Ronan was underground and the place had mold on the walls and rats scurrying around him. His face scrunched up in disgust. This was the black market of Eldoria, a horrid place. It was located in a dry spot in the sewers of Eldoria, and the stench was suffocating. Ronan had come here to find an item Adrian wanted. Ronan expected a lot more than to be an errand boy for him.

but he needed to assist him. In order so he could get his sister back.

Ronan wound through the maze of people, turning past a bookstore lined with books and old tomes for sale, then down a narrow corridor until he came to his destination. The walls were lined with small shops and vendors selling various items, from magical trinkets to illegal artifacts. He maneuvered through them and turned into the last alcove where an old man sat behind a counter, surrounded by ancient scrolls and mysterious objects.

The old man looked up as Ronan approached and greeted him with a toothless grin. "What can I do for you, lad?"

Ronan took a deep breath and spoke in a low tone, "I'm looking for an egg."

The old man's eyes shrunk in disappointment. "A egg? That's it . Matter in fact, how did you know I had an egg, lad." He had a suspicious look on his face.

"I know,this sounds weird but..." Ronan replied. "But I need it to help a friend."

The old man nodded slowly, studying Ronan's face. "Very well, I have what you need. But it won't come cheap." He reached under the counter and pulled out a large wooden box. He opened it to reveal a glowing egg.

Ronan's heart skipped a beat as he gazed at the egg in wonder. He wondered what would be in the egg.

"That'll be 500 dollars," the old man said with a grin.

Ronan winced at the price, but he knew he had no other choice. He handed over the money and took the egg in his hand.

As soon as he touched it, Ronan felt a surge of energy coursing through his body. It was like nothing he had ever experienced.

Grabbing the box he slowly and delicately placed it back in like a mother hen taking care of her chicks.

When it was sealed and in his arms. He turned and decided to walk back home. When the box was suddenly out of his grasp.

His neck twisted as quick as lightning. Anger blurred reality for a few seconds before he pulled it back into its cage.

A snarl remained on his face as he approached the assailant. The red cleared enough for him to see other colors. He breathed in and took a deep breath.

It was a young, scrappy-looking boy with dirty auburn hair and a mischievous glint in his eye. He held the box up tauntingly, a smirk on his lips.

"What's your problem, kid?" Ronan growled, his hand tightening around the handle of his sword.

The boy just grinned wider. "Nice egg you got there. I bet it's worth a fortune."

Ronan felt his blood start to boil. Who did this kid think he was? He stepped closer, towering over the boy. "Give it back."

The boy's eyes flickered with amusement. "Make me."

Without another word, Ronan lunged forward, fist raised. The boy was fast, dodging and weaving around him with ease. Ronan growled in frustration, feeling himself getting angrier by the second.

But despite his anger, Ronan couldn't bring himself to strike the boy down. There was something about him...something familiar.

As they danced around each other, Ronan began to realize that the boy wasn't really trying to harm him. In fact, he seemed almost playful, like he was enjoying their little game of cat and mouse.

Ronan landed a punch that racked his body.The boy stumbled back, but quickly regained his footing. Instead of fighting, he looked up at Ronan with a grin on his face.

"Okay, okay," the boy said, holding up his hands in surrender. One of them had the box it was tethering in his grasp.

When Ronan approached and reached out to grab the box. The boy was suddenly a few feet away.

"You're a fun one to play with," the boy said, grinning. "I'm not gonna lie, I thought you were gonna be some stuck up noble, but you're not so bad." His hair was rising up in the air with an invisible wind blowing through the area. Ronan's eyes widened as he took a step back. The boy was floating in the air, a smug smile on his face.

"Now let's see what's so special about this egg," the boy said, reaching out to open the box.

"Don't touch that!" Ronan shouted, his heart pounding.

The boy froze, his fingers inches from the box. He tilted his head, studying Ronan. "Why not? What's inside?"

Ronan gritted his teeth, clenching his fists. He wanted to tell the boy to just drop the damn thing, but something held him back. There was a strange feeling in his gut, telling him not to reveal too much. He summoned his magic and screamed in fury pushing out of his body to lunge at the boy. The boy's brown eyes widened but then he calmed and lifted his hand. When his magic collided with the boy it materialized in the physical world it clashed with the boy a sludge like black trying to consume the boy but it was being pushed back by a bright red force.

"Woah okay kid who are you, really?" Ronan asked, his jaw tight. Pulling on his magic it came back to him before it could run off. He would compare it to pulling on an aggressive dog's leash.

The boy simply grinned. "Someone who's curious."

Ronan took a deep breath and stepped closer. "I need that egg."

Turning on a dime the boy ran off into the traffic of the crowd Ronan started in pursuit and launched forward like a rocket.

He had the boy in his sights and he would not lose him.

After several blocks of chasing him Ronan had managed to catch the boy and tackle him to the ground. They tumbled for a moment before Ronan got the upper hand and pinned the boy down. He gotten socked in the face and the boy got up and left the box. Looking around he promised to give the belligerent teen a lesson getting up he swiftly ignored the fact that the kid was most likely his age and looked around his surroundings on his right as a man in robes was staring at him. He had gray eyes with no pupils, just blank orbs staring out at the world.

His face was angular and sharp, his nose long and hooked, and his hair a wild mane of unruly brown locks.

Ronan's blood ran cold he felt like prey like a sheep who found out he was to be devoured by the lion. The man walked off and Ronan followed after him. He didn't know why but he didn't follow his mental commands.

Eventually the man stopped and turned towards Ronan.

"You are not from this land," the man said. His voice was deep and rich, with a strange accent.

Ronan blinked, unsure of how to respond.

"Outworlder destroyer of all good... destined to bring rot to all under his wings". The man's face was grim as he spoke.

Ronan's mouth went dry, his throat suddenly parched.

"I don't understand," Ronan replied.

"You will," the man said.

He waved his hand and his body resumed. The fear was being replaced with white hot anger that simmered under his skin. How dare he place his grubby magic over him. He felt violated in a way that he never felt before.

Ronan felt the man's gaze on him, judging, assessing.

"You have much to learn outworlder" The man paused, coughed and then continued "you have an important role in this world and your fate is in your own hands. Make the right choice and your sister will live, make the wrong choice and our home will be destroyed and ruled by another dark lord."

Ronan's anger paused how he had known about his sister.

"I know not who you are speaking of. But this world is already destroyed by the Dark Lord, he has taken my sister."

The man looked at him like he was the biggest moron.

"The dark lord has not yet risen."

No more conversation happened for the next ten minutes.

The silence was broken when they reached a door that blended into its surroundings. The man opened the door and gestured for Ronan to walk in.

As Ronan stepped inside he was immediately greeted with the sense of incense brushing his nose. The room was warm and inviting, and a fire crackled in the fireplace.

But then he caught sight of the man's eyes. They were a dull gray, no life or soul behind them.

He felt the urge to run, to escape, but something kept him rooted in place.

"Sit," the man said, gesturing towards a chair.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

Ronan obliged and sat down.

"I have a prophecy that has been given to me," the man said, his voice grave.

"Your destiny is tied with that of the Dark Lord. Your choices will decide whether he rises to power, or remains trapped in the darkness."

Ronan's blood turned to ice. He could feel the man's words resonating in his bones.

"So I will be joining you in order to make sure you make the right choices".

"You will learn under me via the apprenticeship pact"

Ronan gulped as the man's stare was piercing into his soul.

"Now say the spell and we can begin"

Ronan's throat was dry.

Rona wanted to scream; he wanted to claw the man's eyes out and feed it to him. but he did none of this he verbalized his thoughts he had now idea what this whole apprenticeship pact even was.

"What is this pact"

The man was startled, his mouth gaping for a moment.

"This pact will connect us together through the spiritual realm. We will be able to sense each other's emotions and thoughts."

Ronan was going to object but the man stopped his tirade before it even started.

"You will of course be able to hide your thoughts for the sake of privacy"

"Feel mercy as the specific one I plan on using allows for privacy; some would bind the two together until the master says the student is a master themself".

Ronan didn't care and didn't listen to the explanation the man provided. He was about to be subjected to borderline slavery.

The man had a grim expression on his face. "I see you are hesitant. But you will soon see that this is for the best."

"You are the only one who can stop the rise of the Dark Lord."

Ronan's heart was beating rapidly and he could feel a cold sweat running down his back. He didn't want to be responsible for the fate of the world.

He didn't ask for any of this, yet here he was, being thrown into the center of a conflict that was much bigger than himself.

But, deep down, Ronan knew that he didn't have a choice. The man would most likely force his will over him anyways if he didn't agree to become his apprentice.

Ronan took a deep breath and nodded slowly.

The man's face broke out into a crooked smile.

"Excellent," he said.

"Now, repeat after me:

"I, Ronan Mors, hereby pledge my loyalty and servitude to Master Kyra. I will obey his every command and learn all that he has to teach me.

This pact is binding, and can only be broken by the death of one of us."

Ronan repeated the words, his voice barely a whisper. He could feel the power of the spell flowing through him, tying him to the man, Kyra.

As the last words left his lips, Ronan felt a sudden surge of power.

It felt overwhelming blasting his senses left and right he couldn't see straight. His body shook with the might of the ancient magic.

When he finally recovered, Ronan was sitting on the floor, his body covered in a sheen of sweat.

He could hear his heart beating rapidly and his chest was heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Then some people walked into the room Ronan tried raising up his neck but he couldn't turn around to get a look at who they were.

They had a conversation but Ronan was still coming.

"We must hurry, he is growing stronger."

"I know, but we cannot risk moving him. The barrier will hold."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Now, help me prepare the ritual."

The voices faded into the distance as Ronan finally managed to regain his bearings.

He was in some sort of cell, his hands and feet chained to the wall. He tugged on them experimentally, but they were held fast.

His head was still swimming from the effects of the spell, and his body ached. He could feel a dull throbbing in his right leg, and his shoulder was sore.

His vision was blurry, and his ears were ringing. He was in bad shape.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

A hooded figure appeared at the cell door, their face obscured by shadows.

"Awake at last," the figure said, their voice raspy and rough.

"Who are you?" Ronan demanded, his voice hoarse.

The figure chuckled. "That is of no importance. All you need to know is that you are a prisoner of the Shardguard."

The words sent a chill down Ronan's spine. The Shardguard.

The figure stepped closer, their cloak swishing around their legs. "We will use you to defeat the Dark Lord."

Ronan growled. "I will never help you."

The figure shook their head. "You will have no choice. The Dark Lord's power grows stronger every day, and we cannot allow him to break free. We will use whatever means necessary to ensure that does not happen."

Ronan's heart was beating rapidly, his body shaking with rage and fear.

The figure leaned in, their breath hot against Ronan's face. "Even if that means turning you into our weapon."

Ronan's eyes widened. "You can't do this!" he shouted, struggling against his restraints.

The figure smirked. "We can, and we will."

Ronan could feel the bond flowing through him, tying him to the hooded figure. He had no choice but to obey. It was like an itch in the back of his mind, something he couldn’t get rid of.

He now knew who this was, it was his ‘Master’.

"Now, let's begin."

Kyra waved their hand and a portal opened up in the middle of the cell.

"We're going to take a little trip," they said, their voice eerily calm.

Ronan was pushed into the portal. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before.

It was like falling through a tunnel of stars and darkness, the universe swirling around him in a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes.

The air was cold and thick, and Ronan struggled to breathe. His heart was pounding in his chest, and his mind was racing.

Where was Kyra taking him?

He found himself in a lavish place that looked like a castle; the wallings were a marble white color. The carpet was a rich purple and the room itself was massive. There was a door in front of him and the room was lined with suits of armor.

The room was silent, and Ronan could hear the faint sounds of his breathing echoing off the walls.

"Our mission is to convince the king that his citizens are planning to rebel". He paused and continued "If this makes you feel better your friend is breaking in we will intercept him".

"What will happen to him?" Ronan asked, his voice barely a whisper.

The man gave him a cold look. "He will be executed, along with any others who try to break in."

Ronan swallowed hard. He couldn't believe this was happening. He was going to be a part of a conspiracy against the king, and his friend was going to be killed.

The man gestured to the door. "We must go, now."

Ronan followed him out of the room, his heart pounding. He didn't know if he could do this, but he had no choice.

They walked through the hallways of the palace, the marble floors gleaming in the candlelight.

The portraits of the previous kings stared down at them, their eyes seeming to follow Ronan as he walked.

He could feel the weight of his magic on his shoulders, it was like a fur coat covering his body protectively.

Eventually they reached a set of large doors, guarded by two soldiers in shining armor.

The hooded man stepped forward, his head held high.

"We have been summoned by the king," he said, his voice strong and clear.

The soldiers eyed them warily, but opened the doors, letting them in.

The throne room was massive, with high ceilings and a long red carpet leading up to the throne.

The king sat on the throne, his face hard and cold.

"What is the meaning of this?" he asked, his voice booming through the room.

Ronan stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Your Majesty, we have information regarding a plot to overthrow you," he said, his voice trembling slightly.

"Absolute rubbish!" the king roared, his face red with anger.

"These accusations are treasonous. You will be executed for this."

Ronan felt his blood run cold. "Your Majesty, please, we're only trying to protect you."

Just then someone broke in through the window. The figure was slender and sleek; it moved like water and landed next to the king. It was adrian.

His clothes were tattered and he was covered in dirt and grime.

Adrian snarled and lunged towards the king, but the figure was faster. They blocked the attack and retaliated with one of his own, their fist connecting with Adrian's jaw. Adrian was sent back with his hands up, his pendulum was in his hand swinging back and forth Ronan had to look away in order to not get hypnotized.

Ronan used this distraction to run towards the king but he was stopped in his tracks as two guards grabbed him and forced him to his knees.

Ronan struggled against the guards, his heart racing. He summoned his magic and blasted them back.

He turned to see Adrian fighting a guard, his pendulum in hand.

Ronan hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do.

Just then, a deafening roar sounded throughout the room.

Ronan looked up to see a massive beast flying through the shattered window.

It was the size of the largest lion, with cinnabar-red fur. It has three rows of teeth, feet and claws like a lion. It also had a scorpion-like tail. Its stinger was leaking poison and its wings were tattered and worn.

Ronan felt fear grip his heart. He had never seen such a terrifying creature before.

Just then Adrian swung at it, his forearm ablazed with the white light of his shard he swung upwards hitting its stinger it aged in front of Ronan's eyes and it screamed in pain it landed on the floor writhing and roaring in pain. Adrian took this time to attack again; it was too fast. Adrian had his back turned when the beast attacked again Adrian flew back his back landing with a thud as blood poured out of his wound. Ronan felt a searing pain in his back. The world was hazy. The guards were attacking him. His body was on fire he could hear the figure and Adrian arguing looking up he saw Adrian swung his pendulum next to his back and the wounds returned back to sickly brown skin. Adrian rushed over and touched his back. Ronan felt relief as Adrian closed his wounds.

Adrian's face was grim as he looked at the guards his hand outstretched with white energy surrounding it. He snarled at the guards and snapped his fingers, sending the guards flying. The click clack of his shoes rang out in the room as he approached but the manticore came in to intercept the figure had Adrian distracted they were fighting a whirlwind of energy around the manticore. Ronan decided to help but the beast roared, its stinger charged with energy, it was going to stab Adrian.

Adrian popped out of existence in a nexus of space time he was gone he teleported next to Ronan but there was blood coming out of his eye he tried the same trick on how he fixed his back but it was too late the wound didn't close. Ronan was panicking. Adrian's left eye was covered with blood. Kyra was still fighting the manticore he was tiring. Ronan could feel the figure was tiring; he turned to Adrian and he looked pale, his eyes barely opened. Adrian opened his other eye Ronan expected another white light but all he got was a gray pupil Ronan could feel something wrong he wasn't healing his body was trembling he could feel Adrian's despair the king was watching Ronan turned to him his hand outstretched Ronan couldn't let Adrian die he was the only thing that was going to get his sister back Ronan didn't think his mind empty he didn't hesitate.

Ronan rushed over to the king and blasted him with a torrent of energy. Black current stretched out and started to consume the king Ronan was in control of himself he knew this was wrong he didn't care he had to kill Adrian couldn't die he needed him. The energy consumed the king and Ronan heard a gasp. He turned to see Adrian on the floor. Ronan was happy.

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced Ronan's chest. He looked down to see a sword protruding from his torso.

The world around him was spinning, and everything felt distant and surreal. He saw Adrian next to him with his right eye. Alight with holy white fire as he slammed his force down on the knight behind Ronan killing him Ronan turned around but Adrian was bleeding his wound was open and blood was flowing out Ronan was scared he had to save Adrian.

He reached out, his hand trembling. His magic flowed through him, the power rushing through his veins like a river. but it was rejected back to him. Adrian smiled and touched Ronan and his world went blank.