Darkness once again accompanies your walk to Issar Roon's study. The moon remains a sliver—a thin wound of light in the dark velvet sky. Cold air swirls through the stone passage, tugging at your cloak like a little child. Tonight is an appropriate time to finish the story of Crovax.

You hurry to the warm refuge of the old man's study.

A knock and a gesture later, you find yourself in a familiar spot upon his rug, surrounded once again by piles of books. You wonder why the old man is so devoted to the books and his studies. Did he work with them before coming to the monastery? Was he a merchant? A scholar? A philosopher? You have heard these terms before from the monks' conversations, but could never tell one apart from another.

To ask the old man directly would be the simplest method of discovery, but you doubt an answer would be forthcoming. The old man would only rant and rave about the past and people he knew when he was younger . . . if he answered at all.

You look troubled. It would not be because of your previous visit and my tale of Crovax, would it?

A shake of your head gives the old man his answer. You're afraid of telling him your true thoughts—you want to avoid words.

Young adults are often afflicted with such moods. You always expect the world to revolve around you; ha!

Very well, I shall leave it be. On with my tale.

The act of breaking Selenia's artifact was more symbolic than any physical consequence beyond Selenia's freedom, but it was in that moment that Crovax's life irrevocably turned toward darkness. Without Selenia as a companion, Crovax was left alone to rebuild and take care of his family estate. Madness crept into him in his isolation, and it took a hold that would never again release.

Eventually, Gerrard returned to Urborg. Weatherlight's Captain Sisay had been captured, and Gerrard would need all the help he could find in rescuing her. Tired of living alone with constant reminders of his unhappy childhood, Crovax quickly accepted to once again become part of the Weatherlight's crew.

However, being with others, and even his old friend Gerrard, did nothing to quell Crovax's isolation. He remained apart from the crew, and he rarely mingled with them outside of meals. Crovax remained in his cabin for much of the journey to Rath.

When they arrived, the Weatherlight was greeted by the Phyrexian airship Predator. I will not go into specifics on the battle—I have already regaled you with that tale—but there is a detail that concerns Crovax directly.

The reason that the Predator was able to ambush the Weatherlight so effectively was that Selenia lay amid the crew. In a way I do not understand, Selenia retained some connection to Crovax. She was able to sense where Crovax was at any moment, and thus, she was able to anticipate the Weatherlight's arrival.

When Crovax saw Selenia alongside the attacking Phyrexians, his mind shut down. He fled below deck and refused to join the ensuing battle. Eventually, the Weatherlight's healer Orim was able to bring his mind back to the present, but damage had been done. Crovax began to seethe with anger and betrayal, and he swore vengeance on his wayward guardian and companion.

After recovering from the Predator's attack, Crovax reunited with the remaining crew members to infiltrate the Stronghold on Rath. Their mission had grown larger, encompassing the rescue of multiple friends and the helping of the local people to overthrow Phyrexian rule. None of that mattered in Crovax's mind—only the destruction of his former love.

During their intrusion, the Weatherlight's crew encountered a shapeshifter in the form of Selenia. Crovax immediately attacked and pursued the shapeshifter, eventually setting upon it with his bare hands. The violence and barbarism with which he carried out the act shocked his companions. An argument followed, and Crovax was almost sent away to wait until the mission was complete. In the end, he was allowed to continue.

They found the true Selenia in Stronghold's dungeons. Mirri was seriously wounded in the conflict that followed, but Crovax continued to attack his former companion. For reasons unknown, the dark angel suddenly stopped fighting and allowed his former master to strike her down. When he did, his life was irrevocably altered once again.

Selenia shattered into thousands of tiny slivers exactly as her artifact had. They struck everything around where she had been. Crovax was the only crew member close to Selenia at the time of her death, and he felt hundreds of these slivers dig into his flesh. Perhaps that was the last thing he ever felt—he soon feel to his knees, unconscious.

When he awoke on the Weatherlight, he immediately went above deck and attempted to sabotage the ship. Mirri, lying next to him in Orim's chambers, followed and confronted him. The two fell overboard, left behind as the Weatherlight escaped the plane of Rath. In their ensuing struggle, Crovax killed Mirri, proving a change of his allegiance. But to what power Crovax did not yet know.

Crovax had turned into a vampire, thanks to the countless shards of Selenia that penetrated his skin. How this happened, I do not know. I have never heard of similar methods of contracting vampirism on any known plane in the Multiverse. Yet, that is not what caused him to turn against the Weatherlight and his companions.

Selenia had been controlled by Phyrexians. From what point in Crovax's life, no one has been able to determine, but the Phyrexians' power over her at the time of her death is obvious. It was these same forces that took in Crovax after he killed Mirri. For a time, none knew of his whereabouts as he lay on Phyrexia . . . in the process of compleation.

There is more to Crovax's tale, but not today. I cannot tell you all the details or you will have no curiosity for finding your own!

Now, away with you.

You quietly leave the old man in silence. His statement rings a note of truth with you. You desire to hear the rest of his stories and of his worlds, but you so far are able to resist the urge to do your own research. Books are for old men.