The end of a beginning

Prologue

The thunder storm rubbled again, and the lightning ran up the sky, illuminating the dark circular clouds.

The rain had been going on and on since three days ago and Kelsier was more than tired to put it simply.

He struggled to keep his eyes on the shabby road as his long robe swept the muddled water. The heavy rainfall splashed on his bald head and tickled directly into his tangled old beard.

The road was stony and bad and made much worse by the unending storm

His toes cracked in stiff coldness in the cramped shoes he had on since three days ago. His old bones were giving up on him, but he knew better than to give in to them.

The fate of Catyra lies upon his back and the others seven more.

He trotted along, daring to gaze up to black ominous sky. The castle, which was his destination, loomed above.

The absurdity of their situation seems clearer and clearer with each weak step he took, but his mind was weighing him down and he knew this was the only way to create hope for the people.

To create hope for Catyra.

He began to walk swiftly and increase his pace as fast as his ragged robe and heavy beard that was drenched in water would allow.

It was this night! It has to be tonight.

The castle was getting nearer in sight and he sighed in delight. At least a hot supper was waiting for him at the castle, warm clothes.

Fallen trees were on each side of him and he gazed at them with compassion.

He shook his head again, this time in sadness. It was going to take a lot to repair this place. A once vibrant and fertile place that was now nothing but the shadow of its old self.

His clunky step got him to the door of an old stone castle, with three stone pillars on each side. He stroked his tangled beard and muttered a spell.

Mivêvón psahan!!

A little glow emitted from his hand and he placed it against the stone door. That opened to reveal a dark swirling murky room.

He snapped his fingers and the low glow grew into a huge fire, illuminating the creepy and cold room. The inscriptions filled the room and it had no way out.

"Who has brought the idea of building this place like this?” He spoke to himself while staring around trying to look for any spell.

The creepiness of the room was looming but it had no effect over kelsier.

"It must be musufa's idea to build it like this,” He mused.

He raised his hand up in the air and muttered a spell.

Mirâånktis evarluaoo!

The huge stone pillar that stood isolated I'm the dark silence room split into two making cracking and deafening noise.

“Toolfumi,”he spat out again and held his ears with his old gnarled palm.

He stepped into the circular stairs that were hanging mid air. Like a floating circus.

An old knowing smile creeps onto his chapped and bruised lips. Definitely Mufusa's work.

As soon as he laid his cramped feet into the circular stairs, it let off an howling sound, swirling away and more dust and cold air blew into his flat nose. His already not so good beard was now looking totally abandoned.

Suddenly the swish swash of the cold and unwelcoming air against his head came to a stop and he found himself landing on a pavement three steps higher than the actual floor.

He sighed again. Someone needs to tell musufa to stop with his experiment.

But he knew all those would soon be in the past. This place was built with high service and security in cases of emergencies like this.

Three swampyths were standing by a huge black gate.

Swampyth were animals like birds with two huge wings on their back. And a long snake-like tail. They had three little horns on their small stony head and two eyes with different colors.

One blue to see if you're of good intentions.

To verify your energy and the red one to see if you have any bad intentions and to see if you're of any dark energy.

Both of their eyes turned blue and the large gate creaked open by itself. He strode towards the gate and spared a nod or two in the direction of the two swampyths.

They didn't return his greetings but he knew that they acknowledged him. That was their nature.

Swampyth were very useful creatures and loyal too. They were used as security and data storage. They're capable of relaying messages of eons ago to whoever needs it. But of course, there's always a condition for anything.

You had to tell it something that it doesn't know already. And they already know a lot of things. That is why many people prefer not to have anything to do with them else they'll pay the price.

And the price is not always easy.

He stopped his tattered robe from flowing into the fountain that was in the middle of the softly illuminated room. The room was illuminated by glowflies. Lots of them.

They have a pair of blue and green tiny wings that glow brightly. They were his favorite flies of all time.

He met the six others seated on their seats.

Brui sat down on the wooden chair that was weakly and too thin to properly contain his huge features. But he sat there nonetheless.

So were the others.

Mufusa : A witch with a good knowledge in physics and chemistry. He was always conjuring different things and making inventions.

Brui : A vampire with a huge stature and a lot of strength. Too bad he wasn't as intelligent. His brain was in his fist and his fangs.

Mileeon : An elf with overly long legs that sometimes got Kelsier pitying him. His nose was flat and his eyes were huge and scary. His long pointy ears and sharp talons were the only things that gave him away as an elf. Otherwise one would not even know what to name him as. But despite his disfigure, he was a good man. Intelligent even.

Frein : Was a mermaid that was gifted with the ability of changing her tails to legs and almost other things. She has olive and pretty skin, her eyes are a startling pair of blue that sometimes shine with a great intensity especially when she's out in the sun.

Dande : Was a black fae. His head was short and robust. His head housed some hair that stood up in a spike like stance that mostly made Kelsier keep his distance from him. His face was hard and square . He had a crooked nose and his ears were probably the biggest part of him. But all in all these were the characteristics that made him stand out from all the other fae .

Fae were naturally divided into the good and bad ones. White and black fae. But Dande had proved to everybody that black fae could be good people too. He was selfless and always had the best thoughts in mind.

Kelsier stood on the podium that was in the middle of the room. They glanced up at him, waiting for him to say something. Their eyes were filled with hope and it broke Kelsier's heart to deliver bad news to them.

"My fellow council men, I regret to tell you but Rothylnmade had already succeeded with his troops. Now it's left to us to stop him and his evil reign. It's left to us to create hope for the coming generation.”

He paused, to let his words sink into their heads. Their eyes showed sadness for a few minutes before turning to determination.

Yes! This was what he needed.

The determination to create hope for future Catyra.

"What do you suggest we do?” Frein spoke loudly. She was ready to save the whole Catyra even with her last breath.

The others waited for kelsier to say something.

"We'll create a prophecy. We'll create a future. An end for a beginning. " He whispered the last part to himself but they all heard anyway.

Heavy air hung in the room like cold frothings, the sounds of heavy breathing and brain storming filled the room.

The vibrant glowflies seem to have felt about the atmosphere as their once bright light dulled considerably.

"Let's do it!” Dande glanced up at kelsier and he breathed

"Yes, let's do it!” Their strong voice, filled with sadness and hope and as well as uncertainty for what the future holds for them.

"An end for a beginning. A bad ending for a greater start," He murmured and everyone repeated after him.

He spread open his mouth, spells flowing freely out of them. He placed his thumb on his chest, invoking a dark little smoke that rose up before turning red mid way.

They all closed their eyes and joined the energies together, creating a hope for the future of Catyra. Creating a prophecy that'll end the tyranny of the evil demon that craved power and wanted the people to call him God.

The fire in the room dimmed down and finally puffed up to a tiny straight line of smoke that trailed up to the sky to circle the cloud.

Kelsier gasped and his eyes flew open. It was done!

Black blood spluttered out of his mouth and he quickly wiped his off with the long flabby sleeve of his robe lest the members begin to get agitated.

"It's time!” He gave the room a once over and smiled sadly.

They all got out of the room in a single file. The rain was still pouring but now they were filled with regrets.

They should have known! They should have known of his behaviors that pointed to being a traitor.

But they were blinded by their own goodness and love for the whole world.

One of the three moons was just coming out now, slowly getting o

ut of its pinkish crescent.

The rain did not stop, with the breeze gently lulling away the glancingbicicus . Flowers with two tiny eyes in the middle of their head that were watching with sorrow as the elders disappeared into the unknown.

*

Lunar year of travelers .