2. Dragon's talk

[3 years earlier]

The fading red sun slowly made its way down the horizon, shadows creeping up on the sand stoned walls of the houses in the little town. Faint winds rolled through the empty, silent streets making their way towards a small town square clad in vibrant colored stands. A relatively large fire lit up the now dark surroundings, scaring away the crippling cold that slowly crept forward with the lack of sunlight. A beautifully shining moon-shard shone down on the vast desert dressing the seemingly endless landscape around the small town.

Out on the moonlit, giant sand dunes, two small shadows were moving at a neck breaking speed aiming for the apparent empty town. Not slowing down a bit the two figures made their way down a sand dune, up the next before entering a new sand dune valley. Continuing like this they closed in rapidly, yet silent on the unsuspecting town. Thankfully they slowed down before entering the streets of the town, located on the top of a piece of solidified sand stone. Creeping now slowly in the shadows the two dark figures made their way towards the town square, passing the houses that canted the sad beige road.

Inside the houses one could, if watching closely, spot the faint rupture of shadows, almost like somebody was silently hiding there, waiting for something or... someone. The two shadows had gone from a careful crawl in the shadows to a careless walk in the middle of the streets not showing a hint of perception that their backs were exposed to the multiple pairs of eyes staring daggers at them.

"Do you think he's here?" one of the shadows asked the other.

"The informatics were widely known for their fireproof information so we shouldn't worry,"

the second shadow answered the first, before yet again falling into a silent walk, now very close to the raging fireplace in the middle of the still silent town.

When they closed in on the town square and the fire they slid into the shadows once more sneaking up to the garnished end of the street. In front of them the market-stands were clad with vibrant colors and spread over the whole area. But, the shadows didn't pay any thoughts towards that, instead they had their gazes locked on a third figure sitting silently by the fire, the back turned towards them.

"You're late."

Still not showing any signs of making a move, the stone cold voice belonging to the third figure trailed through the silent air. The two newcomers looked at each other, the light from the fire revealing their appearance. Clad in long dark robes with hoods up over their heads covering the upper parts of the two very white masks covering their faces. The masks didn't have any openings for either the mouth or the eyes making one wonder how they could navigate at such speed through a desert with only the moon's light to assist them in the compact darkness. The figure before them wore a similar robe but instead of being black, it radiated a more deep blue color, covering him in an odd mystical light.

"Do you know the reason for this fire?"

Another set of words levitated towards them as leafs being blown by the wind. Not waiting for an answer the owner of the words continued, "It does serve a purpose in exterminating shadows and fighting the cold. But, its main purpose is to make sure no desert creatures roams into this innocent town."

With these words spoken the mystical figure raised an arm with a glove similar to its robes, deep blue energy dancing between its fingers. Slowly the fire started collapsing, its size and luminosity shrinking rapidly.

"Now what do you think happens if I kill this fire? Do you have the strength to defend yourself?"

This time, the figures head turned and faced the two shadows still standing in the entrance. A deadly, suffocating aura surging from the mystical figure, laying itself like a blanket over the town. On its face a mask nearly identical to the two shadows sat in place. But, a painted crack ran down its middle, between two openings revealing a pair of cold, heartless, eyes shining with a dark blue light. The two shadows involuntarily took a few steps back falling into a defensive stance, one even unsheathed its sword, the tip pointing towards the powerful figure before them with fire racing to the top, its flames almost turning blue from the intense heat.

"Where's the informant?"

The shadow holding a sword spoke silently, its voice dampened by the blanket of aura around them.

"Oh! you mean that guy in there?"

The mystical figures voice wasn't loud, nor was it dampened by its own aura but a shiver went down the two shadows spines as they released their locked gaze on the mystic figure, looking up over him just as the fire seemed to split itself, revealing a still burning corpse, suspended in the air, not connected to anything, just... floating.

The fire fused itself again with a move from the mystical figures raised hand, covering the disturbing scene.

"For two high class fighters to show up in this barren town... truly a wonder...

The energy of the mystical figure started to rise drastically, the figure canted its head, a wide grin appearing beneath the mask.

"For two high class fighters, shouldn't you be more aware of your surroundings?"

A sinister chuckle slipping out past the mask.

Before the two shadows had processed the meaning behind those words, they both felt two two blades being pushed into their backs. Simultaneously turning their heads to look behind them they spotted a small figure holding two small daggers, a calm fiery energy enveloping them both. The new figure wore the same sort of robes as the two shadows but the mask had instead of a crack between the brows, a single red tear beneath the right eyelid. Two eyes shining bright with a dangerous red light stared them down for a few seconds before nodding in the mystical figures direction. The shadows turned yet again, now facing the mystical figure. This time, it had turned its entire body, hands clasped behind its back. A violent surge of aura pushing its way out from the tall figure.

"Tell me, why in the living hell do you want to find a sand dragon?"

The violent surge of aura bore down on the two shadows. Feeling a pressure they've never felt before, their knees couldn't help it, a slight tremble surfacing as they manifested their entire willpower to fight against this monster of a figure.

"If silence is your answer. I'll just have to make you speak, right? so... lets talk."

The two shadows ultimately fell victim for the rising pressure, falling to their knees, almost like they bowed down for their god.

"Hmm, it was indeed a long time since anybody bowed for me, I had almost forgotten how real power felt like"

A chuckle slipped out from under the mask, but the tension was only relieved for a few moments before the pressure started rising. Again.

"Speak."