The final weeks of summer saturated by a persistent drizzle, it left gray pools on the footpath. Branching out into different avenues between the headstones, Cazer did not pause to consider the names etched on each nor did he become weighed down by solemn reflection as he progressed past them determinedly. The patent leather of his shoes, marred by the dirt of the cemetery as he entered into the more ancient part of the Alliance burial grounds that was shaded by the gnarled branches of a few mature trees. Cazer proceeded past the mossy and worn graves until he came to the one he sought.A sandstone mausoleum to one of the Alliance’s founders, Regus Sieg. The foreboding bars, clamped shut over the structure’s hollow opening, were only made more grim by the effects that time had over its once pristine stones and columns. Weathered and darkened by centuries of dreary days, such as this, Cazer mounted the few steps that led up to its gates. Placing a hand onto its cold metal, there was a
Amidst the forgotten streets and the forlorn inhabited who were relegated to their drenched cobblestones, was a place that remained far removed from the eyes of the public. The location of the business, only known to the few who required specialized or otherwise illicit magic items, Allen was perplexed to once again discover himself at the threshold of Ekral Manstein’s shop. The dismal weather, causing the gray steps that led down off of the street to become slick beneath his feet. Allen descended them cautiously, before finally arriving at the door. Issuing a knock, he passed a long minute or two out in the persistent drizzle, before the little compartment on the door slid open. A pair of dark and tired eyes revealing themselves to him, they scrutinized Allen, whose hair and clothes had come to cling damply to him as they grumbled, “What brings you here?” A few drops of rain from the mantle of the door, falling to slide down the back of his neck, Allen shivered as he replied, “I need
The small wooden frame of the bed moaning as someone shifted on its lumpy twin mattress, the noise prompted Chiri’s eyelids to flutter open slowly. Awoken from her deep sleep, she rolled onto her back to observe the person who sat on the edge of the bed they had shared. Her long hair tangled beneath her, she watched his broad back silently as he pulled on the few articles of the uniform that had been scattered about the floor during the night. Her gaze, apparently felt by him after a while, Allen Pierce turned. Greeting Chiri with an affectionate smile as she blinked the sleep away from her eyes, the skin around his blue gray irises crinkled from the extent of the contentment within this moment. The springs of the mattress displaced again as he leaned towards Chiri, Allen cupped her cheek tenderly in his hand to say gently, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” His thumb caressing her cheekbone lightly as he spoke, Chiri smiled back at him tiredly from the pillow. Her hand, rising
The smell, like death and decay condensed. It seemed to cling to the walls of the tunnels and hang in the air as repugnant as one might find a corpse which still swayed in its noose. The heinousness of the scent, only becoming more egregious as they continued further into the catacombs beneath the bustling streets of Ineset, Allen found that each breath he drew provoked a repulsed churning in his stomach.A rat, made fat by feasting on the bones of the deceased and the other hapless creatures that might live within them, brushing past his foot. Allen released a mild gasp, before recoiling back against the wall of the tunnel in disgust. Already traversing the morbid labyrinth for at least an hour now, he began to hope for any sign of the rogue mages’ hideout to be uncovered soon. Whilst acknowledging that their unlit corridors and seclusion were perfect for those who did not want to be found, Allen could not fathom how it was inhabited by any member of the living for long.Their route,
The office filled with the serenity of the subtle white noise of each person’s solitary or otherwise mundane activities. It was the frustrated sigh which stood out amongst them as Chiri stared at the black and white squares of the board in front of her. The mild amusement that her opponent as he derived some enjoyment at her expense, evident by the sly smirk on his face. Chiri finally plucked her bishop from the board, her brow furrowing as she placed the piece in the last movement available to her, she slouched back onto the soft leather couch in resignation.Aware of her defeat without him having to state it, Cazer still smiled as he declared smugly, “Check mate.” Sulking as she sustained another loss, Chiri crossed her arms in front of her chest as she muttered back at him sourly, “I hate this game.” The smirk of confidence he possessed from beating her repeatedly at chess that morning, unrelenting as he continued to stare back at her. The expression would have irked her more had s
Allen Pierce stretched out his tired joints, contemplating the conclusion of another monotonous day. It was yet unknown to him that hislife was about to be thrown into turmoil. Nor, that he was soon to encounter the legendary villain, who would change the course of his destiny forever. An hour’s walk from the market square, the amount of people Allen met dwindled as he reached the outskirts of Ineset. Here, he and his grandfather lived in peace farming and making the trek into the town to sell their wares each week. The remote dirt path lit solely by a pale full moon there was little to see but the dark outline of the fields as they rippled in the soft breeze. His heavy footsteps and the faint chirp of crickets the only sounds disrupting the eerie stillness of the night. Until, to his astonishment, a figure martialized out of the darkness before him. Cautiously slowing to a stop, Allen instinctively felt unsettled by their sudden presence. Concealed, as a passi
Allen rose from the wooden bar stool at the back of the pub. “Werewolf.” He repeated, as if the word fit perfectly into the puzzle in his dazed mind. Although, the possibility of such a creature being the culprit behind his grandfather’s death had crossed his mind prior. Allen had eliminated them from his list of suspects, on account of them being pretty self-aware. Not uncommon around the outskirts of Ineset, they mostly kept to themselves and rarely showed aggression towards humans. Only socializing within their packs, werewolves typically shied away from the noise and crowds in the city. It was unheard of that one should appear here now, much less in broad daylight. Resolute that this must be the answer he was searching for, Allen walked purposefully toward the door. Blocked by the beefy vendor as he threw his body across the entry “Don’t go out there, Son.” He said, the whiskers of his thick moustache bristling. “Let me through.” Allen dema
Not moving an inch as it grazed past their head, they analyzed him coldly. The bullet grazing the hood of their cloak. It had fallen away to reveal the most hauntingly beautiful woman Allen had ever laid eyes upon. Her skin and hair as white as a ghost’s, the blood on her cheek was the only visible blemish. In stark contrast to her pale complexion, its bright red pigment seemed even more offensive. However, her striking appearance was not enough to offset her mocking smile and the viciousness hidden behind the fine features of her face. Surprised at first, Allen still perceived the woman to be a monster. Hands steadying on the pistol, he yelled towards his nemesis across the square, “That was a warning shot, next time I won’t miss!” The barrel of the gun pointing directly at the woman, he was bewildered when she was no longer in front of him. The hair on the back of his neck suddenly standing on end. Allen shivered, as a sweet voice whispered into his ear, “S