The monotonous ticking of the mechanical clock on the wall was suddenly disturbed by rasping knocks on the chamber door. An amazingly useful device, this mechanical clock was. A simple concept, but intricately complex in design, its tiny gears propelled in continuous, consistent motion by the tiny crystal embedded within. It was the perfect balance of technology and magic, the enchanted stone empowering the inner workings of the device, simple natural physics taking care of the rest.
?Enter,? the figure at the desk located in the center of the room growled. His lamp was failing, the orange hue had dimmed down to the point where one could not read the characters upon the parchment merely a foot away without straining. But he stubbornly worked on, too enraptured in his work to take notice. A black, claw-like hand dipped the quill into the ink bottle and resumed the half written sentence.
The door creaked open. The stone hallway was well lit at least, revealing a silhouette that carefully stepped into the blackened room. The shadow?s pointy ears, almost like horns, contrasted against the lighted hallway.
?My lord, a messenger??
?Send him away. I?m busy.? The seated figure did not look up from his work.
?It is a wraith??
The quill snapped, splattering ink across the parchment. The seated figure leaned forward across the desk, so that his face may be illuminated by the dying flame. It was not a human face-- far from it. It resembled more of a fox. White fur covered his narrow muzzle, fading into a silvery grey around his eyes and head. His triangular ears were perked and pointed towards the guard.
?A? wraith???
The guard stepped forward into the light of the lamp, revealing himself to be of the same species. His eyes suggested him to be a bit younger. ?Y-yes, my lord??
The first figure fell back in his chair, the old wood creaking from his weight. Five years? it had been five years since they had last heard from the Dark Emperor? But it was unavoidable. Their dept to the Darkness must be repaid?
Before the two could reflect upon it more, all of the lights suddenly went out-- the lantern, the hallway torches-- everything, leaving the two fox-like creatures in total darkness. The startled guard took a step back, stumbling over something, and the sound of breaking glass could be heard.
The first remained at his desk, bringing his right hand before him and snapping his fingers. A flame! Quickly! A plume of fire lit the darkness above his hand for a fraction of a second, but instantly went out. He tried and failed twice more before resulting to a more powerful spell. He clenched his fist and opened it, conjuring a small fireball within. The light steadily heightened, until it was brighter than what the lantern had previously offered? The guard regained his composure as his master?s orange hue illuminated the room?
And there it was?
The wraith floated there eerily, silently on the opposite side of the desk. The guard standing next to it took another few steps back, tail between his legs, nearly knocking over another fine vase, but this one he caught as he tried to regain his composure. He would never get used to
them?
The wraith thankfully did not have its hideous scythe? Of course, what it
looked like it didn?t have did not matter in the least, for hiding the monstrous weapon for
them was as simple as a thief hiding a tiny dagger beneath his cloak?
The apparition held out a skeletal hand, draped in tattered black cloth towards the seated fox. Its hollow, burning red eyes emotionless? Within the hand was a scroll, the seal of the Dark Empire encasing it?
The fireball in the fox?s hand rose higher and floated some three feet above the desk, illuminating the room even better. His right hand free, he took the scroll and broke the seal, gulping deeply. By the gods? what dark deeds must they carry out now? It wouldn?t matter, they would do it. They were
of the darkness now? their debt to Retan, their savior, must be repaid? For without him,
the Curse would have taken them all?
He unfurled the scroll and read:
HIGH GENERAL VIRMIR, OF THE SKY
Your presence is required on Gaian. You will report to the fortress of North Point. You will bring your ten finest warriors. You will be prepared for battle.
EMPEROR RETAN OF THE DARKNESS----
Draven stopped to catch his breath, placing his hands on his thighs and stooping. This way of fighting, concentrating his crimson energy into his limbs and striking physical blows, was very taxing and unnatural? Is there no way around these magic absorbing runes?
The metal rhinoceros was trudging to its feet, shaking off the blow to its head, which now bore quite a dent. Regaining its balance on four limbs, it angrily opened its gaping mouth and roared at the much smaller man. Draven?s crimson aura was involuntarily bulling up, and the runes on the creature?s silvery exterior shell began to glow dimly.
Yes, of course.
Draven?s aura flared as he brought his energy back outside his body. He blasted forward, flying right up to the creature?s face and gaping jaw. He stuck his right arm with an outstretched palm right into the creature?s mouth, a bright red orb of flame appearing within? The creature started to bite down on his arm, but Draven stopped it with his left hand to the upper jaw, and his right foot to the lower. The crimson orb swelled in the creature?s maw, singeing the beginnings of its metallic throat?
?Good night.?
The creature suddenly exploded in a violent burst of flame, sending hundreds of thousands of tiny bits of shrapnel in all directions, peppering the walls as the bit of silver metal jammed into them? Draven was left holding the dismembered head, which his promptly discarded, tossing it to the side with a very audible *clang*.
The Crimson Emperor then proceeded to dust himself off.
----
Draven Draven must find Lord Draven?The dark figure weaved in and out of the trees, heading in the vague general southerly direction of its target?s scent. Why was it masked so? Why was it so difficult to find? Oh, curse this world of the sun!
The trees became sparse, the beginnings of a desert? HSSSS!!!
Though the clouds were dark overhead, still the faint sunlight that crept through was uncomforting?
It continued on, flying at ground level. Though it moved quickly, its flight kicked up no sand?
----
The Dark Emperor leaned over the well of black water, studying the images that appeared within. The sulking Prime Minister of Mizar tiptoed closer, his claws scratching the ground with each step.
?My lord? May I gaze upon the well??
?No.?
Grav shrinked back, blinking twice, before bowing and turning to leave.
?Grav, come.?
The robed lizard turned.
?Look into the well.?
Uhm? yes my lord??
The lizard hobbled over to the circular structure, climbing upon a stone step on the floor, for he was too short to look over the edge himself. The well of darkness was attuned to the Dark Continent, and could display images from anywhere on this land, so long as the dark clouds hovered above?
Retan pointed to the winged men standing around in the desert?
?
These? I?ve found them? These are the ones that meddled in my affairs five years ago??
Grav gazed into the rippling waters. The image was from too high up to make out any distinguishing facial features.
?Ooooo??
Retan folded his arms under his cape, his crimson eyes burning under his helmet?
?They will be
dealt with??
