Prequel ftw. I bringeth the story behind Dark Love.

Prologue: Prelude to Madness

The streets of Juno were unusually busy with the annual city festival. It was a weeklong event to commemorate the city's birth. Vangelis drug him or Nicholas, if not both, to the festival every year. Blue banners were hung everywhere and there were countless merchant stands and booths for various things from food to odds and ends.

The city, well known for the sage academy, was the perfect spot for the magic users of Rune-Midgard to come each year. He and Vangelis had arrived in the city at a late hour and the festivities had yet to die down. The scholar has taken Athanas's advice, after much complaint, and followed him to an inn near the center of town. "We can get an early start tomorrow but I have been up since before day break," Athanas had said as they approached their destination.

His words did not stop Vangelis from pouting like a child. "What if someone buys the last copy of the book I wanted to get?" he moaned.

"Then you just have to find a different one," he chuckled as he pushed open the inn door.

They paid for their room and followed the hallway until they reached the correct door. A small oil lamp burned in the room, casting long shadows over the two beds. Athanas at once took to removing his armor, laying it in a corner with a few noisy clanks and fell gratefully onto the bed. He was more tired than usual so a deep slumber quickly overtook him. Vangelis was not quite so tired but he just sat on his bed, pillows propping him up and took to reading a book he had brought along with him.

As the night wore on, the scholar drifted to sleep, his book drooping in his hand. The city in the sky had an unusually peaceful night, the moon bathing the buildings in a soft bright glow. They had often heard from priests that the sun and moon were God's watchful eyes and perhaps it was true. Even so, could even He predict the calm before the storm, as people often say?

There was darkness throughout a dead and ruined city. It seemed completely foreign but so very familiar at the same time. Athanas took cautious steps down a stone path that probably had not been trod upon in many years. Just ahead of him was a large but modest house. Once again, it seemed somewhat familiar but no place he knew of was so desolate, so old.

He continued along the side of the house until he walked though the open gate and into the street. There was not a soul in sight and the air was still and dead. What was this place? He followed the road north through the city, observing the overgrown gardens and dried up fountains in front of homes. At last, he came upon what was obviously a church. It was a large building but looked to be a typical church for his era. Perhaps there would be someone inside that could tell him where he was.

As he strode up the cracked stone steps, he grasped the handle on one of the large doors and pulled it open. As he stepped inside, he saw that the inside was as dilapidated as the outside. He looked down the center of the vast room between the old wooden pews.

There were a few candles placed around the room, giving off a faint glow. At the alter he saw a priestess kneeling down, head bowed, obviously in prayer. Long silvery hair cascaded down her back, standing out brightly against the deep violet of her dress. Athanas was relieved that there was life in this dead city. He walked down the aisle toward the woman in prayer and stopped just a couple feet behind her.

"I apologize for interrupting but could you tell me what happened to this city? It is in utter ruin." He saw her lift her head but then pause for a moment. She seemed hesitant but stood, still facing away from him.

"I didn't exist when the city died," she replied softly.

"Oh?"

"I'm originally from Juno but now live here among the dead." Among the dead? How strange, he thought. Why would anyone want to live here? It was dark and it seemed like a living thing could not exist in peace there. "I'm surprised you don't remember your own home. You've spent you whole life and then some here." What was she talking about?

"I don't understand what you mean."

She turned around, facing him fully, an expression of grief on her pale and lovely face. He stared at her for a long time because he felt as though he knew her. Something about her was so familiar. He let his gaze wander around the room, a realization about to hit him full force. He did know this place.

"Athanas, this is Glast Heim," she said in a voice barely above a whisper. He green eyes were so full of sorrow…

The lord knight's eyes flashed open and he lay still for a moment as he realized that he was in an inn in Juno, not in a ruined church of Glast Heim. He glanced over to see the scholar fast asleep with his book still in his hands. The lamp had dimmed but nothing seemed out of place so he relaxed a bit and sat up. What a strange dream, he thought to himself. Glast Heim could never look like that. What could possibly make a city as great as Glast Heim fall? As long as he was around, no force--no matter how great--could cause the end of his home.

A/N: Hee XD How ironic.