Chapter Three:
The New Adept

The Mark was in silence. Elephade-Patriarch-Elephade, an honorary Bearer of the Mark and Patriarch Elephande's younger brother lay dead, and his power was contained in the sword of the young Adept whom he had called General.

Richard lay exhausted on the ground nearby. The effort of holding the sword had taken a huge toll on him. Sweating and panting, he looked around. His friends had gone to round up the remaining Dreg in the camp below, and did not know what had happened on the hills above.

In fact, few knew of the events that had transpired on this hill. Most of Zambiandë's herd, indeed, much of the Indosyne Union army were chasing the fleeing Dreg across the forests of Balecroft. Cyrus and Allen, along with a few Intyde warriors, managed to find one Dreg General still in the camp.

It was not that Sulit-Aladan didn't know what had happened, because he had seen the Adepts unleash their elemental storn onto his camp. Sulit-Aladan was the Supreme Commander of the Dreg Army, and he knew his strength. He also knew that his army was exhausted and in shambles. Everywhere, his aides and advisors were fleeing in cowardice. Sulit-Aladan knew that anything he did would only result in more death, and a peaceful surrender might allow some Dreg to survive, and make peace with Elephande's military behemoth.

Admiral Delphi-Gladicle knew this as well. Elephande's fleet had made short work of his blockade, the pride of the Dreg fleet. He was now on the ground, next to Sulit-Aladan. Mastredocil, the leader of the siege, also stood nearby.

"Well, this does look like the end, does it not?" he said.

Meanwhile, Elephande stood mere feet away from his brother's body. Derógger or not, he was his brother, and Elephande had no use for the petty strife. After all, they had forgiven and forgotten that long ago. Dwindler's War was naught but a bad scar to the memory.

And yet, there was a sacrifice at the end of it, as well. Eleven leaders died in that war, taking their herds with them. Elephate, his cousin. Reheboth. Dagot. The list went on to other sacrifices thought the history of the Strifes, starting with the first: Altoda, Delagog, and Alinqua. In the Second: Memdrian, his own mother. Elder Afrin, who's prophecies of the coming storm were ignored. Elders Akim, and Amind, and Suian. All of them. In the Third already: High Chief Algoshire, Patriarch Neidiac, and now Patriarch Elephade, his brother Zambiandë. It was too much to grasp. But he sighed to himself, and thought just one thought: Soon, it will be over. My time is nearly spent, and the next Strife is due.

Richard lay there, unmoving, on the ground, waiting for something else to happen. It had been just like in the vision, where he saw the strange figure telling him: Soon your time will come, young Adept. You shall be a great leader, a figure your people will remember always...

Cyrus and Allen came over the hill to find Richard looking paler than ever, on the ground, holding his sword like there was no tomorrow.

"What was that chill about?" asked Allen, "and why did it get so cold?"

"It was Altoda," gasped Richard.

"Who?" they inquired.

Elephande strode over. "Altoda. He was once my nemesis, but he is dead now. The cold blast you felt was the exit of the Fallen One from his body."

As Elephande strode over to his herd, Allen and Cyrus looked more clueless than ever.

Suddenly, a young Adept appeared beside them. He was about average height, no more taller than Richard, and had hair so white you could see it for miles. His eyes were some shade of green, and at the moment, a look of pain was in them.

At the moment however, he looked extremely disheveled, and his hair was half-burnt. At the same time, Cody ran over the hill with flames shooting towards the new arrival.

"What was that for, you stupid idiot? What did I do to have you land on top of me?"

"Look, " the stranger replied, "that was an accident. It's harder than it looks to teleport between planets, you know."

Cody just stood there with his mouth open in protest for a minute. Richard climbed up again, and looked at the stranger. He looked familiar somehow…

"And anyways," the stranger continued, "I have a message for the six who left Anegon a month ago. It is urgent that you return with me."