𝐄𝐜𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐬 · 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐧𝐞

The woods are silent tonight. No birds screech in the forest for there is no forest. The cold glint of gold betrays the existence of a man wielding a wand and a golden scythe, a scarred, middle-aged man who cuts his way through the trees that howls silently.

Gold conquers wood.

A fiery spark is also seen in the woods. A red-caped girl wielding a staff and sword appears, much younger than the man. A silver cat is at her feet.

Her staff shines red but does not hurt the trees, which lean towards her.

Wood makes fire.

They meet in the circle that was created by the man, fallen logs around it.

The man narrows his eyes threateningly. The girl widens hers. The cat hisses. The spark of both’s magical weapons light their faces. They circle each other. They test each other’s strength. The girl does not back off.

The man snarls and treads backward slightly.

Then he extinguishes his wand, makes a sign with his hands and makes off with the Gold Sign.

The girl breathes and relaxes.

Fire is the nemesis of Gold.

But just as the Fire-mage turns to go, a bird soars up from the quiet treetops.

Destruction, it screeches, destruction of the Empire!

The bird is blue.

Water quenches Fire.

The mage makes the Fire Sign and flees.

···

Murin Feorana flicks her red cape back and steps into the gates. Her magical companion, Emir, is perching on her shoulder. He hisses and flicks his ears back - the city isn’t to his taste a bit. He likes the great outdoors - not the stuffed, busy streets of the City Tamaso.

Murin sweeps her way through the crowds surrounding the shops. She smiles at the beautiful buildings, the gilded banisters and the graceful rooftops; but she doesn’t stop at the people smiling at her and screaming their hellos - she continues to thread her way through the bustle.

She is heading for the centre of the city - the Palace Melzur, the duelling of the Royal Family.

She takes the steps three at a time and gets to the basilica soon. The guards bow to her and she nods back. The temperature is slightly chilly but her cloak and her loose-fitting gown shields her from the winter snow.

She makes a sudden turn, Emir meowing reproachingly, but she ignored him and dodged the small jet of water, fired at her by another blue-clad girl who is standing looking at her with banter in her eyes.

“Siorial!” Murin laughs and embraces her. The other mage laughs too.

“Where are you off to, sister?” Siorial’s lilting accent is delightful to the ear and Murin smiles. Siorial wasn’t her actual sister, but the sisterhood and brotherhood of mages had made them dear to each others like siblings.

“I’ll need to tell the King matters - I need a quest,” Murin answers, “The Dark One is back again and I need to get him.”

Siorial smiles wryly, “Well, we’d better go together. No point going alone on a quest, eh Murin?”

Ah, she can’t get off that now. Once Siorial wants to do something she does something - besides, it’s part of the old tradition that two or more mages go on a quest.

She claps the younger girl shoulder and together they head off.

···

The King permits this quest and they will be leaving in a matter of days. Murin and Siorial train in the grounds every day - the Dark One is a powerful mage and it will take all they’ve got to defeat him.

To Be Continued...