CRIES OF A MAGE

Chapter1: A Dark Scene From A Memory

"Excerpt from the Chronicles of Three Great Gods, 13th day of Autumn's End, 1454."

Illuthar, the foremost haven and final sanctuary for the free people of Aerkha, braced itself for the onset of winter. Another day, another fight for Orion was drawing to a close.

As the sun's radiance dissipated into the moonless, starless sky at the end of a frigid, gusty autumn afternoon, it was nearly time for yet another night, another battle for Therion.

Demian watched in solemn silence as the inevitable scene played out, turning the wheels of fate in this ultimate cycle.

* * *

A dark and foreboding memory stirred within...

The sudden downpour and the successive flashes of lightning did not bode well for Anthedia, the northernmost city of Illuthar, as it braced itself for a tumultuous night. Retired knight, Alexander Cahosse, let out a sigh of unease as he gazed out of the barred window of his modest mansion on the far east side of town.

Nights like this always brought back memories of the war, the dark times that he wished to forget. The rain that started just like this on the day he was wounded and cursed still haunted him, along with the image of the black-robed wizard who had changed his life with a single curse spell. The dark figure still plagued him in his nightmares...

The fragmented memories of the war flickered through his mind and faded away as quickly as they had come. Since retiring, Alex had returned to his hometown, where he had been living for the past three years. The man who had once been honored as a war veteran was now just an ordinary noble, a once-wealthy merchant.

Alex cast a bitter smile as he looked behind him. His beloved wife, Alleyna, was writhing in pain, her body contorted with the agony of childbirth. He walked over to her and tenderly wiped the sweat from her face with a damp cloth.

Despite her severe fever, Alleyna endured the pain with admirable fortitude, but it was rapidly escalating beyond her control.

Alex worriedly pondered the whereabouts of Alleyna's twin, Leandra. She had departed hours ago to fetch a specialized midwife for her sister's delivery, and time seemed to crawl by ever so slowly. As the moments passed, Alex's apprehension swelled. The man made up his mind that he must search for Leandra, even if it meant braving the inclement weather alone. Limping from the room, he stepped out into the empty, chilly corridor.

The wide hallway had once been adorned with an array of exquisite art pieces, from sculptures and reliefs to paintings. However, most of them had been sold for a pittance. Alex's thoughts turned to the God of Light, Orion, as they had done for the past nine months. He silently implored Orion, pleading for forgiveness for his wife and child, and offering himself up in their stead.

Alex descended the stairs with a slow and cautious gait, his footsteps echoing in the empty hall. He headed towards the grand entrance, where a solitary candle flickered in the massive chandelier that hung from the high ceiling.

The dim light cast deep shadows in the corners of the anteroom, and Alex thought he saw some movement in the darkness as if the mansion was besieged by creatures lurking in the shadows. He shivered as he felt a sinister presence creeping up behind him, whispering, growling, and rustling in the stillness of the night. But somehow, he managed to dismiss it, deciding that his tired mind playing tricks on him. The Cahosse family was no longer wealthy enough to afford servants, so there was no one else in the mansion except him and his wife.

Just as he reached the foot of the stairs, a loud pounding on the massive double doors startled him. The incessant knocking reverberated through the mansion, punctuated by bright flashes of lightning that illuminated the entrance hall.