Killian had been carefully observing the interaction between the little page and the young king of Novoria. Despite his eyes being covered, Kieran looked as if he knew the boy. The general continued to stare at the king, "Kieran, do you know this little page?"

"N-No." Kieran answered quickly...a little too quickly. The mark of someone who did not lie often.

Cybelline's heart dropped. Now she really understood the phrase killing with kindness, she wanted to wail, this isn't helping you well-meaning bastard.

Ida looked at Kieran quizzically, "Are you lying?"

"I--"

Before Kieran could destroy her cover into dust particles, Cybelline cleared her throat, "Your majesty. We met on the road a few days ago. Back then I was dressed a little differently, I was with my...servant." She looked deeply into the young king's eyes, "You must have forgotten, right?"

Silver eyes the color of thunderclouds bore into the black fabric on the young king's face. He coughed as a slight blush crept over his pale cheeks, "O-of course."

He looked at Killian, "Cousin, a few days ago I was attacked, this little page's servant saved the captain of my guard." Killian's frown deepened but he said nothing.

Ida poked Kieran's cheeks, "I didn't know you could turn that color."

Kieran caught Ida's finger, "Ida."

Ida stuck out her tongue.

"I don't want to have this conversation again." Ida was about to protest when Killian interrupted, "Did you find what you need?"

Kieran nodded, "The Mages Society has agreed to give me the Ice Crystal. They asked me to wait here. But no one has come."

"I don't think you'll get it tonight." Cybelline pointed out, "Everyone in this palace is now playing hide-and-seek."

Killian looked up and down Kieran with a frown, "Meanwhile, you're playing with your life."

"Cousin." Kieran protested, "It's truly---"

"Enough." Killian said, his eyes flashing, "I'll take you inside the tower. Right now." Gone was the easily angered youth and exasperated noble Cybelline had met, now there was only somber concentration as Killian looked Kieran up and down.

"I can wait." Kieran protested, "Without the Grandmage, it might be difficult to get past the highest level in the tower."

"What do you think I am?" Ida protested, "I'm already an acolyte." No one paid attention to her.

Killian gripped his arm, "Cousin, your veins are turning a different color. You may be able to fool others about your state, but remember who you're talking to."

Kieran looked down, indeed, under his pale skin, his purple veins were lightening, he grinned ruefully, "Cousin, a little sympathy would be nice."

"If you want to die, die in your own country." Killian said as he strode to the tower, "I don't want another war."

"I thought that's all you did nowadays." Kieran said with a smile, "I could last at least another day."

"You're a terrible liar. Even to yourself." Killian replied, he took out a crystal from his belt and pressed it to the giant gates with intricate flowering vines.

Ida looked between the two cousins, "What's going on?"

Kieran shook his head, "Wait for us here."

"When pigs fly!"

"Ida."

"Take her. She'll be of use." Killian beckoned. He looked towards Cybelline, "Are you coming?"

Cybelline looked up, "My lord?" She'd been looking for an excuse to join them, she couldn't believe her luck.

He raised his eyebrow, "You said you're going to protect me, right?"

Ida's mouth fell open, she looked at Killian, "You're taking a page into the most sacred place in all of the kingdom?" She looked incredulous, "This is hallowed ground."

Kieran waited.

Cybelline grinned, and walked into the dark tower with them. Ida looked at Cybelline, "Well page, I guess today is your lucky day."

The Mage's Tower looked like a crumbling pile of rocks on the outside, moss and vines covered the stony exterior. The entire thing looked as if it was one stone away from falling down onto itself.

"Are you sure it's safe?" Cybelline asked as she walked into the darkened corridor. Killian looked down at her, "This tower has stood for tens of thousands of years. It has never even shown any sign of failing."

"Maybe it's just waiting for the right opportunity. Like when we're inside." Cybelline muttered, they had reached a well lit double door the height of two men, it's handles made of engraved silver.

Inside the tower was another world. Along the massive curved walls, were tens of thousands of books stacked in mahogany cases that stretched towards the sky. Knowledge of the world, from flora and fauna to war and politics all existed in this giant, endless library.

Ida saw Cybelline's eyes, "Part of the library is actually taken from the fallen kingdom of the fae. After the war, they just moved all the undamaged books here. Once they created the tower, they realized that there was some kind of magic here that just made the inside bigger and bigger over time."

"How big is this tower?" Cybelline wondered. From the outside, it only looked like it was ten stories tall, not even a quarter of the high of modern sky scrapers. Inside it was as if she had stepped into the Burj Khalifa. It reminded her of Solara's magic, only ten thousand times larger.

"It's said to be a thousand times bigger on the inside. No one really knows." Ida admitted, "The magic here is self sustaining. Mages for centuries have tried to find the source of the power, but none succeeded."

Ida pointed to to the spiraling black staircase that encircled an alabaster column "This is the only way up." Cybelline desperately wished for modern inventions, like elevators. The spiraling staircase went up so high that the top was just a black dot.

Killian raised the stone he was holding, and suddenly they were at the second level. Cybelline looked down, they had climbed at least a hundred feet without moving.

"It's a light mage key." Ida explained, seeing the expression on the page's face, "It's specially made for this place, so you can get to other places in a hurry."

"That must save the mages in here a lot of time." Cybelline observed.

Ida laughed, "If only they were so lucky."

She pointed to the staircases, "This is magicked so that a mage can not move to the next level of unless they've passed the test set in the previous level. A novice must pass the magical test and the test of the tower before they become an apprentice. The first level to the second level usually takes mages 20 years to accomplish. It takes even longer to go from apprentice to acolyte. Killian's cheating right now."

Kieran smiled, "Killian holds one of two light crystals in existence, it allows the person to quickly pass through the levels in the tower. The other crystal is with the King." Cybelline oh'd and continue to pepper Ida with questions.

In front, Kieran looked at Killian seriously, " I've been told that this crystal can only take us to the top level, but cannot allow us to pass the final test. The test that awaits us is no joke, how could you drag the little page here?"

"Did I?" Killian murmured, "He's been waiting for an opportunity all night to slip away from me. Up until I asked if he wanted to join us. I want to see what he's playing at."

Kieran didn't say anything. He was notoriously bad at lying, he sighed, "Cousin, he saved me. I can vouch for him."

"If his heart is pure, then he will pass the test without a problem." Killian said, "If not, then I will have rid the kingdom of a danger."

"Your loyalty to your country knows no bound." Kieran said with exasperation, "He's innocent."

"You saying that, makes me think that's less likely." Killian responded dryly. Kieran wanted to kick himself. The cousins were silent as they skipped another level.

After a moment, Killian quietly said, "And, he reminds me of someone. Of that person. When he smiles."

Kiernan frowned, "Do you mean..."

"The very same."

Kieran was pensive, "It happened so long ago, that I wasn't sure it happened at all. We were only children ourselves. They look nothing alike, and if it was that person, they would be our age now. Not a 12 year old page."

"Still, it's a feeling I can't shake." Killian replied, "Perhaps tonight I will remember something that will help me." He shook his head, "Or perhaps it's just a coincidence."

"You would walk back into your nightmares again just to confirm a theory?" Kieran was stunned "Is it really worth all of it to see that child once again?"

"Yes."

Kieran did not argue anymore. Only he knew the importance of that memory to Killian, only he knew the place that mysterious figure had in Killian's heart.

Killian only had two great loyalties in his life, one -- the love for this country. And two...the faith that the person in that memory was waiting for him.

Kieran though of the odd page behind him, "Killian, are you really willing to risk your sanity for this?"

Killian did not respond. His heart was set.

They arrived at the top floor, a simple wooden door greeted them.

Killian held up the white crystal again. The vines on the door started to glow white.

"The most secretive treasury of the kingdom." Ida said, "I've wanted to see it all my life."

"Then you'll have to wait a little while longer." Killian said, "Kieran, I, and my page will enter. You will stay out here. If we are injured by the test, you must be prepared to heal us." Ida held her tongue. She wanted to go, but knew that this was the reason they brought her.

"So, what's the test?" Cybelline asked as she stood with the two other men in front of the door.

"Reliving your worst memory and your best memory." Kieran said softly, "Relive them and not let them overwhelm you. If you can survive again, then you will have passed the test."

"And if you can't?" Cybelline said, her face suddenly serious.

"You lose yourself in those memories." Killian answered, "You forfeit your sanity."

The door opened.