Prologue chapter
This story ends, and in a way begins inside a military tent. This tent is of considerable size and is decorated both inside and out with ornaments and trappings. There is a banner flying in the wind outside bearing a symbol of burning earth and a phoenix rising out from it to a background of the dawn sky, much like the current one. Dewdrops cling to the flag and sparkle like diamonds in the early morning sun. Around this tent there are hundreds more like it albeit much less ornate with identical flags, everywhere there are the remnants of campfires, great racks of weaponry and horses pulling at their halters as if sensing what is about to happen. But the tent nor it's surroundings are relevant, what is important is the tent's single occupant. He is sitting in the centre of his room of cloth thinking what could well be his last thoughts.
Asura opened his eyes slowly, he saw his own reflection in the mirror and to his surprise found he couldn't hold his own gaze. Who could blame him, on a day like today. He was dressed in his resplendent armour, gold plated mithril scale mail along with red armour. He would look very intimidating in the morning sun, he would need to. The elf stared out of the tent flap with a deep frown across his face, dawn had come to quickly for his liking. He had only just shut his eyes for a moment's thought and when he opened them again several hours had past. Unable to stay still he rose to his feet and began to pace around the tent, his mind racing. Every strategy he had ever used flicking through his mind, how could he make this any less suicidal. Just a fraction would do.
"Think." He muttered to himself. "What haven't I tried?" Of course this was pointless, he had been busy for a week planning this event. Surely is there was a way to make it easier he would have noticed. Giving up on the strategy, Asura let his mind wander back a few years. He felt his heart lift slightly as he was reminded of the road that had brought him to this crisp, wet dawn. He suddenly paused, as he was reminded of something. Why was he worried? This was his own fault. It was he himself who had started this whole thing all those years ago. He himself who knew that this would be the result. A suicidal day in which he and all his men would most likely die. But if he could do the impossible, if he could win. He could finally go home happy, this was the moment he had been waiting for. His 30 year plan was finally finished, the ultimate risk for the ultimate prize.
"Asura, we're ready for you."
Teclithon's voice caught the elf by surprise, dragging himself back into his body Asura answered.
"One moment."
He strode to the end of the tent and picked up his helmet, tall and gold with great metal wings sprouting from the side, Asura couldn't help but grin. The first time he had seen this helmet he thought it looked ridiculous, it looked like a cross between a hawk and an evergreen. Tucking his headgear under his arm he took one last look in the mirror.
"What a warrior I've become." He said out loud. "I wonder if that's a good thing."
He turned on his heel and pushed aside the tent flaps which whirled in the morning wind before slowly sinking back into place.