Night in the Dark Lands 2

Since everyone he had called was gathered and told what was wrong and the reason behind their summons, it was time to begin. They stood in a circle around where he stood while he bent once more, placing his right palm on the dark earth beneath him. He shut his eyes and released an energy from his palm.

The moment he did that, a black miasma could be seen surrounding the land. Celeste shivered at the sight of it. Sensing it was one thing and seeing was another. She already understood why he had called her despite knowing she was busy, but now that she had seen it she knew she would have made her way there even though he didn't call her. Her light would be needed to complete the sealing process.

Drabor who still had a frown on his for being woken before sunrise stared in disbelief at what he saw. The miasma brought back old memories. Memories he wished he would forget. He shook his head to push those memories away but they still lingered, refusing to go away.

Sage swallowed the questions that were still at the tip of her tongue while Luna stomped her hooves on the ground moving back a bit. She knew it was there but she didn't think it would be this bad.

"How long has this been happening, Your Majesty?" Drabor asked in irritation. This couldn't be something that just started happening, it looked as if it had been licking for days. Weeks even. But it was just now that they were coming to know of it. "Why haven't the Council learned of this?"

"Be silent and begin," Arzaan ordered. Those were the questions that the council should be asked. They were supposed to watch over the land and report to him all that was wrong so a decision could be made. Drabor seems to have forgotten that and now thinks he should be the one reporting to them. He would deal with him and the rest later, right now, stopping this was a must.

They stretched their hands towards the ground, the same spot where his hand was placed, and a magic circle with runes appeared on each of their palms. They muttered some words and the energy from their palms increased in size and power. After about five minutes passed, nothing changed, everything remained the same the miasma did not decrease nor did it increase.

Arzaan stood up. He knew what had to be done now but it was too risky. He turned and looked in the direction of the castle. He had to find another way to stop it without resulting in what he was thinking.

"We must unlock the seals in the land, My king," Luna said, she knew that if she was able to figure this out, they all must have realized it too but they were hesitant due to the possibility of letting out a creature or two from the other side.

"That is a risk we can not take," Celeste objected. As much as she would love to end it all, she preferred having this little darkness lurking here for as long as it would rather than opening the seals and letting more out and bringing harm to the people.

"We have no choice but to unlock the seals," Drabor said with clenched fists. He hated this. He hated to be here while it all happened again. He contributed a lot to sealing it up in the past and hoped that it would be the last time he would have to do that but here they were once again, talking about removing the seals that they worked so hard to place and freeing the same creatures that they had once fought and locked away from the realm.

Remembering the past, he remembered everything starting with the humans that were once part of them, and turned to glare at the castle where one was currently being sheltered and hidden away while he had to stand here and do this all over again.

"Your Majesty," Sage called his attention because everyone was now waiting to hear him speak, whatever he decided would be what they would do he had the final say in this. "What have you decided?"

Arzaan remained silent. He didn't like the idea of unlocking the seals, but to stop what was happening, the seals had to be unlocked. This was one of those times he wished he was not king, that way, he could make selfish decisions without worrying about who else would get hurt because of his actions.

"Unlocking the seals would bring uncertainties, we are not sure what would leap out of there the moment they are unlocked, the people need to be prepared before something like this is done," he said, staring at the ground. The moment he stood up and his hand was no longer placed on the ground, the miasma had become invisible once more. They could only sense it, but not see it.

"I won't do something that would harm and endanger my realm," he stepped away from there because he could feel the darkness trying to crawl up his legs. Though it would not cost much energy to get rid of it, he didn't want to have to waste his energy on something that he could have avoided. "Have the council gather immediately," he said looking at Sage.

"Understood, My liege," she bowed and spread her wings, flying away to carry out the orders.

"You are all expected to be there, no one is to be absent unless you want to feel my wrath," he said, staring at Darbor who reluctantly bowed his head.

"I will make sure everyone is present, Your Majesty," he said and left without waiting for anything else to be said. He knew that warning was for him. The sun was yet to smile upon them but they were already calling the council to meet, had he not been here already, he would have preferred to sleep or just lay in bed and ignore it. He could still do it but with the direct warning, the boy wouldn't mind driving him from his position, or even killing him for disobeying the king.

The most annoying part was that no one would be able to speak against the boy's action since he had been warned.

"I will leave first," Arzaan said to the two left. He needed a change of clothes before walking into the meeting with the council.

"I apologize," Queen Celeste spoke, which made him stop a few feet above the ground and turn to look at her. "It is also my responsibility as a council member to watch over this," she said.

He landed back on the ground and stared at her. She was right, she also had a role to play as a council member. She bowed her head and so did Luna.