"Auro," Aleia said as she gently shook him awake. "Auro, wake up! Look!"

He yawned and his eyelids fluttered. When he opened them, he gasped. All around him were trees with leaves of gold. And a warm sun shining down on him.

"We're here!" Aleia squeaked, beaming. "We're actually here!"

Auro sprang to his feet to look around. The forest was real. He was actually standing in the forest of Goowrark. He let out a laugh of relief, running his hands through his hair.

"We're here," he barely breathed the words before turning to Aleia. "Where did the dwarf go?"

"So he was a dwarf?" Aleia asked, giggling. "I thought so. He's around. Said he wasn't going far. You kinda passed out when we walked through that portal."

"You did that when we walked through Arcano's portal that first time," Auro pointed out with an amused smirk.

"I'm not judging ya! Just saying. Anyways, what do you think? Isn't it beautiful here?"

Auro nodded, "It is." Only he wasn't looking at their surroundings. He was looking at Aleia. She smiled softly at him as she held out her arms and turned in a circle. Her head went back as she basked in the sunlight. Auro chuckled and raised his palm, the one with the Mark.

A moment later, flurries of snow began to fall all around. Aleia gasped and paused to let the white flakes fall on her tongue.

"Welcome."

Aleia stopped and turned towards the voice, as did Auro. The snow stopped, and the ground of the forest path light up. A figure, tall and adorned a black gown and cloak, with gold-embroidered hems. A bear, a wolf, and an owl were with the figure as they approached.

"I have long awaited your arrival, Aleia, Daughter of Emberhand."

Aleia recognized that voice. She bowed to show her respects. Auro mirrored her actions.

"I wasn't sure if we'd come in time," Aleia said, "Queen Alessa."

"Please," the Queen touching the girl's chin, raising her head to meet her gaze. "Stand; I've long waited this day, my child."

Aleia rose to her full height, returning the Spirit Queen's smile. The Queen appeared transparent, as she had before, but she was also a physical form and completely there.

"Prince Auro," Alessa said as she turned her gentle gaze to the young man. "Son of Snowvale, and future King of Anerathia and the Aemienix. Your ancestor would be proud of what you're becoming. Utmjir was my kindest and dearest of friends. And quite handsome too. A favorite among the ladies."

Auro blushed, but pushed it aside as he asked, "Utmjir? The King of Peace?"

"The one and the same," the Queen replied with a nod. "His Mark was never given to anyone until now. You are the first to bear his Mark and no one has ever welded his power the way you do now."

"Why am I the first with the Mark? Surely, there were others."

"Would you like to ask him yourself?"

Auro was about to question the Queen further when the wolf stepped forward.

"The Souls of the Fallen Royals," Aleia said as the wolf began to change forms. As did the bear, but the owl came to rest on Alessa's shoulder.

"Auro," the wolf-turned-man said; Aleia gasped when she saw how similar Auro and the King were.

"Wow," she whispered in awe.

Auro stepped forward, drawn to King's presence.

"What is the Mark of Utmjir?" he asked, unable to look away.

"So much to tell you and not enough time to explain it all," the King replied with a sigh. "The best solution to this matter is that we commence the possession of the Hosts."

Which will only take a moment," Bearlord added, standing tallest of the group.

"What are we waiting for?" Aleia asked, stepping next to Auro and grabbing his hand.

"Wait, hosts?" Auro was lost.

"All will make sense soon, love," she said, kissing his cheek. "But yes, Hosts."

***

Inanis breathed deeply as he sat with Aurora in the fencing room. Ronell and Ruperto were sparring on the other side of the room. The Howlers were resting lazily near the doorway, and Spiris was overseeing the new warriors. Arcano and Aeros were with Lord Brun and Lumin.

"You're that terrible a person, you know?" Aurora said with a playful smile. "You managed to gain a friend in Ruperto."

"We share a common understanding, I suppose," Inanis replied, shrugging as he kept his hands hidden in the sleeves of his black cloak.

"You're misunderstood, that's all. I'm sorry your parents blamed you for your sister's death. They shouldn't have thought it was your fault at all. But that's one thing we can never truly count on. We never know how we will react the moment things happen."

"Why did you choose to go rogue?" he asked, wanting to change the subject.

Aurora smiled, "Being outside the law was more fun," she replied, laughing. "But I didn't want to side with anyone against that which is Good. Anaemis did try to persuade my brothers and me to join him. But we refused and he left us alone. Then he was caught and exiled."

"Had you never gone rogue, do you think you would have served in the Royal guard?"

"Too restricting for me . . . But if I had the chance to serve beside you, I would take it."

Inanis looked at Aurora with surprise. She smiled and looked back at the combat taking place. And then she stood.

"My turn!" she sang and skipped towards the others. This left Inanis by himself, but he wasn't feeling too terrible anymore. In fact, he might have even been smiling.

***

"His hold over her mind is too strong," Arcano said, as he looked at the unconscious Elemental. "He let her think he'd forgotten and then took complete control again. The worst part of it all is that she wants it."

"Nothing you can do then," Lumin sighed and looked away from his sister. "She brought this on herself."

"I'm sorry," Soile said, patting his friend's shoulder.

"She's still your sister," Stratos added from his corner of the small cell.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Lumin rubbed his nose and turned quickly for the door. The others were going to stop him, but Lord Brun had entered after Lumin left.

"Give him time," Emberhand said, "Status report. Were you able to locate Anaemis' location, Arcano?"

"He was in the very town where I sent Aleia and Prince Auro," the warlock replied, unable to meet Emberhand's gaze.

"And we have no way of knowing they're safe . . . Aleia said not to follow them."

"If I may interject," Soile said, standing tall with his hands behind his back. "I think there might be a way to lure Anaemis away from the town. We're not necessarily following them if we remain on the outskirts of the town. We can draw Anaemis out."

Emberhand thought of the suggestion.

"I think we need the King's assistance in this," he said, his voice low and serious. "This is a matter of numbers. We don't know how many Anaemis has with him."

"Then we must leave now," Stratos said, his gaze falling on Lustris. "If we bring the girl to the palace dungeons, we have a better chance of controlling her."

"Then leave we must. Arcano, go to the main hall. You will create a portal from to the palace there. Soile and Stratos; gather our things and bring them to Arcano. Aeros, find the others and tell them what is amiss. I will speak to Luminis."

Everyone nodded and left the room. Lord Brun stayed a moment, sighing sadly as he looked at his old pupil. The girl had so much potential. But she was wasting it for evil doings. All because of her jealousy.