Dawn of the Valiant (The Valerious Chronicles: Book One)

by Julian Saheed

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  If he could have screamed, Christill would have torn apart the tunnel to the Third Plane with an ear shattering cry. His skin burned and writhed as violent bolts of energy struck out from the walls of the tunnel, torturing his body with elemental fury. The silver and gold that had swirled through the passage on his last trip were now so bright that they stung his eyes and the screeching, that had then hurt his ears, was now so loud that it rattled through his entire bulk. After what seemed an eternity he hurtled out of the tunnel and smacked with a tremendous impact upon the ground. Here he cried out into the air, fearing for his life, tears streaming from his burning eyes.

  "What have I done to deserve this?" he screamed.

  He rolled onto his back and found he could not breathe properly. Each intake of air was filled with a noxious gas that clung to his throat and blocked his lungs. He wiped the blood from his nose and gasped as he witnessed the horrifying sight before him. Nyrune's home was ablaze in multicoloured flames. The trees, the grass, even the air itself appeared to be burning with spectral flames that blazed fiercely. Christill stumbled up and covered his mouth with his sleeve.

  A great boom sounded in the distance and the ground cracked below him. Christill struggled to keep his footing and watched as chunks of the floor dropped into nothingness, leaving gaping holes of blackness that sucked in the rest of the surroundings. Trees crashed to the ground, sending burning chunks of ethereal timber at him. A large chunk stabbed into Christill's back as he bent down to avoid the deadly shower. As it pierced his skin, it melted and seared his body, eating away the flesh and muscle.

  Christill called out to Nyrune, begging for forgiveness, whilst another boom sounded in the distance, causing the earth to crumble apart even more. He leapt to the side, as the ground beneath him fell away into darkness and scrambled quickly to his feet. Suddenly a great wave of energy passed Christill and he flew backwards from the sheer force. Explosions filled the area and he could feel enormous amounts of magic being unleashed.

  In the centre of the clearing that he had entered, the air cracked in two and a void opened up. Christill peered into the colourful void and saw a vast dark cloud. Then he jumped in fear as he felt a hand clasp his back. He raised his hands defensively and turned to find Nyrune before him. Christill's hopes were momentarily boosted, but quickly sank when he saw the Goddess's state.

  Nyrune's body was incomplete, with chunks of her frame missing, and on her face was a look that Christill could not bear to see. Tears streamed from her eyes and her hair was tangled and wild. She reached out to him and gripped his shoulder tightly. Christill could feel her power running through him, but it was not the same as the last time. This time it was weak, as though she was not fully herself.

  "Greyspell! A demise is soon ordained. One is my last chance to cheat mortality," she spoke swiftly. "Do not fear the end, for there is hope with one who is the child of my sister and I."

  "What is happening?" screamed Christill, the noise from the destruction around them growing intolerable.

  "No time left," replied Nyrune. She looked to the void that was tearing apart the centre of the clearing and coiled back in terror. "I cannot stop the ordained." Looking back to Christill she said, "Forewarn Skiye."

  "Of what?" cried Christill, finding it hard to focus from to the tremendous pain.

  A sizzling bolt of black energy then flew from the dark void and surrounded Nyrune. She screamed and fought against it, but the force was to overwhelming and began to pull her towards the portal.

  "Warn my sister," she yelled.

  "I don't know what's happening," whimpered Christill, feeling utterly helpless.

  "My powers I will leave to One," replied the Goddess. "Forewarn Skiye."

  Christill shook his head hopelessly as the ground continued to fall away around him.

  The black energy tugged violently at Nyrune, bringing her to within inches of the portal.

  "Tell me what is happening," begged Christill.

  With one final effort the guardian Goddess of the Karmanians yelled out the word, "Kahnustus!" And from her mouth shot a coil of energy that struck Christill, filling his body with an immense amount of magic.

  His body floated from the ground and he watched as Nyrune was completely consumed by the void in a deafening bang. The surroundings disappeared in a flash and Christill's mind slipped from consciousness. Just before he fell into the darkness a group of images passed through Christill's head.

  A vast fleet of ships, as black as night, waiting along a massive dock that stretched along a rocky beach. On the largest ship in the fleet Christill saw a monster of a man, wearing a fearsome golden helmet and adorned in a dark suit of armour.

  This vision passed and he glimpsed a dank room, bathed in an eerie orange light, in which the air itself was thick with grime. In the room's middle stood a huge shield spilt into four sections and etched with the symbols of the guardian gods of Kovi.

  Finally this image melted away and in its place was the City of Skiye. Yet the city was not as Christill had seen it, a magnificent and flourishing beacon of Feldom's proud history. Christill saw the city burning and crumbling and his heart ached to look upon this sight.