SLOWLY, IZUAL MADE his way through the halls of the Citadel, lost and wondering. He had not seen another Ancient since the Hylden had been locked into the Demon Dimension. His feet dragged along the floor, disturbing the dust that had settled there. The halls had no light passing through them; this did not bother Izual in the slightest, he was accustom to the dark. Nothing stirred as he made his way to the black smith's shop. Baal had left before the final fight, but there was still a hope in Izual's heart that he may still see his friend before he forgot even him.
Perhaps it was Fate smiling on him, or maybe it was the Hylden's last move, whatever power was held in the air at that time led Izual to the last hallway for him to walk down until he reached the shop. As the door came into sight, it opened and light flooded the hall. Baal stepped out and Izual smiled. Baal saw him and motioned him to come closer. Izual did. Baal reached out and took his hand. He led his lost friend into the large room and then left.
Izual barely noticed his departure for on a table lay his salvation. Its edge glistened in the soft light that seemed to pulse from the dying embers in the forge. He reached a hand out to it and slowly touched the handle. The leather was already worn from the use. Gingerly, he picked it up. This would do one last thing for him. It had already won the war for him, now it would save him from himself. Ever so slowly, he turned it so its sharp tip punctured his skin.
He sighed happily as he felt the sword start to drink his blood. Then he forced himself to go limp and fall on the blade.
Pain ripped into his numb mind and no matter how hard he tried to block it, it found its way into each part of his being. But before it became too much, oblivion took him it to its arms to shelter him from the pain of living.
WHEN HE AWOKE, it was to find himself in a long tunnel. Brown stone stretched out in all directions; it made caves and passages that formed a maze. Slowly he staggered to his feet and as he did so, the voices started. None of them made any sense until one called out to him.
"Izual. Welcome child. Welcome to your destiny."
THE END