Maybe if she had her former vigour she could of resisted, she seemed so strong a moment ago, but now... She just couldn't. Something was falling apart inside her.

"Well Niera, could you tell me your story?"

"I. I can't"

Normally John wouldn't pursue this further but their where obvious death flags appearing in her demeanour, he over stepped his usual bounds.

Suddenly John's wings began to expand off his back. They were too large for the room but that only made him more imposing in this small space. There was a glint of purple showing across their surface, leaking a trace of powerful arcane energy.

"Niera, I need you to tell me what's going on. If you failed, what's the harm in telling me?"

Startled by the energy, she relaxed her presence.

"You're right, at the end, what good are secrets. For saving my worthless existence I'll tell you."

John stayed silent, folding his wings back and retracting the presence of the arcane.

"I, Niera Val Makor, am the shadow maiden of fallen elven princess Leda."

Tears welled up in the elf's eyes at the mention of that name yet she continued. John on the other hand developed a theory though did not reveal them in case she stopped. Unless he was aware of her problems, he could not help her.

"This princess stood for life to her core and went against the consortium with ideas different then it's own. They have been corrupted, wanting to perform genocide against anything not of elven blood. It's madness and there will be no peace with the other races while they think this.

Her greatness, the white dragon. The princess wished to speak with her about the situation of the elves but was not allowed or able to approach. We as elves have an affinity with the spirits and this dragon holds much weight in the decisions of elves.

With this, I was tasked to find another elder dragon and speak with them to arise the white dragons notice. Surely it was within their power to at least notify the white dragon of a need to meet. If the white dragon only knew, the two would surely find a way to reach each other. But now... The princess is dead... Without her, there is no one of influence to represent the idea of peace. Even if the white dragon knew of everything she can only support and can not support the dead"

The elf went silent at the last comment, remorseful of everything that happened. Her complexion was much better though, her straining accelerated the medicinal flow in her body so that only minor injuries remained at this point.

"I see. What makes you certain the princess is dead?"

"This seal on my chest is connected with her. Placed on me by the high arcane counsel, there is no other was to remove besides the end of the princess' life. If it is gone then..."

Her voiced trailed off.

"I thought as much. It wasn't the princess' death that broke your seal, I did. Furthermore your princess should notice that I did. A break would be a distinctively different feeling then a trigger."

"That's not possible. As strong as your magic is, it's not stronger then the entire council."

There was anger and mockery in her voice but they were held back by a trace of needing to believe.

"Mmm, maybe on a human it would of been a bigger problem but your an elf. Your spirit affinity makes it harder for magic to stick to you, it's literally cut in half compared to a human. I hit the foundation with a surge of arcane and without your body as a physical anchor, the seal quickly dispersed."

"Ah? You're being serious? I've never heard of something like this."

"Just because you haven't heard of it doesn't make it true."

"Can you prove the truth of your words?"

John thought for a second.

"Yes, but I don't want to. Making and breaking my own seals would be... Difficult. But regardless, my words should at least give you some hope so don't be giving up on life."

"Ah?!? The princess could really be alive?"

"Yes, now get some rest and don't needlessly die on me."

But the elf didn't listen. Instead she painstakingly rotated her legs off the bed and came to a knight's kneeling position before John.

"John Ryder, I am eternally greatful. Should it not effect my mission with the the princess, I will surely repay this favour ten times over when the opportunities arrive."

"Not to step on your pride, but there is no need. Though I appreciate the sincerity in your words, it still stands that I have for a long time now travelled this world alone and will continue to do so in the future."

"I understand, but my words stand true for eternity and I believe even the princess would wish to repay it given the chance."

John sighed

"Do what you want but first... Here."

John took out a card from his inter-spacial pocket of wonders. On it was the picture of black leather clothing and the name, nightmare set.

He tossed it at her feet, then left the room.

"Ah!"

Neira's face went beat red. Previously John had ripped open neira's top to access her seal and she had not taken this in consideration, or even noticed. When she went to kneel before John it had come off, revealing her overbearing mountains and valley in all their dazzling glory.

With shaking hands she grabbed the card.

This man. He knew her name, title, and mission. And now. And now... She couldn't bring herself to think the words. Until now, only the princess and the princess alone had known things. Her face had been concealed at the sealing ceremony of the high arcane council and she never once revealed it again. Her presence was enough for others to recognize her. But now, by a human no less...

Niera let go of the thoughts, she couldn't let her dignity as a woman interfere with her mission.