PROLOGUE

"Don't do this, I'm begging you, stop!". A shrill wail echoes through the air, words strangely intelligible echoes alongside it. "Don't do this!!", ghostly through tenebrous night, the voice screeches, it begs, pleads. Two figures can be made out, though there's darkness all around, a single lamp produces light, albeit just barely, the wicker seemingly burned out in it entirety.

Two figures struggle, grunting and every once in awhile, a loud wail of plea echoes through the night. Their goal seems to be the lamp, upon closer look, though they have the same ultimate goal, their purpose are vastly different. One seemingly intent on grabbing the lamp, apparently the shrill, blood curling wail originates from him. The other figure is silent, except for an occasional grunt during their struggle for domination over the other.

"This is pointless, stop fighting already, the deed has already been done, end your needless struggle, you can't overpower me anyway and you know it, so cease your pointless struggle this instant!".

A female, calm and strong, her voice like bells, once she spoke, the unholy darkness of the night did not seem so frightening anymore.

"Phoenix please, you must understand that I do this for you, for us, with this we will be together till the end of time and beyond, do not make me the villain in our story, please". Her voice rings like bells, like the chorus of angels, unfit for this mortal world, the figure called Phoenix was having none of it though.

"No, no, I refuse, I don't want any of this, whilst an eternity with you is what I wish for above all else, I'd we live and die and meet again on the yonder when our souls are free from our mortal coils and not this madness. If you do this, you doom us both, the gates of heaven will be closed on us, I beseech you, desist from this madness!!". His voice was scratchy, having yelled and screeched and tried to make his opinion heard, he had lost whatever beauty there was to his voice, if ever there had been any.

Whilst Phoenix fought a losing battle, the light of the lamp died out, as the wicker was totally spent, spiralling the already dark environment until deeper darkness and with the coming of darkness came a cold gloom, like a blanket, it pressed upon them, filling their minds with dread. Their mock battle ceased instantaneously, the only sound that could be heard became only their heavy breathing and pounding heart that spoke of the absolute terror they both felt.

"I tire of your little games, choose now and choose quickly, who gets to live? For only one shall be eternal". With this words, greenish gold flames erupted from the lamp, the flames were without heat, yet it singed the air, eating away at the oxygen, producing a mirage of an hourglass, a figure sat cross-legged at it apexes. It face could not be made but one could feel it had a wide smile plastered on it lips as it chuckle, "a price must be paid to acquire immortality, so make your pick and make it quick, for eternity awaits".