Markus was wakened by the sound of music. Looking about him, he found himself in an unknown bedroom. At the foot of the bed was a bench, clothes draped over the top. Under it, on the floor were a pair of boots. He was getting dressed when a loud roaring sound froze him where he stood. Running into the next room, Markus found himself on a bare patch of ground that floated in the air of a most horrifying place. All about him, as far as he could see, was an amazing city. About his platform flew machines, unlike anything he'd ever seen. It was the machines that were making the roaring sounds that had brought him out. But the thing that amazed him most was Mala dancing about, oblivious to all as she wore a veil that covered her eyes. "Mala, what is this place?" He asked. "Is this hell?" "No." She said as she stopped her dance. "This is a recording of one of the worlds that the travel rings connected to. My brother, Taketo was sent here fifty five years ago to search for a lost sword." "The Dragon." He said, remembering the sword his mother had mentioned in the dream when they'd met. "Yes. It was on this world when the travel rings stopped working. My brother managed to get the one that sits behind our home to work once more. But it seems it will only work for him. After he went through, we lost contact with him. Your mother says he will return tomorrow with the sword." With a wave of her hand, the city vanished. They now found themselves standing before a large stone walled house. Before them stood one of the rings, it's markings glowing red. Markus and Mala wrapped their arms around each other and listened to the wind blow through the trees that surrounded the house. After several minutes lost in thought, he looked her in the eyes. "Mala?" "Yes?" "When we met Mother, she said something about a Ritual of Separation. What is that?" "In my present form, I am not able to give you children. To do that I must take part in the ritual. It will separate my draconic self from my human." "Is it painful?" "Yes. At first it is not. In fact it's very pleasant, sexual almost. But at the peak of the pleasure, the process of separating begins. They say it is bad. But I will go through with it. The Queen has forseen it. I will give you many children." "Are you sure you want this?" Mala nodded. "More than anything. We are one now, our fates intertwined." "Has Mother ever been wrong in the things she's seen?" "Only when someone tries to change what is meant to be. And that is a bad thing to try to do. That is what caused the Dragon War. When your mother was but a hatchling, she made her first statement on the future. She saw Anathraxa destroy a city. More than three hundred thousand would perish. But her mother sought to stop him. The city was spared, but then the war started. And in the end, the city was still obliterated, as were all the other cities by the demons of Anathraxa. Half the dragons and three of four mortals perished before the demons were cast back to hell. The travel rings lost the ability to connect with other worlds, though they can still connect to rings here." "Then we will do as Mother says. Bad things seem to happen otherwise. And I can't wait to have children with you." Mala leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "You know, though nothing will come of it, we can still try." Markus' face turned red as he told her that he'd never been with a woman. "I have never been with a man, and I'm not sure what to do. But they say the joy is in discovering each other." Markus looked her in the eye once again. "Then here's to discovery." Bending down he kissed her. His mother, who was circling overhead, smiled and flew for the palace to tell her daughters about their brother and Mala.