Just and idea I had. I hope you enjoy it as much as I had fun fantasizing about it.

One spellmaster ran down the hall past his cohort. "Intruder! The Tarnished is here! Ready yourselves!" The sounds of magic and swords alike being readied resounded as the forces of the Carian Academy faced where the single set of wooden doors were still latched. The old wood was being pounded on by something, it sounded large. Too large to be a normal Tarnished. Or perhaps they had a large weapon? No matter, they would stand their ground and end this folly, that they may continue their studies to achieve power.

The doors flew open and a shockwave rippled throughout the hallways of the academy, anything made of glass, pottery, or brittle materials of any kind shattered into tiny pieces. A cloud of dust exploded outward, books flew off their shelves, and papers scattered like leaves in the fall. Bracing themselves from the debris, a shout from one of them had them all send a volley of glintstone spells down the hall, lighting their way as the projectiles flew.

However, green flashes formed around a lone figure as it approached from the cloud cover, unharmed. The sorcerers were left in shock a moment before recovering. "Don't stop, see him burn!" the leader shouted, flinging his own glintstone spiral. Before it connected with the figure, it held up a hand, and in its hand, a staff... no... a wand. With an elegant flick of their wrist, the figure twirled the spiral around itself, before flinging it back. As it came back to its owner, the twin spirals grew in size and even formed... twin snakes.. "By the Erdtree-" was all that he could muster before the spell cleaved its way through his body, singing flesh and tearing away his soul. He dropped in a sizzling heap.

The rest of the forces flung what they could at the intruder, and each spell was either deflected or reflected back at them. They stood no chance as they soon realized, as books from the shelves socked them in the face or gut, glass shards reformed into bats and flew through their bodies, and they were simply drained of their life essence by magic.

The Tarnished drew ever closer.

The heaving and defeated forms of the Carian sorcerers were on death's door, many sneering up at the robed figure as it passed them. "You wield.. dark magic! You are not worthy to walk these halls, evil cur!" One spat.

The figure halted, turning toward the speaker. A pale hand gracefully tipped the sorcerer's face up at their own, their black hood obscuring his vision. "Evil? You think it evil that I wield mere magic different from yours? How foolish and close minded." A near sibilant voice slithered back in response, before pulling his hood back. The Carian study could only stare in gaped shock.

This was no normal Tarnished. He was a sickly pale man, if you could even call him that. He stood quite tall as he rose back up to his full height, his green eyes almost like a snakes, his face missing the most human feature: a nose. Instead, he had a bump of skin that sat between his eyes with slits for nostrils, which flared slightly as he chuckled to himself. "A pity. It is no wonder your Academy fell as it did. Not a ruler here worthy of its potential. However... that is no longer your concern." He said with finality, waving the grey wand in his hand. Suddenly, all the sorcerers around him dropped to the floor, lifeless as if they'd been dolls all along. Looking around with no contempt for life, the noseless man admired his work for a moment before moving on.

Caria Academy, outside the Queen's Chambers

Moongrum had sworn his life to the Queen, Rennala of the full moon. Even though the rune of death had been stolen and he continued to age despite not dying of it, he stood proud and ready to lay his life down for her. She had always treated him fairly, even in confidence when the need arose, of which he'd never betrayed to anyone. He was a knight of her majesty, and nothing would get in her way.

That was, until a tarnished had begun to run amok within the halls. He'd heard gossip from the others that this one was different. That nothing was able to get in their way, and whatever spells they'd used on it, were simply cast aside or turned back against them. Come what may, this tarnished would know what glintstone and steel would feel like. The dying echoes of that large red wolf resounded throughout the courtyard, giving pause to everyone for a moment.

He gripped his sword tight, his breathing hitching as he heard signs of struggle, but not from their forces. From his. Flashes of red, green, many other colors began as the noise drew closer.

He would not fail here. He would stop them here, whomever they were, they would not enter that elevator!

He-

The pale bald man sneered as walked past the top of the curved steps, hearing a battle cry from a far more decorated looking warrior: a knight of some sort that wielded an enchanted blade and shield. Seeing his moment, the knight managed to swing his sword in a downward arc that ended in the blade shattering as it impacted on an unseen ward just inches in front of the dark wizard. The man had a very amused tone as he witnessed the warrior's shock. My blade.. was a gift.. "Quite finished? Good." With a flick of his wrist, Moongrum was sent spiraling into the sky, black smoke trailing around him, before he plummeted back down to his demise, hitting the rain drenched cobblestone with a wet crunch of steel and bone.

As he lay wheezing, Moongrum could only watch with slowly blurring vision as the wizard looked behind himself, gesturing to be followed. Before he passed away, he watched as an entourage of other figures robed in black, and a large python slithered past. Just behind their dark lord in tow waltzed a lady with crazed black hair, and a man with finely combed blonde locks who had a ring on his hand with a snake emblem.

The rain continued to fall as the small army gathered on the elevator, and none payed him any mind.

What'd you think? You like this setup?