The Dark Magician

“There weren't always dragons in the valley. They appeared at the war's end when the fighting reached its peak. The ancestral beings came from the world beyond the sky to judge the deeds of men and women, as well as, to protect the sacred land.” Meerna said as she gently closed her book. “Who told you that?” Shane muttered as he sat on his bed with his forearms resting on his raised knees. It was still the early morning before sunrise and visibility was low in the servant’s quarters, but Shane’s bronze face caught the moonlight pouring in through the window almost perfectly. His face mirrored that of one in deep contemplation. It was partially covered by his curly raven hair which didn't help. Yet, his turquoise eyes had a piercing effect, almost as if once she caught his gaze her life would be laid bare before him.

Meerna cleared her throat, “It’s common knowledge since the war's end.”

“And you just believe whatever you’re told.” retorted Shane.

“Why? Do you know something different!?” Meerna rebelled. Shane tilted his head and gazed upon Meerna. It was only for a couple of seconds but it felt like an eternity. “Why are you staring at me?” Meerna said as she broke his gaze. Shane tilted his head back to its previous position. “Why are you here?” He relented. Meerna paused at the question. Shane had entered her father’s service only a couple of days ago, but he was rumored to be from a place far away from their little city. Tactful and quite obviously not built for loading steam ships there was an air of mystery to Shane, but what Meerna was most curious about was his travels. She wrapped her fingers around her book,

”Most servants would be honoured by a visit from the lady of the house.”

“At this time? Sounds like an easy way to get in trouble, and my lady I still have over an hour before my shift begins. I'm an employee not a slave” Shane said stoically. Meerna felt as if his attention was never in their conversation. “I came down here to ask you questions about the world outside these walls.” Meerna spoke up.

“You’ve never been outside the city?”

“No I haven’t.”

“There's not much out there for someone like you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean it’s dangerous for someone so sheltered and helpless.”

“So what do you want me to do?” Meerna clenched in fear of his response. “Stay here for the rest of my life?” “No.” Shane turned his head towards her. “Prepare yourself. For there is no one living who can escape the dangers of this world. They must be confronted.” At that moment Meerna felt Shane’s attention leave the room again. She was intrigued, nervous, and had more questions, but she knew her time was up. She moved towards the door and turned back to Shane before leaving only to see him still in his prior position, unchanged.

A few hours later the sun had risen and shone through the window of Meerna’s room. She laid in the bed with curiosity holding her hand up to the sky, playing with the light rays in the air. What did Shane mean? How does one prepare themselves for the world? She was determined to learn more about him and the places he had been. Why was he working for her father? “Meerna!” her thoughts were interrupted by her servant Annabel who was rushing down the hall. Meerna rolled over to her belly in preparation for Annabel’s intrusion. Annabel pushed the door open with vigour.

“Annabel what is it!?” Meerna complained.

“I’m sorry mistress but it's time to get up. You're late for chapel.”

Annabel helped Meerna dress. She wore a white dress with a red ornate sash, and her long blonde hair was placed in a bun and then covered with a gold-trimmed white shawl. The two then proceeded through the manor’s halls. Meerna couldn’t help but notice Annabel’s looks of disappointment and discomfort as they walked. She could feel the growing tension with every step. “Are you alright?” Meerna released. “I know what you did last night.” Annabel replied. Meerna stayed silent but tilted her head in to indicate that she was listening. Annabel continued, “You snuck off to the servant’s quarters to do All-Mighty knows what.” Meerna smirked, “Annabel, it's not what you think, I just wanted to discover the man’s knowledge of the outside world.” Annabel rolled her eyes. “Is that what they're calling it these days?” The two made their way outside the residence through the courtyard onto a road that passed the docks where the steamships were located. There Meerna paused as she saw the burly men loading the steamships with precious cargo. She spotted the smaller framed and clearly out of place Shane helping with the load. Though he was significantly less built than the other men, he was keeping up with them, and his countenance didn’t appear to be labored. “Didn’t you get enough last night!?” Annabel grabbed Meerna by her hand and hurried her down the walkway towards the chapel.

Shane was looking for something in particular. He didn’t know what it was, just that it was something that would be out of place. The crew had been working for a few hours and their first break was bound to be soon. He had been diligently watching everyone and everything over the last couple of days as he played the role of the lowly hard-working servant. “Ding! Ding! Ding!” The bell rang and it was time for a brief break. Shane watched as the men began to slowly disperse. “Hey Tyre, come sit over here.” one of the workers bellowed. Tyre waved the worker off and started down the road towards the chapel. Nothing, in particular, stood out about Tyre. He wasn’t too quiet or boisterous. He wasn’t particularly funny but could hold a conversation when he wanted to. The only thing that made Tyre stand out to Shane was that he was just as vigilant as Shane had been over the last couple of days. Being vigilant certainly wasn’t a crime, but Shane decided to follow him all the same.

The service has begun. Meerna and Annabel stood next to her father and a couple of his guards. The minister, with holy reverence, walked up to the altar and addressed the congregation. “In antiquity, the great one stood in the Sacred Valley, and beheld the place he commanded to be with-” Tyre opened the doors of the chapel, “That’ll be enough minister! There must be a reckoning!” Shocked and outraged, the minister and the attendees turned towards Tyre. The minister spoke up, “what madness has befallen you that you would interrupt our sacred gathering!” Tyre continued down the aisle towards the altar. “I’m looking for someone, who is not, who they claim to be!” Meerna’s Father stepped forward and placed himself between the minister and Tyre. “That’s enough. What do you want?” her Father sounded. Tyre grinned, “I thought I was going to have to drag you out, but this is perfect.” Tyre began to shape air in his hands as if he was forming a ball out of clay. As he continued the forming motion with his hands, flames began to draw in. “Everybody out now!” Meerna’s Father cried. This was Meerna’s first time seeing someone use the Art and she was in horrific amazement. The attendees began to panic and scramble. “It’s too late!” Tyre pushed his perfectly spherical ball of flame to the center of the altar. In a moment, Meerna could hear the screams of the congregation and a bright flash of light violently shattered out of the sphere with the instant expansion. The very next moment the sphere’s expansion halted and the light dimmed. Meerna was in awe and disbelief as the ball of flames rotated in place like a gigantic globe on a desk. Tyre looked on in wonderment. You did a good job. the voice echoed. To Meerna the voice sounded familiar, but echoed through the room as if it was being powered by a steam engine. Over the last couple of days, you had the virtue of a shadow. Meerna then realized the voice was in her head. She looked around and saw everyone listening. The voice was in everyone's head.

If you intended to kill the Duke in secret I imagine he would already be dead, but why so demonstrative?

“Show yourself!” Tyre interjected.

Perhaps the statement is just as important as the kill.

“Get out of my head!” Tyre scanned the room in frustration.

Everyone listen, this floating orb of fire is intended to be a bomb. I've suppressed it momentarily, but it will explode and take the chapel with it. Now is the time to evacuate.

“I won’t let them!” Tyre shrieked.

You don’t have a choice.

The people began to move towards the exit as Tyre started to form his hands. Then Tyre felt pressure increase at a single point on his forehead and curve around his skull. It was as if someone drew a perfectly centered line from the top of his eyebrows to the nape of his neck. Then bursts of pain began to stem from that line in all directions. Tyre howled in agony as he dropped to his knees. Move Now! Shane’s final missive to the people rang through their minds as they scattered to leave the chapel. Meerna and her father were one of the last people out because they were helping the other attendees escape. The ball of fire started to brighten again. The last of the attendees had exited, and with Tyre screaming and kneeling down in pain the chapel exploded.

Meerna’s eyes opened as she laid in what used to be the gardens of the chapel. Her body was sore, but she didn’t feel any immediate pain. She could hear screams and sat up to see parts of the town’s chapel spewed all over the place. They escaped the blast but not the debris. Though there were some injuries amongst the people, Meerna was unscathed. She was sure her father and herself were one of the last ones out. “Meerna!” Her Father ran over to her and helped her stand. “Are you alright.” “I’m okay,” she let out. Meerna was still disoriented. “ I-I must have fainted. What happened?” One of her Father’s attendees ran up. “Sir we’re gathering up the wounded. No casualties.” “What happened!” Meerna spoke up. The guard turned his gaze to Meerna. “My Lady we nearly escaped the destruction of the chapel. The aftershock and the debris were still a problem but-”

“But what?”

“Well there was this light after the explosion that stopped the brunt of it.”

“Was it our rescuer?”

“Not likely. It would seem that he was preoccupied with suspending the explosion with the Art, that's not a simple task. But I’ve never seen such a command of the Art so I guess we can’t rule it out. It’s far more likely that he went up in flames.” Meerna pushed back at the thought. “Meerna.” Her Father labored.

“It’s time to go home.”

“Who was he? Why was he in your service?”

“I’ll explain everything once I know it’s safe.” Her father reached his hand forward but Meerna turned and ran towards the ruined chapel. Her father gasped for air. He almost fell down, but his guard caught him.

“You’re wounded.”

“Go after her!” The duke screamed.

Tyre could only hear a sizzling. It burned so very badly. Most of the chapel was ashes and rubles save a few parts of retaining walls. it was nearly unbearable but pure adrenaline compelled him to stay conscious. Tears poured down his face as he groaned in agony, and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air. Tyre shaking and in shock looked down at his right arm which was burned beyond recognition. Smoke and rubble were the only remnants of the chapel. Tyre began to see the smoke gathering in one area. He wasn't sure if it was real or if he was experiencing a delusion. The smoke twisted into a column, and the speed of its revolution increased. Then in an instant, the twister dissipated and revealed Shane. He was no longer dressed as a servant but wore a black cloak with an ornate trim. Shane stood before the shocked Tyre with a smirk.

“I’m impressed. How was a lowly acolyte able to create a bomb of that magnitude? And not only that, but at the moment of explosion you were still able to become one with the flames while experiencing a brain splitting migraine. Well...not totally. Thus the arm. But still, what's an arm compared to your whole body? Whether that was skill or pure instinct, it’s impressive.”

“I’m going to kill you.” Tyre snarled.

“Not likely, and after everything I’d rather not kill you.” Shane lamented. “Yield, and I will allow you to leave with your-” Tyre with incredible speed used his good arm to conjure a flame whip in mid-swing at Shane. Shane lifted up his hand and created a barrier between him and the whip. It was quick and unnoticeable to a non-wielder of the Art because the force of the whip still hurled Shane into a section of stone that was left standing. Upon impact, Shane allowed himself to dissipate into the wall. The fire whip cracked against the wall's surface breaking through the stone as Shane reformed on the otherside. In the next moment, Shane dashed towards Tyre. Tyre responded by swinging his whip in a flurry. Shane danced left and right dodging his fire whip until he was in striking distance. He casted a sign on a Tyre’s arm rendering his flame art null. Tyre tried to throw a jab, but Shane slipped the jab and put him in a hold that brought him to his knees. Shane then used the Shadow Art to cut Tyre’s burnt arm off. Tyre let out a shriek of pain. While staring at his charred arm he knelt in a way that finally admitted defeat. “Like a wounded animal you’ve become more desperate and more ferocious. Perhaps it’s too dangerous to let you live.” Shane whispered. His left arm was still locked with Tyres’. Shane drew his right hand back and then reached out with his Shadow Art until he could hear the adrenaline riddled heart of Tyre. Although his heart was beating fast Shane was able to sync his Shadow Art with the rhythm of Tyre’s heart beat. Not even a second had passed, but to Shane each beat of Tyre’s heart was several seconds in between. With the push of his right hand forward a killing stroke could be dealt. This hand motion was just the language of the Art to the heart of Tyre. It was as if he was able to communicate with Tyre's heart and say STOP. While he stretched out with the Art he could sense another life. Shane opened his eyes and saw Meerna standing a few feet away from them. “For no one living can escape the dangers of this world.” Meerna uttered. Shane then recalled standing on a gruesome battlefield where most of his friends layed dead. He was dressed in ornate purple armor and had a scepter in his hand. Injured, he took off his helmet and breastplate as the sky rolled away like a scroll and dragons began to descend. The next moment Shane was back in the chapel looking at Tyre. What could this life be? He thought to himself. “You put on a good show. They’ll have questions for you. Sleep.” Tyre fell unconscious.