The Wanderer's Inn
Oakenvale, Menoia
Mordas, 64th of Summerset
POV: Aurius
The world shook as the gates of Silverwind caved in. Warriors in silver armor took up the defense, holding the hordes of demons at bay. A lone man stood atop the keep, staring down at his warriors as the fell to the demonic hordes. Men he had known from birth to their end. So much life, lost due to the demons that haunt this world. His heart felt like lead as he drew his sword, blonde hair flowing in the breeze. His armor, grey as the clouds, gleamed in the half-light.
"Elysio? Are you ready for this?"
Elysio looked beside him to see his long friend. Clad in Golden armor, red blade in hand, stood Carth, blood matting his long black hair.
"We are all that stands between them and the people of Silverwind" replied Elysio
"Then let us hold our ground, and slay these spawns from hell!" Carth roared, hurling himself from the plateau and landing in the heat of battle.
Elysio walked down the stairs, slowly and calmly, striking down each demon before they could react. Below he could hear Carth's battle cries, and his monstrous charge. Elysio picked up his pace, now sprinting into the hordes of demons.
Carth and Elysio smashed through a wall of demons, slaying every one with ease. None could stand the might that emanated from them. Until alas none stood before them.
"This is too easy!" Carth chuckled, turning back to the gate.
"Don't get cocky! There are worse demons that these!" Elysio replied, leveling his shield.
Carth and Elysio looked around as a sinister bell began to ring. Its origin was revealed as two demons entered the courtyard, ringing the bell. Following them was a shadow Elysio and Carth knew well.
"Anathos, I should have known you were behind this."
The air was befouled by a blood chilling laugh as Anathos entered the gates. He wore a dark plated armor, black as night, with spikes protruding from the shoulders. His helm covered his face, so nothing but his blood red eyes where visible. He wielded a scythe, made of bones he collected from his victims.
"Elysio Tempest. It has been too long. Or not long enough?" Anathos leveled his scythe, pointing at the two warriors. "Even if you end all of my warriors, you are no match for me!"
Carth snorted, "Our powers have tripled since we last met!"
"Enough talk!" Anathos roared, hurling a black orb at Carth.
Carth rolled to the side, lunging at Anathos, who locked his sword between his scythe and shoulder blades. Laughing, he batted Carth aside. Elysio charged Anathos, bringing his shield across the Shadow's Helm. Dazed Anathos raised his scythe to block, but to no avail. Elysio's sword pierced his armor, and blood gushed out.
Anathos backed up, clutching his wound with his free hand.
"Not so confident now, are we?" Carth taunted, getting to his feet.
Anathos roared. His armor began to glow as his true form was revealed. Smoke rose from a man as black as nightmares. His eyes were wide, red and animalistic. His scythe shared the black smoke that smote the air.
"YOU ARE NO MATCH FOR THE GOD OF DARKNESS!"
Carth closed his eyes, and his armor slowly began to burn. As golden flame that engulfed his whole body, the cawing of a phoenix was heard.
"Not even an immortal can match the power of the Pheonix!"
Elysio's eyes shook as he stood aside. Carth looked at him, and then nodded.
Anathos flew at the speed of sound, meeting Carth, their fists clashed. They flashed across the sky, making sparks that ignited the cloudy sky. They disengaged, only to stare at each other.
Carth's flames increased until he gleamed like a sun, igniting the land around him. Anathos' darkness engulfed the land around him, as they both released the full might of their powers. A flash the size of a supernova cascaded the light with ashes, as a shockwave of dark versus fire created daylight anew. Elysio blinked rapidly, only to see Carth buried into a crater. Anathos was nowhere to be seen. His body was broken.
Elysio's tears streamed from his face as his lifelong friend passed into the void. He stood up, and looked to the sky to see a phoenix land on Carth's body. It looked at Elysio, and then cawed as it took off once more.
It landed in the bedroom of Elysio's children, who were miles from the conflict. It created a scar in the shape of a flame on one of the child's left eye. His mother entered, only to thank the Phoenix, who had marked her son with the flame of a new age. That scar... was on MY eye.00
I woke with a start. I had not wanted to delve into my ancestors memories again, but the image of him and my father was haunting me. I turned, only to hear the creaking of the night. I was ok. All was well. I fell once more into a uneasy sleep.