Kitranna Surana ducked her head as the Templar behind her ushered her into the Harrowing Chamber. She had never been here before, as it was off limits to apprentices. It was enormous, the ceiling vaulted high overhead. Pale morning light streamed in through the stained glass windows. The smell of lyrium was strong, even stronger than it was in the classrooms.She approached Knight-Captain Gregoire, and swallowed a feeling of nausea as she stared at the bearded human. He was dressed in full ceremonial plate, and his sword was strapped to his back.

“'Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him,'” he recited. “Thus spoke the prophet Andraste as she cast down the Tevinter Imperium, ruled by mages who brought the world to the edge of ruin. Your magic is a gift, but it is also a curse.”

Kitranna curled her hands into fists, then forced herself to relax.

“Demons of the Fade are drawn to you, and seek to use you as a gateway into our world.”

First Enchanter Irving finally stepped forward. “This is why the Harrowing exists,” he said in his creaking voice. “The ritual will send your mind into the larger Fade, not just the space you go where you sleep. There you will face a demon, armed only with your will.”

“I'm ready,” she said without hesitation. She dug her fingernails into her palms. “I'll do it.”

“Know this, apprentice,” Gregoire said. “If you fail, the Templars will perform our duty. You will die.”

“I know,” she said quietly. “Can we please just do this?”

Irving reached out, as if to put a hand on her shoulder, but pulled back at the last minute.

“If you wish,” Irving said, and gestured towards the dish of Lyrium in the middle of the room.

Kitranna reached out for it, felt something reach back for her, and--

Kitranna found herself in the Fade.

She frowned. This was nothing like a dream.

Well, it was, but only in part. It felt...alien, but familiar at the same time, the very air she breathed charged with magic. She grimaced and rubbed the back of her head.

Everything around her was strangely blurred and unclear, as if it were all underwater. She blinked, and everything wavered a bit, but refused to solidify. She appeared to be in some sort of clearing, but the surroundings couldn't seem to decide if they were a forest or a wasteland or even inside a building. The place she was in had corners, except when it didn't. Twisted structures surrounded her, half-formed statues and shapes that confused the eye when looked at directly.

She shook her head and moved forward, to where she could see a path. She glanced overhead and saw that the sky was an odd, greenish sort of color, with hazy islands of land floating in it.

The only thing that was clear was an enormous black shape, floating in the distance. The Black City. She swallowed and kept her eyes down and walked on.

She wasn't really sure what she was supposed to do. She saw no demons here, nor could she feel any. She had met demons before, as all mages had, and could tell when one was near, but here there was nothing.

She wandered on down the path until she encountered a Wisp. She edged closer—sometimes one could bypass such creatures if one didn't bother them. Unfortunately, this Wisp was hostile, and sent a stinging spark in her direction. She scowled, and tossed a bolt of magic back at it. It fizzled out of existence, and she continued on. She encountered a few more such Wisps, all of them hostile.

She continued down the path, until the walls around her rose up and almost over her head, as if she were in a tunnel of some sort.

Kitranna reached out her hand to touch one of the walls, and a voice caught her attention.

“Someone else thrown to the wolves, as fresh and unprepared as ever,” she looked down and saw that the source of the voice was a mouse. A very large mouse, but other than that, it was gray and ordinary. “It isn't right that they do this, the Templars,” the mouse continued. “Not to you, me, anyone.”

“No, it isn't,” she agreed.

The rat gnawed on one of his claws. “It's not your fault,” he assured her. “You're in the same boat as I was, aren't you? It's always the same...”

There was a bright shimmering light, and the world around her tilted, then everything righted itself and the mouse was replaced by a man.

He was a young human man, with auburn hair, dressed in a red mage's robe. Although he was more solid than her surroundings, his features were all blurred at the edges, like he were a watercolor painting that had been smudged. His eyes had dark circles under them, as if he had not slept for days.

“Allow me to welcome you to the Fade,” he said. “You can call me, well...Mouse.”

“Nice to meet you,” Kitranna said, inclining her head. “Why are you here?”

He looked at her, tilted his head to one side. “The Templars kill you if you take too long,” he informed her. “They figure you failed, and they don't want something getting out.”

She crossed her arms. “I thought so,” she said.

He tilted his head to the other side. “I'm here because they killed me, I think,” he explained. “And you don't have much time before they do that to you, too.”

She nodded. "Right. So, what am I supposed to do?”

“There's something here, contained,” he glanced around as if he could see whatever-it-was lurking just out of sight. “Something just for an apprentice like you. You have to face the creature, a demon, and resist it, if you can.”

“That's stupid." she wrinkled her nose.

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Of course it is, but it's still your way out. Or your opponent's, if the Templars wouldn't kill you. A test for you, a tease for the creatures of the Fade.”

She let out a breath. “What's the point of that?” She demanded. “Mages are supposed to avoid getting possessed by demons. This doesn't make any sense.”

He peered at her. “It isn't so simple.”

“How's that?” she looked around “Should I just start lighting this place on fire or what? That'd kill any demons.”

He shook his head. “You'd be a fool to attack everything you see,” he told her. “What you face is powerful, cunning. There are others here, other spirits. They will tell you more, maybe help. If you can believe anything you see.”

“Of course I can't believe it, it's the Fade. I probably shouldn't even be listening to you, honestly.” she rubbed the back of her head and looked around. “Nice talk. I'm heading out now.”

“I'll follow—if that's alright.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. His features refused to focus, still hazy and unclear. “I'd rather you didn't.”

He blinked. “Oh...um...if that's what you want.”

There was another flash of light, and Mouse turned back into a mouse, then scurried away. Kitranna moved on.

The small pathway lead into a larger, more open area, surrounded by more twisted structures. She could see the strange, pale sky again. There were odd sounds at the edges of her hearing, creaks and groans and whispering voices. She ignored them.

She couldn't see anything that looked like an enormous demon, nor could she feel it. Either it was hiding, or the test was something else, and Mouse was a liar. Always possible. The feeling of magic was pervasive and was making her fingers tingle, just a little bit. She propped her hands on her hips and looked around.

On a hill, she could see a flashing, pale shape. She moved over to it, feeling the presence of something strong, but not malevolent.

Standing on the crest of the hill was a figure that was shaped somewhat like a man. It gleamed, white light emanating from it. It wasn't like the demons she'd encountered, but not really like any friendly spirit, either. It wore armor, or a reasonable facsimile of armor, and watched her as she approached.

“Another mortal thrown into the flames and left to burn, I see,” it told her, eyes flashing behind its helmet. “You mages have devised a cowardly test. Better you were pitted against each other to prove your mettle with skill, rather than be sent unarmed against a demon.”

Kitranna shrugged. “It's what I have to work with.”

“Indeed. The choice, and the fault, lies with the mages who sent you here.”

“It was Templars who sent me here too, you know.”

The spirit tilted its head. “I am unfamiliar with Templars—I have encountered others of your ilk, but Templars I have never met.”

“They wouldn't like to meet you even if they could,” she told it. She looked at the spirit's armor, which was emblazoned with the unmistakable heraldry of the Templar Order. “You don't know the Templars, but you wear their symbol?” she said, furrowing her brow.

“Do I?” the spirit blurred and shifted, and suddenly its plate was plain.

“Oh—I guess not.” she pressed a hand to her head.

“All things here are as you expect them to be.”

“Everything?”

“Of course,” the spirit peered at her. “What else would the world be?” the spirit looked her up and down. “That you remain means you have not yet defeated your hunter. I wish you a glorious battle to come.”

“Thanks.” she said. “What kind of spirit are you? I've never met one like you before.”

“I am Valor,” it told her. “Honor and strength in battle—duels well-fought, blood well-spilt.”

She nodded. “Why are you here?”

“There is no reason I would not be here.”

“But what about a reason to be here?”

“I am here because I wish to be here,” it narrowed its eyes.

Kitranna looked around, and noticed the racks of weapons that surrounded Valor. She hadn't realized they were there before. She rubbed her thumb against her forefinger. “Could I have one of your weapons?” she asked. “It's hardly a fair fight against the demon if I just go at it with my bare hands.”

“I shall give you one if you agree to duel me for it,” Valor said. “Valor shall test your mettle as it should be tested.”

She looked at Valor sidelong. “I think it would make more sense if you help me fight the demon, instead of fighting me yourself,” she said. “I mean—come on, fighting me, a defenseless mortal, that doesn't seem very brave or fair, does it?”

Valor's back stiffened. “I am no demon, preying upon defenseless mortals!” it exclaimed.

“Fine—then prove it. Help me fight the demon.”

Valor shook its head. “You are insolent, but your will is strong,” it told her. “Very well—you prove to me you have the strength to fight this demon. Go—prove your worth as you must. Defeat your enemy. I am confident that you will succeed.”

In Valor's hand, a mage staff appeared. He handed it to her, and she took it.

It was light, far lighter than the staffs she was used to, and had a peculiar texture, as if she were holding light that had grown solid. It had a winged figurehead at the top, and grips formed where she held it.

“Thank you,” she said, and went on her way.

As she walked, she became aware of a strange heaviness at the back of her head. A demon was near. It wasn't close enough for her to tell what specific kind it was, but there was certainly something nearby.

Something flickered at the edge of her vision, and she looked down to see Mouse at her feet.

“Didn't I tell you to leave me alone?” she asked.

“Yes,” Mouse said. “But...there's really nothing else for me to do. I might as well follow you.”

“So you can possess me when my guard's down?” she folded her arms. “No thank you.”

“I'm not a demon!”

“You're the only spirit here who's following me around. What else could you be?”

“Exactly what I say I am?”

“Nothing in the Fade is how it looks.”

“Except when it is. Remember what Valor said?”

“Do you seriously expect me to believe things told to me by a spirit in the Fade?”

“You took the weapon he gave you.”

“It's mine now, so I can trust it.”

“You're running out of time.”

Kitranna pinched the bridge of her nose. “Go away,” she said, more firmly this time. The Fade warped around them, and Mouse squeaked and ran off.

She smirked to herself, and continued on, looking for the demon she sought. She encountered more Wisps, and, in addition to that, spirits shaped like wolves and foxes. They were all hostile, but she didn't know if that was because she came here expecting a fight or some other reason.

She suddenly sensed the presence of something else. Not Mouse, or Valor, or the demon, but something..different. Something tired and slow, that made her thoughts run like syrup.

At the end of one of the wandering paths, she found another spirit. Or rather, a demon.

The demon was enormous, and looked something like the pictures of bears she had seen in books, but covered in spikes. Its fur was a reddish color, more like a fox than a bear. It looked to be asleep, as it didn't so much at twitch when she approached.

“So...you are the mortal being hunted?” it rumbled when she got close, making her jump. “Mm...old blood.”

She stood back as the demon pulled itself to its feet with a yawn. “No matter...the demon will get you eventually. Perhaps there will even be scraps left.”

“Old blood?” Kitranna asked. “What does that mean?”

“Begone,” it told her. “Surely you have better things to do than bother Sloth, mortal. I tire of you already.” it sunk back to the ground and laid its head on its paws.

“I'll leave you alone if you tell me how to defeat the demon,” Kitranna said.

“You have a very nice staff,” Sloth told her. “Why would you need me? Go. Use your weapon. Be valorous.”

“Isn't there anything you could tell me?”

“I could tell you many things.” Sloth yawned again. “But it's so exhausting. Away with you now.”

“Maybe there's something I could do for you.” she pressed.

“Nothing, unless you wish to leave me alone, old blood.”

“What does that mean? What does 'old blood' mean?”

Sloth sighed. “Do they not teach your kind anything anymore?” Sloth closed its eyes, and thereafter, nothing she said could make it wake.

So she turned, and left, to go and confront the demon. She encountered more Wisps and beings shaped like animals, and she finally came to the place where she felt the demon strongest.

The place was another clearing, surrounded by the memory of fire. A Rage demon clawed its way out of the ground, dripping fire from its fingers and wide open mouth.

“And so it comes to me at last,” the demon said, its head pointed in her direction. It had six spots of hot white light on its face instead of eyes. “Soon I shall see the land of the waking through your eyes, old blood—you shall be mine, body and soul.”

“I don't think so,” Kitranna said with a smirk.

She aimed a frost spell at it, and they began to fight. She found that if she used frost and ice-based spells, the demon had a very difficult time countering them. Finally, she succeeded, and the demon collapsed into a puddle of fire on the ground.

“You did it!” came Mouse's voice. She looked over her shoulder to see Mouse in his human shape standing just inside the circle of fire. “You actually did it!”

“Didn't I tell you to go away?” she said.

“Things don't stick in the Fade,” he told her. “I've been here longer than you. I know how everything works.”

She didn't put her staff away. “This is too easy,” she said.

“That's because you're a true mage—one of the few. The others, they never had a chance. The Templars set them up to fail—”

“Like they did with you?”

Mouse faltered. “...yes, like they did with me.” he quickly got his steam back. “But you, you can be so much more than you know--!”

“I really just want to be done with the test now,” she said. “I killed the demon. What else do I have to do?” she peered at him. “Are you stopping me leaving? What are you doing?”

Mouse tilted his head to one side. “You're a clever one, aren't you?” his features began to shift again, and something in his voice dropped away. “Simple killing is a warrior's job. The real dangers of the fade are preconceptions...careless trust...pride.”

He gleamed with a brilliant light, and he rose higher and higher over her head.

“Keep your wits about you, mage. True tests never end.”

Then everything was gone.