Crossworld Between Harmony: Nightmare's Ascension

CHAPTER 1

When the civil war had came to an end, the empire was able to breathe easier, knowing that their troubles were finally over. A new era emerged from the five years of brutal and bloody toll that scarred the once beautiful land. Under the restoration of the watchful eye of the Partishan, guardian protectors of the empire, peace had returned at last over the kingdom.

One year of peace and prosperity. One year of faultless harmony. A great celebration was underway to honour the fallen heroes that gave their life against the rebellious Scarlet incursion.

With the celebration growing near in just a matter of weeks, everyone was ready and excited of the upcoming event. Yet another scheme was set into motion. A dark and sinister role that stirred from within the hearts of the empire.

The war that everyone thought it ended was far from over.

====

Ironcloud. An impenetrable castle-fortress unlike any other. Its thickened walls were vast and bound under the dangerous mountain peak. Garrisoned over a thousand men, the fortress was an essential role to play in defence against the Scarlet rebellion. It was the beacon of hope, a symbol and its shield from any known form of attack that their enemies would have rarely siege. Able to withstand against several wars and merciless weather, it would seem like nothing could breach the formidable structure.

But that was all about to change when a new player arrived to test their metal.

Everyone thought that Ironcloud would be invincible, flawless, impervious to any known threat. It was an unattainable goal that would lead enemies astray to their utter demise. However, there were words whispering throughout the empire that the mighty structure of empire's achievement, had finally fallen by an unknown force.

No letters, no messengers from a day or two, the council grew mightily worried over the portentous silence and dispatched a scouting party to investigate the latest event. Formed by only a dozen men, they made a slow and painful trip through the mountain, but once they reached the place, they would soon discover the horror that lingered in their wake.

"Double the pace, you blighters. Double your efforts. We almost reach the top." The leader of the party looked skyward at the perilous mountain, staring at the distant towers of Ironcloud. His face took on with a cold and determined look, one who was willing to sacrifice his men in order to achieve success.

The men glanced at their appointed destination and grew weary at the sight of the place. It used to be the signal of confidence, a pride of the empire's achievement, but now, it was nothing more than a sign of fear and an ominous warning for those who would venture into the depths of nightmare itself.

There was a strange, unnatural aura that surrounded the structure that had left the men in tremendous trouble. They suspected right away that the rumours of being taken over was true and that Ironcloud had fallen to the enemy. But the important question of the matter was who succeeded? Who would be so bold, and so foolish, as to achieve such an impossible feat that even the Scarlet couldn't.

They were soon about to find out.

====

When the group reached through the fortress, their faces worn in a mixture of shock and dread to the sight of blood, smearing against the broken entrance. Inside didn't brought much comfort for them as they glimpsed piles of dead corpses that littered by the hundreds.

The rumours were true after all. Ironcloud has fallen.

“By Savior’s light.” One of the men replied, almost closing to a state of collapse. Another couldn't bear the sight of the gruesome display as he hurled out of his appetite. They wore a disgusted look, speechless beyond any words to describe. Some swiftly hesitated, stepping back away of the accursed place, but the leader (officer) intervened and forced them otherwise.

“Ready your arms,” the Partishan leader said, unfazed by the gruesome sight. He then pulled out his sabre and turned to his team with convicted eyes. “It’s not getting any better after this. I suspect each of you to understand that we have a job that must carry out. Any of you blighted basterds want to run away to your ‘luxury’, then do so now, otherwise my report would condemn the man that would be far worse than death. Forward!”

The party were shocked by their leader, but everyone suspected any better than to have Magnus Karl in charge of the investigation. Who would better to lead the mission than the former defender of Ironcloud?

The men entered unwillingly into the jaws of nightmare, unknown to what fate that awaited for them. Some were still distracted by the foul odour that reeked from the dead while others carried on, grimly reminding themselves of the defenders gruesome demise.

The group pressed on through wanton death and destruction, struggling from the foul odour that was coming from the dead. They gruellingly pressed on into the fortress, but one particular soldier was terribly more frightened than the rest and that name, was Geos Vaarka.

Geos was just only a beginner, a rookie, that was recruited after the end of the Scarlet Rebellion. Young, loyal and inexperienced, the rookie was forced into the hardships of military life by his parents in hopes to restore the honor of his family.

The Vaarkas traced their line back to the time when the empire was even born and served countless lords, viscounts and prestigious merchants as either bodyguards, officers or advisors alike.

When civil war broke out, the Vaarkas were ready, as time before them, to offer their expertise to the loyalist. Their uncle was the best amongst the rest of the family, serving as an elite vanguard under many leaders, including the Partishan. However, as time went by, the family was tarnished when their uncle turned traitor to the rebel faction. All of their asset and their reputation were destroyed, resulting this as the darkest day in Vaarka’s history.

When Geos first entered into the military academy there were many people who shunned him away due to his uncle’s past, but that wasn’t the only thing that he was worried about. Right away, when he stepped into the life of duty and discipline, he questioned deeply against his parent’s decision and wasn’t a man in the arts of war, but a humble man who enjoy the little things in life. As the only son of the family it was his duty, and his burden, to restore the Vaarkas long, traditional legacy, but he wondered if his life was something more than being a man of war. Sadly, he would never know.

Another person from the group, a Partishan veteran, named Maurice, took notice of the rookie’s distress. With a scar jutting across his left eye, he simply gave a good pat at the rookie’s back.

"First time you've seen this stuff, huh?" Maurice asked. "Can’t say I blame you, it is a nasty sight. Normally ordinary folk, and even the recruits, would faint by this slaughter. Glad that you still holding out.”

Maurice had served on several fronts during the Scarlet rebellion, gaining scars and prestige along the way. About near to his forties, the veteran had a terrible experience once with a Scarlet swordsman which caused a heavy wound, blinding permanently of his left eye. He was then changed deeply into a resilient, caring and loyal fighter; an inspiration to the newer generation.

Geos was relieved to hear that Maurice was tagging along with the investigation. Of all the days that Geos had spent at the academy, working tirelessly without end and being mocked by his peers, Maurice was the only person that treated him with decency and fairness.

“Thank you, sir. It means alot coming from you,” Geos answered. “But I’m feeling the effects already of what was happening right now. I can’t believe that anyone would do such a thing.”

“We can’t be sure as to who is responsible and yet it saddens me still,” Maurice said. “It’s only getting harder from this forward on when we head deeper into the fortress. Suspect the worse, Geos and keep your arms in check.”

Geos nodded of the veteran’s advice, uncomfortable, yet appreciative nevertheless.

====

Hours the group had trailed into an uneasy feeling, wandering tirelessly through the deserted ruin, with no signs of life except for hungry crows. Firmed in their grip for any slightest of danger, the two Partishans were slightly ahead the rest to discuss the matters at hand of the situation.

The two had known each other when they met in the third year of the war, fighting side by side against overwhelming odds. They were, the lucky ones, at that matter, and they survived from beginning to end.

The gruesome horror that surrounded them didn’t affect much of Magnus’s cold expression. He remained ever so vigilant of the goals that were given to him and never let his senses get the better over him. He was, however, slightly stunned that Ironcloud, the place where he began as a Partishan, had been reduced to an unbearable state and without a sudden notice from the empire. Surely somebody had to contact the military of this latest attack.

“This doesn’t make any sense,” Maurice began, examining over the dead and unsure of whether they were friend or foe. “Their skeletal corpses and armor remain intact, but there are no strands of blood within them. It cannot be this quick for their bodies to rot; something is not right.”

“I agree, and what worries me greatly is that there something foul both air and earth,” Magnus quickly inspected one of the skeletal corpses, holding the clean, slated bones. "It's very odd. Although it feels nothing but of the ordinary, it feels very...unnatural."

"I don't like it one bit. Could this be the work of the Harten and do they have such capabilities to level a thousand?"

“I don't know for sure. The work seemed too clean for any Harten, but this might be the first time that we are dealing something new and something dangerous. I grimly fear that we are beyond the expertise to challenge such a threat.”

Hartens originated themselves since the birth of the empire and since time itself. Legend said that an extinct race from long ago once trapped the embodiments of nature within their very bodies. No one had ever discover the reason for this event and many scholars and theorists had placed their opinions of the cause. All deemed plausible and some were quite outrageous.

But nevertheless, this dead, unknowable race dissolved upon emergence with nature into nothing more than crystalline jewel that scattered across the world. The gems would come to known in ancient tongue as the Shivale or Nature Stone, but to the more pleasant term, the 'Heart of Shard'.

These destructive, yet elegant gems were burrowed deep underground, manifesting upon the accordance with the elements of nature. Splitted into different types of earth, fire and water, the gem posed a serious threat to the upper world and those that wield such power were called the Harten; casters of nature and harbingers of doom.

Maurice winced at his remark, but calmly said. "If this isn't the work of the Harten. Then who would be responsible enough to slay at a thousand then. Surely it isn't those accursed monsters from the north or the ruinous tribes of the east?"

"That is why we are here to find out." Magnus then glanced aside to Maurice, slightly grinning . "I promise you, Maurice. We are going to find out who is responsible for this and put the end of its misery. Yet this disturbs me even more now that the attacker have such power to decimate an entire garrison. Ironcloud is not so easy to claim and such devastation would bring such blight to the empire."

"Or worse, the end of us all" Maurice added.

“...hold here and wait for the others. I'm going to go ahead a bit."

"You? Taking the head start?" Maurice smirked. "Since when did you want to go first?"

"Since I said so. Now just stay put and wait for the group." Magnus headed off into the ruin, leaving Maurice behind. As he was distance away, Maurice slightly sighed and stood in wait. The display of death has recalled of his experience in the rebellion. The horrible blight against their very own kin. But before the rebellion had even begun the empire lived in a harmonious existence with the people, bringing justice and order across the land.

Yet war delivered a great divide amongst its people, separated between a belief that they'd thought it deemed the right one. It resulted at a terrible cost from both side over five years of infighting and a ruthless hunt of the remnant Scarlets and Hartens alike.

Maurice had thought hard of his decision when he sided with Magnus. The group should just abandon the mission to instead warn the council of the situation. But he knew that the idea was different from the case. The council knew that Ironcloud had fallen by this unknown force and didn't intervene to send reinforcement.

Truly, the council wanted Ironcloud to fall from the very start.

He was told by a friend from inside that Ironcloud was a staging ground in plans to overthrew the Savior-King and reformed the country into a republic state. Such idea without a king was madness and what's worse that these turncoat traitors were lead by a corrupted Patriot.

The Patriots aligned themselves as generals and held an authority both the royal army and the Partishans. Since the rebellion had erupted the Patriot project was went underway to compose an efficient fighting force to combat even the skilled Scarlet swordmasters. The project was held in discreet, but much was known that the Patriots were very rare to make.

The characteristics of the Patriot were much similar with the Partishan, able to sense the signs of supernatural presence like the Hartens for example. What's difference between these Patriots was that they had the ability to conduct some sort of energy without the support of the Heart of Shard and without any consequential backlash.

Not affinity to any sort of element, the Patriots may considered to be the most powerful force that the empire had ever created. During the rebellion, only thirty three known Patriots were assigned and fitted for duty. By the end of the war, only thirteen had survived as to this date (Minus one today) and the Patriot project was soon abandoned thereafter.

The council were powerless to stop the Patriot's schemes and didn't have the man resources to arrest a prestigious soldier (Patriot) into court. Not when he had influence from both the noble elite and other Patriots. But since the recent events that befell of Ironcloud the council had seek an opportunity to sent a ruse operation to investigate the scene.

Their true mission, however, was to search for the Patriot's authoritarian seal, and destroy it.

Only Magnus and Maurice knew their objective. The rest were just an additional meat shields in case of something unexpected would happen. Although the goal in hand was to search and retrieve the lost seal, the veterans had a different mind to the case. A rather personal vendetta in which Maurice and Magnus had experienced of the Harten’s cruelty.

The veterans that survived in the aftermath were scarred for life. They'd fought against a formidable opponent and had lost many in the years that followed in the Scarlet rebellion. The two, Maurice and Magnus, remembered of the Harten’s strength and would never forgive, nor forget, of their violent action.

“There are little means of our return now,” Maurice sighed to himself, sensing behind the rest of the scouting party. He turned to them with a vigilant smile and spoke with authority. “Double your efforts men. We follow the officer wherever he goes. There will be no retreat, not even a sense of doubt of cowardice. Our investigation still stands. We must find this attacker and end it with our firm and swift justice. Understand!”

The party hailed to him, responding to its righteous command. All except for one. Geos couldn't believe his ears that was coming out from Maurice. When the group forward march in direction of their leader, he quickly clasped on Maurice shoulder.

"Are you out of your mind?" Geos bluntly asked, lowering down his voice so that others wouldn't listen. Though he was being too precocious of his action, he must say something otherwise. "By the rule of the Partishan, those suspected of an imminent threat must leave at once to warn the military. What you are doing is sheer ludicrous."

"Laws were meant to be broken, son," Maurice remarked, breaking free from the rookie's hand. "I suggest you follow. The mission has change for the better. You would mind your tone and know who you are speaking to."

"Y-yes sir. My apologies"

"If you want to leave then be my guest. Your defiance shall be noted to the council."

With that said, Maurice ended and continued onward, leaving the startling Geos behind to his misery and sadness. He stared at the man, whom he'd thought to be reasonable, but something was different that the rookie could not solve nor comprehend the feud between the Partisan and the Harten

Geos silently cursed himself for his weakness. If only he'd shown a bit of courage, than he wouldn't be here in the first place. If only he wasn't afraid then he would leave this accursed place; whatever the punishment that awaited for him.

But he didn't. Instead, he followed obediently like a good soldier, continuing to his, and theirs, probable demise.

====

As they trailed deep into the fortress, finding nothing but death and destruction, the skeletal bodies of the slain victims were numerous beyond of count. It was a grim reminder of their horrid and gruesome demise.

Near at the center heart of the fortress, one person then saw a sudden change at the skeletons. That person was the young lad, Geos Vaarka.

Always last behind of the group, Geos terribly paused at the corpses and saw the black, tainted liquid, seeping into the bones of the dead. He had never been scared in his entire life and while the rest of the group moved on, unnoticed of the grimly change that was happening over the fallen dead, a shallow voice began to whisper to him.

'Geos...' A voice called out to him, and only him.

Instantly, Geos froze to where he stood and was startled that it knew his name. He didn’t knew what he should to respond, but remained silently on guard.

'Geos...' The voice repeated and ominously added. 'Look...up...'

Geos pondered of this and gazed at the tower window. He saw a glint of light at one of the windows, twinkling in a light purple color. He gave a good long look at the strange light and saw a shadow moving from the inside.

Geos thought he was losing his mind, starting to feel the heavy burden that was weighing down upon his fragile soul. He stared blankly for a while at the lit window when he felt a tap upon his shoulder.

“Hey, are you alright?” Maurice asked, noticing the rookie staring blankly at open space.

Geos snapped out from his trance, glancing at him for a moment before turning back at the window, but the light quickly faded into the dark. Maurice followed suit by staring at the tower. “What in feathers are you looking at?”

“...it’s nothing,” Geos lied, keeping the subject for himself. ‘It wasn’t much to be told about anyway,’ he convincingly thought. ‘Maybe it’s the stench that’s playing tricks on me.’ “Sorry to bother you about it, sir. The smell of rot and the sight of the dead must be taking a toll over me.”

“You’ll get use to it, but I have to agree that smell is horrendous.” Maurice then checked in his pocket and pulled out his rags. “Here, wrap this around your mouth. It isn’t much but at least it would hold some of the smell.”

“I thank you kindly, sir.” Geos said and did so right away. “A dreadful site of the place.”

“Agreed, you’d be surprise how ordinary folk can quickly turn into forsaken monsters,” Maurice stated and tapped on his shoulder. “Come on, move your arse or you’ll get left behind.”

“Understood sir, and thank you...” When Maurice went ahead, a great, heavy burden weighed heavily upon Geos shoulder. He didn’t knew why or understood the reason for this sudden affliction, and yet there was something suspicious that carried Maurice’s tone, almost like that his time was coming to an end.

Geos bluntly shrugged to such idea as he’d trust Maurice since the day he entered the academy, but the question still remain about the mysterious contact that he’d experienced;  the ghostly whisper and the ominous shadow that loomed over the distant.

In the right mind, Geos should have said something to him, but he couldn’t be sure if his contact was real or just his mind playing tricks on him. Either way, there was nothing that he could do, even if he told Maurice about it…

No one would.

====

With each every minute that they ventured into the center of the fortress, the smell of rotting bones began to worsen and their exploration brought closer and closer to the Partishan’s objective.

Magnus didn’t cared much for his team or their condition, except only to his mission. He was...the solo type of person. An aura of professionalism and stability was very strong in Magnus, carrying with him his pride like a prestigious badge. He was a warrior of vigilance, loyalty and persistence when getting the job done, but still retained an ounce of honor for his enemy.

When the Partishans were sent to battle, Magnus and the rest were the vanguards of the Empire. They endured the worst that the enemy could throw at them and sometimes lost a bit of their humanity along the wake. Magnus remembered his enemy and he would never forgive them.

The sight of his fallen brethren of Ironcloud didn’t affect him much from the outside, but inside Magnus could feel the burning rage forming into shape. Some of them were decent folk and some were his friends. He cared not much for his assigned team except for his objective...and his revenge...

Then suddenly, Magnus fell dead in his tracks.

The group soon came to a halt as Maurice quickly approached to him. “What’s happening, did you sense something?”

Magnus nodded, grimly. “This feels...very unusual. Do you sense it Maurice?”

Maurice stepped forward and closed his eyes. In the instant, he could sense...nothing.

“There is something wrong with this place,” Magnus remarked. “The air itself feels very faint and the fog is getting thicker as we struggle onto our goal. I am quite unsure on what I am feeling right now, but the...flow of energy seems...gone, like it’s been taken by someone, or something. I don’t know, it doesn’t feel right at all.”

Maurice gave an ominous look at the leader and felt very worried of the event that was happening. The energies of the world shouldn’t just vanish without a trace for it flows freely without care or control. “Such ability to...drain the world’s essence is far more formidable than we could imagine.”

“And what’s worse,” Magnus turned to face Maurice, all paled and grim. “I believe this is not a work of a Harten.”

Maurice stared in a confused look. “What? If this isn’t a work of a Harten, then what is it?”

“I do not know, but the Flow are infinite, boundless without measure.” Magnus stared at his hand. “Even now, our lifeforce starting to wane, reducing us to nothing. We do not have much time. We have to get out of here. Double time, miserable blighters. Double time!”

====

The group became restless, struggling to keep their pace after Magnus gave the command. Without a plan of destination they were going nowhere fast, especially with the heavy fog that was blinding their sight. They couldn’t see their hands up close to their face.

“Stick together,” Magnus cried out. “Confounded this fog, where is this coming from?”

Magnus trailed farther into the blinded path, foolishly walking without a plan or a solid route. He could feel his throat burning, itching with constant bothersome as the fog becomes thicker and thicker at every step. He quickly turned around and came at a terrible shock.

The group was nowhere to be found.

Magnus pondered as to how he manage to lose the others. He tried calling out to them. No response. He tried retracing his steps, but his efforts were futile as he couldn’t see anything from the fog.

As the leader was feeling the sense of fear and loss, paranoia quickly settled in his mind. Unease from his surrounding a strange sound was heard over the distant.

Armed by the teeth with his razor, sharp blade a figure began to emerge from the fog. Magnus focused deeply at the approaching person, unsure whether it was friend or foe, but when he got a clearer view his eyes was wide open.

“No...what is this?” Magnus said, almost speechless and lost of word. He crumbled tremendously with dread that was front of him and steadied his guard before the unknown figure plunged against him.

Then came a terrible scream.

====

Maurice and the group rushed to his aid, hearing the leader’s wailing voice. “Magnus, where are you?” He called out, but there was no response.

The group wandered aimlessly through the densely fog, abandoning in ever hope to find their lost leader. They quickly became nervous by the purple mist, feeling the overwhelming pressure that they were being watched.

Geos on the other hand received the worst part. Unlike the rest of the group that were unaware of the ‘invisible’ plight that surround them, the young rookie was still struggling and fighting off against the mysterious voice from his head. He could tell right away that it was female and her enchanting words were very persuasive to ignore.

Maurice stepped over his boundary, walking further away from the group. He’d felt an unearthly present lurking nearby, breathing down upon his neck like the entity was close to his face. It made him shivered to the bone and in an unsettling reality, he stopped in an instant.

Maurice jumped when he heard a thumping sound. He jerked his head and saw an unfamiliar shadow. Alarmed and firmly tightening his firearm, he approached at the target in an ever so cautious step. Due from the thick fog he could not describe of the target.

“Magnus? Is that you?” Maurice whispered, feeling a cold chill crawling upon his spine. Breaking down in sweat by the prolonged response, he advanced a little bit more and spotted the Partishan emblem within the sight of his range.

It was Magnus.

Maurice eased from his worry and drew openly to face him, but when he confronted the man the only expression that came out was genuine horror. “Magnus…”

Magnus body was ravaged from bruises and cuts. His head was separated from his body and laid beneath the cold, dead hands that was now gradually rotting like the rest of the fallen defenders.

Maurice further stepped away from the horror that was lying in front of him. Frightened in disbelief, he grimly heard ominous footsteps nearby. He'd aimed his pistol at the source of the sound.

*bang*

The large amount of black powder bursted into flame and zipped the iron round out from the gun barrel. Maurice wasn't going to take any chances. It was do our die. The shot made a solid contact at the target's head and saw its shadow, unaffected by the attack.

As the fog slightly cleared away, Maurice took a good long look at the target and was literally shocked. The target was already dead.

Rose from the grave, the fallen defender walked in its bony state and furiously beamed Maurice in deep, glowing violet. The skeleton defender held its broken, chipped sword and plunged towards to Maurice.

====

The world slowed down for just a moment. Maurice knew that he was in grave danger and unsheathed his blade moments before they'd clashed.

Confused and overwhelmingly frightened, Maurice struggled at the undead soldier. He grieved over the loss of his friend, but emotions were quickly subsided. He focused strongly at the enemy and sliced easily of the undead.

Its rib cage were shattered upon contact and, lost of its balance, crumbled into pieces. Maurice had little time for celebration or of moments breath as a grim realization stirred his very heart.

The dead rose in a faster pace and mustered in considerable number. Maurice saw a faint, purple glow from their lifeless body that appeared beyond the thickened fog. He was terribly in disbelief and rushed back to the group.

The sound of gunfire and wailed men was clear to Maurice's ear that they were assaulted by these strange walking bones. He also couldn't believe that his friend was gone. The man that Maurice knew from beginning to end was already dead.

Maurice rushed to the group and wanted to sit down, to rest from his terrible experience, but he knew if he prolonged the inevitable then he too would become like the restless dead and the group would meet far worse than death.

He'd only hope that he was not too late.

====

The group were in a state of chaos and struggled for their very lives against waves of skeletal forces. Already, casualties were down half of the group and the other half would soon join them in the great beyond.

The dead. The dead showed no remorse or even a hint of hesitation. They appeared in the thickened fog, infinite in their numbers and tireless of their attack.

At first, however, the men held out strong in the defense and suppressed against the large numbers, but gradually they had lost their ground and were being pushed back. It wouldn't be long before they would be overwhelm by the restless swarm.

In the heat of a grim battle, Geos was amongst the lucky ones that still managed to held on in the fight, still barely got the strength left while the dead kept on the advance. And what he saw in them was truly no words to describe.

While the rest of the surviving group gazed of empty bones and broken remains of the Ironcloud defenders, Geos, on the other hand, glimpsed the actual truth of the dead's twisted version.

The dead were being controlled.

Geos encountered the black sludge that was attached to the fallen defenders, only this time they were more than just that; they were alive.

The terrible stain formed entirely of each of the defender’s bone and filled them with a strange, black ethereal like skin. It oozed in a wriggly movement and defiled the corpses until they could move like lifeless puppets.

To Geos description, the dead were all but a hollowed shell, controlled and corrupted to its darkly will. There was an unfamiliar mark that was placed upon their forehead. It looked like the shape of a crescent moon.

Geos stared at the mark and the more he looked at it, the more it hurted his eyes. There was something mystic about the crescent mark that he couldn’t ignore. He felt a strange, yet terrible feeling that he and the rest of the surviving comrades were being lured into a trap, or maybe there was something else that he couldn't understand.

Foolishly distracted for a moment, the dreaded hollow suddenly appeared from behind and tackled the rookie into the ground. Geos was faced down, unable to move and paralyzed of movement. He'd tried to break free, but all of his effort were wasted when he glanced its killing blow.

Fear gladly took over Geos. He embraced his inevitable end and squeezed tightly of his hand. As he was about to join the others that departed before him, a soft, familiar whistle sound was heard.

Out from the blue, the hollow's chest bursted from an unknowable impact and succumbed by the attack. Geos was loosed from its bind and met a familiar rescuer. He couldn't help but felt relieved.

"What in blacken beaks are you doing!?" Maurice shouted and lifted Geos back to his feet. He turned his eye at another hollow with a clean cut to the head. "Everyone fall back! Retreat to safe haven!"

"But where do we go?" Geos asked. "The exit's been block."

"There is but one choice left to go. I dare hope the place hasn't been infested with these things yet."

The survivors quickly followed the leader's advance. They formed in a firm wedge formation and dispatched through against the oncoming dead. Everywhere they looked hundreds or more of the fallen defenders of Ironcloud began to rose up against them.

They did not knew that the cause of this sudden outbreak was the work of a sinister plot by their enemies and that only one would survive this terrible ordeal.

But for now, they ran, continuously without any end, until at last Geos saw the very same building where he spotted the mysterious shadow from the window.

====

Geos did not knew that the building was a shrine dedicated for the previous Saviors, the kings and rulers who once reigned the empire. He felt his head was being pounded by a mysterious force, constantly being driven into the state of insanity. The nightmares in his head would not stop nor intended to be.

The survivors entered without any dissent or complaint of the shrine that was defiled in a pathetic, ruinous state. With the dead mounted and gave chase there was no time for second thoughts.

Not even Magnus could act quickly like Maurice did for he was not the man of tactics and strategy. Whether the idea was foolish or some sort brilliance, the shrine was the only place that they could escape.

Maurice remembered Magnus's long and boring stories about his time spent in Ironcloud and a secret passage deep within the shrine that only officers and high officials would know about. If Magnus said was but the truth then this would be their ticket to get out of here.

Two sturdy men barged into the door, one with a musket and the other with a sword. The tired group entered in a haste into the shrine and sealed tightly from behind. The monstrous hollows, that screamed and wailed inhumanely, attempted to break through the shrine.

The group hurried and carried on what they could find. From sturdy furniture of chairs and benches to the smallest ounce of matter, they barricaded the doors, as well as windows, with sheer determination to prevent the hollows from breaching in. On strange event, the group immediately felt the united force of the hollows began to fadely died down as they soon stopped in their tracks.

Maurice cautiously peeked through the broken window and saw the hollows stood motionless. Their eyes gazed at the shrine in a fiery purple glow. In matter of seconds they soon departed from the building and vanished through the foggy mist. And after that there was only silence.

“Thank the Savior,” one of the men said, tremendously relieved that their ordeal was finally over. The men soon followed in a matter of celebration that they’ve survived the onslaught, but Maurice knew that they were still trapped in this forsaken place. They needed to get out of here and fast

“I want a count of the names that were lost in the attack and a supplies check. We are not over yet, my friends, we still need to get out of here before those blighted monsters decided for a second try.” Maurice stepped forth of the darkened hallway. “I am needing volunteers to accompany me. Who will go?”

The remainder of the group were silent, unable to raised their voice. After a minute had passed, Maurice was soon-to-be convinced that he would be going solo, until…

“I will go,” the voice gradually raised his hand and stepped front of Maurice. It was Geos.

Maurice slightly nodded. “Very good. The rest of you shall stay here for the time being and guard the entrance. Let’s go Geos.”

While the rest relaxed, temporarily secured in the front room, the two souls, Maurice and Geos, soon ventured into the darkened hallway, never to be sure on what horrors that awaited for them.

====

With their lanterns as the only source of light, Geos was armed and ready for anything that stood in their way. Maurice then turned his glance over his friend. “You need to relax more,” he said. “It’s only darkness.”

But Geos wasn’t assured of the advice. “Forgive me to be blunt, but I would rather be safe than sorry than to be turned into those...things out there.”

Maurice slightly chuckled. “You have a golden point. They surely have surprise us. But I have to admit, the one who is doing this must be a formidable opponent.”

“How could you be praising over the enemy? This enemy, this vile monster, has turn the entire troop of Ironcloud into a walking, mindless grave of skeletons. Not to mention that they’ve slain half of us and soon to be follow. I’m...not so sure how the ‘Partish Rule’ would cover all of this.”

“And that’s the point, the rules can never cover it all,” Geos was suddenly confused by his remark, but Maurice quickly explained as they strode along the hallway. “The Partish Rule have always guide us, make us, shape us on who we are, but it cannot give us the solution that demands the unknown.

“I was once like you you know, always asking a simple handbook for guidance, but after the Rebellion...it change me completely. We aren’t always perfect for we are just merely humans. It is what we do that shape these rules, not the other way around. Don’t get me wrong, I am scornful of what the attackers did in Ironcloud, but I could not blame them. We did horrible stuff as well.”

Gradually, they made their way into the light and appeared themselves at a large, luxurious library, strangely undamaged in the aftermath of the attack.

The shelves housed hundreds of untold knowledge, locked and hidden away from the world. It was then said that the Savior was the only person that could read these forbidden text and that if its secrets were to be out then it would cause total chaos of the empire.

"What are we looking for, anyway?" Geos asked, browsing at one of the books until he was quickly stopped by Maurice.

"There is a reason why these books stay here in the first place, Geos," Maurice firmly reminded "Best not to be curious about them."

"Y-yes. Of course, sir. My apologize."

After a brief explanation from Maurice the two soon searched the entire area. Over a period of time, they did not found any possible route of escape as Maurice was starting to believe that Magnus tales were all but folly. Maurice was determined and believed in his friend, but his confidence dropped dramatically.

He’d realize now that he has doomed the remaining group for his mistake.

====

Geos was at the opposite table-side of Maurice, still searching for the escape. He then slightly glanced and saw a grim, anxiety expression coming from Maurice. He did not say a word or gave any reaction. He did not want to admit that there chance of getting out was impossible.

Geos drifted farther into the library, distancing himself from Maurice. Although after everything that had happen so far to Maurice and the rest of the surviving group, Geos could not help but felt a slight bit of excitement for he was standing at the very place where Saviours studied and prepared themselves for the coming of the throne.

The knowledge that had been stored within these books was tempting enough and had greatly piqued his curiosity of what secrets could be so serious and pervasive. Since their chance of making out alive was nearly to zero, Geos thought he should take a peek at one of forbidden texts.

This was the reason why Geos distanced himself from Maurice.

Assured that Maurice wouldn’t notice, Geos randomly selected one of the books from the shelves. Out of some strange feeling of instinct, he chose a light book that was no more than twenty pages. The book was called, “The Other Dreams and Nightmare”.

He snickered at the title.

The book seemed recently new than the rest, all old and fragile to break by the slightest of touch. Geos turned and read the first page. It was blank. He then turned another page, but was still the same as the first.

What in the blights is this? Does it say anything here? I must be a fool to pick the lightest cause it’s all useless.

As the rookie turned the pages up to the end, he felt his eyes was starting to grow unusually heavy. Already, he had some trouble of staying awake as his mind was suddenly feeling light and empty. He tried to stand up, but his body wouldn’t respond. It was if something had grabbed hold of him.

With the last page being flipped the flame of his lantern suddenly went out, consuming part of the library into total darkness. Geos then began to hear the female whisper from before, only this time it was much clearer and stronger from his last response.

"Geos...Geos...look up "

Geos ignored the voice, too terrified from what will happen next, but her dark whispers pounded him relentlessly to his very thoughts and conscience. In the end, although, he frightfully followed her command and stared upward at the ceiling. His eyes was wide open.

Up above, Geos saw a large shadow, hanging comfortably at the wooden beams and amusingly watching his every move. It, or she, had an unease vibe of energy that was unnatural, translucent and vague from this world. Something new and something different.

The creature was shaped like an animal, an equine, with the body as black as darkness itself and its hair mixed of blue and purple. Her glaring catlike eyes beamed ever so with interest over the young Geos as she spread out her wings and made a silent decent towards to him.

Geos was unmovable, trapped to where he sit by as her dark and majestic beauty stood inches close to him. He couldn't breathe, couldn't scream for help from Maurice. He only stared straight at the beast before everything went dark. The sound of her laughter was all that he could hear.

"Finally, you are mine.