There are few places in Helovia the adventurous colt hasn't visited, but the Veins is one of them. Tonight, however, he is drawn to them, his hooves pressing on uncharted land as he crosses the bridge into a whole new world. It glows a vivid blue, like water but not-water, eerie and mystical all at once. There is a power here, the sense of something that makes the hairs on the beastling's flesh tingle and erect themselves, each muscle far tenser than usual as he moves through the unfamiliar landscape. Vérzés, too, seems wary, his claws grappling deeply into Volterra's flesh as he releases a series of small, warning chirps.

The young monolith soon finds a path, and he wanders up it with a growing sense of trepidation. Is this the home of the Gods themselves? He has never met any of the famed Gods, but he knows of their work from Mother's teachings. Perhaps it is the work of a God that blessed the colt with his red dragon and his magic - perhaps they saw the potential that bubbles inside him and empowered him with their gifts. Or perhaps it was simply good fortune that gave him what he has, a quirk of fate that now distinguishes him from the ordinary residents of Helovia.

He soon finds himself upon a ledge, surrounded by four queer pillars. Each of the shrines - are they shrines, or simply quirky rock formations? - has its own array of lights and symbols, and the boy moves to the nearest one. Flowers cover it and vivid black veins make it look almost alive - the boy's nose, ever curious, extends to try and touch it, wondering whether it feels as odd as it looks. But as he is about to make contact, Vérzés releases a warning hiss. The dragon cannot yet use words, but his emotions and images are a language in itself, and everything in his mind says do not touch. There is something about these shrines that unnerves the crimson demon and makes him sure that Volterra should not go around poking these structures.

Although he rarely listens to his dragon's cajoling, because he is stubborn and hates being told what to do even by the partner of his mind and soul, the titanic colt decides to acquiesce on this one occasion. He backs away with a sigh, continuing to eye the shrines warily and wondering what exactly they are. ""