Chapter 4: A Clash of Light
Opening File: Douxie Casperan
Born Hisirdoux Casperan the XIV, is a former wizard-in-training (current master) who worked under the apprenticeship of Merlin (until the latter's death at the hands of King Arthur), second-in-command of the Guardians of Arcadia, a cover student of Arcadia Oaks Academy, a former employee of GDT Arcane Books and Mr. Benoit's French Bistro, and best friends with Claire Nuñez, Steve Palchuk, and Jim Lake Jr.
Hisirdoux has existed since the 12th century, during the Age of Magic, but much about his past is unknown nor how he possesses a magical heritage. Orphaned with only his loyal familiar, a shapeshifting dragon named Archie, to accompany him, Douxie lived in Camelot during his teen years while magic was outlawed in the kingdom, courtesy of King Arthur. However, Douxie used magic during his traveling games to earn easy change.
One day he is outed as a spellcaster when a knight discovers that the ball used during one of his games was actually Archie. They try to escape but are caught red handed and Douxie is sentenced to immediate execution for possessing magic. Luckily, a court wizard named Merlin finds them and makes Douxie his new apprentice after realizing his magical potential while watching his game with the knight. Douxie since then has made it his goal to become a master wizard and prove to his master that he can be worthy to wield his own staff and possess mastery over magic.
At one point, Douxie helped Merlin craft the Amulet of Daylight and begin a long line of Trollhunters.
Not much is known about Douxie as he lived through the modern years, only that he's mentioned to be attending Arcadia Oaks Academy, the rival school of Arcadia Oaks High. It's assumed that after he traveled to the past, Douxie left some tasks to his past self, likely including the construction of Merlin's tomb. He has a job as a part-time waiter in Benoit's French Bistro and worked at GDT Arcane Books. He's also a guitarist in a band known as Ash Dispersal Pattern, who had previously covered for Papa Skull.
Some months after Merlin reawakened the Arcane Order made their move to secure their former member Nari and begin their plan to destroy the world and remake it into one ruled by magic. The battle left Douxie, Jim, Steve, and Claire stranded in Camelot's past where they became part of ancient history. Douxie's future self would help past Merlin create the Amulet of Daylight and be given a staff to signify his position as a master Wizard.
After the defeat of the Arcane Order Douxie has been making plans with his girlfriend and fellow magic user Zoe Ashildr to turn Camelot castle into a school for magic users.
Close File
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Opening File: Archie
Archibald is the son of the dragon Charlemagne the Devourer. Although he loved his father, Archie was quite embarrassed by how he was a "walking pun factory", and made-up stories to his wizard familiar, Douxie, of how Charlemagne was a vicious monster who baked his victims into "blood pies", believing that his stories seem better than the truth. Unlike the dragons ridden by the Vikings Archie and his father are of the magical breed, this has allowed them to have much greater intelligence, speak the languages of man, and are capable of magical feats.
Archie has always stuck beside Douxie in both the best of times and the worst and has always remained loyal to the Wizard. Despite the fact that Archie can come off as rather snobbish and arrogant he has always been well meaning.
Despite being a dragon Archie is only slightly bigger than a cat when in his dragon form. He also possesses the power to shapeshift into anything in the world though he can't always maintain the form of what he turned into forever. He also possesses bad eyesight and must wear glasses.
Close File
Xxx
Alfheim Forest, Night
Roland calmly walked through the forest, the night sky illuminated by the stars and the beam of light coming from a building far away that he knew was called the Temple of Light. From what he was told that beam was called the Light of Alfheim, a source of power worshipped by the Light Elves. And it was this power that caused an eternal war between them and the Dark Elves.
CLANK!
CLANK!
CLANK!
Drawn to the unmistakable sound of metal hitting metal Roland moved through the trees and came across a lake leading to the Temple of Light. On a nearby shore the Gunslinger found a small encampment with a makeshift blacksmith workplace being tended to by what appeared to be a short man in gold-plated armor. The man had brown hair and chestnut-colored eyes, his face was weary and has a beard. Roland could tell that this individual was no human, rather he was a Dwarf a native to Niðavellir. Though a single question came to Roland's mind.
'What's a Dwarf doing in Alfheim?'
Roland made his way to the Dwarf who noticed Roland and stopped his current blacksmithing work.
"Oh, hello there!" The Dwarf greeted him rather skittishly. "I wasn't expecting to find anyone from the other realms, considering the problems with Tyr's Temple in this realm."
"I have my own ways of traversing the cosmos." Roland replied rather sternly. "And I can say the same thing about you."
"Well, that's the thing about us Dwarves, we know a thing or two about moving across the Nine Realms. But where are my manners my name is Sindri and what's-"
"Roland."
Sindri was quiet for a moment, not expecting Roland to answer by interrupting him.
"Okay then." Sindri said. "Well, I'm here to figure out what Odin did to cut this realm off from the rest of the Nine Realms. So, why are you here?"
Roland was silent and kept maintaining his signature stoic expression before answering.
"Hunting."
"Really? What are you-"
AAAAAWWWWHHHHOOOO!
Both human and Dwarf tensed up and Roland drew his dual revolvers. Sindri looked around and raised his hammer.
"That." Roland stoically answered.
"THAT?! I'm not sure if you're aware but I know that howl!" Sindri frantically said. "That's Garmr! You can't kill him!"
"I've killed the impossible before." Roland answered before making his way to the howl which came from near the Temple. "And I will not be deterred."
With a sigh Sindri says, "Then I wish you the best of luck and you may have better luck than most humans. After all I can tell you're not completely human."
Roland stops walking and glances back at Sindri.
"Word about you has spread around the Nine Realms Roland Deschain." Sindri says to the Gunslinger. "No one could've predicted that you obtaining Seven Chakras of Aura would've merged with your Light of All."
Roland turns his attention away from Sindri and resumes his walk toward the Temple of Light to find Garmr.
"If you survive against Garmr you can find me at the top of the Temple of Light!" Sindri called out. "I can repair your guns and supply you with ammunition!"
Xxx
Alfheim Desert
"And we're going to this temple because?" Toby asked Douxie who both he and Archie were leading the group to the Temple of Light.
"We need to get out of Alfheim, and the only way is at the Temple of Tyr and the quickest way is through the Temple of Light." Douxie answered.
"So, we have to go through one temple just to get to another temple?" Steve asked. "How does that make sense?"
"Regardless." Jim says to the group. "We can't remain on another world and who knows what Garmr could be doing right now."
"Agreed." Claire says before asking Douxie a rather important question. "Douxie, what can you tell us about Alfheim?"
"The realm is home to different species of Elves." Douxie answered. "The Light Elves, also known as the Ljósálfar, and the Dark Elves who are also called the Dökkálfar. Both races have been at war with each other and normally we should avoid getting caught up in it. But, since we have to go through the Temple of Light, which is Light Elf central we just may have to get caught up in it."
"Honestly dude, that sounds like something we do on a daily basis." Toby said I response.
BARK!
BARK!
The group looked ahead to see Sir Barks-a-Lot trying to get the group's attention from a cave exit.
"What is it Barks?" Jim asked his pet as he and the others rushed over to the adolescent wolf. And what they saw outside shocked them.
Littering the desert ground outside of the cave were a dozen corpses of beings that only Douxie and Archie recognized, Dark Elves. They had horns, dark wrinkled skin, sharp claws, pointed ears, and insect wings, though the skin of some of them appears red and white. For clothing what they wore appeared to be skirts and other forms of ragged clothes.
"These Dark Elves look like they were ambushed." Douxie said as he approached a corpse that had an elegant stabbed in it.
"They don't look like how elves are portrayed back home." Jim said as he looked at the dead elves.
"Yeah, they're supposed to have pointy ears, and luxurious great hair flowing in the wind." Steve added.
"That's just how the mortals of Earth like to portray them." Douxie said. "Their real appearance, as you can see here, is much different."
"And speaking of elves." Archie said as he used his wings to hover in the air and directed the group to something past a rock.
The teens followed his direction and found three more corpses. Though unlike the Dark Elves these beings appeared to be luminous, didn't possess insect wings, had perfect skin of different colors, all light gray, marble white and pearly white, they had bright eyes of pink, gray and light blue colors, their horns looked more elegant than the Dark Elves and grew from the back of their heads. Their battle attire consisted of fine fabrics that were mostly white though some were also grey and blue. On the ground next to them were golden masks that had been knocked off of their corpses.
"And these are the Light Elves." Douxie said to the group.
"Is it weird that we all seem to have become desensitized to finding dead bodies?" Toby asked noting how the group isn't freaking out.
"I mean our line of work requires us to actually take lives, so I guess it actually comes with the job Toby." Claire stated.
"The Light Elves must have brought a strike team out here into the Living Desert and killed these Dökkálfar." Douxie said. "We best be on our guard."
"Agreed." Archie said as he perched himself on Douxie's shoulder. "There's not telling how either side may react to us."
"Wait, isn't there a side for good guys or bad guys here?" Steve asked.
"And the 'Living Desert'?" Toby asked as he gestured to the sandstorms. "This place doesn't look very alive."
"The war between the Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar isn't like that Steve." Douxie answered. "It's more like most wars in human history."
"Huh." Steve asked in confusion.
"*sigh* Remember when we were in Camelot's ancient past, he's saying it's like when Arthur was going after all magical beings." Claire explained.
"And to answer your question Tobias, this desert was once full of life in the past." Archie answered as he adjusted his glasses.
"And music." Douxie added as he summoned his staff. "They called it 'The Song of the Sands.' Gone, now. Another victim of war. Though the Dark Elves still make their home in the caves beneath the desert."
The group continued moving though Toby asked another question.
"Why are the elves fighting?"
"They're fighting over the Light of Alfheim." Douxie said as he pointed his staff to the beam of light in the sky.
"What makes it so special?" Jim asked as the group entered a cave.
"Exactly how many afterlives are there in Norse mythology?" Douxie asked in response to Jim's question.
"I don't see how that's important but two." Jim answered.
"No, three Jim." Claire clarified to her boyfriend before explaining. "There's Valhalla for the honored dead who died gloriously in battle and wish to continue fighting on behalf of Allfather Odin, Helheim for the dishonored dead, and finally Fólkvangr for warriors who didn't seek either fame or power and simply want to rest in peace."
"I'm guessing when people think of the Vikings they only think of the warriors and Valhalla." Jim said.
"Most people forget that Fólkvangr exists." Claire explained.
"That is correct Claire but most of Earth's people aren't aware of a fourth afterlife." Douxie said catching the attention of the other humans. "Those afterlives are meant for Aesir, Vanir, and any mortal from Earth who follows the Norse religion. The fourth afterlife is meant for beasts, animals, Dwarves, Elves, and Jötnar. Within the Temple of Light is a lake called the Lake of Souls, the souls of the dead I mentioned pass through it and enter their new afterlife, and the Light of Alfheim is generated from it."
"So, the Lake of Souls is another afterlife?" Jim asked.
"Correct the Lake of Souls has existed before the Nine Realms were created and will continue to do so." Douxie explained. "When the elves discovered the Light they worshipped it, the Light Elves discovered they could harness its power for their architecture, weapons, and magic. However, it caused these storms in Alfheim's deserts which understandably angered the Dark Elves who believe the Light of Alfheim should be left alone. Both sides have been fighting each other for so long doing terrible things to each other that you can't really determine who is good or evil."
"That's correct though both sides have different views when it comes to outsiders." Archie said. "Dark Elves have come to view all outsiders with suspicion and hostility, while Light Elves see them as thieves who have come for the Light. Although if given the chance the Light Elves will try to take advantage of outsiders and have them fight for their side if they see a chance that they can exploit."
"Not to mention that the Light Elves have become addicted to the Light's power." Douxie added.
"Wait, so the Light guys are basically an army of drug addicts?" Steve asked.
"Unfortunately, yes." Douxie answered. "The only person that could have brought peace to the two warring groups was the Vanir god Freyr but he-"
"AAAGHHHH!"
Hearing a scream from the direction they were going the group quickly ran to their destination. When they got to the location, they came across a lone Dark Elf surrounded by five Light Elves.
"Please I surrender! Spare me?!" The Dark Elf pleaded in the elvish tongue.
"The Light must be defended." The lead Light Elf said as she floated in front of the Dark Elf. Moving around with grace she slashed the Dark Elf across his gut with a pair of dual swords and then plunged them both into his back.
The Dark Elf gives out a gasp before his body became limp, signifying that he was dead. As soon as the lead Light Elf removed her swords from her kill, she and the others took notice of the group.
"Intruders! They've come for the Light!" She called out causing her squad to rally.
"Whoa! What's going on!?" Toby asked as he brought out his warhammer's handle and materialized the weapon part of it.
"It appears that our plan to avoid any and all fighting in this realm isn't going to work." Archie said as he used his wings to fly in the air.
"*sigh* Why is it always the hard way?" Jim said as he brought out Excalibur.
One of the Light Elves held up a staff with a white crystal on it and from it a large orb was generated, and he threw the orb at the group.
"Flashbang! Move!" Douxie called out making the group scatter.
The orb detonated causing a blinding light to go off. Though the travelers were lucky enough to cover their eyes.
"I'll handle the mystic you four deal with the rest." Douxie ordered.
The Mystic saw Douxie charging at him and responded by firing Light Bolts from his staff. Douxie responded by using his staff to block the Light Bolts and was able to reflect the last one back at the Mystic hitting him in the shoulder. Growling in frustration the Mystic generates another Light Orb and throws it toward Douxie. Only for Archie to fly in and to destroy it with his fire breath.
"It only works once chum." Archie said with a smirk on his face.
The Mystic fired a Light Bolt at the dragon, but it was taken out by a bolt of blue magic. The Elf turned to see that it was Douxie who fired the attack.
"Forget that you were in a fight mate?" The master wizard said before transforming his staff into a guitar and played a chord on it that sent a magic pulse that sent the Mystic into a boulder knocking him out.
Archie flew to the knocked-out elf and pulled something off his back. A large white glowing crystal that the familiar brought to his contracted wizard.
"A Light Crystal?" Douxie asked as he took hold of the crystal.
"Light Elves use these to work their light bridges." Archie explained. "It should prove useful inside the Temple."
The wizard and familiar turned to see that their companions had already finished off the other Light Elves. They approached their companions to discuss their next move.
"Now what?" Jim asked as he had on Barks' head. "They'll probably know that we're coming."
"Not exactly." Douxie explained as he turned toward the temple taking notice of how they were right at the entrance now. "While the temple does have a secret entrance the Light Elves never expected anyone to come through it and they've never expected anyone aside from themselves getting inside."
"Meaning that most of the Temple of Light is unguarded." Claire said upon realization. "We still might be able to make it through."
"Exactly." Douxie said. "Once we get to the top, we'll have a better lay of the land. We'll get the location of Tyr's Temple, head for it, go back to Earth, and Claire can shadow portal us back to Arcadia. From their we'll figure out a way to deal with Garmr."
"Though we may have to deal with one serious fight inside." Archie called out as he flew to the group with a piece of paper, he gave to Douxie. "I found this on our dead Dark Elf friend."
Douxie looked at the paper and read from it, "'King Svartáljǫfurr is dead and Níðhögg has abandoned us.' Wait Níðhögg? He never leaves the World Tree."
"Could be an imposter the Dark Elves were talking about. Keep reading the rest."
"'Light Elf Bitch Queen Alva has returned from outlying regions with the greater whole of her kind and decimated our forces.' Dark Elves must've had the advantage but lost it with the balance of power tipping to the Light Elves." Douxie said before continuing to read. "'Reports say that Alva has returned to the Temple, we must strike now and deal a crippling blow to the Light Elves'."
"Sounds like we'll have to face her." Jim said.
"And Alva's a very strong warrior." Douxie said as he discarded the letter. "Come on the more time we spend here the more time Garmr remains on the loose."
Xxx
Meanwhile,
In the forests of Alfheim…
Roland made his way closer to where the howl came from and along the way he had to fight both Light and Dark Elves. His attempt to talk to them failing as they cared only for their own wants and needs. Such savagery and selfishness he could not stand. When he got to his destination, he found glowing claw marks in the air and on the ground. The work of Garmr's unending hunger.
GRRRRR!
Turning toward a thicket of trees the massive wolf, itself emerged. Its fur covered in the blood of its kills, and it stared at Roland with murderous intent.
"Found you." The Gunslinger said to the soulless monster. Roland's body began to emit the colors of the Seven Chakras of Aura and his eyes glowed white. A flash of light covered Roland and temporarily blinded Garmr. When the light was gone the monster saw that Roland was now encased in armor and a pair of wings made of white light was on his back.
"The Light of All and the Seven Chakras of Aura have made me into something so much more." The Gunslinger said as he drew his Sandalwood Guns which began to glow white hot. "Now let's dance."
Garmr merely growled in frustration before barking and then charged at the Gunslinger.
This battle will not turn out the way one would expect.
Sorry this took so long I have no excuse aside from working at my job and just getting really lazy on my days off.