A/N: Basically what the summary says, though there will be a few major changes to the storyline, mainly regarding the couples. Major Rhen/Lars fan, so you can guess that Dameon won't get the fairytale ending with her. Sorry Dameon. :D But no Elini/Pirate John either. That's all I'm gonna say. ;) Planning a sequel to this too, but it probably won't be for a while since it's going to take a while to finish this fic. ^^

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Prologue

Talia ran. She didn't know where she was going. She wasn't even sure where she was anymore. Scattered trees aligned the snowy path in which she trampled upon. The only way to go was forward, there was no going back. What would be the point anyway? Her temple had been terrorized; someone had tried to attack her. Now it was a futile game of cat and mouse. Her energy was low, her spirit diminished. The Dreamer should never have been awoken in the first place. Now it was too late.

She gasped as she reached the clearing at the end of the forest. A cliff—a dead end.

"Now, now, see where your unavailing hope of escape has brought you? It would have been much easier had you just allowed me to end your life then and there," a voice said from behind.

Talia turned around and stumbled back a few feet upon seeing the figure clad in dark blue armor. She mustered up a lightning spell and fired at the mysterious character, only to have a fire spell fired back at her in return.

"Who… What are you?" she gasped, recovering from the hit.

The man smirked. "Some knew me as the daeva Agas, priestess."

"Agas is sealed in the demon realm, as are all of the daevas! You cannot be him!" Talia retorted.

He took a step forward, causing her to back up once more.

"You are mistaken, priestess. Our master has set us free, we have come home," Agas stated in an almost rejoicing manner.

A clump formed in Talia's throat. Who could have been powerful enough to summon those trapped in the demon realm? There were no dark lords living which she knew of. Even so, they could not have been strong enough. She remembered the days when she and her party had defeated the Dark Prince long ago, the one who had been foolish enough to try to summon Ahriman under his power. That was when it hit her. Could it have been that…no, it couldn't be!

"Your…" Talia swallowed. "Your master?"

She was right to have been apprehensive. The next word that came out of the daeva's mouth sent shivers down her spine.

"Ahriman."

Still, she shook her head ravenously in disbelief.

"THAT is not possible! He was defeated long ago! I defeated him!"

Agas only laughed in return, and launched a stronger fire spell at her, causing her body to come in contact with the freezing, snowy ground below.

"Good night, priestess."

…

Moments later, Talia blinked and focused on the sight before her. Even through the light snowstorm, she could see that he was no longer present. At least not for yards away.

"I…. am… not… dead… yet…" She muttered, almost as if to reassure herself.

Slowly, she arose and staggered over the edge of the cliff. Lifting both hands in the air, she summoned a butterfly which glowed and changed colors simultaneously.

Again, Talia dropped to her knees. She must have lost more energy than she imagined. Even summoning a simple messenger took a great toll on her.

"All… is not… lost…" her voice strained. "Find the child, little one. Bring her to me."

Talia collapsed once more, as the butterfly soared away.