The figure that stood before them reminded Paradiso a lot of the classical image of Death. Withered, faceless, donning a black cloak that obscured most of its features even in spite of the entity being entirely wreathed in fire. How it was even possible for such a thing to exist without being completely scorched by the flame that burned it was beyond her, the mare letting out a small whinny as her gaze stayed trapped on that outstretched hand.

"I repeat myself," says a dry voice, crackling like logs in a campfire. "Will you pay?"

"For- for what?"

She stammers, unsure what to make of this situation. Her ears remain pricked even in spite of her nervous demeanor, whilst her companion remained stoically beside her. Fetch's uncanniness doesn't help make her feel any more at ease her, rather having the opposite effect instead.

"It is simple."

The figure tilts its head, frayed cloak shifting to the side. Still, she cannot make sense of any sort of face.

"You have questions. I can feel them burning within your soul. What will you pay to have an answer?"

Paradiso immediately backs up, shock on her face. Of course everyone has questions, if anything this could just be a blatant attempt to get things from her that the entity couldn't truly give the value of in return. As she tries to compose herself, to figure out any sort of response, all it does is watch her from within the pyre it seemed to call home, waiting patiently for the mare to give an affirmative.

"F- Fetch." She looks to them, a desperate plea in her eyes. "What do you- what do you think of this? Have you ever encountered something like this before in your travels?"

"What you do here is up to you, traveler," Fetch replies, a knowing yet eerie tone to their voice. "I cannot decide for you, nor inform your opinion. What the dungeons have to offer is for you to determine."

...So she truly was alone here, then. No one to help her, no one to save her. This is what life beyond the castle, where people tended to her every need and made her choices for her, was like. Was she actually ready to make a decision on her own? One beyond leaving to begin with?

"I..."

She composes herself, letting out a deep breath. If this could give her any clue as to her where she could find... him...

"I'm willing to pay."

The cloaked figure shows no sign of satisfaction, nor any emotion whatsoever as it tilts its head in the opposite direction. Once more, its crackling, ancient voice reaches the ears of the two Coursers.

"What will you pay?"

"I have plenty of coin to offer-"

"No."

She pauses, interrupted so brazenly by the entity before her. Her ears immediately tilt as it begins to dawn on her what it could truly mean by payment.

"Then I offer a memory."

"I will give what is equal. The dearer to the heart, the more it is worth."

Fetch glances away as Paradiso steps forward, coming within mere inches of the outstretched hand.

"Then my dearest one it will be."

Suppressing the nervousness rising even further within her, she raises a hoof and places it into the fire of its palm.