Kitaya trailed her hands along the walls of the castle. Home. She'd missed this place with its familiar honey scent, thick walls and needlessly confusing maze of halls. How many times had she gotten lost within them, she wondered. Countless. The most she'd been able to do in such a predicament was wander around until she found something familiar. Such was the beauty of Castle Kon.

Hopefully Aldeheid had stayed in his room and not gone wandering himself. She know how curious he could get whenever they visited somewhere new to him. Kitaya turned down the main hall of the castles east wing, hung a right and followed the hall down to Aldeheid's room. When she knocked, several muffled crashes and thumps sounded from beyond the door, making her frown.

"Angel eyes?"

The door swung open and Aldeheid stepped out, his cheeks tinged red and his clothes a bit disheveled. "H-hi," he said. 

"Hi." She leaned to the side and caught a glimpse of the mess in the room. The box was turned on its side, its contents helter skelter on the floor. She wasn't even going to ask. "Let's go. There's a lot for us to see." 

She led Aldeheid out to the main hall. "When you're walking around the castle, try to stick to halls that look like this. If you find one that only has lights, turn back, because I guarantee you will get lost." 

"Why are there so many empty halls?" Aldeheid asked. "Is it some kind defense mechanism?"

Kitaya shrugged. "I have absolutely no idea. I don't know what the first ruler was thinking when her built this glorified maze, or what subsequent rulers were thinking when they expanded it."

They continued their long walk down to the ground floor and out to the and out to the east garden. Kitaya walked the winding pathway through the flowering plants and vine-covered pillars to the sand pit where much of her blood sweat and tears had been shed. "I used to spend a lot of time out here training with Kemah. Brings back memories."

A shadow passed over their heads, and Kitaya looked up in time to see a Lyberra land on the perch above the sand pit. He fluffed out his wings before sitting with his paws crossed. 

"Chaga!" Kitaya squealed. She bounded up to the top of the perch ad all but tackled the Lyberra, fluffing up his mane. "It's so good to see you, boy."

Chaga purred in earnest and turned over so she could scratch under his neck. His golden fur shimmered brightly in the sunlight.

"Aldeheid get up here, we're going to chase the sun." It had been ages since she'd flown. And she'd give anything to bask in the freedom and abandon of the skies.

He blinked up at her, and stuck his hands in the pockets of his slacks. "No."

"What do you mean no? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. People travel to Kon from far and wide to ride on a Lyberra. And you're just going to stand there and say no?"

"That sounds grand, kitten. But I saw how high up that thing was before it came down here. One wrong move and I slip and fall to my death." He crossed to one of the benches and took a seat, tipping his head back towards the sun. "You can go, but I'm staying here."

"But we're supposed to go see the rest of Kon." She made a sweeping gesture with her hand.

"Indeed, but, I have two more days until our bonding ceremony. And you what else I have two of?" He pointed to his boots. "Feet, that work just fine."

"Please, angel eyes, for me?" She gave him her best puppy face, though it probably wasn't as effective or convincing as his own. "I promise I'll make it worth your while. By the end of the day, you'll be thanking me."

"How so?" he asked, cracking one eye.

"I'll take you somewhere that will absolutely blow your mind." She made a grand gesture. "I guarantee you that once we get there, you won't want to leave. It's just one short, Lyberra ride away."

"And how do I know this isn't some elaborate ruse to get me to participate in your reckless antics."

"I swear on my honour." She placed a hand over her heart to seal the promise. "Just trust me."

He exhaled a sigh and tucked his hands behind his head, lips in a tight grimace. "Alright, Kitaya. I'll humour you." He rose and took the steps up to the perch.

"Alright." Kitaya rubbed the top of Chaga's head. "Let's go, boy." Without a saddle, riding would be a little tricky, but nothing she couldn't handle. She got on the Lyberra's back and patted the space behind her.

Aldeheid 

"Hold on tight." The lion shot forward, bounding across the perch before shooting into the air with a mighty flap of its wings. Kitaya wanted to revel in the rush of wind in her face and the sinking feeling in her stomach, but Aldeheid was clinging to her so tight that she couldn't breathe.

The lion flapped its wings, taking them high over the kingdom. The east gardens were even more beautiful from up there, lush and green and dotted with brightly coloured flowers.

Without reins, Kitaya had to use a combination of tugs and scratches to guide Chaga to the south. "Look, angel eyes." She pointed to the vast fields of crops that dominated the southern side of the kingdom. They were flanked by scores of storehouses and towers. "Those are the farmlands. Those towers on the side are for storing grain for the dry season."

He gave her a nervous laugh. "That's nice, but I think it would be even nicer from the ground."

"I agree," she said, a devious smile crossing her lips. "Why don't we go down? Our destination isn't far from there anyway." As soon as they crossed over the first field, she relaxed her hold on Chaga's mane. Time to go down. She uttered a simple Konian word and the Lyberra tucked its wings in before rolling onto its back.

"Kitaya!" Aldeheid yelled as they fell from Chaga's back into a free fall. "This is not what I meant! This is not what I meant!"

She whooped and cheered reveling in the wind rushing in her eyes and the sight of the ground growing beneath them.

The Lyberra swooped beneath them and she threaded one arm into its mane, pulling Aldeheid down with her. She had to admit, that move was a little risky without a saddle. Which made executing it all the more amazing. She hadn't lost her touch in her years away from Kon.

"Alright, angel eyes, I promise there won't be any more of that. He didn't answer, as he was too busy shaking and breathing heavily. She coaxed Chaga to bank west and they glided down to a perch outside a colossal building.   

Aldeheid scrambled from Chaga's back as soon as they touched down. "Are. You. Crazy?" His hands were fisted at his sides, and his face was turning red.

Kitaya pushed her braids from her face and brushed pass him. "I thought we were past this whole crazy thing."

"How am I supposed to get past it if you keep trying to get me killed?" He fell into step with her and they took the stairs down to the ground.

"You weren't in any danger, angel eyes. You were with one of the best flyers in all of Kon." She gave him a grin and skipped down the last few steps.

Kitaya looked up at the building they'd landed in front of, with its smooth stone walls and seemingly endless windows. She'd spent her fair share of time in its walls. A lot of visitors mistook it for an academy or even a temple, but it was so much better. 

Aldeheid craned his neck up at the massive structure. "What is this place?"

"I'll show you. And don't worry, you'll love it." She led him through the opened entrance into the main vestibule. Scholars milled around, looking through the shelves, returning borrowed books or lounging in the plush furniture.

From there, they went into the main room of the building. It was huge, bigger than the great hall at the castle. There wasn't a wall that wasn't covered in shelves upon shelves of books tomes and scrolls. At the center of it all, stood a statue of a Lyberra balanced atop a stack of books with wings spread wide. It was surrounded by stone benches where even more scholars lingered.

Aldeheid walked off as though he were in a trance, turning in a slow circle. "What is this place?" he asked again, his voice rising to an awe-filled falsetto.

"This." Kitaya made a grand gesture. "Is the Konian Archives. Within these walls is knowledge that dates back thousands of Millennia. All the way back to the days of black sun."

"So there are old ways of magic archived here too?" 

"Indeed. Though you'd need a proper instruction to learn them. The old ways of magic are not to be trifled with, my dear angel eyes."

"But you know a little of it? Why didn't you teach me?" He gesticulated as he spoke, sounding personally affronted. "All that turning me into a force to be reckoned with was just a farce?"

"I've only mastered a handful of spells. But if you're feeling brave, you could ask Eriani to teach you invocation, which is the most terrifying of all the old ways." She cupped her cheek and thought for a moment. "That actually fits her personality."

"Is that Kitaya I hear?" a voice came from around the stacks.

She tucked her hands behind her back and smiled. "Who's asking?"

From around the shelves came a man dress in a long red coat that would probably kill a weaker person given the savanna heat. His long dreadlocks were tied back at the nape of his neck, and his eye were as kind as Kitaya remembered them. He pushed his glasses up on his nose, leaving a bit of the paint on his hands behind. "It's good to have you back. Kemah told me you'd be returning to Kon."

"It's good to be back." She grabbed a hold of Aldeheid before he could wander away. "Aldeheid, this is Samiel. He's the head Archivist, a historian, an artist, the oldest and smartest person in all of Kon. And the only person who can navigate the castle without getting lost. If there's anything you want to find in these archives, you ask him."

Samiel smiled sheepishly, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Kitaya gives me more credit than I deserve. I'm just an old man with a penchant for old things."

"If that's true then you must know the old ways of magic as well." Aldeheid stepped forward, his eyes akin to a puppy's. "Just point me in the right direction."

"I'm afraid I cannot give you access to that information without the express permission of her Majesty." He rubbed at a smear of paint of the back of his hand. "The old ways are strictly protected by the crown."

Aldeheid rolled his eyes, lips curling in disgust. "Do I need to ask her permission to breathe too?"

Samiel barked a laugh. "I can see where Kitaya has rubbed off on you. Our laws are very stringent when it comes to foreigners. But if you'll follow me, I'll show you something that may be worth your while."

Kitaya gave Aldeheid a pat of sympathy. "Be patient, angel eyes. In a few more days, it will be easier for you to access the information in these walls." She took his arm and they went after Samiel.

The door beyond the stacks was slightly ajar, and nothing but silence came from beyond it. Kitaya smiled, as it was probably her favourite room in the archives. When they stepped inside, they nearly ran into Siegfried. He had a stack of old, wooden frames in one hand and an easel in the other.

"Warrior maiden," he said with a grin. "Sorry, I can't chat. Her Majesty has me busy today."

She stepped out of his way. "Well don't let us keep you."

He eased past, but not before elbowing Aldeheid in the back of the head. "Welcome to Kon."

Kitaya grabbed Aldeheid before he could go after Siegfried and dragged him through the door. "It's not worth it to pick a fight with him. Let's enjoy some art instead." 

The gallery, like the Archive's main room was huge. The paintings that lined the walls were as much a part of Kons history as the book tombs and scrolls that dominated the other room. And the walls weren't even half full. Samiel was very selected when it came to what was worthy of being preserved in paint.

Aldeheid broke away from Kitaya, turning in circles as he explored the room. Samiel was on the far side, straightening a set of paintings.

"What are these statues?" Aldeheid asked, pointing to one of a lion's head.

Samiel moved to another painting, and took it down completely. "The paintings are separated by what era in Konian history they were made. When one ruler passes on the throne, a new era begins, and that is what those markers represent." 

For a while they explored the gallery in silence, with Aldeheid looking at the older works while Kitaya went to see if she'd missed anything since her last visit. There was only one new one. A group of humans back-dropped by the marketplace. 

Some Nations in Magika were moving small colonies of humans in, integrating them into their societies. It was a precaution, so that if their cause failed, at least the humans would die out completely.

"Kitaya? Who's this?" Aldeheid asked, cutting into her thoughts. He was standing in front of a painting from the third ruler's era.

Samiel looked over and answered before Kitaya could. "That is the archangel Mercy, harbinger of the Millennia War."

"Huh... he has eyes like..." Aldeheid laughed and looked at Kitaya as though he'd figured out the meaning of life itself. "Angel eyes."

"Indeed." She remembered thinking he had eyes like Mercy when she first saw him. "Samiel, were you there to see Mercy fly over Magika?"

"Oh yes. Didn't sleep for five days after." He shrugged. "It's a time I wish I could forget."

Aldeheid arched a brow. "Why?"

"Because seeing an angel is the worst of omens."