The Powers Eight

The Powers Eight
Chapter 1 - Strangers

Many shadows covered the woodlands, bathing it in darkness. One shadow moved between them undetected, its amber eyes glaring through the night. A hood was swept back and the shadow chuckled to itself. "I have arrived."

*

Far away, another shadow with amber eyes was chuckling to itself as it began to climb a spiral staircase. "Finally, it is open."

*

"Another boring day, eh, Bohemeus?"

"You said it, Aran. No Core have bothered to show their faces around here since Kyros... Plith feathers! Lookit!" The Naroomian guard pointed down from Vash Naroom's guardpost to the stranger cloaked in black standing below them.

"About time you noticed me," the stranger called up in a calm voice. "I've been standing here for hours. Security truly has become lax since you all believed the Core was defeated."

"Who are you?" Aran called back, ignoring the stranger's insult.

"Who am I. Good question.

"Who am I, but the shadow of the trees.
Who am I, but the sun with the breeze.
Who am I, but the child of the forests.
Who am I, but the son of the Furoks.
Who am I, but the son of the Great Magus."

The two guards only stared at him before a root knocked the lever contolling the stairs. Quick as a sunflash, the stranger dashed up the staircase and disappeared into the city.

*

"Orwin, I think your age is finally getting to you! Nothing strange has been happening, truly. If you really want some answers, go ask Gia."

"I don't need to ask Gia," Orwin rasped. "Something peculiar is happening, I tell you, and it's emnating from the Core!"

Salafy scuffed her foot. "And I thought it was Eidon who was always jumping around with predictions like this. At least he's stopped thinking someone's the Great Magus every year now that Tony has come and gone."

"Salafy, I thought you'd be more comprehensible of this," a feminine voice spoke from the doorway, a smile threatening to surface.

"Gia!"

"Don't act so surprised. I've felt it even more strongly than Orwin. Something truly strange is occuring in the Core, but ever since Kyros used the Core Glyph to return to his world, the Core Gate has been closed shut."

"I believe I know what that is," a new voice spoke from behind Gia.

Salafy locked her green eyes with the newcomer's amber ones. "Oh? But first, who are you, and how did you get here?"

"Who am I. Good question," the stranger repeated again.
"Who am I, but the shadow of the trees.
Who am I, but the sun with the breeze.
Who am I, but the child of the forests.
Who am I, but the son of the Furoks.
Who am I, but the son of the Great Magus."

"Son of Kyros?" Gia broke the silence. The phrase echoed around the room.

"Son of Kyros," he confirmed. "My given name is Tony, after my father, but the name I have chosen for myself is Daronis."

Orwin's raspy voice spoke. "And where are you from?"

"I am from this world, but of another."

"What a load of Parmalag dung," Salafy sneered. "Son of Kyros? He never had a son, liar. And what are you babbling about being of another world?"

"It's quite self-explanatory," Daronis replied cooly. "I would have thought that Keepers need quite a bit of intellegence to pass the Keeper's Quest, but there's a weirdo in every breed, I guess." He paused to note the look on Salafy's face, resembling a mix of an angry Hyren and a Tree Hinko caught stealing a pie.

"As I was saying, I believe I know who and what is causing the disturbance in the Core," Daronis continued. "The Eighth Power has been found."