The cells of pity.

As the cell's door closed behind him, Lanius sat down on the hard rocks that made the floor. The cell was dimly lit, with two benches acting as beds.

The young man took off his coat and examined his shoulder wound. A single thrust that pierced the skin and went through at least an inch. The bleeding had at least stopped.

Lanius then closed his eyes and collected his thoughts.

"New here?" a female voice asked from the other side cell.

Lanius turned his head towards the source. All he could see was two luminescent orange eyes and a female outline in the dark.

"Kinda. I'm new to this prison, but quite familiar with this whole ordeal." the young man explained.

"I'm quite familiar too. I've been in here for two years now. Entrapped in this mess like a bloody criminal, like a caged animal, just because I'm different." the woman chuckled in the end. "Bizarre." she added with a serious tone.

"Just because you're a mage?" Lanius questioned.

"Oh no, I'm not a mage." the woman replied and got up. "I'm something different, far different." she exclaimed and stepped into the light.

Lanius at first thought that she was a vastaya l, but then fully understood what she was.

The woman in front of him had a humanoid form, with lilac skin and short horns. Her hair, also lilac, were gathered into two small braids that fell on the front and a bigger one that fell on her back. She wore a black and gold armour that left her waist and thighs exposed. Her waist and thighs were also covered with scales. The young man could distinguish a red helmet with horns on the bench she sat on.

"Guess again." she prompted him and slightly opened her jaw to reveal two rows of sharp jagged teeth.

"A dragon?" Lanius made a second guess.

The woman clapped for a few seconds. "Good job, you won a free piece of candy." she sarcastically exclaimed and sat back down.

Lanius got up and sat on his bench, where he and the woman looked at each other for a few seconds.

"So, what are you in for, snowflake?" she finally broke the silence.

"Snowflake? where did that come from?" Lanius asked.

"From your white hair. It looks like a snowflake." she replied.

"I got a name. It's Lanius. Yours?"

"Shyvana. Wanna hear a joke?" the woman asked him.

"Hit me." Lanius said.

"What does a dragon say when he's about to sneeze?" she asked, chuckling. Shyvana then instantly got serious. "Out of the way."

"You must be pretty bored, in order to make such jokes." the young man remarked.

"I'm not joking, out of the way!" she ordered and then sneezed, sending out a small cloud of fire from her mouth, inches away from the young man's head.

"Sorry, it's so moisty in here." she muttered as she wiped her nose with her forearm. "Anyway, make yourself comfortable."

"Don't worry, I'll be here for a week." Lanius lied down on his "bed".

"Everyone says that." Shyvana replied as she stretched her back. "It never gets old."

Lanius exhale. "Maybe. Why don't we get to know each other better?"

"Sounds good." Shyvana agreed.

.

.

.

"A rune, huh? Guess you're pretty screwed." Shyvana exclaimed.

"And all that thanks to a demon. I wonder what I'll tell them." Lanius rubbed his nape in discomfort.

"Probably the truth, not that it matters. Once you're in for magic, they'll try to find a reason." Shyvana muttered.

"I suppose it cannot be helped then. If they want to play, I'll play." Lanius chuckled and lied down again. "We're gonna find something to keep us entertained."

.

.

.

The Chain Warden stepped into the empty room, where the magical waters were once housed. Back when he used to be Erlok Grael.

The first thing he noticed was that the greatsword that once belonged to the Ruined King was missing...or rather that only half of the blade was still there.

"We meet again, Warden." that familiar voice spoke behind him, promoting the Warden to turn around.

The Ruined King, different from the last time he had seen him. He clenched the other half of his broken blade.

"Viego. Back so early? I though that they banished you in Camavor after you failed to bring back your wife." Thresh mocked the Ruined King.

"Each fail is a lesson that makes me stronger. That one taught me to let things go. Or to always pay a debt. I told you that I'd flay your soul if you'd betray me again." the Ruined King's face became cynical. "The Ruined King always pays his depts, especially when the matter is personal." he exclaimed and pointed his Blade at the Chain Warden.

Thresh chuckled. "Oh really, Ruined King? And what will you accomplish by "killing" me?"

Viego dashed forward and stopped inches in front of the Warden. "The pleasure of accomplishment."

The Warden stepped back and began spinning his sickle. "So be it." he said and hurled it towards the Ruined King.

The chain missed by a few inches, as the Ruined King tilted his head to the side and returned back to Thresh.

Both of the wraiths then charged at each other with their weapons readied, with a unified battle cry.

.

.

.

Adept Cornelia entered her house and collapsed against the door with a sigh. She hated her job, she hated crusading against her own...and over all, she hated having to wear this hideous mask.

With a swift move, she tore the mask from her face and tossed it aside.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded from the dark hall in front of her. The Mageseeker raised her head and looked over that direction.

"Who is there?" she questioned.

"You know exactly who, Adept Cornelia." a male voice spoke, before the individual stepped in from the shadows.

He was of fit physique, with a sleeveless coat out of hide. He had two giant petricite cuffs on his arms, and a petricite collar around his neck.

"Kingslayer! How did you get in here?!" the Mageseeker questioned in shock.

"It's irrelevant to the reason behind me being here." Sylas spoke. "The whole land is speaking of today's episode. A mage, exposing a rune in the middle of the city, and then using magic to mask his escape."

"If you already know that, what do you want here, then?" Cornelia asked.

"Where is the Rune?" Sylas demanded.

"In the Mageseeker compounds." Cornelia explained. "It's safeguarded till the day of the trial."

Sylas chuckled. "I suppose the King will be there? Very well, you know what to do, then."

Cornelia got up and opened the door. Sylas took a step forward and passed through the door. "Don't disappoint me." with those words uttered, he left.

Cornelia sighed and got up. This would be a long, long week.