Chapter 2

The terrain is unforgiving as the cold climate consumes most of the mountain for only a handful of races can survive its ruthless ever-changing climate. Approximately 5800 feet above sea level and stretch about twelve miles west from the swamp of Tionor to the north of the sea of ishtar South of the trails opening the Balkan mountain is divided into three major parts the upper rim the middle belt and last the lower region. the opening of the catacombs is located near the middle belt as seen with Large stone pillars are seen scattered all over the area like a maze and from its remains,

an old observatory a remnant of an old forgotten city that was wiped out by an unheard force and on its main gate was carved Deneir .this was once an outpost build by the Amarum race as a merchant district leading toward there empire. At this very location lord, Magnus accidentally discovered the secret catacombs that coincidentally one of its branches connects deep under the very tower of Sevaron. That stretch is about half a mile. the catacombs were once the burial chamber of the Amarum warlords, as seen in its huge chambers and doorways.

the very landscape was callous for the catacombs were located in the middle belt of the mountain. A few miles from the catacombs in an area where the bitter cold Covers grotesque unknown vegetation seemingly consuming the surroundings like a parasite thus becoming a feared location by the people of Sevaron .Beyond this monstrous garden, two hundred feet above and two days travel up north there stand the great black gate of the Amarum Empire, an empire that stood witness to the old ones' rule they were the lands helm and executioner, bound the rules of the old ones for almost five hundred years, and became one the dark lord utmost adversary.

there was a handful of the small abandoned military outpost near the east side of the territory, a few miles walk near the dark side of the peak and a hidden trail was located concealed among the eyes of the late lord's enemies, years ago an undisclosed alliance with the Amarum king was created by the late sovereign lord to build a secret passageway from the scavenger infested land of Nuria to the very steps of Sevaron , this was a route to secure their military and food supply from the hands of the enemy, as large two gigantic warrior statutes standing approximately 60 feet was placed as a symbol of the control of the empire over the canyon a personal gift from the Amarum lord as a gesture of friendship.

as thousands of demon prisoners where consign to carve the very stone canyon for almost five years these creatures fashion tons of solid rock to finish the pathway across the nine days walk cutting it in half and after the passageway was finish the remaining demons where imprisoned within the vast chambers inside the walls and left there to die the upper walls became a merchants stronghold because of its strategic location the canyon became a thriving business area for hundreds of merchants line up there tavern stores alongside the upper walls like vines they created walk ways connecting to one another for more than a hundred feet above the devils trail each clan merchants were free to establish their commerce as thousands of warrior march beneath them like fire ants .

this prompted the sudden change of situation fearing that the location of the trail will be exposed the merchant leaders ask the lord Morwen to form a guild to ensure that the passageway will remain a secret for only a handful of the noble lords' family was its information under the fifth counsel lord Grandal he was appointed by the sovereign Guard to govern the area. . after the fall of the horde of darkness lord Darrion second son of lord, Anael became the new Sovereign lord of Mercia the devils trail was left under the rule of lord Grandals descendants with the accordance that the lord marshal of the devils tail dominion pays homage to the sovereign empire of Mercia and the empire of the Amarum.

For years this path became the empire's strongest weapon, for thousands of warrior wage war by using this very trail. But like a wavering flame, the paths slowly was in gulp in a power struggle after the great war, thus creating a chain of events that would lead to the wretchedness and corruption of this hidden terrain, now after years of seclusion the devil's trail is reduced to ruin and decay the path is now a dead zone for scrupulous individuals who still engaged into illegal dealings from weapons to chemical toxins and without a sovereign lord to govern the empire the devils tail was forgotten and was ultimately left into the hands of faith.

As Geri hiked alongside Moira his fear grows even stronger as he heard a tale about the doomed trail they could see the thick black smoke coming from the tower, Moira pulled out a small book from her bag it was her journal there she sat near a stone slab they were half a mile from the catacombs and the two were a bit tired so Moira decided to read her spell book while Geri gathers firewood and set camp. Geri was never the brave one in the clan but his craftiness was a different account. Geri asks Moira to remain hidden for a while until he could establish their whereabouts, Geri scratches his head as he saw the name carve on the gate of a wreck fort gate it was the city of Deneir, suddenly he felt panic for he recalls an incident that his father witness and shared to him, about a city turned to dust by an unheard and unseen creature that was only named Lurue above the Balkan region.

Geri was inside the ruined turret when he felt a dark force lingering in the wrecked wooden pillars across him, he was about a hundred meters away from Moira, and the moon's shadow wasn't helping him either to identify that fear right in front of him. He stood there silently holding stacks of wood from what it seems to be parts of a burnt chair; his breath was cold from that vulnerability. His eyes slowly gawk roughly around the chamber searching for any items that he could use as a weapon.

The chamber's roof was destroyed leaving only portions of the walls surrounding the site, Snowflakes are blown inside covering small parts of the floor of the chapel burnt objects were spread out and the very floor was crushed by a powerful blow. As the breeze was getting stronger, there he saw a glimmering reflection a few feet on his right side of the wooden pillars across the very shadow that he felt this unknown dread. designs are seen from most of the inner walls that this was once a holy place of worship, Geri with every possible way of escape analyzed and meticulously polished Geri knew he has about a minute to react and gain the upper hand.

Across the spirit Genome under the piles of broken down wood, clocked in darkness anticipates the movement of the target with all its remaining strength it plans to take its prey down. The wind settled down for a while as if it was contemplating their emotion waiting for another discharge of wind for this was the precise moment for them to move. The cold discharge with a restrained might Geri ran toward what he hoped was a knife, he threw the wooden branches toward the creature as it hurdled toward him.

Their reflexes were conditioned for these very circumstances as Geri still had a difficult time identifying the creature for his main concern was to get that item and use it against it. After a few moves inch, his very gasp of air was like swirling leaves in the autumn as he held the item his calculated plan worked for he has a weapon. Instantly he swings the candelabra to the left hoping that it will hit the creature enabling him to escape, but it was useless for he never considered the creature's size.

Petrified as the creature emerges from the shadow, Geri was about three feet tall; Geri is shaped by a living form of energy that needs to be contained inside a vessel made from any fashioned material from hardened clay, fabric, leather, and steel armor. Their attributes are distinguished from the color of their eyes as it emanates a certain color from red to anger, blue for calmness, or yellow for dread. This is the same radiant glow that most likely attracted the creature in the first place.

The beast was a night dweller it stands five feet tall and has a body built like a mountain ox, there breed once to wreak havoc on the Balkan region but their race dwindled to almost extinction when they were used by the demon orcs as war cavalries against the empires war horse years ago, the creature was a bit weak from hunger but even with this state it could still shred Geri in half and he unwillingly push aside to the corner of the shrine, even if he wanted to levitate higher he was still bound by the lack of knowledge in performing this task this made his situation more terrifying.

As the beast open its mouth for the attack a thundering voice echoed toward the creature the very walls tremble from its force, was it Moira Geri uttered, the creature saw the young mage her fleshly body is much more suitable nourishment rather than eating a hallow shell. The beast swings around ignoring the frail Geri and approach Moira.

After a few more seconds Moira finally realized what she has done, a dithering feeling that she now considered foolish. She was defenseless against a full-grown creature. She relentlessly turns around to run when she was forced down by an unnoticed being blocking her way. The impact made her head wobbly, she saw a young boy right in front of her in that same particular situation, it seemed they hit each other's head as she was running away from the creature when a warm pant gazes her right shoulder,

Geri shouted and ran toward the young mage when suddenly a large armored hand grab the beast head and crush it effortless and toss it in the air as it was flying upward a numbing scream belched from that same large reinforced hand the creature was already dead but this didn't concern the wearer of the gauntlet, as an invisible force incinerated the body of the dead creature living only its dust to scatter across the plains.

Moira was astonished to see that a young boy much like her could manage a powerful weapon, she was still sitting down when the young boy extends his hand and said come with me, when Geri bash the boy with a broken piece of wood flooring the was knock down again this time he was unconscious. After half an hour the boy finally woke up on his left side was the young girl he just saves, and on his left side was the same person who hit him, enraged he grab Geri by the neck and strangles him, when a chucking sound came out the young Moira's lips and said 'you are funny'' the boy decided to free Geri from his grip and look at young Moira, hi my name is Lurue and you are? I'm Moira daughter of lord Isengard and he is Geri my helm.

Geri was alarmed Lurue was the same name as the one who destroyed the village, Lurue saw Geri's reaction this might be about the old tale concerning the destruction of the village. Lurue told Moira and Geri that they have nothing to fear, the story about the village was a vague tall tale. The village was indeed destroyed but the stories surrounding it were falsely rumored. The three were staying inside the same shire for it was a suitable place to keep safe till morning, he shared details about the village, and as the wind became colder Moira was eager to hear about their new friends.

It was the age of alliance of the sovereign lord Morwen with the Amarum lords of the Balkan mountain, some of the migrating clans decided to establish a small village that they named Straton the clan population increased ten folds by the end of lord Sovereign rule. The village's primary livelihood was mining with the help of mountain dwarfs they supplied almost forty percent of the empire's metal ore in creating weapons and other pieces of equipment, the village was enclosed by a ten feet tall wall with the help of other clans the land grew like any village they build magnificent structures for their lavish lifestyles and because of their location they have access to the merchant outpost in the devil's tail giving them increase profits.An isolated area that the villagers themselves consider a blessing,

slowly they decided to sever their connection to the empire consumed with pride and arrogance for years the village elders control the area accepting only a selected family clan to be part of their village. One of the village founding families was a blacksmith named Gridion Lurue, he was a muscular man standing six foot five feet tall who was renowned to have a strength of ten full grown men, he was a silent man his history was hidden among the clan elders for certain personal reasons that he alone knew. Unaware to them we were a weapons master trained by the great lord Amarum a son of a mortal woman, and fathered by a noble Amarum lord sometimes he can mistake a Amarum warrior for his size and he was once married, but she died shortly after giving birth to his only daughter named Rion.

Years went by and his grandfather was known to have died in the hands of an Ajatar when he was searching for the last materials for his masterpiece. Gridion's daughter refuses to close his father's shop she alone establishes their clan name, her skill in weapon making was inherited and molded by his father, and her skill was second to all the land. After a few more years she accidentally wages a tug of war with a known merchant named Tristan, he alone was able to tame her fury he was about five foot six an aggressive gentle hunter that once serve the governor lord of Straga for years he formed an elite squad in fighting the incursion of the scavengers after a four-year hunt Tristan disband the group and later decided to seek refuge within Straton to start a new life as a merchant and fell in love with Rion and ask her to get married but she insisted to retain her family's name in honor of Gridion Lurue her father.

Tristam and Rion lived in this same village for years with their son Arion, like a normal child he was nurtured by his parents to be an ordinary healthy boy leaving his parents' legacy as a hunter and weapons master behind, He was educated to learn a useful skill in a world rather be trained under the art of warfare for they thought it was no longer necessary until the where ravage by night dwellers that migrated from the land of Dragan. for the Balkan mountain was a suitable place for the night dwellers to seek sanctuary and replenish their race and because of the village's isolation from the main Empire,

these encounters were never been documented nor reported to the empire's attention. Even the very walls surrounding the village were torn down night after night the people live in fear some of the family clans planned to live the village but it took almost a day to even reach the mountain's lower regions they still had to travel in the dead of the night. a handful of clans dared to gamble their lives in the hands of fate. Sounds of dread echoed every night when night dwellers ravage the escaping clan family. only a handful of warriors was left to protect the village people and one of them was his father Tristan for two years his father wages a personal war with these creatures his mother meanwhile was finishing her father's greatest creation Forge from the very scales and blood of an Ajatar. This was the very weapon that allegedly took his father's life.

The war gauntlet was to be used by Tristan to free the village from the night dwellers attacks, but accidentally Tristan was killed in their pursuit to eradicate invading creatures from entering their homeland one of his companions was badly injured in the chase within the dark forest, Tristan was forced to carry him in his back leaving him vulnerable from the creature's assault. Tristan was able to slay one of the beasts and was able to escape and save his companion, but because of the wound, he gains Tristan died on his death bed from the infection.

Arion was about six years old back then but he was old enough to understand and feel anger, he ran toward their door and took a small rusted knife right next to his father's wooden table, their home was filled with concerned fellow men but this didn't stop him from avoiding them trying to stop him from going outside. Her mother grab Arion by his sleeves but it was torn off Arion was able to escape the village people and went outside toward the border.

His speed was exceptionally fast he was running as fast as he can it will take the village people ten minutes to reach him in time, at the border young Arion shouted from the top of his lungs stating a challenge to all night dwellers to face him.

Out of the forest's murky shadow countless night dwellers came, Arion stood there and took out his rusted knife and pointed it at the creature this act in rage the beast leaps out and wages its claws on the young boy when it was struck down by a handful of sphere piercing its body until it drops lifeless in front of Arion. For a number of the village, clans came to save him front of them was his mother carrying the war gauntlet that his grandfather fashioned. Rion embraced his son and ask to step aside for she will finally use the gauntlet against these creatures of the night; she took the weapon and wore it in her hand and she spoke out an unknown dead language summoning the earth to grant her the power of the old ones to crush her enemy to dust.

suddenly the wind encircled her mother as dust wave according to the force it creates, small sparks of electricity were surging out of the gauntlet slowly it was glowing as if it was in flame. Rion was raising her hand powerful jolts of lightning was uncontrollable destroying everything it touches, some of the night dwellers were burned alive and the very forest was being shaken to its roots. Trees near her were slowly burning, and the village hunters that were accompanying her hid among the large rocks that are scattered everywhere near the edge of the forest.

Rion was fulfilling her father's wish, controlling what was meant for a god, suddenly the gauntlet just stopped functioning, and the very power that it created instantly vanish leaving only the dust particles in the air. Rion was stunned. Arion saw this when out of the forest a night dweller bites her mother's arm off, the same arm where she places the war gauntlet Arion ran to save his mother as more creatures attacked her ripping and tossing her like a rag doll. He jumps over the beast's back and stabs it with his knife but it was useless he was thrown away to the grown there he saw the war gauntlet as he plans to use it to hit the creature's eyes as he touches it, the gauntlet liquefies and attached itself to his arm and it grew four times the size even with its increased size he was able to lift it as it emitted a blinding light.

the earth once again trembles but this time it was breaking the land lightning bolts are exploding everywhere there Arion saw her mother dead his anger grew into hate Arion ran like a mindless juggernaut he shatters the very earth annihilating everything around him, the power it radiates eradicated every living thing within its impact including the village and everyone in it. After the smoke settled one being stood alone and it was Arion Lurue, the very force that killed everybody and left him in a traumatic state. His memory was confiding within his consciousness it took Arion four more years to accept his family's fate thus using only his family name, his mission was to kill all the night dwellers that escaped him before they hide among the shadows. Geri was a bit unenthusiastic to hear such disturbing tales; Geri can sense that Lurue has a dark and malevolent treat consuming him inside but Moira was already fond of him so he could only watch him closely.

His main concern is to return to Mercia with Moira but he knew that to accomplish this task he needs a powerful guard on their side, This left him to trust Lurue for the time being. He knew even with all his knowledge he still lacks in power; Moira might have the ability to manipulate fire but she still was no experience in using it in combat nor use it to kill a living thing. Moira decided to share details about their misfortune with the young Lurue, after a few hours the three finally decide to take that needed rest Lurue was a gentle noble mature young boy he insisted that Moira slept separately with them so the two share a small tent next to Moira.

Geri was restless that night something was bothering him he could feel Arion's anger so he bluntly asks him direct questions to ensure their safety Arion realize that Geri has doubts about his true purpose so he ask Geri to join him outside behind the broken-down shrine near a burnt down tavern a few meters from the shrine and settle their differences employing combat. For a few more minutes the two clashes like a storm each hitting each other like fierce creatures of war but a miscalculated act leads Geri to stumble into a wrecked pillar a few meters away from the old shrine, Arion was standing right in front of Geri floating a few feet from the ground,

Geri once again felt that horror as he saw in Arion eyes his anger surge out of uncontrollable power this was that same hesitation about him when Arion reached out his hand and took Geri hand and said ' enough games, I am not your enemy' After that the Geri woke up as Arion continued to sleep and went back to his dream on his side of the tent, suddenly a low tone openly spoke out saying '' stop playing with Arion Geri'' it was Moira assuring him that he is a big help to their journey and even with his hesitation and resentment she can feel that he has a kind heart.

Geri has already admitted his inability to summon a much more powerful spell years ago he was measured as the weakest among his kin, but his skill in dream manipulation has become an unstoppable force even among his race, even the strongest warrior becomes weak in this dream state leaving them vulnerable mentally, but there was the first time using this skill again. Geri was a bit relieved when he saw in the young Lurue eyes his desire to fulfill his destiny, and moments later he finally surrenders to the lord of dreams.

A few hours later Geri was forced to wake up by seemingly bitter cold weather, the harsh wind was humming like the sounds of a wounded wolf, Geri went to check Moira in her tent to secure her condition, there he saw that Moira was awake and stared at him a glared, she pointed downward and whisper we have visitors. Geri put his head on the grown and silently listened. Soon he heard marching footsteps and very soon the sound of cracking armor, Geri stood up and went to Lurue,

like Moira he too was already up. Without saying another word, the three gathered all their items under the bitter cold and strong winds the three moved out of the broken shine and even made the effort to cover their tracks as they walked under a foot of snow. Geri was unaffected by the weather so with this he was the one in charge of their supply as Moira continues to summon heat inside her cloak to prevent her body from freezing. As for Lurue he was uncorrupt able for he was only wearing worn-out clothes and doesn't even have a cloak to shield his body from the deadly weather. Moira grab Lurues arm she felt his skin was as hot as burning coal she was once again amused to know that he has the same abilities as her.

Every step they made under the blinding snowstorm would make them hear the marching sounds even closer until the three saw a weak light a few yards away from them. The three crawled under the fallen stone pillar and waited until they could distinguish the image from what it seems to be a vague small patrol of warriors. But unlike the warriors they have seen in their land, these individuals were massive in size as they were stacking up what it seems to be dead bodies like firewood, and because the weather was not helping them identify what they are seeing, so Lurue tap Moira on the shoulder and speak softly that they travel around them and he even said they might be Amarum warriors on a blood hunt facing them would be foolish and a death wish.