In the Shadow kings throne room in rushes a guard. My lord I bring news in the town of thistledown the duke and his family have all been taken. The king asks "how "? "We don't know your honor they moved in and out like shadows in the night" answers the guard. "Was it the sword mages"? asked the king. The guard says "last we herd the sword mage and his apprentices were all headed in the opposite direction". "What about the maids, butlers, and guards what did they say" asked the king? "that's where everything gets weird, Says the guard they all said the family went to bed like normal and it was quiet all night and the next morning they were gone. The guards say they never saw anyone come on the grounds, or leave the grounds with bodies in toe. Its like magic. The person who did this would need at least eight people just to get them out". "So mysterious" says the king. Keep an eye on the house and the people. Keep searching for the sword mages something doesn't seem right. We couldn't just loose them, and this whole thing has to be connected.
On the sword mages side of the world Night grabs Orion and asks "did you know were-rats can move through the shadows"? Orion says "what do you mean" "well you know how you can travel from one tree to another because of the dryad"! Says Night they also have a way to see walls and threw them like a window and it might sound crazy but they can literally step into bedrooms in the dead of night and never be seen by the other people the operation happened so fast I thought I was dreaming. If we can find a way that we can get the shadows out of people easily then the war is already won". Orion says "this will come in handy. We have a shadow army to fight the shadows. oh, what a prize we have won. And due to their already split nature they can't be taken by the shadows. Oh, how we will triumph. Well now I need to pa a visit to our possessed. We need to sing the song of truth over them and see if I can find a way to use the song and sword to vanquish the shadows". with that Orion left and went to the prison where the shadow possessed where being chained to the walls and he sung the song of truth as he entered and cut the first possessed to see if that would work. It didn't. he tried to use a song of fire and just burned the man. He took time to meditate on his sword repeating the oath and there he was with his love's soul Annabell once again. He told her that he knew who he was again and that he needed a way that the swords can use the dragon fire of truth to remove the shadows from the long possessed. Annabell says there is a way I remember it has to do with the song of truth it was watered down in your time because they thought the shadows were gone completely and ever since the shadows had a better chance of taking over, and since I no longer have a mind, I don't have the memory I once had. Orion admits he misses her and that he still loves her. Annabell tells him that she is just the core and no longer feels emotion. That if he can find love to do so. I don't know if I can it still feels like yesterday we were wed and just like that you were dead, it just hasn't healed yet. I still need time. with that Orion came out of the meditation. Orion realized that he had to wait for the dragon to come. It took three weeks of Orion trying different things trying to make up extra verses to the song and sung it on the shadow possessed. The mages were singing the song around he clocks with the shadow possessed in camp. The army practiced sword and magic songs all through the forest mock battles were fought and won or lost. Some said it helped keep them from thinking of what Orion was doing trying to find a way to save the many over keeping the few. It came to pass one day a young-looking woman was led to Orion. She introduces herself as topaz and says I heard you were looking for a dragon elder can I ask why. Orion Says several reasons one I need the original song of truth because the one we have doesn't remove the shadows from the possessed, second, I was trapped in my living blade for three thousand years and when I was released, I found I have a dragon's core in me and I am going through changes". Topaz says "Oh, well I'm a sapphire-dragon, and I can feel the core in you is a sapphire-dragon core, And the one in your sword is one to". Orion "explains that the one in his sword was his love before she was slain and the one inside him comes from his father-in-law. So, I guess it's my way of keeping family close so can you tell me the song so it lights the sword on fire with the song of truth"? Topaz says the original started "from the truth of my heart to the truth of the dragon heart shall the flames of truth arise to vanquish the lies, from the truth of my heart to the truth of the dragon heart shall the flames of truth kill the shadows and bring the souls back to life. Give in to the truth and destroy all lies forge the bonds for life. As for the dragon core what changes are you seeing"? Orion looks at her and allows the scales to appear on his skin, and says I get scales when I want them, strength, I can breathe fire, and I think I might be able to have actual wings. Topaz says your turning into a dragon. Good news is you will be able to keep your human form.