[Disclaimer: I, the writer, hold no claim over the Guild Wars universe or any other property owned by ArenaNet or NCSOFT. Nor do I claim the lore or NPC script/dialogue that may be used. Notwithstanding the prior, I hold claim over my experiences and interactions within Tyria and my unbound imagination that existed long before partaking in such worlds.]

[SPOILER WARNING: The following story includes details and spoilers concerning the events that took place within the game universe of Guild Wars. Read at your own risk.]

Chapter 1: Briefly Before The Searing

Each breath was poisoned by the smell of mildew emanating from the moist stone walls. In the darkest corner of the cell, he sat, slumped over in a heap of pity. "I really should control my running mouth." He thought to himself. He spoke aloud as his hand wiped a lock of brown hair away from his face, "Imbeciles. All of them." A sudden clanking and creaking of an unlocked cell door interrupted his introspection. At the entrance was a man wearing hooded linen robes with leather pads, his voice burst into the environment with the demanding inquiry, "Are you the one they call 'Digit'?"

"I am 'The Prestidigitator.'" The prisoner replied as he forced a ball of flame to appear on his extended palm.

Showing no sign of interest at Digit's display of magic, the stranger threw an embroidered cloak into the cell. Digit promptly dispersed the flames and lifted the clothing off the ground to examine it. "These are—it appears to be—elementalist robes for Ascalon military."

"That's right." The hooded man answered before starting his way out, "We've been enlisted. Get up and get dressed. You're assigned to Warmaster Tydus."

Digit obeyed the instruction and stepped out of the cell only to find the stranger was nowhere in sight. "Loser must be outside," he spoke to himself as he walked down the hallway to leave. The sunlight outside stabbed at his dark brown eyes as he exited the jailhouse.

"My name is Axil, by the way." The familiar voice burst from beside him, causing Digit to jolt in surprise.

"Screw you! Don't be so sneaky or I'll boil the blood out of your body!"

Axil raised an eyebrow, his ebony complexion now revealed by the morning light. "I doubt your threats mean anything, seeing where I found you. What? No problem boiling my blood, but you can't fight a young girl?"

"Hey!" Digit spat in defense, "Her kick to my shin hurt, and it was the soldiers I didn't want to fight."

"Sure thing, bud. Badmouthing a little girl for losing her flute. You're SO fierce. I can't believe I have to fight along side such worthlessness."

A sudden surge of anger burned through Digit's blood, "'Worthless'? Forget being enlisted, I'll take you out right here."

Axil gestured his hand as if to swat away any tension, "Look, lets just get to the lake. I'm sure we'll have some grawls to kill, or something. I'll go out with you later."

Digit held his tongue to the sarcasm as they made their way towards the bulwark on the far side of the city. A hot wind blew, carrying an odd cloud of ashen dust with it from over the towering northern walls.

"I hate grawls." Digit chimed, "Stupid apes that appeared with the Charr. All they do is pillage, but they don't steal a thing. They don't make sense."

Axil thought a moment before answering, "Could they just be a distraction? Strategically sending lesser beings over to cause havoc while your army remains untouched seems like a good idea to me."

"True, but I've never heard of grawls working with the Charr. They both just seemed to attack at the same time."

"You're from Ascalon, yeah?" Axil inquired, "Why are the Charr trying to invade so fiercely?"

Digit pondered before answering, "I honestly don't know. From my perspective, the guild war seemed to be the largest pressing matter, but then these brutish cat-like beasts began destroying everything beyond the wall. They don't fight like we humans do. They're brutal and cold, they don't use guile or influence to push an agenda—they don't seem to even have an agenda. It's like they hate us so bitterly that all they care about is our extinction. I can't tell you why."

Axil shrugged, "In Istan, we don't have any horned cat-beasts quite like the Charr. Instead, we have monstrous insects and lethal roaming plants."

"So, you're an immigrant, then?" Digit remarked.

"More like a migratory adventurer. I heard of the conflicts taking place here and thought they'd be a decent challenge. Still, though, it shouldn't be anything my scythe can't handle."

"You're going to fight with THAT!?" Digit blurted at the sudden notice of the large scythe strapped across Axil's back. Axil only nodded "yes" in reply before halting at the gates by the lake. "How?" Digit continued, "I've used a sword out of necessity before, but I can't imagine having to use such a crude tool."

Axil couldn't explain before another voice interrupted, "Ah, Axil, I see you found the local troublemaker." It was Warmaster Tydus in his bold red armour, "It's almost time for our offensive against the Charr. We'll begin the attack before dusk. In the meantime, you should head over across the lake where the other soldiers are skirmishing in preparation."

Neither of the two partook in the fighting, but watched as the skillful soldiers trained for the oncoming battle. Hours later, the large gates leading just outside the city opened, revealing Prince Rurik, heir to Ascalon.

"Sir Tydus did not exaggerate when he spoke of you, for all of you've shown great promise today. I have come to induct you into Ascalon's Vanguard. We are the elite protectors who guard our nation when threatened from within or without."

When the briefing ended, the troop left towards a small abandoned bunker out beyond the grand citadel. After some time passed with quiet marching, the Prince lifted a steady hand to signal the troop to stop. "In that cave ahead is the Charr encampment. We need to proceed swiftly with surprise on our side." Everyone inched into their positions to rush into battle. As the signal to charge in the form of a blaring war-horn pierced the air, they all ran in ranks toward the, now scurrying, Charr invaders.

The battle quickly animated as the combatants made contact. Axil took his scythe in hand as he charged into the mass of Charr. He extended the blade and spun in perfect step as if he were in a ferocious dance. The blade sliced its way with ease through its foes' armour and flesh as Axil's fluent motions made him nigh impossible to hit in retaliation.

Digit stood amazed for a moment at such a display of skill, but didn't spectate for long as the advancing forces rendered a prompt for swift retribution. He lifted his arms into the air and focused all his rage, visualising the flames he would soon summon. As he pushed his hands towards the ground, flaming meteors plummeted from the sky onto the opposing forces. The fiends screamed as the fire burned through their defenceless fur.

Finally, a breach was made into the cave; and, in unison, the Vangaurd pushed into the encampment. The charr commander burst out from nowhere, firing fiery arrows into the battle. The Prince's mighty voice called out over the clashing of steel, "Vatlaaw Doomtooth! Your days of harrying the citizens of Ascalon are over!" Which caused the invading forces to retreat as their defeat was inevitable; but as the final blow ended Vatlaaw's life, a most terrifying series of explosions thundered from outside the caverns. When the Prince and his men rushed outside to see what was happening, the mouth of the cave collapsed, trapping Digit and Axil.