Author: Werecat99
Feedback: zambopoulou@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: The Diablo world belongs to BLIZZARD. Aurion is a character I created based on the Diablo II computer RPG and I'm making no money of him.
Note: The title comes from a favorite TV show of mine, Babylon 5.
WHERE NO SHADOWS FALL...
The people in the marketplace parted as the tall, pale man walked towards the armory booth. He approached Fara and after some whispering he handed her a set of leather gloves and a scale armor.
"Come back tomorrow, Aurion", said Fara. "They'll be ready for you first thing in the morning".
The man nodded and walked away towards the inn, with his trusted iron golem following him.
A few yards away, a hooded figure walked out of the shadows.
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Atma welcomed Aurion and guided him to a secluded table by the fireplace. As he walked among the other customers, all conversations stopped. The people still wouldn't trust him. Not after ridding the sewers from the evil dwelling there, not after restoring the sunlight in the Viper Temple, and probably not ever. But he has grown accustomed to such behavior. His quest after Diablo was not one for fame. And he didn't care much about holy causes; that was a paladin's job. Aurion's quest was a quest for knowledge and power.
He just sat there by the fireplace, slowly sipping from a glass filled with ruby wine. His golem stood behind him, almost blending into the shadows, being one with the wall, but always scanning the surroundings, checking newcomers, guarding his master. Aurion watched the people come and go in silence. In the dim candlelight he looked like a statue over a forgotten tomb. His hair was long, way past his shoulders, once blonde but now silverish. As the shadows danced on his face, his features appeared sharp yet handsome, with pale skin, a skin that has avoided exposure to sunlight for a lifetime. He gave the impression he was fragile, but looks can be deceiving...
Aurion looked at the newcomers. The story of the Dark Wanderer walking the land had attracted many ambitious adventurers in Lut Golein. Barbarians from the NorthLands, for instance, like the young lad who had just walked in. He was big and young and loud and bragged about his rare executioner's sword he had found. Aurion was certain he would find the sword in a skeleton's hands one of these days...
"Mortals..." he sighed, and finished his wine. He stood up and walked to his room. He should rest, because he had to enter the Arcane Sanctuary as soon as his armor was repaired. He exited the room with the golem following him. Just a moment before climbing the stairs, it stopped and looked back at a hooded figure sitting at a table in the darkest corner of the room. Under the hood, emerald eyes shone. After a brief moment of hesitation, the golem turned and followed its master.
The creature in the dark cloak smiled and ordered another round of golden ale.
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The nest day, Aurion walked through the portal to the Arcane Sanctuary. He had dreamed of creating a similar place once. Maybe, when all is over, he would return here. But now he had a long road ahead of him. He checked his potions and wands and walked towards the northern corridor.
The golem walked in front of him, clearing the path of foes, providing him with plenty of dead flesh for his skeletons, while the necromancer casted curses and bone spears. He soon reached a clearing guarded by Night Lords. These were undead creatures that would suck the life from any unfortunate human who would cross their path. But they were no match for Aurion. All it took was a wave from his pale fingers. A curse, a summoning to his mages and his golem and all it was left was ashes and dust.
As he went through the loot, he noticed with a sad smile the sword of the young barbarian he saw at Lut Golein last night. The foolish boy must have entered the Sanctuary sometime during the night and fallen to the vampire's claws. Aurion hid the sword in his backpack. It would be handy, if his golem was ever destroyed. He waved his hands once more and unsummoned his skeletons, except for one ice mage. His minions had proved to be more a distraction than assistance in this place. The Summoner's hideout should be close soon, and he should have to rely to these two of his minions. He gathered the rest of the loot and walked further into the Sanctuary.
From afar, he heard an insane laughter, while several goat-heads ran towards him wielding huge scythes. The golem charged, killing as many as possible, while Aurion and the mage launched spell attacks towards the Summoner. But their enemy was not defenseless. The skeleton soon fell to pieces, while the golem was up to its neck with body parts. And Aurion had hid behind his gemmed gothic shield to block the incoming ice blasts. He threw as many curses and spears as possible, but he was growing weaker and slower from the continuous ice blasts.
The golem cleared the way from the minor monsters and advanced to the Summoner. But it was also week from the fight, and every ice blast slowed it even more.
"Not good, not good", whispered Aurion behind his shield. He drunk a minor potion hoping to regain some strength, but he could feel the cold reaching towards his soul. He had almost passed out, when a string of arrows fired from behind him hit the Summoner. With a final hit, the golem killed the Summoner. Aurion was too week to react, but managed to look back to see who this Deus ex Machina was. All he saw was a creature of unspeakable beauty in a golden armor, carrying a crossbow. A creature that reminded him of drawings he had once seen in an ancient scroll.
"Tyrael?" he whispered, before loosing consciousness.