Prologue 

Eleven years ago

It was raining, but it constantly rained in the mountains of Titania. Legend had it that the rain was her tears. Constantly falling to the memory of her broken heart. 

Not many took much notice of the story, but twisted truths were set aside, and it was still raining and would be constant.

The warrior cursed, losing his waxed travelling hood, pulling the collar of his shirt tighter around the neck, and failing quite spectacularly to feel any more comfortable.

“I hate coming up this high, could we not have just stayed at the base, among the caves?” There was no real question cast, more grumblings to himself. 

“Look, Bedi, I told you, the higher we get, the more chances we have of seeing it.” 

“Yes, yes, I know, with Gal. But I expected the tears that drowned me to be of a lover spurned, not an ancient mountain goddess.” Bedi gave that charming grin.

“Be careful what you say up here; if Titania wants us off, she’ll make it so.” Gal looked around, making the sign of the light and kissing the iron pendant around his neck.

The duo climbed high, accepting that the weather was staying. It was close to midnight when they reached the plateau, known as the Iris of Titania. The cuts in the stone gave the impression of a thousand eyes staring.

Gal set up the stargazing crystals, making the constellation of the All-Seeing. Bedi looked down into the valley far below them. His breath taken for a heartbeat. The lake was beyond beautiful.

At first glance, Bedi had to check that it wasn’t an illusion. The goddess Titania held the domain of deception. But it was real, natural, and enchanting. 

Behind him, Gal had spoken the words of Sunlight, and the crystals lit up, thin beams of light stretching to the night sky above. 

“Reet Bedi, let's have a look.” Gal sat cross-legged in the rain, putting his axe on the ground and running his fingertips over the runes. They reacted, and starlight radiated from them.

“And you are sure nothing fatal is going to happen?” 

Gal looked up at his friend, the stars a backdrop to the long white hair and nightshade skin tone. He was absolutely drenched.

“Soldiers of the Dusk shouldn’t scare so easily,” Gal mocked.

Bedi took his hand off the long sword's handle. Gal was right, they were safe. 

The constellation of the All-Seeing met the soft beams from the crystals. Gal’s eyes rolled into the back of his head. His mutterings sounded like nonsense, but Bedi knew them to be the old tongue of the Twilight. 

The sounds on the mountainside stopped, and the raindrops paused mid-fall. Time stood still, it seemed, for all except Gal and Bedi. Now, the long sword was unsheathed, master-crafted from a single piece of imbued silver. 

Gal had remained still, eyes still rolled, his mutterings held. 

Bedi was slightly crouched, holding a stance ready for the unseen threat. His heartbeat sped up and felt like it was about ready to burst from his chest. His calm was not that of a soldier. 

Gal lurched forward, taking a massive breath and gasping for air. The rain continued to fall, and the sounds of life rushed into the scene.

“Gal, Gal, relax. Small breaths, listen to me. Relax.” Bedi immediately went to his friend's side.

Leaning into his friend, Gal followed Bedi's advice and slowly relaxed. The two soldiers sat there still, the falling rain pitter-patting all about them. 

“Bedi”

“Yes, Gal.”

“I saw it happen.” Gal spoke with a sadness in his heart.

“Truly?”

“All will blend, light and shadow will become grey.”

“Here, drink, I know you will enjoy the burn.” Bedi smiled as he shared his spiced mead with his friend. 

Bedi had always gone along with Gal on his stargazing, speaking of the Sight and its being embedded in his bloodline. It had always been a bit of fun with his friend. But this time was different. Gal was in mourning for what he had seen.

Gal drank deeply of the mead and wiped the tears that had formed away. 

“In our lifetime?” Bedi asked, but seeing Gal's dark grey eyes, he had his answer.

Bedi stood, leaving the mead and his friend to continue one another's company. He stood on the edge, looking down at the lake again. 

For a moment, he felt himself swaying, as if ready to leap from the plateau, to fall freely from the mountain, and plunge deeply beneath the lake's surface. Her voice asked it of him.

A strong hand grabbed him at the waist and pulled him back from the edge. Breaking him from the spell of the moment.

“Time t’go.” 

Bedi put a hand on his friend's shoulder and nodded.