During the breaths of the cool night breeze, a warm tavern had lit up an idle street with its golden, magma coloured windows. Within this cosy cocoon, Annette and Axel were making themselves comfortable, having succumbed to the tantalising smell of beer floating about the cheerful place. The two were drinking lightly, supposedly a treat orchestrated by Annette for her candidate and friend. In truth, her intentions laid behind her back, where her hand was playing with a golden locket. Axel was clueless, with his ears shrouded by the cheerful mood and his eyes charmed by his drink.

"Gah! This stuff is so great, Anne!" He said, a relieved smile on his lips as he drunk his beer. "I can't have too much though, discipline is key here!" He laughed.

"Yes, we shouldn't have too much. You, especially." Said Annette, bringing forth her locket.

"What's that?" Asked Axel.

"Well, I just thought I'd give you a gift for the contest." Replied Annette shyly. "The key will be in your clothing tomorrow." She said after a prolonged linger into his warm hands, her eyes were frozen at the sight of his excitement.

"May I see this gift then?" Asked Axel after a patient wait.

"Huh!" Annette had quickly realised her pause. "Yes, sorry." She said with a cherry redness to her cheeks.

"It seems quite bland." Observed Axel, oblivious to the hopeful eyes of Annette beside him. "But if it's coming from you, I'm sure it's special. Thank you." He concluded.

"So, um. Where do you think you will place tomorrow?" Asked Annette, she had been trying her best to hide her clear happiness.

"Hmm? Is that even a question, Anne? You know I want to become the general, so first place is the goal." Said Axel.

"Why must you become the general though?" Asked Annette with curiosity.

"I - I have to investigate something. I need the powers Isaac has to investigate such a thing though." Axel's reply had taken Annette aback.

"You sound scary, Axel." Annette nervously chuckled.

"Sorry. It's my father. You know well enough, I want to find him. I believe the former general knows a thing or two about him. Isaac doesn't seem to offer much about her location though." Said Axel.

"Oh. The former general. Didn't she die?" Annette questioned Axel, her eyes circling the pool of beer in her glass.

"So they say, right? But the looks people have given me, Anne. They tell a different story, I just know they do. Something is being hidden about her." Said Axel.

"I'm sorry, Axel. But I think she is dead. Maybe you should leave the matter alone." Suggested Annette, her lips taking a guilty gulp of her drink.

"You really think so, Anne?" Asked Axel with a deep sigh.

"I can't be certain but - wait a second." Annette's eyes squinted as she looked to the distance, behind Axel and through a window. "Is that not Victoria Magika? What is she doing out so late?" She pondered.

"Huh? It really is her!" Exclaimed Axel.

Out on the cold, cruel night sky, Victoria Magika was stood still speaking with her candidate for the contest, Caspian Cull. With the shimmers of the moon shining across her soft and wavy golden hair, her physical beauty became clear. A romantic couple of blue eyes rested on her clear countenance, and her lips sparkled seductively with glamorous wetness clinging to them. A stylish rose-coloured skirt wrapped around her waist, placing a subtle emphasis on her well-curved back. A smart, white shirt covered her upper body, but a gentle reminder of her beauty was teased through the sweet yet sharp lines of her collarbones. They had undercut the attention her jawline deserved, for it elevated the tantalising red of her well-carved cheeks. The centrepiece of her style was a silver lightning emblem that laced around her delicate neck. Topping it all, a blazer matching her skirt draped across her slender shoulders, emanating a sense of class to herself.

She dressed elegantly, establishing herself as a marvellous spectacle to many, but despite her perfections, Victoria had an aura of uncertainty surrounding her. From the innocence of her eyes clashing with the well-concealed dark stretches of skin beneath them to the strange, almost malignant set of gloves she wore, her appearance was far from trustworthy.

"Caspian, you came!" Victoria had drawn her candidate close with a welcoming hug.

"Hullo. You called me here?" Pondered Caspian as he shrugged her off gently.

"Hmm? So blunt..." Victoria pouted. "But yes, I called you here. I haven't seen you once today, I can't allow that as your mentor!" She said.

"As my mentor?" Caspian had mirrored his mentor’s pout.

"Hmm, Caspian? You're such a sweet darling." Said Victoria as she cupped his cheek cheerfully. "What puts you in such a mood?" She asked him.

"Are - are we not friends?" Asked Caspian, his gaze averted from Victoria's.

"Friends? Of course, you silly Cull!" Victoria laughed aloud.

"Alright!" Caspian yelled with a blush. "It is cold, and I'm not feeling well. What is your business with me?" He asked impatiently.

"You're not feeling well? Perhaps it is the new spirit inside of you?" Pondered Victoria.

"Your magical sense can even pick that up? How remarkable." Said Caspian.

"Well, I'd say it is more of a burden than a gift." Said Victoria as she nervously caressed her gloved hands. "Anyway. I can ease your unrest." She said hesitantly.

"If you must." Said Caspian. "I trust you not to harm my friend." He chuckled.

With his permission gained, Victoria soon began to show a mere slice of her magical talent by suppressing a powerful force Caspian had gathered. Her gloves had lit up like caged beasts intent on incinerating Caspian. Her eyes had darkened to a shadow of navy. Her hair had levitated slightly, with a ghostly white aura on the edges of each strand of hair. However, her power had been too much to contain. Victoria took off a glove, allowing the white beam of her magic to pulse into Caspian's forehead. This was not without strain though, even for a woman regarded as the strongest magician of all, because a tearful of blood dripped from her nose. Before the matter could get out of hand, things had returned to normal almost instantly. Victoria had cleared up her blood using a greatly stained handkerchief, and Caspian had stood still with caution, feeling slightly better.

"Are you okay, Ms Magika? I didn't know you would hurt yourself for me." Said Caspian. "But for someone of her talent, to struggle like that? It is strange." He added in thought.

"I am fine, thank you. It has just been a while since I last used magic, hehe." Victoria laughed as she wiped her nose. "Now! I brought you here for a reason, no? Here." She said, handing him a gift that sparkled upon its reveal from her bag.

"A lightning bolt?" Caspian hesitantly clutched the sizzling weapon.

"Yes! It is from the embers of a man I once loved. This is a flake of their power." Replied Victoria.

"As far as I'm aware, there are only two individuals who use lightning magic. Lover you say? Wouldn't that mean you loved - YOW!" Caspian yelled out in pain, a crushing heel crunching into his foot.

"There is no need to look into the specifics, so off you go." Smiled Victoria.

"You..." Sighed Caspian hopelessly. "Goodbye, and thank you." He said with a shrug.

The two had separated into the dark streets of the city, but Victoria quickly found herself a solace of light in the night. A bearer of a flickering fire was jostling through the darkness with a calm, but brisk, pace. Cold and alone, Victoria was drawn to such a fire, but her feet froze upon seeing a shadowy figure emerge from the darkness. She was close enough to recognise the fire bearer, Isaac Rose, but the smaller individual was not a familiar face to her. Thus, she lingered in pitch black a little longer, carefully observing the two.

"Are you struggling for sleep, General Rose?" The figure asked.

"Alsop Dusseldorf! You bloody - don't sneak up on me like that!" Exclaimed Isaac, the fire on his fingertip flailing about.

"I'm sorry, general. I just see you out here every night, so I figured something was wrong." Said Alsop.

"Well, you are right. I am not sleeping well. It isn't because of the contest though." Isaac was quick to reassure Alsop. "It's the attack..." He said with a cautious glare to Alsop.

"Right. The attack." Said Alsop.

"Sorry, Alsop. You are probably still..." Isaac was quickly cut off.

"Who do you think did such an attack?" Alsop asked him boldly.

"Who?" Isaac pulled his sight away from Alsop. "I don't know, we asked everyone. There is nobody who knows." He said, a hidden bite to his lips.

A disappointing answer for Alsop, who figured a man with such powerful resources as the general would have much more to offer than a simple set of tight lips. Before Alsop could say any more on the matter, Victoria had finally revealed herself from the shadows.

"Isaac Rose, how could you lie to your young soldier here?" She asked, her ice-cold words freezing the others.

"Victoria Magika. What makes you think I am lying to Alsop?" Asked Isaac with fiery confidence.

"My, a man of your strength, not knowing a thing about the attack? Are you sure you sought out information from everyone?" Victoria had shielded Alsop with her pressing nature.

"Yes." Said Isaac.

"Has Frederick Hirving not told you of Priscilla Pride?" Questioned Victoria.

"Yes, he has." Said Isaac.

"Then it is clear, the attack was orchestrated by her, no?" Victoria suggested.

"Priscilla Pride?" Muttered Alsop.

"Ah, I have spoken too much." Said Victoria with a triumphant smile towards Isaac.

"Enough. If a lady from as far out as Astrea has figured it out, I suppose keeping it a secret is no longer useful." Said Isaac.

"No, no, no." Victoria quickly jumped at his defeat. "Do well to keep this a secret, Isaac. You as well, Alsop Dusseldorf?" She said cryptically, her eyes frozen on him.

"Me? Yes. I will keep it a secret. I cannot promise I won't act on this information though." Said Alsop with ice to his veins.

"Of course, Alsop Dusseldorf. Alsop Dusseldorf. Husband to the Dusseldorf I saw in the papers. I'm sorry for your loss." Said Victoria dearly.

"Mary. That was her name." Said Alsop.

"I suppose your thoughts are on vengeance, but I can enlighten a sense of hope within you instead, Alsop Dusseldorf." Said Victoria.

"What do you mean?" Alsop looked to her, hopelessly frozen.

"The Tree of Life." Said Victoria.

"Really? You are telling him of such a false legend?" Scoffed Isaac.

"What does this tree do, Ms Magika?" Asked Alsop, his heartbeat quickened with anticipation.

"It can bring her back to life. Mary Dusseldorf, or anybody of your choice." Said Victoria.

"How - how can I find such a thing?" Asked Alsop, his eyes inflamed in hope.

"I would look to become close with beast hunters, like me. If you stay close with me, I can help you." Said Victoria, a warming smile on her lips.

"Ms Magika..." Alsop stuttered out, a tear sliding down his face.

"Hehe. You remind me of Caspian." Chuckled Victoria.

"Your candidate. And my soon to be enemy. I wish him luck, and for you as well, Alsop. We have a contest tomorrow, don't forget." Said Isaac.

"Huh, yes! Yes, we do...I should go then, it is getting late." Said Alsop. "Thank you, Ms Magika. I will see you again soon." He added.

Isaac turned away to leave Victoria as Alsop hurried off happily, but his blazer received a gentle tug. With his attention gained, Victoria pressed up close to him, sharply indenting her polar pupils into his rose pair. The two stood for a brief silence, with Isaac blank to the spot and Victoria hiding her intentions beneath her depths of beauty.

"Your eyes, Isaac." Said Victoria, a breath of her iciness tickling Isaac's beard.

"Huh, what? My eyes? What about my eyes? Do they interest you?" Flustered, Isaac asked.

"They changed when I mentioned the Tree of Life. They were so, so strange. I don't know if I saw malice behind them or something else." Said Victoria.

"Enough, then." Said Isaac, his hands pushing her shoulders away. "All I will say is this, the night can play tricks with the mind. I see things too, it is mere sleeplessness. Get some sleep, Ms Magika." He added as he walked off with the light of the night within his hands.

"We all have secrets, Isaac. It's a matter of how well you hide them!" Victoria called out, but her words fell weak against the shallow night.