by Darren Lee
Eva’s eyes widened at the hollow ring. “Only a ring,” she whispered. “It’s not full, the seal is nearly gone--” The ring began to quickly expand, interrupting her thoughts. The ring retracted and vanished, extinguishing the candles. Eva closed her eyes and slowly lowered her head. “So… it begins.”
Waves of the Eternal Sea crashed down upon the sandy beaches at the eastern edge of the valley. A flash of red light shot from the sea into the sky. The few clouds lingering in the sky quickly dispersed. Waves ceased as the sea calmed to a state of eerie stillness. Then, the water began to swirl, forming a whirlpool. Bolts of red lightning shot up from the watery vortex. The water parted, forming a path from the shore to the whirlpool. The whirlpool dissipated to reveal two towering stone monoliths. Walls of water along the sea bed path bubbled violently. A shimmer of red light appeared between the monoliths. The light flickered violently and expanded to all four corners of the monoliths, creating a wall of light. Moments later, a hand emerged from the wall. A figure stepped through the wall of light, standing a towering seven feet tall and clad in a full ensemble of heavy black armor. Jagged spikes lined the broad shoulders of the armor. The helm bore a crown formed into its structure. Upon the faceplate of the helm was a depiction of a wide mouth full of fangs clenched together. Glowing red eyes looked upon the world from within the terrifying suit of armor. The figure walked along the sea bed path dragging a blade of almost unimaginable proportions. Matching the suit of armor, the blade was black. Red magical energy circulated around it like lightning dancing through the sky. A human skull was formed into the bottom of the hilt, signifying all the terror that had been unleashed from this horrifying weapon. The figure’s tattered crimson cape fluttered in the wind as it moved along the path.
Upon reaching the shoreline, the being spoke with a deep crackling voice. “This place… it is different… how much time has passed here?” He looked around the area slowly, peering at the forest of the valley and the mountain range that secluded it from the rest of Zaneen. “These mountains…” The being paused momentarily, shifting his sight toward the forest. “This forest, they were not here before…”
The dark being let out a terrifying roar that shook the immediate area. Chirping birds took flight from the trees. Wolves on the prowl in the valley whimpered and retreated to their dens.
The dark being turned and viewed the light emitting from the monoliths. “I understand,” said the monstrous voice. “The exodus gate has been secluded from this world to slow me down. She must have orchestrated this… that vile bitch. No matter. It is but a mild inconvenience. I must summon two of my Generals through the gate.”
The dark being extended his arm and raised his hand. His fingers spread apart as the sand beneath him began to levitate. A lightning bolt of red energy shot forth from his hand. The energy made contact with the exodus gate. Ripples began to spread in the gate, like a stone tossed into a still water pond. Two more dark beings emerged, both equal in height to the first. They walked along the sea path side by side in perfect sync. One being was shrouded in a long black cloak. Black chainmail armor clanged with each step. A black cloth rose from his cloak, masking all but the glowing red eyes upon his face. The dark cloaked being gripped a tall skeletal staff, the bones that made up its construction a dark brown as if aged for centuries. The other monstrous warrior wore nearly identical armor. He lacked a cape of any kind, and his helm lacked the crown forged into its design. Slung across his back was a jagged and curved black saber. They approached the figure awaiting them upon the beach of the Eternal Sea and knelt before him in unison.
The figure on the right spoke in a deep echoing voice, “My Lord Commander Dreathous.”
The figure on the left spoke in a slithering voice, “My Lord, your will be done.”
Dreathous looked down upon the two kneeling figures. He gripped his helm, detaching his faceplate with a click and tossing it on the sand to reveal his sinister face. Dreathous’ facial structure was human-like. His skin was a dark grey in color, almost black. Hints of red could be seen on his skin following the path of his veins. The devilish red glow from his eyes faded, revealing a red iris with black pupils. A lone scar ran down his face diagonally from the corner of his left eye to just beyond the right corner of his lips. He had a scruffy, short white beard. Dreathous snarled, revealing teeth that were disconcertingly human-like with the exception of a set of four fangs.
With Dreathous’ faceplate removed, the crackling from his voice faded. “Does he live?” he demanded. Dreathous towered above the two beings kneeling before him. “Ansheth, rise,” he said calmly.
The cloaked being stood quickly, clutching his skeletal staff tightly. “Yes my lord,” said Ansheth.
Dreathous gazed upon him sternly. “How long will it take you to find out how this world has changed? How much time has passed and, most importantly, if that bastard lives?” asked Dreathous.
Ansheth remained silent for a moment. “My Lord Commander Dreathous, it shall only take me a few moments. It shall be done.”
He bowed before Dreathous and began to walk towards the forest. Ansheth stopped at the tree line and brought his staff forward. He released his grip on the bony staff, and it began to rise into the air. Reaching an altitude just higher than the treetops of the valley, the staff began to hum. A flash of light, almost undetectable to the eye emitted from the staff. It sent a pulse throughout the world of Zaneen at the speed of light. A few seconds later, with another flash of light the staff’s humming quieted and it began to float back toward its master. Ansheth reached out and gripped his staff. He let out an agonized scream and dropped to one knee. He gasped, struggling to catch his breath and struggling to process the information the staff had just transferred into his mind.
Finally, Ansheth stood and turned to face Dreathous. “It is done my lord,” said Ansheth, still panting slightly. “Forgive me, my lord. The process is overwhelmingly painful, but I am ready to report.” Ansheth walked closer to Dreathous. “Just more than one thousand years has passed my lord. These mountains, this valley, are all constructed with powerful magic. Some kingdoms and borders have shifted, but that is to be expected after so long a time.”
Dreathous gritted his teeth. “And?” he spoke with an impatient tone to Ansheth.
Ansheth’s eyes widened. “He… he does not live my lord… but--”
Dreathous interrupted Ansheth with a growl and stepped toward him. The Lord Commander reached forward and grasped Ansheth’s throat. Dreathous’ grip tightened as he lifted Ansheth from the ground. “But what? And the answer had better be a good one, the life in your body depends upon it,” said Dreathous calmly.
Ansheth struggled to speak, feeling the powerful grip around his throat. “Yes… yes… he is long dead... but his blood line continues,” he muttered. “He is just a boy, but he could rise to challenge us if not eliminated. He is close by, in this valley.”
Dreathous flung Ansheth to the sand. “I suppose I’ll let you live, since the boy is near. If he can rise to challenge us, does that mean that cursed blade still exists?”
Ansheth rose to his knees, holding his throat as he coughed and gasped for air. “Yes, my lord. It is in the valley as well,” Ansheth said slowly. “There are two more matters that must also be brought to your attention, my lord. The bitch is in the valley as well, and the Elves, though few in number, are still present in Zaneen. They are well hidden in the far North, and they are believed to be extinct by the lesser humans.”
Dreathous snarled. “I’m not surprised the bitch is nearby if the boy and the blade are as well. But the elves, I thought we had exterminated that filth. As for the lesser humans, we will give some of them a choice.” An evil smile crept across Dreathous’ face at that. “They shall ascend and join us, and if they refuse, along with those who are not worthy… we will dine on their flesh,” Dreathous said, chuckling. “Now, tell me of this valley and the protective mountains that surround it.”
Ansheth quickly stood
, having finally caught his breath. “Yes, my lord. These mountains were magically erected within one year after we were forced through the gate,” he said. “Nothing but the wild resides in this valley except for a small village to the west. She is there. The boy and the blade are somewhere along the mountain range.” Ansheth looked to the Telindells. “Something about the mountains shroud the boy and the blade from detection.”
Ansheth bowed to Dreathous, then returned to his place, kneeling next to the other dark being.
Dreathous turned away from the two and walked towards the tree line. “Dilintor… Rise and receive my orders,” he commanded.
The being beside Ansheth rose. “Yes, Lord Commander. Speak and it shall be done,” said Dilintor.
Dreathous continued to peer into the forest. “When the gate opens, I will take a squad of Ansheth’s battle sages and lay siege to the village.” Dreathous turned to face Dilintor. “Dilintor, I want you to order your enforcers to begin destroying the forest and prepare to tear down these mountains so we can march on Zaneen.” Dreathous then looked to Ansheth. “Ansheth, when that she-devil Roxees emerges with her Destroyers, have her order them to join the Enforcers. I want her to await my return. Do I make myself clear?”
Dilintor bowed his head. “As you wish, my lord.”
Ansheth nodded and looked to Dreathous. “My lord, if I may, it could be hours, maybe even days before the gate is completely open.”
Dreathous smirked. “Just because you are far too weak to open the gate does not mean I am.” Dreathous raised his blade into the air and gripped it with his other hand. He growled as the ominous red energy began to pulsate around the blade. “Do not doubt my power!” he screamed.
He swung the blade down, striking the ground. Sounding like a large terrible crack of thunder, the energy shot from the blade. It flew across the ground, causing it to crack and bulge. The gate trembled as the energy struck it, pulsating across it. The parted Eternal Sea began to spread even farther as the gate widened. The red glow expanded past the monoliths, causing them crack and crumble. Dreathous’ forces began to emerge. An element of Enforcers and Battlemages, each wearing armor to match that of their General, emerged from the Exodus Gate. Dreathous raised his sword and slung it across his back. He knelt down and picked up his faceplate from the sand.
Dreathous stood, clicking the faceplate into place. “Now, this world shall burn, and I shall bathe in the blood of the innocent!” Dreathous let out a blood-curdling roar as the sun began to vanish behind the Telindell Mountains.
Eva sat in the room, seeming lost in meditation. Suddenly, she opened her eyes. “He comes,” she thought.
Eva clutched her staff and stood up. She looked around her home as if this were the last time she would ever lay eyes on it. She opened the door and slowly walked outside. The sky was beginning to darken as dusk quickly approached. Her staff thumped along the ground as she drew near the rear gates where she had seen young Lian off. Smoke could be seen rising into the air in the distance. Villagers could be heard shouting to one another about it. They were frightened of what could be in their forest. The ground began to tremble. The smoke drew closer as the villagers began to crowd behind Eva, who was standing twenty-five yards back from the gate amidst the huts and shacks of the village.
Eva turned her head back toward the villagers crowding behind her. “Summon the rest of the people here. Now,” she commanded.
A frightened male villager nodded and ran off yelling for the few people that had not yet joined Eva to do so immediately. The crackling of the flames burning the forest was quickly becoming audible to the villagers. The fire was just outside the gates.
Eva’s bony fingers wrapped tighter around her staff, “Any second…” she thought.
Suddenly, the rear gates flew open, flying from their hinges and smashing against the ground. Dreathous entered the village with ten battle sages marching behind him. Each sage carried a long black staff in their left hand. Eva glared directly at Dreathous.
Dreathous stopped. He rose his hand commanding the sages to stop as well. Dreathous looked at the villagers massed before him, “So, I see you have all lined up for your slaughter. How kind of you…” Dreathous words turned into a maniacal laughter.
Eva smirked slightly at his laughter. “I assure you, no one will line up for you.”
Dreathous stepped toward the old woman. “Is that so, old woman? I fail to see how any of you will stop it. I will eat of your flesh and drink of your blood before the hour’s end. There will be no mercy.” Dreathous looked from left to right, peering at the villagers with Eva at their front and center. “You will not even have the mercy of death. We shall consume you alive! You will suffer to your dying breath, all of you filth! You, old woman, will be saved for last, so you can watch them all die, slowly and in agony.” Dreathous began to laugh once more.
Alrad emerged from the group of villagers and ran towards Dreathous, dropping to his knees before the tyrant. “My Lord, I beg of you,” pleaded Alrad, “please spare me and my son, and I shall deliver whatever it is you seek.”
Dreathous chuckled. “Seems one of you is wise.” Dreathous looked down to the pleading Alrad. “I offer you ascendance for your cooperation in finding what I seek.”
Alrad nodded quickly. “Yes, my lord, anything you ask,” said the cowering man.
Eva’s nose flared and her lips began to quiver. “Alrad, you disgusting filth…” she muttered before trailing off to silence.
A gusting wind rose immediately. Thick black clouds began to appear in the sky, effectively blocking the remaining sun light. Green lightning began striking Eva’s staff repeatedly. Her silver hair flying wildly in the gusts of wind.
Dreathous looked upon the old woman. “That power… you are--”
Eva interrupted the tyrant’s words by pecked her staff on the ground. Green lightning lit up the sky in a flash. A bolt shot from the heavens for each of the villagers. They died instantly as they were struck. Their bodies fell on the ground, charred and seared black.
Eva spoke, her voice far deeper and more youthful, echoing through the skies accompanied by thunder. “You dare trespass on this hallowed ground? This is my dominion. You have no place here! Turn back or face my wrath!” Eva looked upon Dreathous as her eyes began emitting a glowing green light. Circulating green energy could be seen traveling across her body and staff.
Dreathous was silent for a moment, looking at the dead Alrad at his feet. Dreathous kicked the corpse to the side and began laughing. “Tell me bitch, how weak have you become in mortal form?” Dreathous glared at Eva. “Do you think this light show strikes fear in me? You are a trivial opponent at best.”
Dreathous reached for the hilt of the blade that was slung across his back with his right hand.
Eva spoke, her voice once again echoing through the thunder of the heavens. “You and ten pathetic sages will not stand against my might alone.”
Dreathous drew his blade, gripping it with both hands. He held it to the sky, red energy beginning to circulate across it, then across his body. The glow from his eyes intensified as he let out a thunderous roar. “You greatly underestimate my power or foolishly overestimate yours!”
Eva smirked and raised her staff, clutching it with both hands spread apart. She slid her left foot back, hunching over slightly into a battle stance, holding her staff diagonally across her body. “We shall see.”
Dreathous snorted and stepped back with his left foot. He leaned forward, lowering his large blade to his left side. The tip pierced the ground, and he tightened his grip. Dreathous glanced back to the complement of sages standing at his rear. “Stay out of this. I wish to teach this bitch a lesson in humility personally.” He looked back to Eva in her battle ready stance. “Indeed, we shall see.”
Dreathous began sprinting toward Eva, his blade slicing the ground as he dragged it behind him. Dreathous leapt forward, seemingly soaring across the ground in flight. He raised his blade, his tattered cape flapping
behind him. Red energy pulsated around the blade, and he swung it down toward Eva as he neared her. Eva quickly stepped back and pushed her staff forward to meet Dreathous’ blade. Weapons clashed as a mixture of red and green lightning shot from them with cracks of thunder. Dreathous grunted, forcing his blade forward against Eva’s staff. Eva glared and leapt backwards. She raised her staff, green lightning striking it. Eva extended her right hand, green magical energy circulating around it. A green glowing orb appeared.
Eva smiled. “Now, you will feel the eternal power of death.”
Green light pulsated from the orb as it launched towards Dreathous leaving a trail of light behind it. Dreathous saw the magical attack closing in on him quickly and raised his blade to block it. The orb clashed against the blade with great force. Dreathous growled under the weight of the attack as he struggled to hold it back. He dropped to one knee, roaring as green light began to overtake his blade, then him. A mighty boom sounded as Dreathous flew backward through the air. He gripped his blade tightly as he crashed into the village wall. Wreckage from the wall collapsed upon him, covering him.
Eva leaned against her staff panting heavily, trying to catch her breath as the glow faded from her eyes. “Maybe he was right,” she thought.
The ground began to tremble. Sages stared silently toward Eva while standing perfectly still in their formation. Thunder cracked through the valley, followed by a mighty roar. Dreathous burst forth from the rubble with a roar, infuriated at being bested by Eva.
Dreathous stabbed his blade into the ground, leaving it behind as he approached Eva again. “I will squeeze the life from that body with my own hands!” he screamed.
Dreathous roared once more, continuing his approach toward Eva. Eva began to laugh. Dreathous closed in on the old woman and reached forward, grasping her neck.
Dreathous raised Eva into the air. “Why are you laughing, bitch?” he demanded. “You are moments away from death.”
