PROLOGUE
The sky was dull and lifeless, covered with gray clouds and an occasional spot of white clouds and bright beautiful light filtering through the the gaps of all the grayness. The planet of Zyphora was known for it’s vibrant life and powerful monsters. There existed a system - created by the gods, which consisted of occupations, abilities, proficiency, and perquisites. All of which were meant to help the humans survive the harsh planet. Many civilizations were born upon such power, including a small town called Beorgide, which resided besides the mighty Yfelrath mountains on the beautiful planet Zyphora.
Despite its small size, the town brimmed with life—634 residents strong, always bustling with activity. This week marked the annual carnival, a six-day celebration of joy and unity, featuring vibrant festivities and the much-anticipated surprise guests of honor.
As the citizens finally finished preparing everything, the day of the carnival also finally began. The mystery guests of honor also finally decided to make their grand appearance, if the yelling of their bodyguards hadn’t made it apparent, “Make way! Make way! Guests of honor coming through!” There were a squad of 6 bodyguards on horses, each with a carnival spirit decorations on their armor while still staying imposing. All of which were gathered around a carriage pulled by two very elegantly decorated tritons - a very expensive and rare breed of horses that were believed to be once usen by the gods for transportation.
The time had finally come for the bard (basically an announcer) to very loudly clear their throat, “A-HEM! May I get everyones attention? Please, let us welcome this years guests with a huge applause as they approach the stage!”
Applause erupted from the people gathered around as two figures emerged from the carriage, one woman, one man. The woman wore a thin veil decorated with gold flowers and other designs, which did a not very adequate job at covering her head. She had long flowing white hair that seems to shimmer faintly, as if lit from within. Her skin was pale and flawless, like porcelain, and she wore a long elegant white dress that went down to her ankles, adorned with golden embroidery resembling celestial patterns. Overall, she gived off the atmosphere of an angel that had descended from heaven, calm and serene. The man on the other hand had a black masquerade mask, and was etched with intricate golden designs, framing his face in an ominous yet regal manner and leaving only his dark red eyes visible. He wore a tailored black tuxedo with sharp lapels and a white undershirt, the simplicity of which contrasts with golden cuffs and embroidery of claw-like designs along his coat’s edges. He also had a cape lined with dark crimson fabric that flows dramatically as he moves, giving off an dark, charismatic yet dangerous feeling.
Some people in the crowd started murmuring.
“Wow, this year they got a pretty good bard!”
“I wonder who the guests this year’ll be. They lookin’ pretty fancy heheh…”
“This years guests are dressing pretty fancy for a little town like us…”
“Geezers, they look so rich…”
“Alright!” Clapped the bard. “Go ahead now, introduce yourselves, o’ guests of honor!”
The woman walked up to the front of the stage, her movements graceful and deliberate, as if each step were part of a never ending dance. The murmuring crowd quieted as she raised her hands, palms up, a gesture that seemed to command attention. When she spoke, her voice was soft but carried an otherworldly resonance that made everyone strain to listen.
“Good people of Beorgside,” she began, her words wrapping around the crowd like a warm breeze. “It is an honor to stand before you on this momentous occasion. My name is Lady Callista Veylan, and this,” she gestured behind her to the man, “is my companion, Lord Malrik Drayth.”
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The man bowed, his masquerade mask glinting in the dull light. “A pleasure to be in the presence of such a lively town,” he said, his voice smooth and almost too perfect, sending a shiver down the spines of those closest to the stage.
Lady Callista continued, “We have traveled far and wide, bringing with us tales of distant lands and wonders untold. But tonight is not about us; it is about celebrating the resilience, unity, and joy that defines Beorgside.”
The crowd erupted into applause once more, though some in the audience exchanged uneasy glances. There was something... off.
*Clap*
“LET US BEGIN THE CARNIVAL!” announced the bard.
The carnival roared to life around them as Callista and Malrik stepped back, allowing the festivities to begin in earnest. Music played, dancers twirled in elaborate costumes, and the smell of roasted meat and sweet pastries filled the air. Amidst the revelry, if there were a few sharp-eyed townsfolk that could've got what was off, the bodyguards were standing rigid, scanning the crowd with expressions as cold as the Yfelrath peaks, and the guests of honor, slinking off to who knows where.
***
As the festivities carried on, Lady Callista and Lord Malrik disappeared from the stage, retreating into the shadows with their guards. Some whispers started to circulate about their departure, but most of the townsfolk were too engrossed in the carnival to care.
In a quiet alley behind the town square, the pair stood in silence. The woman removed her veil, revealing sharp features and piercing amber eyes that glowed subtly in the dark. Malrik leaned against the stone wall, his mask still in place. “They’re oblivious,” he said, his tone both amused and disdainful.
“As expected,” Callista replied. “They’d be grateful for even one middle classed nobel to come around, yet alone two. But it doesn’t matter. It’s almost complete.”
Malrik chuckled softly. “And when it is, the Symphony of Chaos will finally begin.”
High above them, the dull gray clouds seemed to swirl and darken, as if reacting to their words. A single bolt of lightning illuminated the Yfelrath mountains in the distance, followed by a low, ominous rumble of thunder. Another low rumble rises from beneath the town, accompanied by faint tremors that send ripples through the ground. The festive lights flicker, and an chill sweeps through the crowd.
Suddenly, a massive crack forms in the ground near the carnival’s main stage. A black mist pours forth, swirling and spreading like a living entity. The crowd erupts into chaos as people flee in terror. Lady Callista and Lord Malrik remain unmoving in their alley, their calm composure unhindered by the increasing panic around them.
From the chasm, a booming, guttural voice echoes…
“I have returned.”
Lady Callista’s eyes narrow, and she whispers to Malrik, “Did you set it off?”
Malrik smirks, holding his hands up. “What, me? I was with you the entire time.”
Her expression darkened. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”
As the crowd scatters, a devastating wave of dark energy bursted outwards everywhere, splitting the sky and sending shockwaves that shake the entire town.
Among the chaos, one of the guards near the chasm falls to his knees, clutching his chest as if trying to suppress some unseen force. His breaths were ragged, his face pale with terror. Hidden beneath his armor lied a faintly glowing talisman - something he’d carried for months, unaware of its dormant, malicious power - which was now floating above him and shaking at an alarming rate.
Without warning, mist bursts out of the talisman and coils around him, seeping into his soul as he struggles to resist. “I didn’t mean to-” The guard lets out a strangled gasp, his eyes glowing with an unholy light before his body stiffens, corrupted. The corrupted guard collapses, his lifeless form getting sucked into the chasm as the ritual completes itself.
High above, the dull gray clouds swirl into an vortex, a crimson glow radiating from their center. Lightning crackles, illuminating the Yfelrath mountains in jagged streaks. A gleeful cackle could be heard in the distance. Message of Beorgsides incident would’ve spread like wildfire, possibly reaching even other continents - if only the citizens of Beorgside had escaped that is.