Daren and Alicia awake to a new day but it quickly turns into something ominous. Transported to Gontha, they confront a furious dragon who hates that the houses of Garland and Dragonblood have been married. An unknown figure steps in and reveals to them what is about to take place. Time has ended. The dark future of the Dragon Prophecy is beginning to take shape.
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This is NOT professionally recorded and is not intended to act like it is. This is a free audio recording of “The Ansville Gatehouse” short story. If you want to help support my projects and perhaps one day be able to make this professional, you can help by going to https://andrewnusz.com and clicking on the “Support Me” button. My hope is that you will enjoy this enough to encourage the writing and future publication of my writings.
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The warm autumn wind blew through the golden leaves with a soft rustling sound. It swept low over the grass beneath the trees, brushing over two figures lying together, curled up.
Daren's eyes flickered open at the soft touch of the warm wind, adjusting to his surroundings. The sun had just poked its first rays over the horizon, a cascading stream of golden light washing over the trees above. Stretching his limbs, he recalled yesterday's whirlwind of events. He turned his gaze down and took in the beautiful sight before him.
Alicia lay naked, her form curled slightly into a ball, her back pressed up against his chest.
He brushed a strand of hair that had fallen over her eyes and just stared, marveling. His fingers trailed across her skin, taking in everything before him. He remembered everything that had happened, and even more so, what hadn’t. He refused to let it ruin the morning or his love for Alicia. She held deep wounds, and he wasn’t about to begrudge her for reacting as she did. He wrapped his arms around her, knowing she preferred this now, his body forming around her own.
Alicia’s eyes flickered for a few seconds before opening wide.
For several seconds, she went rigid, her eyes narrowing at him as though she were going to attack. Then, like him, dawning recollection flashed in her mind and her mouth opened in stunned silence. She looked down at herself, the sunlight bright enough to reveal glimpses of the scars across her breasts. She closed her eyes tightly and her abdomen tensed. She remembered what had happened yesterday and scrunched her eyes together, a feeling of sadness creeping through their connection. She had failed, giving in to the darkness that lay buried. She had failed to give herself to him.
"Don’t think about it, Alicia," he whispered in her ear. He could feel her body shaking gently, wanting to cry. Pulling her close, he caressed her hair and held her to his chest. "I see you, Alicia, all of you. And I am content. You are everything to me."
She slowly looked up then, her eyes still worried but not as much as before. She said nothing, replaying how she had screamed, emptying herself of the pain she had held for decades. His arms had sheltered her, comforted her, a warmth that let her know he protected her in her mind. He was her safe space. She kept staring at him, her eyes fixed on Daren, her heartbeat slowly rising.
Daren pushed her away slightly and kissed her neckline softly. His hand slowly touched her belly and traced the crisscrossing scars that would never go away. They were raised bumps that, to Alicia, blemished her perfection and made her feel ugly. But they were also reminders of the past.
Still touching the scars running the length of her belly and chest, Daren whispered, "Each scar is a reminder that you are a survivor, Alicia. Even through horrors, the beauty in you has survived. This is what I’m looking at."
Alicia shook her head. "I’m not, "
"You’re beautiful to me." Daren’s smile said everything. She was beautiful, and that was that. He gave her a soft kiss, to which she rolled her eyes but didn’t pull away. She felt his heartbeat through their touch and turned around to face him. She felt her insides tighten but refused to hide herself from him. She let him look at her naked front, watching for his reaction. She saw a crinkle in his expression, his eyes smiling.
She let a soft smile form, relishing his gaze, taking his hand and lowering it to her stomach. He began tracing the scars again before covering them, scooting closer to her until there was no gap between them. He held her close for a while longer, and she was content, her world of darkness smothered in his love.
* * *
They walked hand in hand back to the Sanctuary. Alicia glowed as she walked, frequently glancing sideways at Daren. In turn, he squeezed her hand, his smile never leaving his face. Neither had to say anything. With the other hand, he held her at the small of her back, an intimate touch that sometimes slipped lower to her butt. It brought a warmth to her core, a sign of belonging. She belonged to him and it sent waves of strange excited tingles through her she had never experienced before. She had always guarded herself, to never feel these emotions. Now, it was a thing she craved between herself and Daren.
As they reached the place where they usually sparred in the practice circle, Alicia frowned, catching sight of the old man standing on the porch, looking out over the winding river below the cliff. His eyes were closed in concentration, his expression more somber than it had been yesterday.
Daren slowed his pace, his eyes turning downward. "Something's wrong."
Alicia nodded and tugged at his hand. "Come on." She hurried into a sprint, and together they raced the rest of the way back to the Sanctuary.
Reaching the porch, Alicia walked up the steps, breathing heavily. "Is everything alright? You look worried." She looked at the old man with anxious eyes.
The old man gave a gentle smile at her concern and laughed softly. He looked at both her and Daren for a minute before saying, "My child, you simply glow today."
Alicia blushed at his words. "What's going on? We saw the look of concern in your eyes. Do you sense something?"
The old man sighed heavily and slowly made his way down the porch steps to the grass lawn. He walked slowly, his staff tapping softly on the grass, keeping his eyes fixed on the forest that bordered his property across the winding river. At last, he said, "I was hoping the two of you would get at least a few days together without any trouble."
Both Daren and Alicia came up behind the old man, confused by his words.
Daren looked out at the forest. "Is something coming this way? We can set up a defense. You and Alicia taught me so much. With the three of us, we could hold this place easily."
The old man waved off the suggestion but said nothing more for a time. He simply breathed in deeply, taking in everything before him.
Alicia gave Daren a concerned look. She knew the old man was holding something back. But why? She also knew it was pointless to push him. He was as stubborn and unmoving as the trees when it came to secrets.
Finally, in an ominous tone, the old man said, "How much do you know of the Balance Crystals of Exodus?" He turned his gaze directly to Alicia.
Alicia blinked in confusion. "Umm... it's been a while since I've thought about it. It's a legend of two powerful crystals that control the balance of magic and the environment on Exodus. Nobody knows if it's true or not. It's a story I was told as a child, one of my father's long-held ambitions to discover if they were real or not."
At the old man's look, Alicia felt a chill run through her body. "Why?"
The old man gave a far-off look. "The stories are true. Long have I known these truths and kept them guarded in secret. But now..." He gave a heavy sigh. "I fear for the future. Since the appearance of Ashton in these woods, I've thought of nothing else."
"The Swordsman?" Daren asked, confused. He remembered the old man calling the man that name. "What does he have to do with anything?"
"The sword, Daren." The old man looked hard at him. "What did you feel whenever that sword he carried was drawn?"
In unison, Daren and Alicia whispered, "Sick."
"Rot and poison," Daren added, recalling the memory with revulsion.
"What has the sword got to do with it?" Alicia frowned. "I guess I don't know the story as well as I should."
"You wouldn't know it, not the true way at least." The old man clutched his staff and closed his eyes.
"The story of the Balance Crystals is the story of Exodus herself, or as it was once called, 'Gontha.' It's a tale as old as time. Gontha was formed before Earth. The Balance Crystals are what harness the magical element of Extal. In a sense, the crystals, and by extension, Gontha, are the heartbeat of magic. They draw magic into themselves before releasing it back out into the fae realm. It's the endless knot, tying worlds together while giving life through the blood of magic."
The old man looked up. "Are you following so far?"
When both Alicia and Daren nodded, the old man smiled. "Good. Now, before man arrived on Exodus, the Ancients were the caretakers of the worlds, with some always bound to Gontha to care for the crystals themselves. In ancient days, the fairy races sang the songs of twilight and dawn, greeting the new day and the celestial annual events with singing. In the singing was fused magic to bind another knot to the fae and crystals, securing a new strand in case the crystals were ever damaged, though that seemed unlikely."
The old man's tone turned dark. "When James Faelivrin sought to take hold of the magical elements of Exodus, he thought of nothing short of having it all. Magic was an addiction he made his life's goal to attain."
"But he was never able to do this," Alicia responded matter-of-factly. "The properties of magic simply do not mix with humans. We're incapable of using it."
The old man nodded with a strange gleam in his eyes. "Ah, and so we come to the darker side of things. When your uncle realized this very thing, he became insatiable. He would do anything to get his hands on fae magic, or else he would seek to destroy everything. If he couldn't have it, nobody would be allowed to.
"With dark incantations, he sought out the gods until at last he called on Kall, who goes by many different names. We know of him here on Earth as well. For Faelivrin, he cried out for a way to harness this magic for himself. And in Kall's own natural way, he gave answers Faelivrin wanted to hear. But with it, Kall snared him in his own web to use as a puppet.
"The history of man's first years on Exodus has been burned, the records deliberately lost or destroyed. For in these records are the horrors of man's dark greed and power. It's a time of utter depravity and evil that forever altered the world, sending it on a downward spiral from what it once was. With Faelivrin came technology mixed with magic, fused into talisman artifacts. With the blood of captured ancient fae and mingled science, Faelivrin became a name all feared. His name was a curse on every fae's lips as well as man's. Wars of such magnitude ripped Gontha apart. The deaths were so numerous that the Ancients demanded retribution and cursed man's ability to remember such technology. You see, Alicia...your father may have manipulated governments and dabbled in things he shouldn't have. But Faelivrin...he was the cause of the dark powers. His insatiable need to be a god destroyed the world, not your father's creations of cryptids, though that in itself was evil and still felt today.
"For Faelivrin, though, this was not enough. Through Kall, he heard of the Balance Crystals and the power they possessed. With Kall's infusion and science to manipulate the body, Faelivrin kept on living. At the height of what is called the Chaos Wars, Faelivrin's Tausin Empire fell and he was cast out of Exodus for all time, a binding spell warding his return."
The old man lifted his head and seemed to have aged. His eyes had taken on an older look. "Long have I wondered what this Emperor of Night worked on at the far reaches of Extal." He lowered his head. "When Ashton appeared, the fear in me grew substantially, even as I hid it to counter him and to tell you not to fear his words. What I said was true. He has no claim on either of you now. But it doesn't mean he can be cast aside so easily. He has power and is only one of many. There is a long game being played, and the puppet emperor... I fear he has just gained a tremendous amount of power in the last few years."
At their still confused looks, the old man whispered, "The sword he carries... I can feel the lingering touches, though mostly dead. It's a shard of a Balance Crystal, tainted by dark means. How he came by it I really want to know myself. But if it's true, a Balance Crystal was found. Exodus is no longer safe but is headed for destruction. If both crystals are found and the lifeblood of Extal no longer pours into the world, it will die, and all life on that world and each world it is tied to will die as well."
Alicia blinked in sudden understanding, her face turning pale. "And this world, as all other worlds... are sister worlds of Exodus, joined together in the endless knot."
The old man nodded slowly. "Fit the pieces together now."
"Sinvin..." Daren whispered in a chilled and haunted voice. "Is this... part of the balance crystal?" His eyes grew wide, piecing more together. "Ansville is the gateway to multiple worlds of the fae. The nomads, no one ever asks where they come from, they are introducing tainted crystals... much like the sword."
The old man nodded slowly. "They are slowly poisoning this world, enslaving it to the dark powers. The darkness I feel is from Ansville itself. There is evil beyond measure in that place. If it’s true and a crystal has been shattered, there is no telling what power the Emperor possesses now or what he can do with it. It also means, " he looked toward Alicia with a sad frown, "your father has aligned himself with his brother. The two of them, when they plan, only spell evil for all living things."
Alicia clenched her fists, anger surging at the mention.
"Even now..." the old man whispered, looking out at the trees, "I feel something growing, a menace of dark power. It sweeps out from the north." He looked at Alicia intently. "This is your destination and your future."
He looked to Daren then. "Ansville has always been the ancestral home of your people. But in the heart of that place is the most powerful crossroads on Earth. It opens to all of the worlds within Extal. It’s a central gateway and has been guarded for centuries... until now. It must not fall into the hands of others. And yet... I fear it’s too late. It must be retaken, must be guarded at all costs." He looked up and across the river once more before a sliver of a smile formed.
Daren and Alicia gave each other puzzled looks again.
Slowly, the old man turned, his face lifted to the sky. Raising his hands, he dropped the staff, continuing to turn slowly. A soft gust of wind blew through his long white hair.
"What in the world..." Daren whispered, looking on in bewilderment.
With one last turn, eyes fixed up into the sky, the old man whispered in awe, "The time has come for others to take up where I left off." He turned and faced his two charges. There was a glimmer in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. "I have done what was requested. That task is now at an end." At the confused looks Daren and Alicia gave him, the old man chuckled. "I was given a task to bring you here, Daren, to impart some wisdom, to counsel you before the end." He closed his eyes, breathing in the wind that blew across his face. "That task is done... now the hope of the future lies with you, the bearer of Dragonblood’s promise to the lords of the fae." He turned his gaze on Alicia and saw the look she gave him. He gave a wider smile. "You, child, see much. It is a gift. Use it and do not doubt so much. I’ve waited for this time but He said not yet. I had to wait a while longer." He placed his hands on her as a tear escaped her eye. He then placed the other hand on Daren’s shoulder, turning them to face each other. He then clasped their hands together.
"What are you saying?" Alicia managed, though her words were choked. She knew what was happening but denied it.
The old man laughed like a child who had just been given a present. "The two of you are my long-promised successors. You will carry on the legacy I’ve kept alive. You two will herald the coming dragon prophecy." He sighed, and with it came a strange sound from within.
Alicia heard fatigue and longing in his voice. Her heart leaped, her gut telling her to accept what was happening.
"I’ve held onto this life for so long, but now the time of the drugiward has ended." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "When I go, do not linger here. You must make haste, for my going will bring with it the breaking of the last holds on Ansville. I placed a ward, what good that did."
"You can’t die on me!" Alicia whispered in shock. "I need to know things only you can tell me! You’re talking as though the future depends on me! I can’t do anything without your help! I was supposed to go into hiding, not... this!"
The old man sighed again, this time longer. Turning his back on her, he said, "All you need, you have with you."
Alicia glared, fear springing up. "I have nothing!"
The old man half-turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. "Nothing?" His eyes fell on her hand, clasped tightly to Daren’s. He gave a half-grin. "You will be fine, both of you." Turning back around, he gave a far-off look and raised his hands again. This time, he left them in the air.
"Your adventure has just begun, Alicia. The two of you will build the foundation of future events." He paused. "And I can now rest, knowing this..."
He took a few more steps and gave a long, satisfying breath.
Sunlight sparkled down and hit his entire body, igniting a chain reaction. His body began to flake away. He gave no cry of pain. In the span of mere seconds, a gust of wind swept by, his body disintegrating, falling apart until all that remained was a pile of dust.
Alicia felt Daren’s grip tighten, and her eyes hardened. The mention of her father brought to the forefront a burning rage. All the months of letting her walls down, her love for Daren, all began to close around a wall she started to raise. She looked into Daren’s eyes and felt him pour love into her. She held onto it fiercely, creating a partition where he alone shared that inner core of her mind. She closed herself off then. She could feel something far off in the distance, a darkness growing fast.
A burst of wind washed around them with a strange, deafening, reverberating "pop."
Daren shook his head, feeling the effects in his ears. Looking about him, he glanced upward, seeing heavy dark clouds rolling across the western skies. The wind picked up, howling whistles sounding through the trees.
Alicia tugged on his arm. "We need to get inside." The look she gave him matched what was already stirring inside his heart. It was no coincidence the weather changed the second the old man died.
They raced back toward the porch before a feeling of alarm swept through Alicia so powerfully, she stumbled, almost falling to one knee. She spun and looked at Daren, seeing he was having the same sensation. His emotions radiated toward her in confusion and fear.
Without warning, a voice spoke out of thin air.
_"Come here and let me speak to you for a moment."_
Both Daren and Alicia spun around, but nobody was there with them.
A powerful invisible pull grabbed them and dragged them toward two nearby trees. From within the bark, a yellowish light illuminated, tracing around strange patterns etched into the flesh of the wood.
Another gust of wind blew past, and as it swirled, sparkling blue mist materialized between the trees, forming a circular pattern of mystic light that grew in height until it stood as tall as they were.
Alicia fought the hold on her but knew instantly that whatever had hold of her was vastly more powerful, so much so, she knew nothing she attempted would stop the pull. She glanced at Daren, his fingers trying desperately to grab something. She reached out, the only thing she could do, and their hands clasped together, eyes meeting. They stopped their resistance then and stared into each other’s eyes.
A second later, the swirling mist engulfed them and they disappeared.
---
The dream was the same. Except it wasn't.
Daren was the first to step out of the portal. All around him, the place was dark and damp. Half-erected stone walls loomed over him, with arched doorways that led nowhere. Moss covered the giant stone debris that littered the ground. Behind him, Alicia stepped out of the portal before it vanished between two stone monuments bearing the strange patterned symbols from the trees.
Alicia immediately drew her sword, eyes watching everything around her. She examined the ancient ruins briefly, looking up into the roofless structure they were in.
Sunlight cast rays down into the foliage that covered everything. It was apparent they were in a mountainous place, as the structure was butted up against the face of a giant rock cliff. Vines and leaves filled their view.
Needing no words, the two of them stepped through the open doorways and out into an autumn setting of ruins. As far as the eye could see, stone structures of a once-civilized city lay in desolate decay. No sound of the living was heard anywhere. All there was were toppled stone walls of buildings as they followed a road through the trees. At each bend in the road, more ruins came into view. Nothing was left untouched.
The road followed a large cliff face to the left that acted as a boundary to another place. They were in a valley of sorts, and as they rounded another bend, the distinct sound of a large waterfall could be heard in the distance. A few minutes later, they were staring up at a massive falls cascading down the rock face into a river that flowed through a slow decline of the valley to a lakebed visible through the tree line of a forest. Directly above them was an enormous bridge, some hundred feet up, that spanned the length of the valley from atop the cliff. It led out into the distant lake, where an island stood with a giant tower.
Daren stared out at the lake, then back at the falls before his eyes went wide. In a whisper, he said, "I know where we are!" He followed the road again, where a large bridge crossed the water to follow a branch of the river splitting off. Here, the structures weren't so damaged, and the buildings began to resemble a small cottage town. The farther they walked from the waterfall, the quieter everything got, as if there were a spell cast on the area.
Ahead, the road ended where a giant stone wall blocked the way, its length leading down the sloping valley to be lost in the trees. An arch in the wall allowed the river to flow through, while a stone bridge crossed over to a large two-story stone structure with many different doors and a tower. This had to be a guard station.
They were about to step onto the bridge when a gust of wind shook the trees nearby with such force that the water from the river sprayed up and misted Daren and Alicia.
Shielding his eyes, Daren looked up and immediately froze, his eyes growing big and round.
Beside him, Alicia already had her sword drawn, her sapphire necklace shining a brilliant white as she drew on as much power as she could. She lowered her eyes, glaring.
From the sky, an enormous green-scaled dragon soared, opening its mouth and letting out a bellowing screech. Its eyes were locked on the two humans before descending, landing with a great splash in the middle of the river. It swerved its head toward Alicia, and its eyes narrowed dangerously. In a growl that shook the ground, it hissed, "Garland..." It opened its mouth, revealing double layers of jagged teeth.
Alicia stepped back several feet, Daren feeling the intense uncertainty through his connection to her. There was no winning a fight with this creature. They both could feel the energy radiating in the air, the magic that flowed through the creature. Its eyes glowed a yellow hue as it stared down at Alicia with malice.
"Long have our lands been wrought with the poison of your kin, human." The dragon spat the words out as though it were a bitter thing to say. "Your treachery and lies, your greed for my lifeblood... it has poisoned the land with your taint." Its forelegs dug into the riverbed, its mouth breathing steam. "Your presence here is a stench to be blotted out." Its eyes flashed dangerously.
Alicia gasped with a cry. She felt her connection to the necklace suddenly flash out. The sapphire's glow died, becoming a simple stone. She spun to see Daren step forward, his hand in the air. He hadn't yet touched his own power but instead simply held his hand up. His eyes glowed softly, though, ready at a moment's notice to release all he had.
"We have been summoned here." He paused before adding, "My dreams are of this place, of the old man who walks these lands."
The dragon slowly turned his wrathful eyes from Alicia to gaze on him with only a little less hate. He sniffed the air, eyes searching the depths of his memory. In a slow growl, he leaned in a little closer, eyeing Daren fully now. "A Cole... so the bloodline has not died out yet." It gave a bitter laugh and leaned back. "What of it, though? The end of your line will soon be here. The alliance of fae and humans is ended." He sighed heavily before catching sight of something, his eyes growing wide in anger. Leaning in close to the two humans, he stared down at Alicia's hand. In a snarl, he grated, "What is this abomination!" He took in Daren's hand and gave a hiss, smoke escaping his nostrils. "You are... bonded!" He stretched back, his eyes igniting with hatred. He let out a sound like thunder, his head lifting upwards... Swinging his head back to the humans, the dragon hissed in rage, "You have defiled the bloodline!" He screeched and stepped forward, his intentions all too clear.
Daren leaped in front of Alicia, a brilliant blue hue springing out over him and Alicia. His eyes were on fire as he clasped her hand next to him. He knew there was no chance of him winning this fight. But he'd die protecting Alicia.
The dragon lunged, fire spilling out toward Daren like lava and thunder. His eyes glowed like red coals.
Daren fought to keep his strength, but the immense power slamming into him was like holding back a tsunami. He cried out as his strength left him, feeling the heat of fire rush over him.
A clap of thunder echoed through the valley as though lightning struck nearby.
The dragon reeled up in a scream of rage, its eyes turning toward the bridge.
There, a man dressed all in white with white flowing hair held a staff that burned with fire. His own eyes glowed. He lowered the staff and the sound of heaven crashing down echoed with such violence that the ground trembled and cracked. "Enough!" the white-cloaked figure shouted. He leveled his staff at the dragon. "Enough of the madness, Droka." His eyes were intense as he glared. "I have summoned them here. This is my land. Do not challenge my authority. You will not like the outcome."
Droka hissed with rage in his eyes. "Humans! You're all alike!" With a last screech, he pounded his wings and lifted into the air to soar into the clouds.
Daren slowly let go of Alicia's hand and just stared in bewilderment. Beside him, Alicia wore the same look. They glanced at each other, the same question playing on their faces. Neither wanted to voice it, though. The pain of loss was so fresh and yet...
The white-cloaked man turned his gaze on the two humans. "Come here, the two of you. Let us talk for a bit."
Daren felt his legs were weak. He had felt the tremendous power the man, whom he could only consider a wizard of some kind, had. It was like nothing he had felt before, and it chilled him.
Alicia was already walking toward the bridge, her eyes fixed on the old man.
Fighting his nerves, Daren half ran to keep up with her.
When they were on the bridge, the old man turned and began walking toward the large stone guard station.
They followed close behind, and when they passed through the open gate to the building, they walked through several large halls and open rooms. Their steps echoed over the cobblestones and exited to several roads spreading out. Buildings of various sizes loomed up, all held in the style of cottages and thatched roofs, with what looked to be cozy dwellings.
The white-cloaked man walked along the road silently for a while, his eyes always looking at this or that building with a contemplative expression. At last, he took a turn in the road leading out of the village toward the large cliff face.
All the while, Daren kept looking at the man, frowning. He wasn't willing yet to voice anything. The power of this man went far beyond what he was comfortable with.
The buildings now spread out as the ground began descending, with steps leading up an incline where, ahead, a large mansion stood tall on top of an outcrop within the rock face. Stairs led up from the path they were on. Two waterfalls flowed out the side of the cliff where the river broadened out and the mountainside loomed tall overhead.
"Pardon my silence," the white-cloaked man said at last, taking a few steps up the winding path. "I get so few visitors that it's... difficult to speak again." He paused before adding, "My name is Shrukin."
Alicia responded first. "Do you live alone, then?" She looked confused. "I mean, there's a whole village down there that looks to be kept up. Why?"
Shrukin smiled wistfully. "I don't like things disorderly. I like things that make sense." He shrugged and leaned on his staff, making his way further up the path.
Daren found his voice at last and, in a hesitant start, said, "You look familiar to us. Do you know, "
"Thomas..." Shrukin nodded slowly.
"Thomas?" Both Daren and Alicia looked at each other. All this time spent at the Sanctuary, neither of them had gotten the old man to say his real name.
Shrukin nodded again, this time with a heavy sigh. He turned aside to where a level spot was with a bench and sat. He stared out at the river below and said, "Thomas, or as you would know of him as the drugi-ward, is my twin brother." He looked far into the distance, his eyes lost somewhere else. "Ages ago, it seems, we were tasked by the High Council to become what we've been for ages. My brother was given the task of guarding the way of the Gatebridge. For myself," he looked up at where the mansion loomed near now, "I am the caretaker of Extal's history."
Daren frowned. "What?" He tried to piece this together with what he saw earlier. "You're a... caretaker of books?"
Shrukin chuckled. "Yes, Daren. I do guard books, among other things. History is a powerful tool in any age. It shapes the future for good or ill. To forget who you were is to erase a part of yourself. Sometimes that's a good thing. But more often than not, it can have devastating consequences."
Daren shook his head again. "I don't get it. Why are we here? Why did you summon us?"
Shrukin's expression slowly turned serious. He lifted himself from the bench and gestured for them to follow him up the winding stairs.
They arrived at a long stone porch with a large ornate door that seemed to have no seam by which it could open. In the center was a yellow line running through what looked like the sun.
Shrukin placed his hand on the image of the sun, and a spark of light spread down the yellow line. The door slowly opened by itself, revealing a long hall decorated with trees and rooms of various sizes. A gallery of objects stood to one side, but the man led them to the right, where the hall opened to a large, towering structure. The room itself had no door, but arches that opened to the outside. In the center of the room stood a large stone slab with a carved hand. Above the slab, an orange light glowed. Directly ahead, another arch opened onto a circular outcrop that extended over the river below.
Walking to the stone slab, Shrukin gripped the statue of a hand and slowly pushed it down.
A gush of wind flowed outward, and they could feel the invisible trails of magical energy flowing out. From the middle of the outcrop's cement landing, an etched pattern of Extal's wheel glowed with blue energy.
Shrukin once again beckoned them to follow, and he stepped into the middle of the swirling blue light. As Daren and Alicia did the same, he tapped his staff and the light swirled up and engulfed them, vanishing from the platform.
Alicia was the first to gasp, her mouth falling open at the sight around her.
Stepping off the glowing wheel that acted as a portal, they found themselves inside a massive library. The walls stretched far above into darkness, with stairs ascending to several iron balconies overlooking a great hall. From one chamber to the next, books lined the shelves.
The lobby they entered held several stairs ascending in different directions. Below, the marble floor was etched with the design of a massive curled dragon.
She took it all in and, in a whisper, said, "We're inside Dragonblood's Palace."
Shrukin didn't respond. Instead, he led them to a second chamber, the light tap of his staff echoing on the marble floor. As they entered the adjacent room, the fire of several massive hearths glowed in the background. At one end, above a mantle, a carving in the rock depicted a massive dragon standing on a mountain cliff over a group of vagabonds whose clothes were rags. The dragon seemed to be imparting something to them.
She took in the carving and whispered, "I know this event. It's Dragonblood's origins as guardians and emissaries of Gontha."
Shrukin nodded sagely. "It's not often one of your blood is granted leave to enter this place."
Coming to another opening, Shrukin stepped through and into darkness.
Lit only by a glowing green orb sitting on a pedestal in the middle, the chamber held strange symbols of Extal etched into the walls, the edges of the symbols glistening green from the orb's light.
Standing near the pedestal, Shrukin said, "I have found that talking about things isn't as convincing as showing you firsthand. When I felt the connection to my brother fall away, I knew something had happened, but I think my mind wanted confirmation. So I called you to myself. But even then, I knew if this was true, you had to see for yourselves what you're up against. I can only think that you being with my brother was no coincidence. You are now tasked with saving the future of worlds."
He pointed to the orb. "Each of you, place a hand on the orb's surface."
Daren and Alicia looked at each other nervously. As one, they stretched out their hands and touched the orb.
Strange and dark images flashed before them, incoherent and jumbled, coming so fast that nothing could be made sense of. Then, as if time itself began to slow, the images slowed to become living scenes of sight and sound.
The world was awash in a dark red hue, the heavens crackling with strange, menacing clouds of purple, red, and blue, twisting in disjointed, spiraling patterns. At the center, a bright light spread out. In seconds, gnarled hands reached out from the light and screeches of monstrous winged beasts poured out to the lands below.
The scene changed to a dimly lit bedroom with colorful linens of a brothel. In the center of the bed, a baby screamed. Above, a half-naked woman yelled at it, her demeanor lost in a world of forlorn countenance.
The image focused on the baby, now half grown. He walked upright with purpose as he explored secret passages of an enormous palace. That image quickly faded, replaced with him at around twenty, in the midst of a war fighting alongside an unknown king. The enemy, dark monstrosities, were led by wraiths with glowing green rapiers, marching across blood-covered snow. From a hillside, a black dragon screamed in rage, with a mounted figure of blackness. Beside the young man, a woman stood much like Alicia, eyes determined as she held a sword in hand. Beside her, a figure cloaked in tattered black robes stood menacingly. Smoke filtered through his cloak as though he were continually on fire. He bore a sword as well, one that glowed white.
Again, the scene changed.
The same demon-like creature shrouded in black and smoke walked the plains of the world with the same hauntingly familiar woman beside him. He cast fire to the heavens, warring with a dragon in a valley of fire and burning caravans of people. The scene shifted to people screaming and rushing to an awaiting airship, disgusting creatures racing after them as the world around exploded in violent eruptions and fire. At the heart of the conflict, the two strangers loomed.
Again, the two were seen racing across Dragonblood's realm with a band of warriors and common people. In the midst, a fire burned bright as the noonday sun. An unknown man raced with a flaming sword as a massive crowd looked on with fear.
Another woman rode out onto a plain, her features unknown but for a sword in her hand burning blood red. She screamed in hate as an army of dark creations born out of Neverworld marched the plains of Gontha. All about, the world burned. There was no hope to be found. Death came on the heels of her power. And from the heavens above, a gnarled old hand reached down with a ring attached to a finger. Its emblem was that of Tausin, Faelivrin's ring.
Images flashed on as worlds within the fae died out, the lifeblood fading away and with it, the world itself and its inhabitants. Throughout Extal, a slow dying of magic washed across the vastness of worlds.
The images and scenes slowly turned now to a single place in a forest. High on a hill, a mansion stood dark and foreboding. Above, the same red and purple clouds swirled with nightmarish reality. Lightning streaked down, and from the clouds, a pair of glowing eyes stared back at them.
In a tight whisper, Alicia said in fear, "Ansville."
Daren only nodded, recalling a memory of its former beauty as a child, now lost in blackness.
The images at last faded away, and the nightmare future vanished.
Daren stumbled back, feeling everything in him tighten. The vastness of what was being shown made him want to crawl away somewhere and hide. He felt Alicia's own terror radiate through him.
The old man came to stand directly in front of Daren. "As the dragon prophecy slowly approaches, the two of you must confront the darkness of its beginning. You must stall the inevitable so there is time to assemble a defense for the future. The darkness the Night Emperor has amassed is great and must not be allowed through Ansville." He turned his gaze on Alicia with a saddened expression. "You must at last confront your father, Alicia. He is aiding his cousin."
Daren felt the weight of Shrukin's words sink deep into his heart. He had just accepted his fate as Dragonblood. But this... this was stuff out of nightmares. He could only guess the meaning of the events, but still, the implications, the weight of prophecy held over him to confront as Dragonblood, who was he to do anything significant?
A deep, exasperated sigh escaped Shrukin. He saw the look in Daren's eyes and knew it for what it was. It mirrored Alicia's own. "Such little faith you two have," he admonished in a deep tone of disapproval. "I have weathered the ages of Extal and have seen it all. Kingdoms come and go, empires thrive for a time and collapse. Time sees all things and reveals the true nature of events. The pattern weaves itself through destiny's chosen. Darkness does not overshadow without a glimmer of hope. There is always hope. And as chosen, your places in time have been purposed, guided, and placed."
For some time, nothing more was said. Shrukin looked from Daren to Alicia. "In a few days' time, Ansville will be swarming with vile things from Neverworld. In short order, you two will become their first targets now that my brother is gone." He paused, looked to the side before going on. "You are not without weapons." He turned and motioned for them to follow. "As in the days of war, we are given certain things to combat the darkness. They are weapons of immense power, of such legendary magic, only a few are allowed to handle them." He stared at Alicia for a long moment before adding, "For the first time in our history, I will grant this power as well to one of Garland's descendants." He motioned for them to follow him through another hall.
As he led them through the palace's silence, Shrukin said, "The time of peace is at an end, my friends. We now prepare for a dark future... and the weapons of war."
They crossed into a long hall holding many windows. A glance out of one of them made Daren skid to a halt, his eyes fixed intently on the sky. It held a strange pink hue, an ominous feeling seeping into his soul.
Shrukin nodded slowly. "Already, the absence of my brother is shown. Through Ansville's Gatebridge, no place is safe. Time is short. I will show you now the weapons you will fight with, but after this, you must make haste. Time has ended. You must reach Ansville as soon as possible. Retake the Gatebridge or do whatever you can to stop the flow that is spreading into the worlds of Extal."
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