Unexpected Illusion

"Shut up Ramor." hissed Fril.

"I'm just saying," Ramor said angrily, "You don't have to freak out like that again."

"Quiet, both of you, it's almost time!" scolded Ester, "Your constant bickering is getting on my nerves."

"Where are Shire and Xersies?"

"What do I know."

"If they don't show up soon, we'll be late opening the portal."

"Don't worry Ramor, as if Xersies would ever be late. It's not like he's Ester."

"What's that supposed to mean Fril?"

"You know that all right...ah here they come," said Fril, pointing with his long thin claw to the great castle gate.

From there Xersies and Shire came sprinting. They were talking and running side by side.

Ramor frowned, "You're too late." he grumbled.

"No, we're right on time." Retorted Xersies and lifted the small blue stone that created the rift to the other world and immediately the crack opened and let the 5 generals have a view of a night-lit dense forest.

"Let's see if the Duce is there today already,"

Just at that moment the forest on the other side of the crack darkened and something came catapulting through the crack.

The thousands of Polykenas standing on the castle walls and around the crack activated all kinds of magics and prepared to attack, but Xersies raised his hand and the Polykenas immediately stood motionless.

It took a few tense moments before the dust settled and showed the person standing upright there, smiling coldly at the generals,

"Why so tense? Aren't you glad that your Duce is back?"

Immediately, howls broke out among the Polykenas all around. Although it was more of a hiss and a roar than a hoot.

"As usual, an unnecessarily dramatic entrance, my Duce," said Xersies in greeting as he joined Nero.

"Testing your combat readiness is never unnecessary," replied Nero.

"So this was a test?" asked Ramor

"Most definitely," said Nero, turning to the Polykenas around him,

"Well done! But you can go now. What I learned on the other side, you'll learn later." Nero called to the Polykenas.

The pack immediately dispersed, leaving only the usual guards on the towers and the wall.

He went to Xersies and stretched out his hand, immediately Xersies gave him the crack stone.

Nero took it and closed the Gate that had been open until now.

"Let's go to the meeting room, and there we will discuss my experience and my next plan."

"Good."

...

"The people call the world Griel, and so it shall be called with us now. Griel is ruled by three different races, the humans, the elves, and the reils. Once they lived in harmony and peace, but war broke out for reasons. The three beings are divided into three continents, Gretan, Irl, and Sirib. Luck seems to be on our side because the rift opened in Gretan to the land of the humans," Nero just explained to the 5 generals.

"What about mages?" asked Xersies, after some time.

"I was just about to get to that," Nero said, "While I have encountered many people in the village with a magical aura, surprisingly, they are not true mages. In the world, it is normal to have a magical talent, but few have a strong enough one to call themselves mages. So far, I have not met any real ones, but according to the books, they are supposed to be the main army of the species and represent strength. They are said to be very powerful and there are even some that are at least on my level. But they are considered legends and heroes blessed by the gods, who appear only very rarely. I believe that our army is strong enough to take over this world, but we have to be smart about it. The balance of the world is on the verge of collapse, and just the slightest spark could start a gigantic war, which means we don't have to take on all the species at once, but attack one and weaken it, and watch the other two tear themselves to pieces. If we skillfully interfere in the war, we might still manage to absorb the chaos energy and strengthen ourselves, and if the remaining races become weak enough, we could destroy them once and for all."

"And how do you intend to do that, my Duce?" asked Ramor politely,

A wicked smile played on Nero's face, "I'm glad you asked, I've already thought of something funny."

...

Sometime later, Nero, lost in thought, walked toward his private chambers. He was completely alone in the gigantic dark corridor. No Polykenas was far and wide. He frowned and stopped.

-Actually, there should be guards here.-

Nero released his magic and a black liquid fell from his fingertips, forming a dark puddle on the floor. It quickly spread throughout the hallway and Nero took in the entire environment. There was not a single person or Polykenas in that hallway. But something else was strange. Power emanated from all the walls. It was foreign to him and yet somehow vaguely familiar. Like clouds of smoke, it rose and wafted around in the corridor. And then it hit Nero like a blow. A cold shiver ran down his spine and there was this feeling again. As if something incredibly powerful was watching him through a veil of mist. Nero immediately looked around and let his magic build a barrier around him. He drew in the darkness and with a sweeping wave of his hand, it erupted in a great explosion, tearing at the surrounding walls. Suddenly the entire area shook and the walls began to crack. But the worst thing was that all of Nero's magic started to go crazy. He had no control over it anymore. He tried to reach for it, but it just seeped out of him. Then the walls around him burst open and he realized he was in an illusion or something. The sky outside was scarlet and the ground had disappeared entirely. He was floating in the air and there was no sun or moon anywhere to be seen, yet there was enough light.

And then his magic was drawn out of him. It was a burning and painful sensation, but the pull was too powerful to resist. More and more, faster and faster, his magic was being pulled out of him and he felt himself getting weaker and weaker. His eyes went black and he felt dizzy. He knew that he was about to collapse. Then suddenly the red sky became the normally blue sky with the sun shining brightly. Nero fell and he whirled uncontrollably in the air. He concentrated and tried to clear his head again, but in vain. He broke through the cloud cover and saw a fortress below him rushing towards him. A familiar black fortress. His fortress.

Frantically, he approached the ground. Again he tore his arms apart and tried to bundle his forces. Success! Black smoke exploded from his hands and began to press against him.

His fall slowed, but a little too late. He hit the ground hard and heard a sickening crack. A searing pain pierced his insides and he spat out blood. Slowly he straightened up.

He was completely shocked and confused, but still, his expression was cold as he walked toward Ester's lab.