It was dark unlike anything Faro remembered experiencing before. Even after several moments of waiting for his eyes to adjust, nothing was coming into focus. He began to wonder if he was dead, when he heard a whimper from underneath him.
“Is… is it over?” said the small voice of Veronica. Faro’s sense of touch came back to him, and he realized that he was still sheltering everyone in a big, protective hug. Pulling back a bit, he allowed his three wards room to move again.
“It wasn’t even this fucking dark in the mines!” Tobi exclaimed, somewhere from Faro’s immediate left.
“Breathe, Andre,” Thora said somewhere to the right. “We will find our friends and our way out soon enough.”
Faro knew they could get out eventually, but he wasn’t sure how long it would take in the pitch black that surrounded them. He reached forward and began to feel his way around the column they had hidden behind. He felt the smooth stone surface quickly turn rough, and he knew he’d made his way around to the other side where the magic blasts had bombarded it minutes before. Turning around, he knew that he was now facing the dais. He needed to find his way up and across. That would be the easiest way to Mathias to see if he was okay.
Before he took two steps, Faro froze. Ahead of him, a faint whisp began to glow, and he could see the broken stone throne underneath it. Above it, the face of the horse had fallen off the statue, and now Faro could see it lying crumbled on the ground around the wrecked throne. The wisp began to glow brighter, elongating itself to become taller, and slowly it began to take on the form of a human. No, not a human, but an elf.
Faro’s jaw dropped as he stepped forward hesitantly. It was the form he had seen in his dream, and it was soon joined by a dozen other wisps forming behind it on either side of the throne. The larger form in the middle took its place on the throne, and the face fully formed into that of Umbra, though in this ethereal form he looked much younger, and his face was whole again, no longer bashed in by Thora’s mace. He was shining so bright it was hard for Faro to keep eye contact.
He could hear a gasp from Thora behind him as she, Tobi, and Veronica came hesitantly out from behind the crumbling pillar. The ghostly figure of the man who had just been trying to kill them looked down at them, a sorrow in his eyes. He looked at the four of them, and raised his right hand.
“It seems we are a few short,” he said simply, motioning the light that represented a hand. There was a groan from behind the throne as they could hear Mathias come to life. Within moments he was slowly making his way around the throne, coming around from behind the back. He was covered in dust and soot, rubbing his head at the back where he’d struck the wall hard from Umbra’s blast.
As Mathias joined them, a confused expression painted across his face, the ethereal Umbra raised his other hand and made another motion, this time Faro knew to revive and bring Lena to them. His heart sank as no one emerged from the side room. Umbra kept his calm and cool expression, and this somehow comforted Faro.
After what felt like several long minutes, a tall, slender figure emerged slowly from the side chamber where Thora had taken Lena. Lena moved slowly, Faro’s warhammer clutched tightly in both of her hands. She appeared to be having a bit of a hard time wielding the heavy weapon, but she still looked like she could swing it if need be. Faro had been wondering where his weapon had gone after he’d been captured. Apparently the alive Umbra must have brought it to this side chamber for safekeeping.
“What’s happening?” Lena asked as she limped into the room to join the others and square off against the group of specters.
“Your father sacrificed himself to destroy his patron,” Thora whispered to her. “And this is…uh… your father… I guess?”
The ghostly king appeared to nod his head at this. “Unfortunately, it still wasn’t for the right reasons,” he spoke, and when he did his voice seemed to echo throughout the chamber. It was a whisper like before, but somehow more comforting than when he was trying to blast them into dust. “I didn’t kill Sydon to save you all, though I should have. Instead, he broke the rules of the Virtrodan and walked on this plane. He was a threat to Evania.”
Tobi, the only other of the party who had his weapon drawn and ready for attack like Lena, spat on the ground. “What the fuck is a Virtrodan? Some sort of horse demon?”
Umbra looked at Tobi with a bit of disdain, but still answered him. “The Virtrodan take many animalistic forms. They are watchers from the fiery plane. Servants of Baladan. Since Solana won the celestial war, Baladan is forbidden to interfere with matters in the realm of the living, but that doesn’t stop him from using his servants to manipulate those of us here to do his bidding. He’s trying to find a way that he can break the barrier, and unleash his hell upon the world. His servants vie for his favor by trying to manipulate those of us here to bring back Virmorphia and free Baladan from his prison.”
Faro could see Lena’s eye twitch. “And you followed this demon to help bring back the God of Darkness and destroy Solana?” Lena asked. She had a look of complete and utter betrayal written on her face. She had spent her whole young life being taught by her father to follow Solana’s Light, and here he was following demons.
Umbra just shook his head. “A means to an end. I spent a few hundred years trying to use The Light to fight Virmorphia. I made Amazadan learn it, and I would try to combat him. Again and again The Light failed. By infiltrating their ranks and using their own power, I was hoping to destroy them from the inside with their own magic, but it was too much for me to take. Through all my failures I became more and more consumed by the darkness. Finally, I found the way was a mix of The Light and Virmorphia, but by then it was too late for me.”
Lena lowered the warhammer and shook her head. “You wasted your life, and almost killed me just now. What would mother say?”
Umbra’s face fell. “My dear Zelira has been in my heart all these years, but I had work to do for the greater good. She never saw the bigger picture. And as for trying to kill you just now… let’s just say that was quite some time ago for me. Different places and different planes have a funny way of how time works,” Umbra said.
“What does that mean?” Lena asked, not quite understanding.
“To you, our fight was but moments ago, but for me, it has been several years. I’ve been under the guidance of Solana himself, learning the path he has set forth for each of you, and I’ve been sent back to this moment to bestow his blessings upon you.”
Tobi waved his hand. “Tell the Light God thanks for the ‘job well done’, but I think we’ll be gettin the hell out of this place now,” he said, and he turned to leave.
Umbra watched him take a few steps, and then spoke again. “Blessings, as in items and abilities you will need for your dangerous road ahead, young dwarf. Against my better judgement and frequent requests against it, Solana has included you as an important member of this party.”
Tobi turned back to face the spectral Umbra, his face cracked into a smile. “Always happy to be of service,” he said with a chuckle. Faro could tell that Tobi enjoyed getting under Umbra’s skin, or at least what used to be his skin. Even in death the dwarf could still get to him. “I’m just glad we fought so well we’re getting rewarded!” he finished with a triumphant fist pump. He pulled his hand back down when he saw Umbra shaking his head.
“It’s actually because of how poorly you fought,” Umbra said. Tobi’s face turned to a frown, and his eyes narrowed. Beside them, Veronica threw her hands up to her mouth to stifle a giggle. “You all have a destiny tied to you that is going to require great strength and courage. What you showed today was dumb luck mixed with very little skill. To move forward to the path laid before you, you will need to shed your previous selves and use these gifts that we bestow upon you.”
Umbra floated up from the throne and hovered over them. He waved a hand and a yellow circle with runes appeared on the floor between him and the party. They all took a step back, not sure what it was, and not trusting what Umbra was doing.
“Tobi, please come forth to the Tetricle,” Umbra said, gesturing for the dwarf to make his way forward.
“Did he just say…?” Tobi began.
“He said Tetricle,” said Thora sharply, pressing her fingers into her eyes and shaking her head.
“Right,” said Tobi, slowly moving forward and eying the circle. It glowed with a yellow light, and was marked with strange letters that moved slowly around the circle. Tobi looked down at it suspiciously, and then back at the party. “I’m not stepping in that fucking thing. No way. I’ll get sucked into another dimension, or turned into an animal like our friend here,” he finished, pointing a thumb at Faro. “No offense, friend. You look great, really!”
Faro chuckled at this, and Thora stepped forward. “It seems alright, Andre. He’s right. We barely made it through that fight alive, and if we’re wrapped up in something bigger than ourselves, we need all the help we can get.”
Tobi scrunched up his lips, as if unsure, and then turned and handed his axe to Faro. “Keep a good watch on her if this goes south,” he told him. Faro didn’t have time to ask whether he’d meant to keep an eye on the axe or on Thora before Tobi took a step forward into the glowing circle.
Tobi let out a scream of pain and the others started to lurch forward to pull him back out and save him, but he couldn’t fool them long as he burst out into laughter. Thora reached forward and punched him in the arm. “That’s not funny!” she chastised him.
“It was a little bit,” said the dwarf, before turning to face Umbra.
The ghost shook his head. “I argued long and hard with Solana about including you in this,” said Umbra in disdain. “He ascertains you are to play some important role yet, so here we are.”
Tobi just smiled up at Umbra. “Always ready to do my part!” he said cheerfully.
Umbra scoffed. “Anyways. Solana has seen you in battle, and has glimpsed battles that may yet come. Therefore he wants to grant you the Power of Rage.”
“Well, I’ve already got plenty of that,” said Tobi, laughing.
“Yes…” Umbra replied. “But since dwarves are not inherently magical creatures, we will have to instill the power into your weapon,” said Umbra. He raised his bright white hand and the axe went flying out of Faro’s hands and into his ghostly grip. From there he dropped it down, and Tobi caught it in both hands. As soon as he touched the weapon, the coin that was embedded into the handle, the one with the Evanian crest that Thora had given him as a child, began to glow bright red.
Tobi stared at it in amazement. “It’s never done that before,” he said simply.
Umbra nodded. “In the heat of battle when you are overwhelmed, you can bring out the Blood Rage and berserk against your enemies. Just touch the coin and say ‘Solana help me’, and you will be granted the strength of ten warriors in battle, as well as the ability to see an enemy's weak points.”
“That’s great!” exclaimed Tobi. “I’ll be able to… wait,” he paused, looking down at the coin on his axe confused, “that means we’re going to be fighting in wars?”
The spectral image of Umbra just looked at him and remained silent.
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“Oh,” said Tobi, grasping the weight of their destiny and what was yet to come. He left the circle silently, his face fallen. They all remained silent until Umbra spoke again.
“Thora, please step into the Tetricle,” said Umbra. Tobi stifled a chuckle and Thora shushed him as she made her way forward. She stepped into the circle, and knelt down before the elf king.
A smile crossed Umbra’s ghostly face. “Always so humble. Always so caring. Solana has seen your courage, and how you deal kindly with others, especially with beasts like Rork.”
Thora lifted her head a little, reacting to the fact that her actions were being watched and judged so closely. After a moment she put her head back down and Umbra continued. “Because you are such a master of caring and beasts, we wish to grant you the power to communicate and control beasts around you.” The circle around Thora began to glow green. She didn’t flinch as the green light enveloped her.
When the light faded, Umbra raised both of his hands, and between them a small piece of wood appeared. “Rise and accept,” said Umbra, as Thora stood and saw what had appeared there, “this whistle. Simply blow the whistle and nearby creatures will listen to you and obey your will.”
Thora smiled and reached forward to grab the gift. “Keep in mind,” Umbra added, “some beasts have a much stronger will than others. You will have to concentrate and work harder to control beasts of a stronger will, but as you practice over time, you will get better at it.”
Smiling, Thora left the Tetricle and pulled a necklace chain from the pocket of her dress, fastening the whistle to it, and looping it around her neck, holding it in her hand like a precious jewel she never wanted to let go of.
“Mathias,” Umbra said. “Please step forward into the circle.”
Faro glanced sideways at Tobi, as Mathias made his way up, and he could see the look of disappointment on the dwarf’s face at the absence of the word.
Mathias stood within the circle and looked up at Umbra, still rubbing the back of his head where he had smashed into the wall earlier during the battle. “Not sure what you’re going to offer me,” he said, a bit put off. “There is already a healer in our group, as Lena has proven to be a much better healer than I.”
Umbra shook his head. “There are other plans for Lena. Not only that, but healing wounds is not the only healing that our Evania needs. We must also work, sometimes, to heal minds.” Mathias balked at this, not believing the phrase that was used, the same odd phrase that was said to him by the mysterious man with the gash on his nose all those years ago.
“Do not be hesitant in this task, Mathias. Your friends will need you to be a great healer in the journeys ahead. Mathias, do you accept the use of magical healing?”
The healer hesitated. His whole life had been about not using magic to heal, ever since the untimely death of his childhood friend that died because a magical cure went wrong. He shook his head, as if he were about to say no, but then the thought of his dying friend Osric crossed his thoughts, and he knew in that moment what he had to do.
“Yes,” he said, his voice shaking.
“Good. Then please,” said Umbra, waving a hand, making the circle glow yellow, “take these gauntlets of healing. Along with the power being bestowed upon you now, these gauntlets will allow you the extra power and energy you need to heal even the deepest of wounds, whether body or soul.”
Two gauntlets dyed red appeared in the circle before Mathias. He hesitantly reached down and picked them up. He slowly slid them onto his arms, flexing the fingers once they reached the tips of the gloved end. Without hesitation, he reached up to the back of his head and spoke in tongues that seemed to come naturally to him now. There was a bright yellow glow, and then it faded.
Mathias moved his head back and forth as he stepped out of the circle and made his way back to the others. “Glad I said yes,” he said to them all. “That blow to the head was giving me a headache like no other.” They all laughed at this as Mathias settled back in among them.
Umbra threw his arms wide. “Daughter,” he said, and Lena froze. A look of sadness was in the eyes of the spectral king, and Faro suspected the elf father would be crying if he had the ability. “Please, Lena, step forth into the Tetricle.”
Tobi threw an elbow into Faro’s hip, “Good thing there’s not two circles,” he snorted.
“Shh,” said Faro, though he couldn’t help but crack a smile at the dwarf’s childish antics.
Lena handed the warhammer to Faro, and made her way into the circle, and as she did it began to glow a deep golden-brown. There was a long pause as they both stared each other down. Finally Umbra’s face broke into a smile. “I’m so proud of who you have become, my dear Lena. You showed the most courage anyone could show in confronting your own father to do what was right. Unfortunately,” he looked down at the ground, “I am not the only one of our family you are fated to face,” he said.
Lena shook her head in disbelief, but Umbra nodded. “Your brothers and sister have all fallen in different ways. It is a dark time indeed. That’s why Solana has called for you to be his official mage. Your powers will grow over time with practice, but I will restore your power to you, along with extra essence. You will be able to wield your powers better than before, and for a much longer time.”
Before Lena could react, Tobi cut in, “Learn over time? You can’t just give her the power she needs to trounce any enemy? We’re talking power from Solana here!”
Lena shot a dirty look back at him, but Umbra acted like he expected nothing less from the dwarf. “You do not start someone at the top with all the power in the world. Part of being powerful is knowing how to use that power. If you know it all from the start, you have no experience in actually using it, and dangerous mistakes will be made.” This statement seemed to shut Tobi up for the moment.
“Lena,” Umbra continued, “I know you don’t see eye to eye with me on Virmorphia, but I assure you, the Charred Scepter is the solution. So first, let’s get rid of this bow and arrow,” he said, snapping his fingers. Lena’s bow rose from her back and vanished into thin air. Her face looked angry, but Umbra looked unapologetic. “All elves use bows. It’s a bit overdone. But the Charred Scepter… The mix of absolute light and absolute dark come together to bring balance to the scale of magic. You need to take it,” he finished as he raised his hand and called the scepter to his hand from the ground where it had landed during the fight. He held it but for a second when it hit his hand, and then he dropped it down to his daughter below him.
Lena didn’t move a muscle, and Faro was sure the scepter would drop to the ground. Instead, the base of the handle hit the stone floor, and it stood upright before her, refusing to fall. Lena just stared at it in disdain, not daring to move. It spun slowly in a magical beam of light before her Umbra waited for her to take it, but she didn’t. Instead she turned and walked away from the circle and back to the others. Her father frowned at her.
“You will need that on your journey,” he said, gesturing down at the glowing staff. Lena didn’t move. “Fine,” said Umbra. “If you want to pout, I’ll give it to Thora for safekeeping in the meantime,” said Umbra angrily, and he waved his hand. The staff disappeared and then almost instantly reappeared strapped to Thora’s back.
“Woah,” she said from the unexpected added weight. “I… don’t really want to get involved here,” she said awkwardly. However, she didn’t dare touch it to remove it from her back.
Umbra ignored Thora and continued on, “Finally,” he said, raising a long, ghostly white finger and pointing at Faro, “the Heir of Evania.”
Faro took a hesitant step forward, and then froze. This was exactly what had happened in his dream. “No,” he whispered.
“What was that?” Umbra asked him.
“No,” said Faro, much louder so all could hear this time. “I’m not the Heir of Evania.”
Umbra nodded his head. “I was at the meeting of the Dungeon Lords. We all voted that your father, James Envato, was the rightful king to sit on the throne. That means that you were to be next in line. The fate of Evania rests on your shoulders, young lion.”
Faro shook his head again. “I can’t be. A king of Incarta, maybe. That was always my destiny. Not to lead the entire country. It has to be someone else. There has to be another heir, as the people speak of.”
Umbra cocked his head sideways at Faro. “That is one option of many, though most likely not the best option,” he said simply. “Whether or not you take the throne is a decision you will have to make if you all are successful in your endeavors. For now, please step forward into the Tetricle.
Tobi couldn’t take it this time, he ducked behind the nearby support pillar and burst out in a full bout of laughter. Thora hid her face in embarrassment. Faro smiled again, but tried to ignore him as he stepped forward into the circle. The light started to glow bright blue, and Faro waited, wondering what his fate held.
“Solana has his new mage in my daughter, Lena,” he said, “and she will be able to use these powers to vanquish enemies of Solana,” he said. “And now he needs a protector of all the good that this world has to offer. The Light needs someone to fight for it, and you have shown the greatest honor and integrity of all. That is why you are to be a Paladin of Solana,” said Umbra.
Faro’s warhammer began to glow in his hands. Runes appeared on the head of the hammer, and he stared in amazement, feeling a new energy buzz within the weapon he had come to call his own. An indent appeared where the handle met the head of the hammer, and Faro felt it with his fuzzy finger, then looked up at Umbra, confused.
“That is where you can embed different types of crystals,” said Umbra, “based on the path you decide to take, and the powers you chose to wield. Hopefully someday that path will lead you to wielding a Scepter of Solana, but for now, much like Lena, you have to start at the bottom and learn to wield what you learn properly.”
Faro nodded his head and made to leave the circle, but Umbra cleared his throat. Faro stopped. “A protector also needs something to protect himself and others,” Umbra continued. “That is why we also grant you this shield.” A slit of light appeared in the ground and a shield arose. It was in the shape of a heater shield, one with a point on the bottom and a point that sloped down to two other points on top. Emblazoned across the front where a crest would go was a yellow sun surrounded by three smaller suns, the sign of Solana and The Light. As soon as Faro touched the shield to pick it up, the suns turned blue, and the light faded.
“This shield will provide protection not only for you, but those around you. And the hammer will help Lena in taking down those enemies that oppose Solana’s rule over Evania. Take them, practice with them often, and use them to free those under oppression, and protect those in need.”
Faro didn’t know what to say. A few weeks ago he was bumbling down a mountainside into a town full of strangers, not knowing who he was or where he had come from. Now he had a magical weapon and shield, and a spokesman for the God Solana was calling him the heir of the entirety of Evania. He could feel tears of shear overwhelm building up behind his eyes, but forced himself to keep them in. It was all just a bit too much to handle in such a short span of time. Instead of answering, all he could do was nod and return to the others. He joined them and stood behind Veronica where he had been before.
Tobi patted him on the lower back. “Powerful protector of Solana, eh? All I got was angry rage monster. Suits me, I guess,” he finished. Faro was glad that Tobi was with him on this journey, if for nothing else but to keep him smiling through all this adversity.
“Veronica,” Umbra said next. “While you are not going to continue on this quest, I feel it is time to restore your Light that has been taken from you.”
At this, Veronica took a step back into Faro and hugged him around the waist. “No…” she said, shaking a bit. “I don’t want anything to do with any of this anymore.”
A look of sadness crossed the ghost’s face at this. “I’m sorry to hear that, young Veronica. I know this all must be traumatizing for you. I deeply apologize for all that I’ve put you through.” There was a pause as Umbra considered what to do next. Finally, he waved a hand and the circle of light glowed white. A small orb appeared at the center. “Please,” he continued, “take this, and anytime you feel the need to come back to The Light, this orb will grant you what has been taken from you.”
Veronica timidly moved forward, stuck the orb in her white gown, and scurried back to the group and the protection of Faro. The lion wasn’t sure if she would ever be confident enough to use the orb again after all this, but he was glad that she had the option to take back the life that was stolen from her. The Tetricle flickered out of existence before them.
Umbra stared at all of them gathered before him and smiled. “My goal was always to separate the dark rulers of this land from Virmorphia to keep the vile magic from growing. To combat that, I took on the dark magic myself, but it consumed me. Always remember to walk the fine line, my friends. Too far in either direction is a recipe for absolute disaster.”
They all nodded and looked at each other. Faro wasn’t sure how venturing too far into the light could be a bad thing, but they all had set roles now, ready to move forward and help protect Evania from the evil that had plagued the land for so long.
Faro realized, though, that none of them really knew what the next step was. “So,” he spoke into the spectral-lit darkness, “what are we supposed to do now?”
“That’s always the question, yes?” asked Umbra candidly. “All that I can really say, is that after you return your young ward to her home, there may be some business that you have to tend to in Underoth.”
“Underoth?” asked Lena. “What would we possibly want to do in that war-hungry kingdom of dwarves?”
Umbra just continued to smile his mystical smile at them. “I hear tale that there is an orb, and an oracle there that may be able to aid our lion-friend here in restoring some of his memories. Getting Faro back his memories will serve you well in guiding you on your journey forward.”
“The oracle? She lives?” asked Lena.
“Well, there is only one way to find out,” said Umbra, and he left it at that. “Now, my time on this plane has ended. The fate of this land now rests on the five of you.”
None of them said anything. It was all too much to take in at the moment, and none of them had any idea of what dangers lay ahead of them. Their adventure to save a little girl had led them to this life-changing event, and now the fate of an entire country seemed to be resting on their shoulders.
Umbra’s light started to flicker as he was being called back to the realm of Solana. “Please hurry,” he said as he wavered. “I’m afraid much more has changed outside Mireholm since you got here. Changed more than you know.”
And with that Umbra and the other spectral ghosts that had accompanied him flickered out of existence. Complete darkness ensued once again.