A Dark Story

Raylan, hands in his pockets, walked silently along the stone paths around the Nexus. He observed his friends paying with Zym. Nearby Bait was grumbling feeling left out. They played fetch, fed him some berries, and gave him affectionate strokes….it was a miracle seeing humans playing around with a dragon.

Carol saw him. "Hey, Ray! Wanna play?"

"Can I talk to you for a while?" he asked.

"Sure," Carol stood up.

Don't go. Begged Zym, pawing at her leggings.

Don't worry. I'm just gonna talk to Raylan. She spoke telepathically. You continue having fun with the others. I'll be back soon.

As they spoke without moving their lips, the others eyed them intriguingly. They wondered what they were speaking. After giving him one final pat, Carol walked off to talk to Raylan near some stairs; she noticed something was off about him. "You okay?"

"Carol, you know when I was gonna ask about those men who tried to kidnap but I wasn't able to?"

She nodded. "You sure you want to talk about it?"

"I need to," he peered over Carol's shoulder spotting the children still playing with them. "Not here," He led her to a lookout spot where they could see the whole valley laid out below like a model. They sat down on some rocks. He cleared his throat and she paid attention to what he wanted to say. "Back in the village, when they tried to capture you, did you notice any of them having marks over their eyes," She shut her eyes for a second.

She tried to fight against their captors as they bound her hands and took her bag. As she struggled, she noticed that the only thing different from the men's black clothing was the symbols over their left eyes.

"There were. I think they were the symbols of the primal sources,"

"Did one of them have a scar over his face?"

She went into deep thought again.

One of her captors had the star Arcanum symbol over his left eye. But over his right eye was a scratch mark that stretched over his discoloured eye down to his cheek.

"Yes. There was one just like that," her words sent a tingle snaking up Raylan's spine. She saw how pale he was becoming, rubbing his arms. "You know them. Don't you?"

He nodded. "They tried to kidnap me too. When I was a boy,"

"What happened?"

"I was ten years old. Still a child,"

(Six years ago)

Ten-year-old Raylan was slashing around with sticks pretending they were swords. He struck dummies in place and he even did some kicks.

Ethari and Runaan observed him from their balcony.

"He's getting pretty good," the assassin complimented.

"He has the best teacher," his husband kissed him. "I can't wait to present him with the blades I've forged for him when he comes of age,"

"If only Lain and Tiadrin could see how much he's grown,"

After Raylan finished practising with sticks, he went to a grass field to test out his gymnastics. He cartwheeled. He flipped. He did rolling dodges. Now he was going to try a hard trick. Running up a tree and backflipping. He tried to do that but he fell back onto the ground before he could even somersault off the truck. He tried again. And again. He punched the ground in anger.

Mocking waves of laughter made him turn his head to see three bullies observing from some bushes. "Looks like the abandoned elf can't do it," the middle one teased.

"Leave me alone!" Raylan stood up to leave.

"Why? Scared of humiliating yourself again?" the second one said.

"Or getting dirty?" the third one's comments made Raylan curl his fist. "Oh, look at that," he continued to scorn. "Doesn't have parents. Can't swim. Can't do a hard acrobatic trick. What more bad luck is gonna come your way?" they laughed again.

Before Raylan could lash out at them, the group heard a pair of loud coughs of the throat. They turned their heads to see Runaan and Ethari, arms crossed standing nearby.

"I suggest you leave before your parents find out," Ethari warned.

"Don't ever come near our boy again. Or there will be consequences," Runaan's warning sounded a bit menacing it scared the kids off. "You all right Ray?"

"I'm okay," he tried to sound reassuring but he wasn't. His head was hung and he was holding his pendant tightly.

Runaan was sad seeing him this. The way those kids spoke about his parents made him feel abandoned. He knelt before him cupping his cheek. "Don't ever pay attention to what they say. Your parents love you. Don't ever forget that,"

"And don't try and overwork yourself," Ethari added in. "Training takes time and more importantly development,"

"I want to be a great warrior like you guys," Ray wished.

"And you will," said Runaan proudly. "We can already see how much you've developed your sword skills. But you still have a long life ahead of you. Don't waste it on just training. One day you will be ready to be a warrior. For now, enjoy what life offers,"

Raylan considered his words for a moment. "Can I go to the fields just outside the grove?"

"Don't wander off too far," Ethari reminded.

"I won't. See you both soon!" Raylan dashed off through the grove up the giant tree root towards the barrier, his adoptive fathers watching out for him with smiles on their faces. He made his way into the Enchanted Forest, coming across meadows of musical flowers. He saw glowing mushrooms everywhere and stopped to admire their beautiful colours. He touched one of them that glowed and got some glowing residue on his tips. He wiped it off on a leaf before finally reaching the fields. Once he stepped into the field, he saw tiny, coloured creatures that looked like fluffy balls attaching themselves to his feet. He laughed. He rolled about in the grass, the little cute creatures playing around with him, tickling him. He laughed for joy.

High above the trees, towering over the fields, four black-cloaked men watched him. One pulled out a sack. The tallest, the leader raised his hand and flicked it forward.

It was night-time, and Runaan and Ethari observed all the citizens of the Silvergrove walking about the courtyards. They had yet to see any sign of their son.

"He should have been back by now," said Ethari. "I'm starting to get worried,"

"We should go and find him," Runaan insisted; he agreed. They made their way through the magical barrier and into the forest calling out Ray's name but they found no trace of him. They went over to the fields of the Adoraburrs, his favourite spot but still no sign of him.

"Ethari, look," Runaan knelt on the ground. He could see footprints pressed into the ground. And there were smears of grass, flattened like there had been a big struggle. And there were twigs on the ground too, from the tall trees up above.

Ethari was about to speak when he saw something shiny under some strands of flat grass. He picked up a short knife with moon symbols; it was Raylan's. He had given it to him a year ago. And he never goes anywhere without it. Unless… He showed it to his shocked husband. "Someone else was here,"

His husband pulled out a moon crystal and crushed it into moon dust. "Historia Viventum!" the moon dust blew in the wind. An image of Raylan appeared in the grass, playing with the Adoraburrs. Some moon dust levitated upwards. They looked up and they saw cloaked figures high in the trees. They leapt down. They watched as the image showed the Adoraburrs scurrying back into the grass whilst one of the men grabbed Raylan, who fought back. He released himself from his captor, then pulled out a hidden dagger from his boot and tried to defend himself. To the couple's surprise, they saw him dodging the men's attempt to capture him but the tallest one managed to grab a hold of him. The kid fought back, cutting him in the face and causing him to cry out. Raylan released himself but the shortest man pulled some dust from his pocket and blew it into his face causing him to drop his dagger and his body to the floor, his eyes shut tight. He was tied up, hoisted over the shoulders of the man whose face he had scrapped with his knife.

"You sure that this is the son of the Dragonguard's Moonshadow elves?" a figure with the Sun Arcanum symbol over his eye asked.

"Absolutely brother," the figure holding Raylan had the star symbol over his face. "He'll be the perfect leverage to use against the Dragonguard to make them turn the egg and the looking glass over to them,"

"Excellent. Then our plan is set in motion,"

Ethari and Runaan were terrified; their adoptive son had been captured. They watched as the cloaked man loaded up their sacked son onto their horses. They noticed he was giving them a strange look.

"We know that look brother," the third one, the Ocean-tattooed man said. "What are you planning?"

The tallest one smirked. "I have a feeling we'll be keeping the Moonshadow kid in the end,"

"You mean you're gonna turn back on your word?"

"With a kid's skills like this…" he pointed to a long scar down his right eye. "We could have an elven assassin on our team. With his connection to the Moon Arcanum, he will fill the void, that treacherous Ihar left behind as well as Callum. The elf will be able to sneak into the kingdoms of the continent and do things we can't. He'll be our elven weapon. Now we make for the Storm Spire,"

The image vanished; the husbands were horrified. "We have to find him," Runaan panicked. "This is all my fault. I never should have let him go,"

"You couldn't have known my love," Ethari cupped his cheek. "We must make haste now while the moon is high and we're at our best advantage,"

Raylan's eyes flickered. He couldn't feel much strength left in his body. He opened them. He saw ground moving beneath him. He realised he was on a horse, his hand behind his back, and his ankles tied. He tried to break free but they were too tight.

"Glad to see you're awake, elf," a man on his right side growled. Raylan raised his head and he saw the tall man whose face he had scratched.

"Where are you taking me?!" he shouted.

"You'll find out soon enough," the man simply said.

"When my people find out I'm missing you're all gonna be in big trouble,"

"If I were you, I'd be more worried about yourself," the man warned. "Now shut your mouth. Or I'll put a sack over your face," Raylan knew better than to speak. He kept his mouth shut and didn't attempt an escape. He would be no match for them without weapons. Raising his head, a little, he could see the three other cloaked figures behind his captor's horse. The Earth, Sun and Ocean Arcanum symbols were tattooed over their faces, one for each. He raised his head a little and saw his captor had the star arcanum symbol.

By that time, it was midnight. The party had arrived at the edge of a great black desert of black sand. They didn't go forward. Ahead of them, Raylan could see snakes with glowing green eyes shooting out of the sand. Soulfangs.

"We stand no chance of crossing this desert, Castor," spoke the Earthman.

"I've got that covered," the leader pulled out a stone of dark energy and created a forcefield that covered the party on their steeds. "We will cross to the Oasis, spend the night there and make the rest of the journey tomorrow,"

Raylan gulped. By now his fathers would be very worried. How would they find him if they couldn't cross the treacherous desert? He prayed that they would still save him.

The party crossed the plains of black sand that sparkled under the full moon. They could hear the loud hissing of serpents that wormed their way in and out of the sand with eyes that glowed green. They tried to attack the newcomers but the forcefield protected them.

They came to a large desert spring surrounded by obelisks that created a powerful barrier of blue energy that surrounded the site. They passed through, settled near the lake, and tied Raylan to a tree with chains instead of rope.

"Who are you?" he demanded again. They didn't answer. He didn't bother asking again. "Aren't you gonna give me something to eat or drink?"

The tallest one scoffed. "Get him some water,"

The earth-tattooed one pulled out a flash and filled it up with fresh water from the water hole. He roughly grabbed Raylan's head and forced the liquid down his throat much to his discomfort. They made a fire and warmed themselves up.

Raylan was given no comfort at all; he was kept tied up constantly. They only fed him bread which he munched on slowly. He quivered, wondering what was gonna happen. He didn't know what to do. Soon the party fell asleep but he could barely close his eyes. It was his determination that kept him awake. He couldn't release himself from those chains; they were enchanted. Still, he couldn't give up. He couldn't let them use him for whatever reason they had kidnapped him for. He stared up at the moon high in the sky, watching as the clouds moved away from it. As he did, he felt his entire skin vibrating as he became dark and he felt his eyes burning purple, his Moonshadow form taking over him again.

Hearing the loud snores of his kidnappers, he wiggled a little. The chains clanked. One stirred a little. He did it again. He managed to stand up, leaning against the tree. He searched around for something that could help me escape these inescapable chains. He saw one of the men's bags left open, items rolled about. He saw a magic knife; it could cut him free. He squatted down against the trunk and reached his long leg feeling his toe touch the blade's tip. He managed to move the knife close to him. He flipped it onto his foot and like a juggler managed to toss the knife in the air and catch it with his bound left hand. He pressed the knife against his metal bindings. The chains broke. He was free. They fell into a clatter of noise making the men stir; they didn't wake. He breathed out in relief.

He stepped quietly over the sand and past the sleeping men. He snuck past the horses who would neigh loudly if he alerted them of his presence. He wouldn't be able to ride one of them either. They were too tall and they were human mounts, not elven. He reached the magical forcefield around the oasis; he prepared to pass through but stopped when he saw soul fangs leaping in and out of the sand. They were active at night. He couldn't leave this place. He was still trapped.

"And where did you think you were going?" a voice spooked from behind.

He jumped. He turned around and saw the tallest man with the star tattoo and the scar marking his face. He still kept his mask covering the bottom half of his face.

"I wasn't asleep young Moonshadow elf. I was testing you. And you succeeded. You'll make a perfect assassin,"

"Never!" Raylan pointed his blade at him. "I'll never be what you want!"

"You've got nowhere to run Raylan. Those snakes will bite you. You are still our prisoner,"

"How do you know my name?"

"I know many things young elf. I know that you're insecure. That you feel abandoned by your parents and are made fun of because of your fear of water…"

"Shut up!" cried out Raylan bitterly.

"You are just like us," the man swayed, trying to manipulate him to his end. "Join us and all that self-doubt can go away,"

"Never!" Raylan ran through the barrier out into the desert with courage and spirit. The man chuckled.

The elf ran across the sand, avoiding the snakes that leapt out to try and bite at him.

The man called his brothers and they found their horses, attempting to pursue the young elf child. He had just run past the dunes bordering the oasis when he saw the brothers closing in on him. The Earth one pulled out a primal stone with green energy. "Creatura Lenta!" he crafted into the air. The sand swallowed Raylan slowing his run. He tried to climb out but he was helpless. As he turned his head, he saw the tallest one pulling out his primal stone to cast a spell…to trap him.

Suddenly an arrow appeared out of nowhere and shot the primal stone, destroying it, and causing it to explode into a force of powerful purple magic. The strong force made Raylan close his eyes and brace himself. The waves of energy caused the brothers to fall off their horses. All was silent for a second.

Raylan managed to climb his way out of the ground as he heard loud war cries surrounding him. He turned his head and witnessed dozens of Moonshadow Elves appearing on mounts, all glowing in their Moonshadow forms like him. He watched as they fired arrows at the brothers but the three younger men, Sun, Earth, and Ocean fought against them with their primal stones whilst the Star one, the one whose primal stone Runaan's arrow had broken, lay lying down helpless…possibly dead?

Though the warriors were mighty and strong and riding Moon-mounts, they were no match for the powerful spells. To his shock, he saw the star one stand up, he pulled out a powerful weapon of dark magic. But before he could cast it, Runaan appeared out of the blue and shot an arrow. He barely dodged, feeling its sharp head scrap against his cheek. Ethari appeared too, shooting his arrow, and shooting the Earth Mage's shoulder.

The Sun mage cast a wall of fire around himself and his brothers protecting them. The elves fell back, some feeling the fire burning their hands. The fire spread creating a wide barrier that forced them back allowing the wounded and weak brothers to escape on their horses. Riding in front of his sun brother, the star encased them in a forcefield to protect them.

Runaan tried to command them to chase after them but Soulfang snakes appeared out of nowhere. He saw the oasis. "Everyone retreat to the Oasis!"

"Where's Raylan?" Ethari panicked.

Raylan clambered over the sand to reach them. "I'm here! I'm here!"

The husbands spilt out tears seeing him safe. Ethari picked him into his arms and as fast as they could, the entire party retreated through the safety barrier of the oasis's obelisks, watching helplessly as Raylan's kidnappers got away. They couldn't risk the wrath of the soul-sucking snakes, too many to fight.

The petrified Raylan was engulfed in the arms of his adoptive fathers. He was spilling tears, letting out all that panic he had been feeling for hours.

"It's all right, Ray-Ray," soothed Ethari. "You're safe now. No one's going to harm you again,"

"I thought you guys wouldn't find me. That you wouldn't get to me in time,"

"We're never gonna let you go," Runaan promised.

"We gathered our best warriors and we cloaked ourselves to get through the desert to reach you," Ethari explained. Moon magic was a perfect way to get past the limbless reptiles; they were relieved that they had managed to reach Raylan just in time. He wiped their son's tears away.

"It was so awful. They were gonna turn me into their weapon. But I'll never let them force me to do terrible things," he swore.

After giving him one last hug with Ethari, Runaan peered through the forcefield and could see the Soulfangs had disappeared but the mages remained far off in sight. "Follow them," he ordered some soldiers. "Find them before the moon set. They mustn't reach the Storm Spire,"

They nodded. Pulling out moon opals, they cased a camouflage over themselves and their mounts and with the number of desert snakes reduced, they galloped across the sand lands to chase down the mages who had kidnapped one of their own. As they watched, Raylan couldn't control his crying. He was traumatized by everything that had happened. Ethari and Runaan embraced him in their arms once again, their warmth transferring into his body, transforming his fear into relief.

"Even though they had saved me and driven off those mages, many elves had lost their lives that day. Whoever they were, they were no friends to elves. Humans neither. My people searched all over Xadia for them but were never found. We assumed they had somewhat crossed the borders to the Human kingdoms and we couldn't leave without provoking an attack,"

"And they never came back to Xadia," Carol realised. Sensing the look of guilt on Ray's face, she reached over and touched his shoulder. "You're not responsible for what happened that day. You were just a kid. You didn't do anything wrong,"

"That's not really how I feel," lamented Raylan. "Being kidnapped like that and having to be rescued at the expense of so many elves made me so guilty for leaving home in the first place. I vowed to always take things seriously and never let anything go astray. I pushed myself to keep training and training so no one would have to risk their life for me again like that. But now.… I'm thinking maybe I'm not capable of killing anyone because I'm afraid of becoming just like what those men wanted me to be. A killer. I wanted to be an assassin to bring justice to my people. Now I feel like perhaps that's not what I'm meant to be,"

"Nobody controls your choices Ray," Carol said. "You do. And you decided you couldn't kill me because of the person you are. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to fight against Runaan. Especially when he saved your life,"

"I wished it had been different," he lamented.

"Thank you,"

"For what?"

"For telling me. Did it make you feel better?"

"It did,"

Carol placed her hand on his. "There's nothing to worry about Raylan. Those guys are not going to get us or use us for their own selfish desires. Just as long as we stick together with the others, there's nothing we can't do. Once we reach Xadia we won't have to worry about them,"

"I hope so," Sending her one last smile, Raylan looked out to the bright sunlight with Carol watching too. They stayed where they were enjoying the view.

What did you all think of these flashbacks and Raylan's history with those mages? Hope you all enjoyed it. Please send reviews and let me know what you all thought. See you soon