will only add to the guilt I have already. I don't want you to feel pain or anything like that. I just want you to be happy. I want you to know that I am not from these lands. I am from beyond the fog. I figured this out early on. There is land beyond Imbalka. Go search for it. Tell me what you find.

Love,

Adelina

I know it will break his heart, but it is the least I can do for him. Now on to Fear's letter. The one letter I don't want to write.

Dear Gray,

I kept denying you, because I didn't want to get married at all. I fear hurting what is most precious to me. It has been my curse. Guess what is happening? I am going to end up hurting the person I love. I love you and Merle. It is sad, that I can't even spend time with the person I love more than a couple of weeks. Merle is the only one that can stay by my side, without getting hurt. Now I will break his heart. Or worse, I will end up being the death of Merle. With that, I need you to keep Merle by your side and reassure him. No matter what happens to me, do not let him charge into the battle. I need you to protect Merle with your life. If you protect Merle, he will protect you back.

Love,

Adelina

I send a Briller to deliver them. Brillers can fly at an almost invisible speed. Merle whines at my feet. He knows what I am planning on doing. He wants to join the fight.

"No Merle. I want you to stay and give Fear the company he needs. He will miss me when I am dead. So stay by him and protect him. Besides, I can't have you running away with me. I am not going to fight right now. I will do it on my own terms. Whenever I am ready," I say.