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The door behind me closed slowly. Zach had asked for me to go and speak to Lulu, while he and Graverobber spoke with each other. It was something that River had allowed, but only when he was around. We didn't allow Zach, a young boy, to be alone with someone as monstrous as Graverobber.

Even I was an exception, really. The first few times, I had been accompanied by Jack or River, even though we all knew that neither of them could even hope to beat someone like that... Thing.

I flexed my neck and walked down the hallway. Come to think of it... It had been a while since we had landed. Maybe Jack would allow us to take a rest stop, somewhere? Then again, with the technicians hunting us, along with the Sins... It wasn't likely.

Sighing deeply at all our troubles, I tried to shake them off. We wouldn't get past all this, if we just wallowed in everything dark. I had been human just a while ago, and though I was getting used to my "new" body, I was still a stranger in this world.

I swallowed and knocked on Lulu's door.

"Yes?" I heard the mouse, somewhere in the back of her room.

"It's me, Ry- ah..." I stumbled at my name. I wasn't all too sure of it, but I had taken up a different one now, for sure. "Thane. It's me, Thane. You called for me?"

"Oh yes, I did, didn't I?"

A few awkward moments passed, and when the door didn't open still, I called out again.

"Was that all?"

"If your abilities are true, then why must I open the door for you, a ghost?"

I cocked my head in confusion. What did she- Oh right... I had agreed with myself not to use magic near others, since Shadowcasting was... I wasn't sure what it was, exactly, but I knew that some people considered it downright evil. Most on this ship didn't, however, but the habit of not using it in public did stick.

Looking down at the floor, I noticed the small, almost insignificant shadow. I took a deep breath and kneeled next to it, letting my shadow connect with the shade of darker gray. Letting my head go blank, I relaxed my body and sank into the shadow, as if it were water only I could swim in.

The world in shadows looked... Strange. I floated in a black nothingness. It was frustrating, but I had gotten the hang of it fairly well, if I say so myself. Everything was black, save the small "windows" that showed me what was going on "on top". I could only dash from one window to another, but the space in between pushed me towards another, by force. It wasn't the kind of force that one could feel physically, but more of a passive feeling of extreme discomfort. As if I would seize to exist, if I wasn't by a window.

Scanning the pitch black, I noticed something strange, and then tried to jolt out of the shadows.

Only, I couldn't.

I found myself almost panicking. The shadow I had entered through, didn't let me out. I tried to dash to another one that was just a few meters from me, but it was as if there was a barrier of some kind.

Another thing I had learned in the shadows, was that I could not speak. River had told me that it was a type of magic that existed passively within the shadows, called Silencing. It prevented speech, or any kind of sound, being produced in the darkness. Magic still could be cast, but it was difficult to anyone who couldn't weave in the shadows.

Then, I felt a hand grabbing my throat. White fur? I panicked again and tried to punch my assailant, but now I was also paralyzed, which only added to my confused fear.

Lulu pulled me out of the shadow, and tossed me against the metallic wall, eliciting a yelp of pain from me.

A shot of pain ran up my spine, into my left wing-shoulder. It wasn't excruciating, though it hurt quite a bit.

"What was that for?" I asked, still feeling the paralysis affecting my body, preventing me from standing up. I felt like a ragdoll.

"To prove a point." Lulu answered without even blinking. She stood right in front of me, with her arms crossed. "You think too highly of your Shadowstepping. Don't think you're the first one to have thought of moving within the shadows, little one."

"I know I'm not. River told me that all-"

"Did I ask you a question?" She cocked her head, as if she were almost amused.

"No. But-"

"But nothing." She raised a finger and a whip of fire lashed at my throat, leaving my crimson scales slightly charred. "I was asked to teach you, and that I'll do. However..." She paced around me, scanning me up and down. "You should learn to listen more, boy. Is that something you are capable of?" Lulu asked, her ears perking, waiting for my answer, as she released my body, letting me stand on my own two feet.

"Yes, I can. May I ask a question?"

She nodded in approval, and I continued.

"I am a quick learner, you have to admit. All this, so suddenly, has been nerve shattering, to say the least."

"I would imagine so." The white mouse nodded again. "Your question?"

"Yeah..." I sighed, then thought back at a few key events that had bothered me. "That man, earlier. The one we saved Zach from. Back then, I was pulled out of the shadows as well. I thought it was just because he was a Shadowcaster too, but now that I saw you doing the exact same, I can't help but wonder-"

"If I'm a Shadowcaster as well?" She scoffed.

"Well... Yeah." I admitted, readying myself for another lash of fire.

"It's a fair question, I admit, for someone so ignorant. Has River not told you anything of the qualities of magic?"

"He told me that there are different elements, and that each person has an affinity for on-"

"No, no, no. That is 'molded' magic. What of the Auras, and pure forms?"

"The what?" I asked, honestly not understanding.

"Oh dear..." Lulu placed her hand on her forehead. "You do know that magic surrounds everything?"

"I kind of figured that on my own."

"Good. Maybe there is some hope for you yet... Basically, magic is everywhere. Plants, humans and hybrids alike. It is what sustains life, to put it plainly. Though there are creatures who live without magic, but those we shouldn't speak of.

In the very core of magic, you have Aura. And Auralites are those who use the purest form of magic. Elementalists take magic at its purest, and mold it into the element that best suits their physical forms. In my case, my Aura ignites the surrounding Aura, when I weave my spells with it. In River's case, he freezes it, then molds it into water."

"So River's actually an ice-mage?"

"Essentially, yes. But he is not really much good with ice. It flows poorly, though it does cut quite well." She mused for a moment, then beckoned me inside her room with her hands, before she closed the door behind us.

"Now, Aura can be molded into any form, by any mage. The common misconception of 'one person, one element', is idiotic. For example." She paused, then placed her slender pinky into a water cup and froze the water within. "I am fully capable of freezing water, but it does take more of a toll on me, physically. If I practiced enough, I would be able to produce lightning, like Raven, and even mold the earth around me. But that would mean limiting my abilities with what I have already. See, it is the choice that most advanced mages have to make; Will you learn many weak magics, or focus on one element fully, and master it well?"

"Then what of the Shadowcasters? Why are they shunned?"

"Because Shadowcasters take magic from living things. Instead of using the magic stored in water, fire, the wind or the earth, Shadowcasters take magic from other people, or themselves, which in turn does produce the most powerful spells out of the elements, but corrupts the soul in return. Most Shadowcasters lose their minds, but become so powerful that no mage can stand up against them."

"Wait." I interrupted, now frowning at a thought I had.

"What?"

"If a Shadowcaster takes magic from oneself, then can't he mold it into any element he wishes?"

"Technically, yes. Though it would require a person to first deconstruct the shadow into the purest form, then mold it into an element. It is possible, but the amount of finesse, magic lost during all the stages, and time required to learning such a technique, would make it impossible to master."

"But I was able to use Raven's lightning. Actually, my touch weakened him, before I just... Learned it."

"Yes, I am familiar with the event. River and I suspect that what Iris said of you, might not have been far from the truth."

I cringed at the swan's name being spoken, but I was too curious to care at this point. "What she said?"

"She called you a void. Before I explain that, however, I want you to know one more thing of magic."

"Go on, then." I urged her, wanting this lecture to blow past already.

"The reason I could pull you out of a shadow, was because I am also an Auralite. As is Samara, and any powerful mage you'll ever meet, whether they acknowledge it or not. I could create a barrier where you could not move, and break into your spell to pull you out, while stopping the magic from flowing within your body, thus paralyzing you.

An Auralite uses the unrefined form of magic. As such, it is the most unstable form, as well, and if used wrong, it will destroy the mage in the process of weaving the spell. But it will also be the most powerful magic that you will ever meet. When a person molds Aura into an element, they transform it. But an Auralite does not transform the Aura. Instead, they use it to boost their magic, or even physical abilities.

You will likely meet both of two kinds of Auralites, on our journey, and in your life. Pure Auralites, who are capable of defending against any kind of regular magic, and even smashing through the most advanced forms of it. Elemental Auralites would be the next step. They are people who have found ways to use the Aura to boost their elemental magics.

For example, if you had a regular fire mage, against an Auralite fire mage, and they faced off against each other... Even if they both used the exact same amount of magic, the Auralite's fire would be powerful enough to consume the magical flame. A longer while ago, mages feared Auralites because of this ability. Unless a mage was able to outwit the opposing Auralite, there would be no hope against one."

"But any mage can learn to be an Auralite, so why the fear?"

"Because, back then, people didn't think so straight. It was a black and white situation to them. Auralites, and mages. Nothing in between." Lulu waved her hands in the air nonchalantly, before continuing. "Auralites can sense other peoples Auras. They can attack mages through their shields, and can detect those who mask their presence through any means. This makes them quite powerful. Your new friend, Samara, is a pure Auralite. She uses no magic, but relies on her "Aura covered" punches and kicks."

"She did use magic to show Iris what she truly looked like, didn't she?"

"Not really, no. She dispelled the illusion that Iris had cast, but it was still strong enough to fool the rest of us. That goes to show how strong Samara truly is."

"So... To recap; All magic surrounds us, but in the form of this omnipresent "Aura". Aura, can then be turned to any of the elements, but when contended with, will defeat the molded forms of magic. Right?"

"Right. Now, the matter of you being a void."

"Yes?" I was trying to contain my annoyance. I needed to know this, to make sense of things.

"Keep in mind, it is only a theory. But, to the point. You know what species you are, yes?"

"I was called a Dreichoon, if I remember right."

"Yes, though the pronunciation is more on the lines of Dray-koon."

"Okay? How is that relevant?"

"Pronunciation? It isn't. Your species, however, is." She took a sip of water, as her brow furrowed into a frown, deep in thought. "Dreichoons may be close to dragons in their looks. And dragons are one of the few species with the ability to use more magic than the rest of us. But Dreichoons are unique. There are not too many of your kind left, yet there is always just enough..."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Dreichoons are born... Randomly. Any reptilian race may lay an egg that is magical, and turn out to be a Dreichoon. It is thought of as a mutation. An offshoot in the genetics of dragons. Think of it as a dormant gene that anyone with scales possesses. The only way to hatch a Dreichoon for certain, would be to have one in a couple. If either the father or the mother is a Dreichoon, then it is certain that the child will also be one."

"So what makes Dreichoons so special, then?" I was thoroughly confused now...

"Dreichoons have a very liberal religion. It's more of a spirituality, which I do not know much of. But essentially, the belief is, that before everything existed, there was one massive Dreichoon. A four-winged dragon, according to the humans, seeing as how feral Dreichoons possess four wings and all. This Dreichoon, 'Ard-Greimne', met with God, and together they created the universe. God created the earth and shells for life, whereas Ard-Greimne filled the world with his magic, and as such, souls to all that lives.

God created his army of angels, and the rest is something I am sure you have been taught in your human existence, disregarding the Dreichoon, of course."

"Sunday school stuff?"

"Precisely. However, after the war in Heaven, and the split of Heaven and Hell, Ard-Greimne created his own race, the Dreichoons, as guardians of a sort. Each has his and hers free will, of course, but every Dreichoon has a duty to uphold."

"What duty would that be?"

"To keep the world in balance, one way or the other. Fate and destiny, according to the Dreichoon scriptures, cannot be changed by anyone. But Dreichoons are born precisely when they are needed, and given gifts of power for whatever their destiny holds for them. If Ard-Greimne finds the world's fate unsatisfying, he will create a Dreichoon for that moment in history where his power would be required, in an attempt to change the world."

"But you just said that they believe that fate cannot be changed."

"I am a tad fuzzy on that one, but it would seem that the Dreichoons are the only species capable of changing the fate. Then there's the matter of the gifts...

Each Dreichoon is given what they call the 'gifts of the Ancestors'. I am not too sure of what it means, exactly, but there are no two same Dreichoons. Each is different. There was one Dreichoon, who ended the war between the mages and technicians, many years ago. He could not use any kind of magic, except for fire. The strange thing was, that his knowledge of the element was so refined, that not even the strongest of Auralites could do anything to extinguish his flames.

So, as such, it is believed that each Dreichoon gets one ability, magical or otherwise, and cannot be outclassed by another one practicing the same art. So that one Dreichoon could not be beat by means of fire magic."

"So what would my gift be?"

"Well, we think that it may in fact be a universal control over the elements. But seeing as how you have been practicing an Auralite technique with Iris before, we do not know. All we can understand, is that you are capable of absorbing other people's passive knowledge of an element, and it's inner workings. You cannot immediately master it, but you can understand it somewhat enough to replicate it. That is why your lightning is black; Because you have to pour your shadows into the spell for it to work."

"Could it be that my gift is Shadowcasting, then?"

"Possible, but unlikely."

I sat for a moment, thinking everything she said, over and over again in my head. This was all too much information, right now. I would need to process it... In my own time.

"One more question, if I may?"

"You are polite enough. Ask ahead."

"Graverobber. What magic does he use to make that smoke live like that?"

Lulu's eyes widened just a bit, not much, before she thought of my question.

"That is a question as old as we are, as a species. Graverobber, as he is now, seems to have existed forever, and unmatched by anyone. Nobody has been able to even confine him, like us."

"He let us capture him."

"True enough. We know that, of course. But there is little sense in trying to attack him. We can't win a fight against him, and none of us is suicidal."

The brief moment of silence was painful. It was obvious, of course. None of us could beat him. Why? Was it really true that he came from this 'Old World'? If so, were the people of the Old World all powerful mages? No... If they were, they would still be alive. And even if his story would have been true, it still didn't explain how he seemed to be breaking all the rules of magic that I had learned.

Nobody can break the laws of physics... So how was he breaking the laws of magic?

"Thane. Shall we get along with our practice, now?"

Oh right... How could I forget our daily routine of her beating my ass to a pulp with her fire?

"Sure... Just... Don't kill me today? I'd like to be able to eat without throwing up..."

Lulu chuckled and snapped her fingers, weaving a thorny whip of fire.

"Now, now. It will make you stronger, and I get my daily entertainment. But I promise to leave at least a few of your scales red. What could be better?"

Yeah... What could be better... This mouse will kill me, one of these days.