Skahdin

The swirling turrets of the Shantilite Keep rose before her as she approached in the middle of the night. A dim glow could be seen beneath her thick cloak as her endowment was in use, her mark of the titan working to conceal her while threatening her with discovery simultaneously. Her ever-shifting appearance got her through the gates, past the watchmen, and to the stairs.

She began to climb.

As she wandered further and further up the seemingly endless stairs, Skahdin began to feel the weight of her own body. She paid no mind at first, thinking it only to be the result of such an involved endeavor at this time of night. As she went on, her toes went slowly numb. Her face, tail, and wings quickly followed, and soon she was completely collapsed in the middle of the grand, never-ending staircase. She was completely aware of everything around her, but unable to move. Slowly, her mark began to dim and her full self was revealed to all. She heard the sound of footsteps approaching her, claws tapping on the cold, solid floor of the keep. She strained to move, to see who was there, to ask for some kind of explanation, but could do nothing.

Her heart raced as her mind attempted to understand what had happened. She had been sent by the Titans, they asked her to do this. This was her opportunity to ascend, to prove she was fulfilling her potential.

Why, then, could she recognize the agonizing power of Aberdeen pressing down on her. Forcing her to the ground, weak, like some kind of forborne fool. She watched in agony as he approached her, and to her utter dismay he wasn't alone. Tyvby, the Anamnesis of the Elites, stared her down with her cold empty eyes.

"As I said," Aberdeen chimed, "some of the more fanatic among us have been having more of an influence on the neophytes than were realized previously, but we can use this newfound knowledge to our advantage. We will bring them under control." He smirked grimly, and Tyvby seemed unimpressed. She took one last begrudged look at Skahdin, before nodding and turning to leave.

Anger stormed her mind as she looked at her confessor. He had been teaching her for as long as she could remember. When she came to the cavern as a hatchling he began her training immediately, she looked up to him, trusted him. It was him who had sent her on this mission of ascension, him who had told her she was ready to reveal what her Titan's gift was capable of.

He turned, looking at her with a cold expression, keeping her completely paralyzed. "Don't be upset small one, you know not all are worthy to ascend in the beginning. Tensions have been rising between the Elites and the Titans for years, this was a necessary action, no matter how unsavory." He circled around her; a vulture circling carrion. "You will continue your training, worry not, Skahdin."

Fury raged within the young imperial. Her eyes gleaming with the fires of the gods themselves. You used me. Her mind raced, unable to stay on one thought for more than a second.

"Yes, yes we did." Aberdeen replied, the gemstone on his forehead gleaming with primordial understanding. With that, he left, returning to his quarters in the Cavern of the Confessor, as if nothing at all happened. He left Skahdin alone, in the keep of the Elites, abandoned until his cruel tricks wore off.

She was nothing but a pawn to them. A useless, dispensable, pawn in their insignificant battle for power.

After several minutes, she could move once again. She leapt out of the keep and flew aimlessly. Further and further and further she flew, until not even a glimmer of the Crystal Peaks could be seen. She flew far, far away, to the forbidden place. The place of the witch. The place of the Shard.