Into the Darkness, Part 1
1456 - Ignis Regrum (Empire of Fire)
August engaged in his daily routines, trying to fill the emptiness within. It had been four years since the Great War, and he collected Leone's letters every season without reading them. Memories of losing his loved one during the war haunted him, and Leone, once a close friend, now bitterly reminded him of those dark times. One day, he received a special request from the Queen. A village in western Eterna had been attacked by an unknown entity and needed special assistance. At first, August hesitated, but upon learning that Leone had sent the request, especially since the Queen mentioned it might be related to the demon he was seeking, he agreed.
The Queen's castle, a magnificent structure of white stone with towering spires, stood as a symbol of peace and prosperity. Its grand halls were adorned with tapestries depicting the rich history of the kingdom, and the air was filled with the faint scent of blooming roses from the royal gardens.
August traveled to Eterna with two knights and a wizard. The team consisted of:
Guard Fusilier
Knight Ernest
Second-class Wizard Zifero
After they introduced themselves, Zifero asked August, who replied, "I am August, the 110th Guardian of the Great Fire," indicating the 110th generation since the birth of the first phoenix.
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The road to Eterna was green and beautiful, surrounded by tall trees that formed a canopy above, casting dappled sunlight on the path below. Birds sang cheerfully, and the air was fresh and invigorating.
"Fusilier, do you think the Queen gave us this mission because we're handsome or because we're her best knights?" Ernest joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Maybe both," Fusilier replied with a smile. "But hey, at least they haven't polished our armor."
"Tell us about yourself, August," Zifero attempted to break the ice.
"I'd rather not say much," August replied tersely.
"Let's just say I'm looking for something," August added briefly. The others sensed it was a sensitive topic and left it at that.
Upon reaching the village, they found only children and the elderly. It was a peculiar place with stone streets and black wooden houses with thatched roofs. The wind whistled, creating an eerie silence. An old man informed them that danger had emerged from the nearby forest, so they prepared for their task.
Into the Darkness, Part 2
During their investigation, they found several bodies. "It's clearly a vampire," Fusilier remarked. As they continued their search, dusk fell. The surrounding forest grew darker, with tall trees casting long shadows. The forest was dense, and the sounds of nocturnal animals echoed in the silence.
"Fusilier, you didn't forget to bring garlic, did you?" Ernest joked, trying to hide his fear.
"I left it in the, uh... cart," Fusilier rolled his eyes.
"Why did you really come here, August?" Ernest asked more seriously, probing August.
"I'm looking for the demon that killed... my loved one and my friends," August whispered.
"What? Killed your...?" Ernest began.
Suddenly, a woman appeared. "Who are you?" she asked, causing everyone to reach for their weapons. August demanded, "Who are you, vampire?" She replied, "Don't call me that. I am DARKNESS. I came to have fun with you, hunters from the west."
In an instant, she slashed Ernest's throat. August assumed a defensive stance, Zifero shouted, and Fusilier took a few steps back.
Into the Darkness, Part 3
"Who's next?" the woman taunted with a wicked smile. Brandishing his sword wreathed in blue flames, August declared, "You." But Darkness had already disappeared.
To be continued. >:3