Prologue
He walked down the road with a sly smile. The man, about 175 lbs and a solid 6'2 created very heavy atmosphere as he entered the mansion. He walked down the corridors and into the dimly lit guest room. There, awaited two armed men, at the door to the next room.
"I've come to meet the boss." the man says cooly.
The two men look at each other and then nod, allowing the man access to the next room.
No matter how many times I come here, it's always the same eerie feeling the man thinks to himself. He continues into the room, in which a sweet, quiet piano piece plays throughout the room. Mozart? or is it Beethoven? The man continues and kneels before the boss.
"Sir, I am here on your request." The boss turns around, a very scrawny man, barely 6 feet and no more than 130 lbs.
"Good, good," the boss drawls. "Tell me Yuura, how are you doing?"
Yuura shifts uncomfortably, "Sir?"
The boss replies, "I mean, do you know why you have been summoned?"
Yurra shakes his head.
The boss sighs. "I thought you, the wielder of the dark element would know at least."
Yurra flinches. How did this man know my true power? I never told anyone except…
The harsh laughter of the boss brings him back to reality. "I have a deal for you, so just follow me."
The two men walk out of the room and into a smaller room, leading down into a spiral staircase. Yuura looks down and realizes that the staircase could go down for miles into the inky black depths below. As if on cue, the lights go on and at set intervals, the torches light up. The men walk down into the place below.
As they reach the end, a single barred door stands there. Yuura, slightly surprised, asks, "Is this the feared Dungeon?"
The boss nods. "of course, but rest assured I am not here to cast you in. In fact I have someone here you might be interested in meeting."
The door opens and in it is an unconscious, sickly looking 14 year old bound by chains, covered in blood. It was a boy Yuura knew too well.
"Chase! What happened? Why are you here?" Yuura asks, nearly in tears. He turns to the boss, summoning his dark power. "What have you done to my son?"
The boss smirks. "Nothing really, since he was kind enough to tell us about your power." Now, relinquish your power and give it to me."
Yuura shakes his head. He had no intention of giving his power to this corrupt, greedy person. The boss smiles and sighs.
"I really was hoping you would just give it to me without resisting. But I guess I'll have to do this the hard way." The boss walks to a table, littered with all sorts of tools and then picks up a knife. "If you don't give me the power…" the boss suddenly materializes next to Chase and presses the knife against his throat.
Yuura sat there stunned. He couldn't give it to the man, but he had to save Chase. However, his power would not only kill the man, but the blowback effect would kill Chase too. Slowly, he raised his hands in surrender and prepared to give up his power. This is for the best...I will save Chase… Yuura starts to chant.
"The dark path awaits those who choose it. It is neither alive, dead, or in limbo. It affects all,destroys all, but it is the cure to nothing." A dark flame, tangible, and solid, but in a gas form takes form as Yuura finishes his chant. He gives it to the boss, who laughs maniacally.
"Now...now...The power is mine! I have become an Elementalist, but not any normal one, one with the power of a Sacred Art!"
The boss turns to Yuura and says, "As promised, here is your worthless son." He unchains Chase and then throws him across the room. As Yuura catches Chase, he notices that something was off. Chase had turned cold. Yuura turns and looks at the boss. The boss notices and laughs again.
"Of course! I forgot to tell you I killed him long ago, like right after he told me your identity."
Yuura sat there stunned and then feels something cold enter him. He looked down and saw a knife, embedded in his chest. He turns and sees the boss, behind him grinning.
"Now you two can always be together." The boss whispers. Yuura collapses lifelessly. "Now, 1 down, 6 to go."